I guess since we were talking about the Mi-Bra (and the BGG2WL giveaway… ends Thursday! Get in on it!), it’d only make sense that boobs would be the topic of Q&A Wednesday, huh?
Old me with the bigger boobies
Boobs are a sore spot for me, because I’m still mourning the complete loss of mine. I mean, my girls are just… ugh. At this point, I’m afraid if I lose anymore, I’m going to have two holes in my chest. Like I’ve said before, I went from a 42DD to a (currently) 34B, and almost certain that I’m going to keep losing. I’m just gonna start wrapping an ace bandage around my bust and tying it in the back. Jeez.
Before I began losing weight, my Mother actually had a breast reduction. Mind you, her insurance covered the entire procedure for her, but it was still a gross inconvenience(to her… and to me – I’m just being honest.) When she first saw me, after it finally sank in, she said “How did you lose your boobs? You could’ve saved me the trouble of surgery!”
February 2010, flat as a board! Mama nooooo!
Before we can talk about how to get rid of boobs, take a moment to consider what boobs are. They’re fat. They’re not muscle (the muscle behind the breast is wider and flatter than a boob), though muscle can alter the appearance of your breasts.. and make it more difficult for you to have or keep them. Remember, muscle helps the body burn fat faster… so it only makes sense that this would affect the fat holding the breast up, as well.
Both men and women have the basics to develop breasts, but the estrogen surge that women experience allows for a woman’s body to collect fat specifically in the breast area. As you can see in the diagram, the fat that develops there acts like a barrier layer between the skin and the glands that help breasts do what they’re supposed to do for women… which is provide milk for our offspring. Yay for being mammals.
1: The chest plate; 2: The Pectoral muscle; 3-6: Glands for milk production and maintenance; 7: Fat; 8: Skin
Two things play a huge role in how our breasts look – the amount of fat and the ligaments that support them, called Cooper’s Ligaments. The ligaments wrap around the breast (as seen in the photo) and help it develop and maintain its shape, but it can only mold what is (or, conversely, is not) there. An excess of fat there isn’t going to allow you to get a good perk going… presuming that’s what you’re after. Not very many women seek out “pancake boobies” if they know that they can work for the perk.
How do you reduce the boobies and get a good shape after the fact? Well, if the fat is what plays the major role.. then how do you burn the fat? Cardio! Strength training! Heavy on the cardio was what worked for me… with strength training picking up the back end by not only reshaping my breasts, but still allowing my bust line (as in, the band measurement for a bra – the 42 in “42DD” means I measured 42 across the band, with an extra 5 inches of breast to accommodate) to decrease as it toned.
In doing cardio, I’d suggest a very strong, very sturdy sports bra to keep you strapped down. Ligaments (like the ones that contrl your breasts’ shape) can be strengthened, but they can be weakened as well and the last thing you want to do is make a tough situation tougher.
In shrinking your breasts, you will experience sag at first. You can fix this, though, but only through very hard and diligent work. Just about any upper body exercise can help because they’re going to make use of the necessary ligaments in some form, anyhow. You also have to push yourself in your upper body exercises – the more you push yourself, the more muscles you will use, the more you will get out of your exercises.
For me, I cling to yoga and push ups. Sure, there’s the pec machine at the gym (called either a pectoral fly or a pec deck… looks like a contraption out of Saw if you ask me) but when I’m in a pinch, nothing beats good ol’ fashioned push ups… or anything incorporating that motion in your body. Yoga is awesome for this as well – if you ask me, and.. well, you did ask me! – because between plank position, upward-facing dog/cobra, downward-facing dog, andthe side dog… you get plenty of opportunities to work out that upper body (as well as get a little definition in your shoulders and arms, as well!)
In short, with weight loss definitely comes booby loss, because sometimes our eating habits call for more fat to go there than the body originally intended. If you’ve fallen in love with what you’ve got, get ready to kiss the girls goodbye (not literally, maybe?) but know that with a little patience and a lot of work (and lots of water, too.. don’t forget that), you can definitely get your boobies back in shape right along with the rest of your body!
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Edit: I’m on a timeline with work, so I can’t respond to all of the comments the way I’d usually respond… but I see a lot of you running into trouble with exercise because of your boobs? Um, what are y’all doing? Hanging upside down by your ankles or something? I wasn’t running, jogging, dancing and whatnot when I first started losing my boobs. I was walking. It doesn’t require you to jump out and be Miss Fitness 2010 to see results. I walked with my daughter 7 nights a week for approximately 45 minutes each time. I’m serious… y’all are gon’ kill yourselves with all that boobage bouncing around trying to lose weight. I’d strongly recommend less bouncy activities (they do exist) until you can shrink it down to a size accommodated by proper sports bras anyway, or you risk weakening those ligaments I mentioned earlier. Some might rail me for that, but if they’re big enough to hit you in the face, then all that pressure is also rough on your back.. and I’m way more worried about that. We don’t want to make a bad situation worse. Seriously… ladies, take it slow! You might want to bounce around… but don’t. Find better ways to get it in that work for you and your body!
77 comments
You’re awesome girl! Thanks so much for this. I need to push myself and I actually wouldn’t mind losing some of my breast weight…
This is what scares me…in the last few years, I’ve probably dropped a total of 100lbs and at my largest size, I was a 44H. Here we are 100 some odd pounds later and I’m a 36H–which is nearly impossible to find. I’ve shocked the chicks who measure me because the band size has to be so small and the cup size so big. And I still have to have it on the highest hook. I have these deep trenches in my shoulder from having to carry these things around all my life. WHAT IF THEY NEVER SHRINK?!?! Yes, this causes me to panic. LOL!
I understand and feel your pain Trina. I lost 15 pounds and was hoping to reduce from the impossible to find 36H only to find that I am now a 36K. My large chest is part of the reason I started to gain weight. After all, what girl in Middle School wants to lug around D cups to play ball?
Obviously I don’t know your location or your financial situation, but I’ve got to throw this out there – you might want to get a fitting at somewhere that specializes in “non-typical” bra sizes, and see what they recommend. I have been a 32G since 8th or 9th grade (and wasn’t that embarrassing…) and I think the fact that my mom is a physical therapist and got me to a good bra place is why my back hasn’t felt the strain. For one thing your straps shouldn’t be pulling into your back – 90% of the support should be coming from the band. I go to Intimacy (here’s the website, with a list of locations at the top: http://myintimacy.com/) and I love it, the problem is it can be SO EXPENSIVE. But the ladies there get it (most have large chests themselves, and I’m sure many are on a budget!) and if all you can afford at the moment is one then I would still try it – for me at least, it made so much difference!
Hi Trina,
You and I are in the same boat. Many women have breasts like you and I in which our breasts do not shrink with weight loss. In terms of bras (32H) I buy mine online because I can’t find them in stores. I can suggest a few stores for you. Oh and also make sure you are being measured correctly
In the past 18 months I’ve gone from a 48DDD to a 44DD. I wear underwires to help with lift, and sometimes still have to wear an extender if the cups feel too tight. I’m looking forward to getting into a 36D one day and being able to do jumping jacks and run without giving myself a black eye! The sports bras in the larger sizes just make the bruise bigger when the boob flies up to smack you…
I actually lost 17lbs in a year & I’m maintaining well. I do a ton of cardio but my boobs only shrunk a 1/4 inch. And they’re not moving. I’m still a 36C. For bra suggestions try either mystere or Simone perele. Amazing fit but be prepared for $85 each. Bloomingdales will fit you for free. Unless you have smaller boobs – Victoria’s secret .. They don’t hold those of us with real breasts lol
Erika, thanks so much for this post!! I’m really looking forward to losing these breasts because I’ve gone too long with them getting in the way and dealing with my bra straps hurting my shoulders.
What has become a little discouraging for me though is the fact that they weigh me down when I try to do anything involving jumping or running but I think I need to get the type of bra you mentioned above. Do you have any suggestions for where I can get one?
Also I’m glad you addressed the topic of saggyness. It really encouraged me to push that much harder in my upper body workouts.
Enell sports bra — expensive but worth the investment!
I had a breast reduction 4 years ago. I had four pounds removed out of each breast. My reason for having the reduction, I was in a gym class in college one my many attemtps to lose weight and I had a hard time doing the exercises that required you to jump around and others as well. I had a hard time buying bras and I just did not like the way I looked. So, reduction happen with the help of medical insurance and good family support. Since having the reduction I do feel better about myself and find it easier to exercise. I just really walk alot but I know I need to sttep my game up and change my eating habits. Thanks for this blog I love it and I have suggested it to just about all of my FB freinds.
I love thisI can’t wait to lose my boobs! This is soooo exciting!! Thanks for doing this, you answered all of my questions!
Without a doubt, it’s up to the individual to decide on surgery. I’ve had a reduction (I used to be a K) and for me, the reduction was well worth the time and struggle. I know of the embarrassing (and painful) bounce that comes along with doing cardio with larger boobs. I had to do some serious searching for something to hold the girls down while dancing and doing cardio. There are a few stores that carry brands that make sizes well above DD (and they are PRETTY!), but do your research to find those stores and utilize them for the “support” that your ta’tas need everyday. In spite of that, I would recommend that all women – no matter what their cup size is – find a properly fitting bra before, during and after reaching the goal of your journey. A properly fitting bra just makes you feel better, ya know? I do know of some brands and stores that carry the bigger bras, and a site that guides you to what the perfect fit should look and feel like, but I didn’t want to sound like I’m in sales.
So timely! My breasts just really take me through it…especially when it comes to working out. I’ve been unable to find a good sports bra in a 40L so I’ve been doing water work-outs to take the strain off my back and shoulders. I’ve been approved for a reduction but I’m trying to lose a bit more weight before hand. Sadly, not much is coming out of my L cups although the band is fluctuating. I’ve got those shoulder trenches too and I look forward to not having to deal with that pain anymore. I’m definitely going to work some of those yoga positions and push-ups into my routine.Thanks for this post!
I’ve had large breast my entire life. 36C when I was in third grade, I believe. Now, I’m a 52/something, I think. I’ve never been properly measured and I honestly don’t plan to until I get some of this weight off. I long for the day I lose weight and they go away. I don’t hope for deflation but anything is better than dealing with the regular upper back pain I get. During Zumba and Step classes the movement is limited because I have a fairly secure sports bra on. Hopefully in time and with weight loss I will lose a lot of it.
PS, I just discovered this blog yesterday while voting at the Black Blog Awards (or whatever it’s called) and I must say I am in LOVE. So inspired by you Erika! Please keep up the amazing work.
After 20yrs of gaining and losing a ton of weight (due to eating as well as 2 high-gain pregnancies), I accept that my girls are gonna be saggy forever. At my highest weight of 230+ (both when fat and when 42wks pregnant) I was about a 42DDD. I’m naturally a small-chested person, though, around a 34B. I nursed both my daughters for a long time, but I feel I should remind everyone that nursing doesn’t cause or exacerbate sagginess, it’s the weight gain that stretches them out and makes them long/empty when you lose. I’m a 36D now, but as soon as my youngest weans and I lose these remaining 15lbs, I know I’ll be more like 34C-Long. 😉 What can ya do, right? A good balconette bra with underwire keeps them riding high.
http://www.titlenine.com/product/313801.do
This is the bra that I’m currently using (I’m a 40DDD). It has literally a dozen hooks, and putting it on sometimes feels like a workout in itself, but it does work for me. 10% bounce instead of %110. It keeps me almost in place during my stride jumps, so it’s good enough for me!
Thanks Erika for talking about boobs and my hope is that with more work I’ll be able to shrink mine. I guess I’ll do a pushup or two today…argh. So if regular daily bras are a beast to find in your size, then sports bras are near impossible. I was a 40JJ before I started to lose and now I’m down to 36J so I’ve lost boob and back. Whoo hoo but still almost impossible. Sometimes I do really bouncy workouts and for those workouts nothing beats this bra http://www.barenecessities.com/product.aspx?pf_id=ShockAbsorberB4490.
For quieter, low impact workouts I gravitate towards this bra http://www.barenecessities.com/product.aspx?pf_id=Freya4392. Both are UK cup sizes which for me means a 36H or HH right now. The first one doesn’t come in my exact size but I still have proper support in it. These bras go on sale frequently but the sizes get real scarce real fast. I snatch as many up as I can when they are 50% off and I have a coupon. Also, Champion makes some great workout tops that have built in “bras”. This bit of extra support really helps. This top is really cool if you don’t like tops that cling to your middrift. http://www.championusa.com/Champion/Products/Women-Champion/Women_ShopByCategory-Champion/Women_Outlet-Champion/22685.aspx . Hope this helps someone. I’ve had a lot of trial and error over the years.
Yeah, the highest level wireless ShockAbzorber is awesome. There’s one by Freya I believe that is identical but a little more expensive (I have had mine for years now, so I think there has been a redesign….mine is beige.) I like how easy on and off it is, but I always double up bras: I wear a regular bra and then put my ShockAbzorber over it.
I like my breasts fine, but I’d rather be 90 pounds lighter than have huge breasts. Just me.
No idea why I misspelled absorber. LOL
ShockAbsorber also has a “cool” bounce-o-meter on their website. Illustrates why a good bra is necessary when you’re exercising:
http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html
I also totally agree with Erika. I’m not running until I lose some more weight and firm up a bit up top.
I know this sounds crazy but what if you want to lose everything accept the boobs? I have been a D cup since the seventh grade and I love my boobs. I am starting out slow by walking my daughter to school in the morning because I have been virtually inactive since she was born and have probably gained and lost 30 pounds. BTW I love this site
I have the same dilemma. 40 lbs lighter & I reluctantly went from a 40 DD to a 38 D. Talk about sag– when I bend I look like I have cow utters. Haven’t done strength training in 4 mos, so I guess its time for push ups : (
LMAO!!!
Now Erika, you know boobage concerns come just after hair when it concerns big gals. Well maybe you can dust off a memory…
Anyway, sometimes I’ll come home and take off my bra and that’s it! I’m in until the girls have rested and are ready to get in another over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. I currently don’t have insurance, and when I did, my doctor told me to lose weight, and that she wouldn’t authorize the breast reduction surgery. Swimming laps using the breaststroke, and arm exercises with light weights are helping me tone my upper arms and chest muscles. I’m not about to drop $50+ on an exercise bra when duct tape works so much better and is MUCH cheaper…
Committing myself to this new lifestyle means I’m not buying any new clothes (or underclothes) until I’m in a smaller size. Whenever I feel like sleeping in, I turn to my outgrown size 28/30 jeans displayed 4 feet from my bed. Then I stagger out of bed and remind myself of my progress so far. ‘Course my boobs sway out of bed before me… But not for long!
Greetings, ladies!
I came across this article and wanted to suggest a few places I know of that can help fit bras for women with larger breasts.
My homegirl has raved about this company for sports bras and/or custom bras: http://www.enell.com/custom_sizes.php
Also, I’ve been a fan of Miss Stevens in Beverly HIlls for some years now. I’m usually able to find pretty bras in my size (42H) though they may cost a little more than I think they should.
Recently, Cacique (a subsidiary of Lane Bryant) has also been carrying larger bras that fit well and smooth out the breasts so that your fit under clothing is attractive and flattering.
Lastly, for those not larger than a DD, you can try Trashy Lingerie in West Hollywood for sexy apparel you might not usually be able to find.
Oh, and one more recommendation….for custom swimsuits, check out my favorite site http://www.zenaswimwear.com
Happy hunting!
Heads up folks….
It’s a fab website and if it was real that would be fab….but it’s a scam.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/zena-swimwear-/langley-british-columbia-v3a-4k9/zena-swimwear-do-not-order-scam-website-is-all-a-scam-to-get-your-money-you-will-neve-1072577
This is my first time commenting but I must say I love your website! It is so inspirational and great. I’ am just beginning my weight lost journey but I’ am scare of the “lost boobs” syndrome as well…lol. I know it is stupid but I always had big boobs even as a kid and I like them but I don’t want them to suddenly disappear, but then again I rather be healthy and fit then overweight so it is a trade off one must live with
YES! So, my boobs CAN go down when I lose weight! So many self-proclaimed experts said otherwise. But you’re living proof. The thought of my girls sagging kinda scares me though! I will start my daily push regimen to try to avoid this. Great post!
Wow thanx for this post. I seriously thought that after i gained 20lbs in a short 3 month period, my breast would not decrease in size ifi were to ever lose weight. 🙁 I went from a 175lb 36c to a 195lb 38dd in that small amount of time. i didnt mind the large breast too much but then i realized buying a bra was annoying cuz there werent much color choices and wearing a button up shirt was annoying when it could not close properly. NOW im at 200lb 40dd. LORD assist me!!!! but i will keep in mind what you said and committ and be serious with my workout and include those strength training and BAM i will get smaller THANX AGAIN
This post has touched a sore spot for me. I don’t have boobs…I have breastssssssss. Would I love to shrink this bad boys down…yes…have I been successful…no. Sad but true. I’ve been at least 38D since puberty it seems like but nothing I have done up to this point has had any effect on these survivors. I fear that when all else is gone…they shall remain. I might be being dramatic but hey I’m sensitive about this. Just airing my negative thoughts…Love ya!
Love you too, best friend… and you’ve had those boobs just as long as I’ve known you!
That’s okay… I’ll just borrow a cup from you. Goodness knows I could use ’em! ROFL! 🙂
Please take two…you can borrow it like its sugar…lol
Peace! Excellent post! I have lost over 90 pounds and I overstand the mourning of the boobies……I am definitely looking to strengthen my upper body to strengthen these new boobs that I have….keep these wonderful posts coming……peace and blessings….
Thank you so much for this. I am losing weight and am experiencing sag and I am worried they’ll be that way forever! This gives me hope.
Some people won’t lose the boobs. I lost 40 lbs and only dropped to an E from an F. My band size went down but I have big boobs. That’s just how some of us will be!
My problem is that my boobs are already small…and my shoulders are kinda broad. I’m a 36-B and I want to lose between 20-30 more lbs. I’ve lost about 20 so far and my breast have shrunken but minimally. I am not so much afraid of how much smaller they will become, but more so afraid of them becoming sad flaps! I can deal with an A-cup…I’ve been there before… but I just dont want a saggy, flappy A-cup. Sigh 🙁
I went from 36DD and now I’m somewhere in the C range. I mostly just miss being able to scream when Ludacris says “Ludacris fill cups like double Ds” … and laughing to myself when I hear “throw some Ds on it…”, knowing that I had Ds to throw. Now, I’m just trying to flatten my stomach out so I don’t have a booby-do. I’ma be alright though.
Girl I just passed out reading your post!
In the same boat
Is it crazy that thats all I yearn for is to have ABSOLUTELY nothing there! I have a set of 44DDD’s they hurt like hell on my shoulders. I just hate them, and i look forward to burying the bra that I can literally fit over my head like some sort of 18th Century hat…all i need is a feather or two.
Also ladies with the big breast, the best sports bra I’ve ever invested in was Enell! It’s seriously the business. If you end up wanting to do some high impact stuff to push yourself a little harder.
I agree with Michelle – Enell is the best bra for big boobs and high impact exercises!
I had a breast reduction a few years ago. I was a 32G before surgery. Now I am a 32DD. My breasts don’t really change much with weight loss. When I gained 40 pounds, my band size increased to 34 and my boobs got fuller but not enough to really change the cup size.
ohhhh mmmmmm ggggggg, I so feel your pain on this one! i lost 90 lbs and my story with the boobs is that I always wanted bigger ones. I was always a 38B, and when I became a 38C(due to weight gain :-/) I was excited! I threw away all my B’s and was super happy with my C’s. LOL I lost the weight and the lil bit of boobs I had lost weight too! 34B :(. Talking bout DIS-A-PPOINTED! I was pretty much back where I started. The appearance of them was not sexy at all, on top of all of that but oh well, its all good. I am very pleased with my lost I just have to learn to deal with these knots on my chest :/
I love my boobs just the way they are. I wear a 34DDD now and am really scared of losing my breasts. I want to lose about 30lbs. I know that they will probably be the first things to go 🙁 I only hope that they don’t get smaller than a D cup.
I am so happy that you brought this up. This has been a huge concern for me. I am currently a 40G. I long for the days I can be a 34 DD again. I dont know if it is possible but I am going to keep hope alive.
Hey Trina and others, good bras for larger breast can be found here –
http://www.herroom.com or http://www.bravissimo.com. Since loosing 32lbs I went from a 42J to 36/38K. I am hoping to loose more, but I don’t think my breasts are going anywhere!
Wanted to say thanks for writing this, I recently lost about 70 lbs in a year and have been really down about the overall shape and sag of my boobs. I was a DDD and am now roughly a D at 135lbs. I realize with how big my tits were, they’re never going to be cheerleader boobs, but I’m happy to see that there is some hope in reshaping them. You really brightened my day!
What if we don’t want to lose our breasts? How do we prevent shrinkage as we lose weight? I’m a 36C (which is perfect for me), and plan to lose no more than 30lbs.
Unfortunately, you don’t get a say in where your body pulls the fat from. 🙁
Thank you so much for covering this topic! I’m currently losing weight and I’ve lost 110 lbs! I went from a 48DDD to a 46DD and I have noticed a habit recently finding bras that support because when working out I “spill-out” (if you know what I mean!) I wonder which bra should I wear on a budget because I’m a college student.
I haven’t lost any in the breast area since I started loosing more weight. Usually when i do loose weight I never do. I’ve been a 44DD for years. It doesn’t seem to disppear. I would be devastated if I lost my breast. lol
When I first started to lose weight I spent a lot of time doing water aerobics. In the pool you don’t have to worry about your appendages flopping around so much, because the boyancy of the water holds them up.
Get an “Enell” sports bra. They were Oprah’s favorite things. I am a size 38F and they hold ’em in nicely while I run 5 miles a day. You can google them – there’s lots of online stores that sell them.
First, let me say I LOOOOVE this blog. It’s so full of motivation and wit.
Second, God I pray that I lose AND reshape my boobs. I have been overweight all of my life, but I think I’ve been wearing a D-cup since I was 12 or 13. Now I’m a 40H and while my band size is slowly decreasing inch by inch, my cup size is NOT. I am scared that I will lose the 50lbs that I need to lose and my fleshbags will remain nothing more than a literal burden on my chest. I don’t wan to get reconstructive surgery because I’m afraid of anything surgical that isn’t life threatening, so I will take into account everything listed about upper-body exercises and specialty bras. I’m 5’2 so it looks even bigger than if I was probably 5’7.
Sorry this is so long-winded, but I’m just glad to know that I’m not the only one hoping to lose more than inches off my waist!!!
Question: I am really worried about sag…since PCOS has packed a hundred extra pounds onto my formerly gorgeous 5’10 frame, I’ve noticed in the last year that my 42DD’s which were once 36D’s have already started to sag from the weight (they used to be VERY perky even at a D cup because I was small). I’ve heard many doctors and trainers say that you can NOT reshape breasts, you can only build muscle behind them and that has minimal impact once they’ve been stretched out by obesity. They also say that ligaments, once stretched, stay stretched and the surrounding stretched skin rarely if ever shrinks back to lift and perk…
Did weight stretch your breasts and cause the beginning of sagging prior to weight loss? Were you REALLY able to lift and reshape them in a significant way? Like REAL perk?
I want to believe that there is hope, but with the recent perk loss of the last part of my body I still loved, I don’t feel hopeful and am afraid when I get to my goal weight I’ll look like one of the people on “Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition” BEFORE the skin removal and lifting surgery…PLEASE HELP!!!
You can’t be too honest for me here…I need hope, truth or both…*weak smile*
Thank you!
PS: I LOVE YOUR BLOG!
There is a LOT going on in this comment. LOLOL.
I will respond, but it’s an entire post-worth of stuff to address.
Post #39…I’m JUST now seeing your response…:/ Sorry for being so thorough in my questioning, but I REALLY want honest answers from a black woman (aka-YOU) of a similar height and body type. Still looking forward to your response! 🙂
Thank you!
OMG where do I start?? When I first started working out I was a 40DDD. I lost 40lbs and then I went to 40F I couldn’t believe this. I wanted to get something cute from victoria secrets and I was told they didn’t carrie that size. When I was sized at another store I was told I looked like dolly parton my waist was smaller then the average at that bra size. I was told I hit the upper arms to much. Am I the only one this happen to or am I just strange by myself?????
i loved this post! i am dying to lose weight in my breasts, like dying! i also use the Enell sports bra, my size is a 34G, so i have a relatively small band and huge breasts but I’m working it out and i noticed some changes in my breast size, I’m just going to keep at it and hope they sweat down 🙂 but I swear by Enell, I nearly cried, because I was never able to wear just one sports bra, ever.
I’m about 40 DDD and I haven’t lost any in the cup size yet , I’ve lost 50 pounds now . I was 46 DDD when I started. My trick is that I double up, I buy my sport bra a size smaller that way it’s nice and snug and I also wear and old under wire underneath that. I have very minimal movement when I run or do jumping jacks. Strap em’ down and keep em’ is my goal..lol
I do the same thing.
I was in an “A” cup 30 pounds ago, and now, even with my underwire, extra padded bras, I am flattER than a board. LOL
I was surfing the Internet because I was curious about the whole breasts/weight loss thing. I bet many women loose weight in their breasts as they loose weight but I am just not one of them. I’m currently between a size 6 and 8 and I struggle to loose weight (pounds). I’m very toned and I have a fit build. Most people are envious of my shape. I exercise 4-6 days a week. I’m between a 36DD and 34DDD as I’ve slimmed down a bit (from a 8-10 to a 6-8 and got off birth control). When I was a girl, I was very thin, size 3 with a D cup. I graduated high school a size 4-5 and a 34DD. The women in my dad’s family are all big-busted (but most are overweight too…). My sister started developing at age 6!! (and she was a skinny child too). So how much is hereditary and how much is fat? If I was a size 5 DD at age 18 I doubt they’ll get smaller. But my husband doesn’t mind though! Anyone have any ideas?
Well, hereditary or not, it’s fat. What’s really hereditary, is where fat collects for you. Honestly, there’s a reason why your breasts are collecting so much fat, but you’ve not given me enough information here to better understand it.
I cannot WAIT to go down a few (or several) cup sizes. I’m currently a 38H and hope to get down to a D or a DD. While they don’t prohibit me from working out, I know that certain exercises (like running and plyometrics) will be so much easier.
Thanks for yet another great and informative post! I will have to start some yoga.
Last year I managed to find a champion sports bra that actually fit. It was a 40 DD. It is now to big in the band so I need to get a new one.
When I was younger I never ran when we had cross country tests because of the boob issues. I never did jumping jacks because that would just be poor judgement to jump around when your boobs are that big.
I have been working on my arms and chest by doing weight routines and also ‘ attempting’ to plank. I still don’t think I am at the fitness level to really plank properly. I agree with you when you say that you have to take your time and push gently at your fitness limit, not try to bulldoze it. Get active, walk first, and then you can run. I pushed my knee too hard before and ended up with bursitis and a knee brace.
I encourage women with larger breasts to invest in bras that actually fit them. I wear a 32F (UK sizing) and am a moderately fit size 6, 30 lbs down, 15 or so to go. Without my trusty high impact sports bras, I would not be able to run or even do yoga with much comfort. Sturdy bras are a sound investment!
Not all women loose their breasts when they loose weight. At the age of 18, I was a 36DD, 130 lbs, and 5’4. As I gained weight thru college and after, my breasts gained weight also. I have gained and lost weight many times and the only thing that doesn’t change is my breasts. I am currently 193lbs ( I’m trying to loose 40lbs) and I am a 32H (the last time I checked). Regardless of what I do these breasts won’t be going anywhere.
Hi, Erika, though you were able to loose your boobs, it may not happen like that for everyone. I can feel the pain of sisters who have commented saying that they wear a J, H, or whatever else. I was very active in childhood taking dancing and participating in marching band. I exercised regularly through my college years and walked a lot when I worked as a safety patrol officer. In 6th grade I was wearing a DDD and my cup sizes only got larger from there, no matter how small my band size was (the smallest being a 36). As active as I was, my boobs never shrunk. Plus, finding a good support bra that actually holds them up instead of just holding them is hard to find.
Over three years ago, I under went breast reduction surgery because of the issues with my boobs that were causing more issues outside of exercising. I started out wearing a 40F. I would wake up sometimes and my back would be locked and had to have my grandma rub me down in Bengay and only hope that the pain would finally subdue. When I went to the surgeon, he saw that I had an extreme excess of tissue and little fat. When I went to get measured right before surgery, he found that that the xray images did me no justice because, though I am considered larger boned, I have a very small breast bone. After the surgery and months of recovery, I was a 38C. My doctor said he could have went smaller on me, but due to my size it would look abnormal. He did advise me that any weight gain would cause enlargement of my boobs because of increase in fat, as where in before I was actually mostly tissue.
As you can see in my case (as well as others), sometimes our build may cause us to not loose the boobs no matter how much we achieve loosing weight. I do not look back at this event with any regret. I can now exercise and don’t have to worry about the back spasms. I did gain some weight, which has caused me to go to a D, but now that I am losing again and the cups are getting loose.
I enjoy your site and find many interesting topics that I can relate to as well as learn from. Thanks for starting it!
The more I work with women, the more I’m starting to learn about the other contributing factors – namely hormones and the food we eat – that affect the boobage.
I still stand by the assertion that breasts are fat and, with cardio, that fat will be affected, but hormone levels (and additional hormones from food, generally determined by region, fertility, etc) will affect the breast loss (or lack thereof), as well.
I’m pretty sure I will always have large breasts no matter how skinny I am. Even when I was in high school and I ran 5-10 miles a day and lifted weights several times a week, I was 5’5″, weighed 115 pounds and wore a DDD cup. Now I wear a 34HH, but I still do a lot of high impact exercise. It’s definitely possible to run when you have big boobs- the trick is to find really good sports bras. I absolutely hated that Enell sports bra that everyone raves about- it was so hot, ugly, and uncomfortable to me! For a long time I went the regular bra under a tight sports bra route until I discovered my favorite sports bra ever- the Elomi Energise. It fits and separates the breasts just like a normal bra (uniboob sports bras always give me a heat rash where my breasts smash together) and it can comfortably stand up to hours of running and jumping jacks with zero bounce. Every city I’ve lived in has a hidden gem specialty lingerie shop that carries pretty, hard to fit sizes with personalized fittings- I wouldn’t even waste my time at the mall! A great bra needs to support you from the band and “tack” between the breasts. My go-to brands that usually do a great job at that are Panache, Elomi, and Fantasie. Many specialty shops also have bathing suits, sports bras, corsets, and strapless bras in larger sizes too. These bras are certainly more expensive than the functionless junk in the sale bins at Victoria’s Secret or the granny-bras-in-a-box at Walmart, but they look and feel great and last a long time. Most of bras I buy last a couple of years before they give out, so it all works out in the end. With all of the specialty lines out there, there is no reason to settle for hideous, uncomfortable, and ineffective bras that dig into your shoulders. Now if someone will PLEASE open a clothing store for women with large breasts in the US…
http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/zena-swimwear-/langley-british-columbia-v3a-4k9/zena-swimwear-do-not-order-scam-website-is-all-a-scam-to-get-your-money-you-will-neve-1072577
I love your website, and I don’t want to be a downer, but I fell in love with the zena swimsuit site, then thought it was too good to be true and found the Instagram and pin interest empty ….did a google check and thank god I saved my time and money….if anyone knows of a legit company offering this service please let me know…
Sending love and peace to all.
Sam
I am soooo not going to complain..wow..Let me and my little 38 d sit down somewhere lol
Oops did not realised I posted that twice thought the first one did not go through.
Also M&S do a very good
Imitation of the Enell bra in the Uk
They use a zip instead of front hooks and they are only £20.00 but the 40+ sizes sell out really fast in the shops and vanish off the web
site like gold.,
For give me trying to get
used to tablet…
Sorry Erika but as a former 34G (34I in U.S. sizes) and a current 34F (34G in U.S. sizes, really not as big as you would think), I disagree with the idea that you can’t do high intensity exercise at a larger cup. The biggest problem with most women (about 80% according to several sources) is that they are wearing the wrong sized bra to begin with. Generally, the band is too big and the cup is to small leading to women not having nearly enough support. This issue is compounded when it comes to standard sports bras because they are made by companies that specialize in sports wear and know even less about bra construction and sizing than most American bra companies. This leads to bras that have even less support than standard bras despite the fact that extra support is needed when engaging in activities that require a lot of movement.
The best solution to this is to get properly fitted for a bra preferably at a specialty bra shop. The only chain store I know of that properly fits women is Nordstroms so that is also an option. When your bra fits properly, it gives the right amount of support without being painful and uncomfortable and feels and looks like an absolute and complete godsend after years of dealing with bra lines, the quadraboob effect of spilling out of the tops and sides of bras and for some women (not me) dealing with back pain. I even wore a strapless dress for the first time ever last weekend after not having so much as worn spaghetti straps since before puberty (about 14 years ago). I looked and felt amazing and completely secure. Now most bras with extended cup sizes and or small band sizes cost a pretty penny (unless you can get them on sale on websites like figleaves.com) because the only companies that make them are located overseas, but they are completely worth it and last a very long time. I kept my last sports bra for a few years despite working out regularly doing Jillian Michaels, Jackie Warner and Beachbody DVD’s and lost 50 pounds (197 pounds to 147 pounds, at about 5’6″) in the process.
I also have many things to say about how women are sized and the inconsitencies with going only by band and across the bust measurements but it’s late and I think I’ve written more than enough. I just figured that as an actual top heavy girl (still even after the weight loss though not to anywhere near the degree I was before) that I’d give my two cents.
-Thanks
“I disagree with the idea that you can’t do high intensity exercise at a larger cup.”
What you actually mean is that it isn’t impossible. I know this now – Enell and a few others make amazing sports bras that can hold you down, sure. The reality is, for many women, depending on their breast size, it CAN be impossible.
You’re a 34 in the band. Letter size notwithstanding, you’re still not as large as a woman who is a 44 in the band, and that’s STILL not only wider than you, but LARGER than you – not only is she 10 inches larger than you in the chest cavity, her letter size means there’s an additional 1-9 inches more of sheer mass attached to her chest cavity.
A 34G is exactly as big as I think it is – a 34G, unfortunately for you, is nowhere near as large as I was originally referring to in my post. Thanks for the share, though. Reminds me how badly this post needs updating.
You’re right, I did misinterpret the addition to your post. Based on what was written earlier in it, I assumed that when you wrote about large breasted women, you were talking about all persons whose breasts are large in proportion to their body size, not just women who very likely are morbidly obese (44 band size)and therefore have excessively large breasts in addition to the rest of their body mass. For these women, their breasts would still be far less of a problem if they were to find the right fitting bra. Instead they would have to start at a lower intensity in order to build up their cardiovascular health not because their breasts are so big they are impossible to tie down during exercise but because they are not yet at the fitness level necessary or are not physically small enough to be able to complete high intensity workouts in the first place. However since this post is specifically about breasts and how they effect what you can and can’t do when working out, I assumed that you were talking about how a persons breasts and just their breasts get in the way, even though in the case of a much larger person their breasts would be the least of their problems. As you stated earlier Ennel carries up to a 52G, Shock Absorber up to a 40H, Panache 40GG and several others most of which have great reviews. Also, you seem to assume that breasts would suddenly no longer be a problem if a person were to loose a significant amount of weight, but as many earlier comments state, for many that is not true. Even if you do loose 100 or more pounds, while your breasts many not have as much over all volume as they once did they can still be large in proportion to your frame (hence the comment by the lady who went from a 44H to a 36H) in which case you would still have a large problem finding undergarments that fit you and provide proper support outside of the internet. Don’t discount those of us who have smaller in volume but still larger than average for our size breasts since we have out own breast issues and try not to assume that breasts will shrink to the point of not being a problem with enough weight loss because that is not always the case.
“Don’t discount those of us who have smaller in volume but still larger than average for our size breasts”
I didn’t “discount” them – I simply said I’m not speaking to that.
“try not to assume that breasts will shrink to the point of not being a problem with enough weight loss”
That’s not an assumption – it’s a physiological fact. I’d be willing to guess that, even with major weight loss, a person with disproportionately large breasts (above a DD cup, perhaps) probably still has a higher body fat percentage than, say, the teens. And, even still, that’s relative because things like pectoral muscles and, sometimes, the muscles that wap around underneath the armpit and through to the lats will make that extremely relative, and affect the appropriate sizing. You can lose a lot of weight and still have a high body fat percentage, which amounts to why you could still have large breasts. Hormones or not, the breasts go down as leanness increases, unless you have implants… and, even then, the look and feel of the implants changes because of the amount of fat surrounding them.
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