Maybe you are a natural type person. You don’t like to be fenced in. You want to feel the wind in your hair and the ground under your feet. Maybe, as part of that, you have decided not to wear a sports bra. You wanna be free, unfettered, and bounce with abandon.
That’s okay, right? Hold one, let me think about it hell no. No one is gonna thank you for that. Not your gym partners, not the guy you whack in the eye with a flyaway nipple, and definitely not your tits. A couple people suggested i write on this topic, so we have noticed your braless ways. And Shari sent me this article, which not only says your boobs move up to 8 inches when you run, and not only says that they end up making a figure-8 pattern when they bounce, but that researchers studied and proved this. Bouncy tits=trouble. Make that Trouble. With a captial yeah.
But the good news is that sports bras reduce that movement by 53 to 55 percent, depending on whether you are an A or a G cup. You want that movement reduced, because you can actually do bad damage to your girls. And that’s damage in addition to the stuff you did by gaining and losing weight, being pregnant, breastfeeding, and letting yourself be pulled along behind that mule by your boobies for a twenty dollar dare. You regret that pregnancy now, don’t you?
So which bra should you go for? The researchers say the encapsulating kind, rather than the binding kind, reduce the most movement. I have these Athleta tanks with a built-in underwire bra that hold the tats nice and still, plus the padding reduces headlight glare. (Though nothing could completely dim these lights, I’m sorry to report. It’s like I’m in the presence of Gabby Reece all the time or rolling in snow or something. That is just life.) I’m in the small-to-moderate boobie size arena, so those work for me. And I also wear flimsier ones that my boobs won’t forgive me for later, I’m sure. So any suggestions are welcome, if you have a good encapsulating bra you like.
For “fuller busted” women (as the lingerie ads say) I hear from a few nice-tatted ladies that the Last Resort bra is the shit. I’ve overheard gushing about it. It’s the secret: pass it on.
I do like Dick’s Guide for fitting and buying bras. Dick is the master of the bra. Dick has the in. Why, I’d bet a pearl necklace if you let Dick manage your bra needs, you’ll have to wipe… the smile off your face so your friends won’t be too jealous.
But now I’ll ask you of the bestest bras to weigh in.
The Moving Comfort Bra — I think it’s the Fiona — is amazing. Big fan.
Heather
September 13th, 2007
I can’t stop imagining all the chacanery that must have gone on during the “study” of boob bounce-ness. A figure eight?
I wish I had a good bra to suggest for those of us who are um, gifted beyond the realm of DD. But alas, I just work out in my regular bras. It’s not comfy or all-together effective, but better than letting them flap in the breeze. Any suggestions?
Brittany
September 13th, 2007
ah thank you yoda! As a bra guru I’ve got some good one and bad ones.
The one I like right now is by Donna Karan sports bra. No uniboob here. I now try to get fit at Nordstroms, who are fantastic. I love Title 9, but not alot of help with larger sizes and fit (d, dd, ddd, e) so you’re on your own. At least in the past. I have two of the Fiona’s which were my fav until the Donna Karan.
I think when I work out alot, I have to replace the bra more frequently. cha ching! they aren’t cheap!
I look forward to checking out these links -thanks Kelly.
renee
September 13th, 2007
Brittany- try the Donna Karan or the Fiona. I didn’t care for the Last Resort bra- (just liked it) squished me beyond belief. Please think about wearing a sports bra during workouts-the girls need xtra support. I have a friend who is a plastic surgeon- and can just tell when my bra isn’t right anymore! She’s a little like Clark Kent-but it’s OK with me for this!
renee
September 13th, 2007
I looked at the last resort, but it makes the same mistake as all the rest of the American bra makers:
Just because I have huge boobs does *not* mean I have a big rib cage. I was a 32 (pre preg) and will get back to that soon enough.
Here are bras:
http://www.bravissimo.com
http://www.figleaves.com
And PLEASE go look at this:
http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/bounceometer/shock.html
You’ll giggle for days.
Dawn
September 13th, 2007
For those of us with HUGE boobs, the Enell Sports Bra is the way to go! (Title 9 calls it the Last Resort Bra). It is not very flattering, but there is NO BOUNCE (really, none), and the things last for a long time. Don’t knock ‘em ’til you try one. It’s amazing.
The Moving Comfort bra is pretty good, too. But If I’m going for a run, I definitely wear an Enell.
Poopmama
September 13th, 2007
I bought my bras when I was a FF post-partum (which is really a G, according to a friend of mine). Anyway, I am now a D but still like them because they allow NO movement. It’s a Champion with adjustable straps. I’ve washed it so many times, the tags all faded. I got them at Road Runner Sports. Oh and don’t put your bras in the dryer! It wears out their elasticity (or lack thereof).
Shari
September 13th, 2007
Did anyone else find it hilarious that boob bouncing is someone’s research expertise? I can just hear it at the next conference:
“So, what are you working on now?”
“Oh, we’ve just isolated the breast cancer gene and may have found a cure for it. You?”
“Um, I’ve jsut discovered breasts bounce in a figure-8 pattern.”
silence….
Shari
September 13th, 2007
I wonder, do these ‘researchers’ then put the data into a complex computer program that will show computer graphic recreations that they can play over and over…..
do they pick their favorite of the 70 women and make it their screensaver?
LogicalMama
September 14th, 2007
I hate the bouncies and have never found a sports bra, no matter how ugly, that could eliminate it. (Will have to try the Enell though).
However, I usually wear a snug leotard in addition to the sports bra (really annoying when its hot out). But it really makes a huge difference in reducing the movement. Of course then there’s the task of finding a leotard cut large enough in the seat that it doesn’t crawl up my ass. And I don’t even have a big butt. Leotard makers seem to assume nobody but teeny-tiny dancers would dare wear one, but c’mon, spare a bit more fabric!
Crabby McSlacker
September 15th, 2007
oh crap. Now I am going to be boob fixated in addition to all my other OCD burdens. I do wonder if women with implants have the same figure 8 thingee going on.. No, I am not even considering that… I hope the women were paid mightly for the study.
mary
September 15th, 2007
OMG! I second Mary’s comment. I started obsessing about how much droop and sagging is going on in my boob area. This taps into my secret fear that when I am old, my muscles around my boobs will have lost cohesion and my breasts will collaspe to meet my waist! I always wore binding sports bras or the kind that are built into tanks. I ran out and purchased a few “encapsulating” ones after I read that article.
Elsa
September 15th, 2007
Hey, Elsa, if you are planning to ever be pregnant, then it won’t be old age that introduces your boos to your waist.
Shari
September 16th, 2007
Best title ever!!! on this subject. I support you completely!!!
FitSugar
September 17th, 2007
I like the frog bra from title nine…on days when I am feeling larger than normal ( ie pre-period) I sometimes wear another bra, a cotton no-wire, underneath that. I am a D, and that reduces bounce almost completely.
Clare
September 17th, 2007
I used to wear a minimizer bra AND a sports bra for running, but now I just wear a Fiona and cinch ‘em tighter than my grip on the last cup-cake at 5 year old’s birthday party. Works nice, and you can easily adjust the straps depending on what evil Kelly imposes on you at the IC.
girlscientist
September 18th, 2007