I quit wearing a bra 6 months or so ago. I am much more comfortable without one, even running. I run lighter and more gently without one. Having experienced a range of breast sizes through out my baby making career, I can say from experience,that a DD milk filled breast needs support when running and my post baby size barely B cup is much more comfortable without.
Memories of wearing two or three sports bras at once trying to get some purport just came back to me as I was looking at pictures of sports bras and how tight around they can be and yet the bounce just keeps on going. For those of you still doubling up, I send out a little prayer your way. I feel for ya sister. I really really do.
For me, I had issues with bras being too tight around. At the end of the day it feels so good to take that bra off so I sacrificed a little in the bounce department to ease my breathing. I have also noticed that my digestion is better without the squeezing.
I have yet to find the great combination of holding the girls up and yet not being too tight around. Being a barefoot runner though, I have practiced at the art of landing lightly and gently while running and it makes a difference when going without a bra. I also sometimes wear a bikini top or a tank with a shelf bra. I think a bikini top is fresh looking with a t-shirt in the summertime. Makes me want to listen to Will Smith's Summertime and shoot some hoops and ride around in a convertable....
The hard part of going sans bra is knowing that when I am in public people are probably noticing that the girls are free. Everyone wears a bra. Very rarely do I see someone without one.
I remember when I lived in Hawaii and was working at this place called LuLu's, the bosses girlfriend was this gorgeous tall willowy black women who had just gotten a boob job. It wasn't drastic but perky with class. Maybe between a B and C cup in size but she didn't have to wear a bra. I will always remember her saying that it was awesome to never have to wear a bra anymore. That was the only time I have ever considered a boob job.
I am not too self conscious about going bra less these days, unless in the freezer section of a grocery store, but I have had to work on my inner activist and remind myself that I don't have to wear a bra and maybe society needs to change. Fat chance at that but it makes me feel better to see myself as a rebel instead of a dysfunctional failure of a bra shopper!
I suppose if I googled I could find the origin of the bra and why they seem to persist but I think that underclothes are over rated and only should be used sparingly and for special occasions like a long run. It's not a feminist thing per say but a comfort thing. Its like choosing yoga pants over tight jeans. At some point comfort wins over fashion. That or fashion changes and we begin to dictate what we think is hot. I know that if I carry myself as though I think I look good, I can pull off just about any style. Even if its a braless, girl of the 90's with four boy spawn in tow look. Its the old trick of looking like you know what you are doing, making people think that indeed you do know what you are doing, even if inside you are not always so sure.
I think this goes for big breasted women as well. When I see a chic with large breasts go without a bra I think "right on sista" instead of "oh, my how shameful". Fuck that!! Do what makes you happy and for goddess sake don't torture yourself for fashion or being "propper" for any reason!
If people can go around in pajama bottoms, my personal pet peeve, then by all means go without a bra whenever you feel like you can.
Breasts are beautiful. Breasts are all different. It feels so good to take that bra off. No more chafing or straps digging into my shoulders. It's not like I burned the bra forever, just when I feel like it, I give myself permission to be comfortable. I do know that I have made a few old fellas smile more than once this week while out and about, so there is that and my super hero husband is definitely a fan of my fashion sense.
In the mean time while the perfect bra search goes on and we all work on loving our bodies and being nice to them, check out this study posted on Runblogger about breast movement during bare breasted running. Geek meets free titties and a dude posted about it! Good on ya Pete!
Cheers,
Angie Bee
12 comments:
Since I am currently breast feeding, I can't imagine running without a bra! Good for ya, though, if it doesn't hurt!
In the 90's, I recall now that many, many women went braless. I owned one bra and wore it when I ran. I wonder what happened to undo that movement.
i have been running "gentle' for 4 years now, and it still hurts my girls. i don't know what my problem is, but it is very uncomfortable and i'd say mine are quite small. however, they have grown and shrank so much, they are basically little more than old socks with a bunch of nickels at the bottom. there is a ton of skin and very little tissue. that makes for a really exaggerated bounce i think. thats my excuse anyway. ow ow. but if you can do it - god bless ya. i hate the sports bras - squeezing and rubbing sores all around and what not
I am small chest and only walk around the house in the am without one. I can't imagine RUNNING without one! LOL
I read that study and thought it was interesting. If some ladies have pain then I hope it helps develop a better bra. I quit wearing one 99% of the time a year and a half ago.Now I wear camisoles to lessen the "headlights" effect. I wear a C-D depending on weight. I hate bras! I am a really slow runner so I can get away without wearing one. I will wear one if I am actually trying to run fast, or at the gym but the latter is so I am not getting unwanted attention. I do not wear one at work most of the time, but I am a modest dresser so I doubt anybody notices. I will wear an "Ah Bra" under business attire but that is about it. At first I was afraid I would "look funny" but I have always liked the way my breasts look and they seem to be aging well so it's all good. :)
I absolutely only wear a bra if necessary. I usually do run with one and I try and wear one around town if I'm just in a t-shirt. At work I wear a cotton camisole with a shelf bra and even that bothers me by the end of the day. As a mom of a teen girl and a tween girl, I try to model the importance of being comfortable & I encourage my girls to go braless when they feel like it:) Free bosoms everywhere!!!
I have to ask... I am sorry it fascinated me. I am a nursing mama too and have just lost a crap load of weight and never really thought of running with my girls free but will my next run......
But the question - WHERE did you get the t-shirt????? I want one!
:-)
Jill
I'm so jealous!
I'm a double up bra wearing kind of girl, but wish I could go naked!
But, but, but visible nipples!
Oh, wait, why am I complaining ;-)
My wife has very large breasts, but hates wearing a bra (she also doesn't run, though).
From what I've seen, lots of ladies are afraid of the bouncing making their boobs stretch and stuff.
I wear a eur 70F(fitted) - I would never ever think about running without a bra - I think I might punch my face with "the girls" *lol* but I often go out without, just a thin elastik tanktop is enough if I do not run (or try to catch a bus etc.).
So if I am sure I do not need to run, it's possible.
I try to loose some weight (let's face it, most of it is fat) and built up muscles to the girls up. But I will stick to my shockabsorber RUN for running, I do not want to torture that poor skin.
Tip: if the strings are hurting your shoulders or that thing is moving around, you really should see a bra-fitter (where you can learn the cup size says nothing - a Acup on a 80 band is nearly as big as a Dcup on a 65 band) because you obviously wear a totally wrong bra size, too wide and too small cups, the band wandering up to your neck. I strongly recomand getting informed about bra-fitting instead of giving the bra up. Give it a true chance!
You should measure your chest while breathing out - mine is 71cm (75cm if I hold my breath) and I wear a 70 band, because that stuff is elastic and will wear out. The strings should only hold that thing in place, not supporting the weight!
I know not a single woman wearing her real size, all that is rubbing, bouncing and not supporting at all, for sure you do not like that feeling!
So, please do a small research about bra fitting instead of not wearing a bra or doubling them (never heard of anyone doing that) do it for your girls ;-)
I agree you might feel differently about bras if you were fitted well. I always thought I was a 36e
I got fitted and turns out I'm a 32FF!
Can't believe the difference it makes and honestly getting a good sports bra actually allowed me to start running, something I hadn't done since before I got boobs!
Ok I am a lot bigger, but I do go around the house without a bra often. No way in hell I could run though. I also think all the double bra people haven't been fitted properly also as I just need one well fitting sports bra to run.
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