Fit Villains: Selfish, Shameless, Sassy, Fitness.

When it comes to fitness gear and apparel, finding the right sports bra is kinda like finding the holy grail. Once you find the ‘perfect’ fit, you never want to let it go! 

But if you’re like most women, you probably haven’t found the ‘perfect’ sports bra. And while it’s not necessary to spend a ton of moola, making sure the one you have fits is KEY to avoiding pain, discomfort and injury. Even if you’re an A-cup like me. 

Wanted to address a few boobie fitness concerns as the questions keep piling up in my Ask!

Here are some of the BIGGEST fit-boobie quetions I get. 

Q: Why do my boobs ache after my workout? Even if I’m wearing a decent bra?

In most cases, that decent bra might not be as good as you think, or it may be worn out. Fabric stretches over time and eventually all sports bras need to be replaced. Sadly, not all bras are designed for all kinds of movement. And with a surge of women ramping up their workout intensity, there’s a need for better support in general. 

The number one cause of breast pain in fitness is poor support. 

We’ve recently learned that during exercise, our breasts move not only up and down, but also side to side and forward and backward. Many sports bras, especially older models, don’t account for the forward and backward motion. Combine that with our tendency to wear the wrong fit for OUR breasts, and it’s a recipe for poor support and pain. 

This latter motion (backward and forward) simply isn’t factored in by most sports bras, especially those with low support (no underwire and no extra fabric cups). D-cup breasts in a low-support bra can move a total of 3-5 inches up and down AND in & out during a sweat session. 

That’s quite a workout! 

If you’re bigger than a B-cup, choose a high support sports bra that has a cup for each breast. This style is way better at keeping the girls comfortably contained while you work out. Take your time and try on different styles for comfort. Most importantly, before you leave the store TEST them out by jumping up and down, and bending forwards and back. They should be well supported in all planes of motion (imagine burpees: they should support you in plank AND as you jump up at the end). 

How to Wear a Support Bra - Things You Didn’t Know

Q: Do I need to wear a sports bra if i’m a B-cup?

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Finding the right sports bra can be tricky.

I’ve heard from women who’ve spent years trying to find the right fit before giving up, or decide that after years of not wearing one that they really don’t need a sports bra after all.

Well you do. You need a sports bra. Regular bras aren’t designed for the kind of movement that a fitness program entails. In fact, depending on what you’re doing, there are different sports bras and with optimized levels of support specific for the activity you’re doing. Yoga? Just a little support needed (more if you’re tata-top heavy). Kickboxing? You need a bra that moves with you, but still tucks those girls in. Running/plyometrics? Support to the moon and back. Please.

This isn’t meant as a guilt trip or as an ultimatum. At the end of the day, the choice is yours! But a support bra is important for lots of reasons, including prevention of back problems & keeping your girls as perky as possible for as long as you can.

Whether you’ve got cute tater tots, or luscious watermelons, here’s some of the biggest problems to look for with tips on how to find YOUR fit.

Tater Tots (A’s & small B’s) That’s me too! Welcome to our lovely, little lump club. We’re not overly endowed but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need support. I see it all the time: despite the proof, some ladies in this range really don’t see the need to wear a sports bra. For once and for all: hike those girls up! Small or not, your boobies move as much as 8 inches in each direction during movement (including up & down, side to side AND forward & back). Your girls are also attached to your body by tissue that works very much like an elastic band; the more tugs on the band, the looser it becomes (and they can’t be re-tightened). You can get away with it in yoga class, but everything else? Get support.

Apples & Oranges (B’s & C’s) If you’re a girl in this group, you need to be more concerned about fit: you don’t wanna smush them, you still want a little lift, but you also want control. You’ll be happy to find the most variety for your girls though: B’s & C’s are the most popular sizes for sports bras. But a ‘one-size-fits-all’ mentality won’t (and shouldn’t) apply to every activity. The best tip for this group? When trying on sports bras, don’t just stand there in the mirror. Jump up and down, leap side to side & forward & back. You need to check how the bra works in action to see if it’s the right fit for you. Try to mimic moves from your favorite workouts before you buy.

Watermelons (Big C’s, DD’s & above). Oh, girl. I feel ya! As much as us smaller ladies might want a little boost, with greater boobage comes greater responsibility. High intensity activity can be rough on your girls, so adequate support is your biggest concern. Despite what you might think, larger sports bras can be flattering, and you need to look for bras that really minimize movement and support your girls (so that your back doesn’t have to). Like average girls, you need to take that bra for a test run, but you may benefit more from having an actual fitting to make sure you’ve got the right size. The biggest downfall in this group is that too many women under or over estimate their bra size. And sadly, some of you may not find the right bra for you in conventional stores (sorry!). That doesn’t mean it’s not worth the investment or that you’ll never find the right bra. Do some research (see link below). There is a market for you with products that WILL help you out & make you look good.

From easy A’s to daring double D’s, here’s the breakdown of the best bras BY SIZE that will keep your tatas in place, (while still looking your best).

http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/gear/sports-bras/2011-guide-best-sports-bras-reviews/

Do you have a favorite sports bra? Share in the comments please!