Regular readers will know that I am completely enamoured of my gym’s (Monday) faux-Zumba class. I call it so because it’s not really Zumba. Apparently. And that suits me, as I’m not a huge fan of Latin dance or music.
Nonetheless, our fabulous instructor Nikki, said she often tries to Zumba-fy a song she likes or a dance she comes up with, though frankly I’m quite happy with her latest music fetish (Nicki Minaj) and previous one (LMFAO).
However… something became increasingly obvious to me in this week’s class. We were revisiting LMFAO’s “Sexy and I know it” – which Nikki calls ‘our anthem’. She also tells us we’re hot and sassy… so we can take that with a grain of salt! (Although we love her for saying it!)
The routine itself requires a lot of hip gyration (as do most of her dances) but there’s also a bit of butt wiggling… and some shoulder / chest shimmies.
And on Monday, for the first time I realised the song’s wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle yeah lyric had become wobble wobble wobble wobble wobble bounce, as I felt my large and slightly-saggy pert and practically perfect breasts move of their own accord – and in a different direction to the rest of me!
I must confess that I have ONE good sports bra. I have two others which I can wear for walking or Pump classes and the like, but only one which can ‘support’ me during my dance classes, running or other high impact cardio. And… quite frankly, the reason that sports bra is so good is because it’s actually too small for me. And as a result NOTHING moves. My *ahem* girls hang over the outsides of the cups a little and it’s about two sizes too tight around my chest, but that sucker keeps everything in place.
Well… it did, until now! I’m hoping the the sudden movement is the result of the bra being (quite possibly) a few years old rather than any recent weight gains or movement of fat cells!
A decent sports bra was unnecessary during my non-exercising years, so I haven’t had to worry about buying one for a while, making do with the one oldie.
And back when I did partake in high-impact exercise I also had tight-fitting singlet shirts (mainly Bella Bustiere brand) which I wore OVER my sports bra – and under a baggy t-shirt – for added support. I still have the singlet tops, but am loath to try them on lest I not yet fit into them.
Either way… I suspect the time has come for a DECENT sports bra or two. I cannot keep waiting until the ‘end’ of my weightloss journey. I know I could / should get properly fitted etc but am more worried about the ‘bounce’ factor than the fit. I kinda know to lean into it to make sure the cups fit (as I had my very first bra fitted by some very handsy woman at a specialist store when I was a youngster!), but not sure about the appropriateness of jumping up and down in the fitting room to make sure the bra itself is sufficiently sturdy to confine my *ahem* girls. Perhaps I need to invest in a couple of give them a trial run?!
So, what I’m after from my loyal and learned readers are some suggestions: sports bras for the generously proportioned…. What can you tell me?
June 20, 2012
I was given an invaluable tip from my (male) best friend when I started “running”- the double bra. A sports bra with a crop top over it. It definitely holds those puppies in place- although I’ve never been a fan of the mono boob…
June 20, 2012
That was the advantage with my tight singlet shirts… they’re lycra stuff like the crop top but longer so no mono boob. Though once my belly started to grow (from food rather than baby!) they used to roll up a bit! Erk!
June 20, 2012
Would love to advise you Deb .. However as I exist at the other end of the spectrum I have trouble getting a sports bra to fit me unless it is a crop .. Which leaves me with a spectacularly flat chested look …
June 20, 2012
My Zumba teacher wears a padded bra of some sort to the class and has a gym shirt with a cowl neck – she thinks it makes her boobs look bigger (and more effective when she shakes them). Those of us with larger bosoms always groan when we do a lot of shimmies!
Deb
June 20, 2012
I wear two bras too.
June 20, 2012
Thanks and so far it sounds like that’s the best option… a bra and crop type top over it. (Under my baggy t-shirt obviously!!!!)
Deb
June 20, 2012
I also swear by a crop top over my sports bra.
Took me ages to feel comfortable running and working out what is suitable and comfortable.
For fear of sounding like an advertisement, I’ve tried hundreds of bras for larger cup women and swear by Berlei.
June 20, 2012
Georgia, I used to wear Berlei sports bras and from memory they had different types for different levels of ‘bounce’ – though maybe the term was more technical.
Deb
June 20, 2012
Ok, I have DD-E cup breasts depending on my weight of course and there are two bras that are the best on the market – Enell is what Oprah wears for running, they’re a crop top style with about eleventh hundred hooks in the front. they’re not cheap but check out their website to find out how to measure the sizes then look on eBay, they have outlet stores on there. The other one I wear is called Shock Absorber and has different levels of impact, it’s a UK brand and works a treat!
June 20, 2012
Hi Kate and thanks… someone else mentioned Shock Absorber on my FB page (she’s in the UK) and I hadn’t heard of it before. Am gonna also check out Enell, as I’m not sure if it’s available here – though as you said, I could get via eBay etc – though I would like to try it on first I guess (to check the bounce factor!!!)
Deb
June 20, 2012
I read about Enell in blogs a lot. Other than that, being sooooooo tiny myself, I can’t offer any suggestions.
June 21, 2012
Ha ha Karen… I’ve read about Enell bras and know US blogger Skinny Emmie is am ambassador, but wasn’t sure if they are available here in Oz!
Deb
June 21, 2012
Wish I could help you out – but I need to start a search for the same thing. I keep telling myself that I should wait, because, you know, when I lose weight it won’t fit anymore. But that’s SO DUMB. I mean, how am I going to run around now without one? I can, and I have, but it sucks.
June 21, 2012
I completely understand Sasha, thinking… ‘Do I want to spend $70 each on a new bra when HOPEFULLY I’ll grow out of it soon!’ But given the one I have is about 5yrs old and I’ve been wearing it for every high-impact cardio session for almost a year… it would have been worth buying something decent. (Also I’ve noticed the strap of my current one is fraying a bit. Must be a sign… not to mention the bounce thing!)
Will let you know how my search goes!
June 21, 2012
Hi Deb! I’m a curvy girl who wears underwire fitness bras. I am a crazy exercise freak who wants to be free to be my best. I frequently exercise in inverted poses, and I have 0% patience for major shifts, if you know what I mean. I do headstands with everything staying in its exact place. Underwire is it, I tell ya. 😀
🙂 Marion
June 21, 2012
My current faithful sports bra isn’t underwire Marion, but I suspect it’s smallness and tightness means that it doesn’t matter. The other (less-supportive) sports bras are though. But – they’re cheapies. I bought them when going to fat camp about 3 years ago because the current one didn’t fit and was stored away somewhere!
I can relate to the ‘major shifts’ issue. I don’t do yoga, but do know in pilates that sometimes I can almost asphyxiate myself if there’s too much movement!!!
Deb
June 21, 2012
I have heard great things about Enell. I order mine through Moving Comfort – they have an au site, but I usually order them through http://www.teamestrogen.com – they stock all sizes, from little to larger – and their customer service is great. I just checked TE site and they also stock Enell.
xx
PS – I like the Phoebe bra and I’m a C/D size.
June 21, 2012
Thanks! I had hoped to try one on first up… But perhaps I could get one and see. I noted a place at Milton stocks Moving Comfort (I think), but am too lazy to drive that far! Am in Sydney next Friday afternoon perhaps I should put it on my to-do list (bra-shop!!!)
June 21, 2012
word has it ENELL is what you seek!
June 21, 2012
Hi Miz and yes… the most common responses (here, FB and Twitter) are Enell and Moving Comfort! Might get one of each and see how I go!
Deb
June 22, 2012
I’m a big fan of the Nike Sport Bras. Just picked one up a couple of weeks ago and it does a good job of keeping the girls front and center!
June 23, 2012
THanks for the advice Jennifer!
June 23, 2012
The wobbling and bouncing really worries me when I do metabolic circuits. They have lots of jumps. I really don’t like the idea of my D-cup (or something) breasts reaching to my knees some day… 🙂
I don’t own a single pair of decent sports bras. I know of Shock Absorbers, but I doubt they sell Enell’s here.
June 24, 2012
Satu, I’m the same – worrying about saggy-ness, though it may already be too late for me! Will let you know how I go!