Bras and gravity

By Maggie Roberge (The Bra Lady)

When I was a pre-teen of 13, I secretly envied my friends that had developed breasts early.  They were the ones that got to wear bras.  Regardless if it was only an AA or a D, it meant the same.  They had crossed the line to womanhood. It wasn’t the boys that first noticed this rite of passage; it was we, less endowed, girls ogling on the sidelines wondering when we would be next. While these gals may have been the ones envied back then, now, years later, having an ample bosom or any bosom for that matter, can be a different story. The muscles that were supple in youth lose their elasticity and gravity does take its course.  Those funny cartoons you see of Madeline, the frumpy old lady that has the boobs hanging to her knees? This picture isn’t far off for a lot of ladies.

I recently met up with a friend from high school. Donna was always one of the popular ones. She was cute with a curvy figure, and as we put it back then “well stacked”.  Today, she still has the great personality, but things have shifted somewhat. Those perky ladies that used to jut proudly out, well, for want of a better expression, took a nose dive. I found myself again ogling, not out of envy, but out of concern. When Donna walks, she looks as if she is striding downhill. Her body is being pulled forward by the weight of her breasts.    She moans and groans and talks about needing a breast reduction and suffers multiple issues. She has backaches, neck aches and indented lines where the bra strap is digging into her shoulders.  These are also signs that the bras she once wore are simply not right for her changing body.  Donna needed to take a serious look and toss the outdated bra that was allowing her breasts to dangle freestyle

Throughout the years it’s fairly common that women’s breasts grow and shrink.  When the body changes we need to adjust and wear undergarments that ‘serve’ us with correct support.  .Regardless of the size of bust one has, it is so important to pick a bra that fits right. This is especially true because as you get older the breasts begin to droop, lending not only to a matronly appearance, but also resulting in muscle discomfort and headaches.  The natural spine alignment is thrown off as the extra weight of the breast causes pressure on the back.   Naturally the first thing that comes to mind is, if I lose weight, I’ll lose breast weight and that will resolve the aches and pains. Right and wrong.  You may be healthier when you lose weight, but when the fat leaves the tissue, the breast is still left drooping and falling to the bottom of the bra cup.  The sagging breast tissues role off the chest wall and under the arm, and continues to pull on the neck which reduces the blood flow to the head.  The result?  Headache 101.  Having the right bra is one way to combat this for the tissue will be lifted up and supported.     

Now, my friend Donna really may need a breast reduction to help with her issues, but, without the correct bra afterwards she realizes that she could still be facing the same problems she is having now. As Oprah’s been saying on her show over the past few years, 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra.  Are you one of them? Think about it. Does your flesh squeeze over the top of your bra?  Does the back of your bra ride up? Does the shoulder strap leave deep gauges in your shoulder? Do you just look a bit frumpy and sagging? 

Do yourself a favor.  Have a fitting by a professional bra fitter.  The right bra will not only enhance your appearance, but it could be a contributing factor for helping to alleviate the back and neck problems you find yourself plagued with. 

Ladies, with the right bra, and the right fitting, the results can be simply ‘uplifting’. 

Maggie Roberge, “The Bra Lady” www.myessentialbodywear.com/beautyblooms 408-319-7612