You should have left this on the main forum. The discussion would have been priceless.

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Jen

"In order to keep a true perspective on one's importance, everyone should have a dog that worships him and a cat that will ignore him." - Dereke Bruce

While I myself am just a C, I've heard (probably here) that doubling up can help the truly top heavy.

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Awww, Katy's not all THAT evil. Only slightly evil. In a good way. - JasoninHalifax

I'm afraid I don't speak from personal experience, but I've heard really good things about Title Nine from my more well-endowed friends.

M

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The beatings will continue until morale improves

Hi Greeneyes,

I've been through the ringer with sports bras having been blessed (or cursed) with far more boob than I could want. I used to wear the Enell http://www.enell.com/ which was great. I have since had a reduction and while I'm far from small I find the shock absorber http://www.shockabsorber.co.uk/uk/ a really great bra. From experience two bras that don't fit properly really don't do the job. One bra that fits well will make life a lot better for you.

Karen

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"There's good all around you, you just have to be able to see it".

I second the Enell at www.enell.com they also sell this bra at Title 9 known as the Last Resort Bra. I used to wear 2 of these bras. I have since had a reduction and I am still wearing this bra because it's fabulous.

I have had exactly the same problem. I am most likely older than you and luckily my boobs have shrunk since childbirth/BF. But pre-kids I was a 32 D, and it sucked. Back then implants were less popular among the masses, so they were really noticeable and the comments (such as displayed on that deleted thread) made me feel cheap and degraded. I used to be so envious of girls who could wear strappy stuff without attracting attention. UGH! oh wait, back to bras. (plus I think times have changed with that sort of thing)

I lived with the chafing back then. I used to wear a smaller bra size, because I felt really ashamed if they bounced and attracted attention, I still have the scarring from it. I'd like to think now in 2008 there is a system that can avoid that awful chafing.

Happy ending, after all the body changes I am down to a 34 B or C depending on the maker. I am still bounce-phobic so I use the Fiona and it is perfect for me. Some days I use an Under Armor bra underneath a bra-top shimmel and that is enough. I have also noticed some extra support, if the underneath bra is a racer back and the shimmel is more of a cami style with straight straps. Have you tried mixing it up like that? Champion has (had?) one called the Marathon Bra with straight straps (it's ugly) that had some decent support, made out of coolmax.

Oh, last thing I just remembered. Post Partum I was like an E for "E" normous!!! I was chubby then too, but I still wanted to run, as I recall I wore 2 nursing bras layered. (36E I think!!) Not suggesting you use a nursing bra but just saying you might find your support outside the realm of sports bras. I remember at the time going through every single style in Title 9. What they called "support" was a joke. I also remember chatting in post partum support groups and some moms said they had luck with layer the bra on the OUTSIDE of a singlet and then obviousy another layer to hide it. :-/

I know none of this is a great easy fix to your problem of bruising and chafing AND being fashionable...at least you enjoy your dresses. :-)

I really like Sheila Moon's bra tops - they are supportive AND great at wicking, unlike other bras that stay wet after the swim, this dries really quickly and remains supportive.

I'm a 36D and there is not bounce or bleeding.

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Tri Hard !

Im a 34D and love the lululemon bounce breaker. It's wicking and dries quickly. also it's thin and light. So many of the other bras are thick and heavy.

http://lululemon.com/.../bras/bounce_breaker

I have blue, black and white. :D

I'm in need of new bras as well. I've used Title 9's Frog Bra and they work OK, when I'm heavier and boobs are bigger (like now a 36 D) I wear two. I've also been wearing the Road Runner Sports bra for larger breasted, but I bought them in a size small so they are super tight and therefore there is little bounce. I like wearing them for shorter distances, but I did manage make it through and entire IM with it on. I put it on right before the run though.

Geez. I wish I could contribute to this thread. :|

I've got nothing to contribute here either. I would be sad except we do get our choice of cute little bras to wear... there's just nothing in them. :)

WOW! Thanks for all the recommendations. I can't remember the last time I was excited about going sports bra shopping!

Sidenote: It is really nice to have this Womens Thread, for questions just like this. I accidently posted on the main forum last night and had a couple of smart a*s remarks within minutes. Shocking, I know...

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http://nikeep.blogspot.com/

Wow, Enell has a "vest" available for men. I always feel slightly sorry for dudes with man boobs.

I happen to own a business that sells sports bras ;-)

To be perfectly honest with you, you may have to try multiple bras before
you find one that really works. Someone else might wear a 34D, but a bra
that they totally love might be uncomfortable for you.

That said, these are the bras we at Bra Diva recommend for larger cup sizes:
http://www.bradiva.com/shop/bysize/cd.html

The Champion Powerback is very popular and loved by many with larger cups (and is an encapsulation bra),
Enell is always a good bet, and Moving Comfort's Maia is another favorite
for those who are larger breasted.

I personally really dig the Sugoi Bridget and race in the Sugoi Race bra,
but my cup size isn't quite a D.

Anyway, take a look at the site and if you're interested in any of the
bras, I'll give you a slowtwitch 10% discount (just write slowtwitch in the
comments section of the order page :-)

Also, I'll work with you in terms of trying a few different bras, etc. to
find one that works. But no worries if you prefer to use a different store
(of course!).


Emily

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Bra Diva
Find a sports bra that won't let you down!
www.BraDiva.com

I'm interested in hearing more about your experiences with reduction. Advice, regrets, applause? Feel free to PM me.

I certainly wouldn't consider myself "well-endowed," but I would like to point out that CW-X sports bras are awesome. Something like the Extra Support Bra would probably work well. They have a support web (like a five-point harness seatbelt for race cars or baby seats) built into each cup, so they are very effective in preventing any bouncing. They also tend to be much more comfortable than regular sports bras, since they give support without squishing one's chest. The only downside to the CW-X bras is that they tend to be a bit pricey, but I know many women who have found that they worked when no other sports bras did.

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http://lesliesexton.wordpress.com

I second the CW-X. I used to wear the frog bra from title 9 but this is better. It is made of wicking fabric and really minimizes the bounce. I've done long races and had no chaffing at the finish line. They are a little pricey but a good bra is worth almost any amount of $$. CW-X was bought by Wacoal - a very well known, very good bra manufacturer - they know their stuff!

I would like to offer my support, but due to my gender am unable to post!

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Deceptively slow.

Are the CW-X bras available through retailers? I hate buying bras online unless I know they fit.

Yes - you can find them in stores. I know my local running store (the runner's edge) has them. I've also seen them at marathon expos.

Tyr has a pretty nice bra that's also wicking. I did IMFL with it on, and never chaffed. For race day sometimes I try to go a size smaller to keep excessive movement from happenning if you know what I mean.

those front enclosures on the enell, does that hurt over long distance. think my size is just shy of a D (so i guess that is considered a full C, not even sure. although many times the C size sports bras wind up too small, or the snaps in back break, which has happened in almost every Fiona. maybe they were just too small.).

the snaps in front, i think that is a good design (as in it probably works good on the chest), but if running like 2 hours what does that closure do?
yeouch?

also that CW-X looks good, i'll try anything and need to order soon.

I personally do not wear the Enell, but two close friends of mine wear them. They tell me the front closure does not break or feel uncomfortable. You won't have to worry about it breaking. And Enell certainly keeps the ladies from bouncing!

One thing about Enell is that the bras are custom made. It's not some factory where they churn them out.

Also, have you tried the Champion Powerback? Or the Moving Comfort Maia?

Finally, statistics show that 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra! It might be worth re-measuring yourself to check on your size. We have a size calculator on our website:
[url "http://www.bradiva.com/size/index.html"]http://www.bradiva.com/size/index.html[/url]

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Bra Diva
Find a sports bra that won't let you down!
www.BraDiva.com

ha, brilliant!

many thanks!

My sister! I too am a 34 DD/E/F (depends on the manufacturer), and add my vote for the enell. They're ugly as hell, uncomfortable to put on and hot in the back, but they work. Like you I have major chaffing issues. For anything over 4mi I need to use bodyglide over the, um, affected areas, but the enell is better than anything else I've tried.

I would guess that if we're the same size we probably have similar...fit issues. I think the nike, etc, are too low-cut for those with biggish busts and small ribcages. The enell comes up higher in the front and I think that makes a difference with the bounce issues.

I got two new bras this weekend in Portland. Moving Comfort's Athena and Fiona. I wore the Fiona this morning and it really seemed to do the trick. It placed my boobs were pretty high on the chest which made me laugh when I saw myself in the mirror, but there was very little bounce.

I also got Moving Comfort's Bottom Lne Bootleg pants, which ROCK!!! They come in petite lengths which made me oh-so happy.

My very first post, ever, so here goes. I too, am a 34DD, E and found enell to be a godsend. When I first arose from the water wearing the enell bra, I admit to being half-terrified that all those front hooks might not hold or some disaster even worse. Thankfully, I finished the triathlon with my bra on and as fastened up as when I started. I had no chafing, because I did not move in that harness, er, bra. It did what it was supposed to do.

Oprah wore enell when she ran the Chicago Marathon and she endorsed their product. They also custom-build bras for women post-mastectomy, or for virtually any one of any size or circumstance.

I think they are 3 ladies in Whitefish, Montana and making bras for hard-to-fit women is all they do.

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DFL > DNF > DNS

The Enell is a great bra but I agree it is very ugly. Pre surgery my measurments didn't really fit any of the Enell sizes as they are listed but once I tired them on I found a size that did fit even though my measurments weren't part of that size.

The Shock Absorber is another great bra for larger chested women. I think it fits up to a G and it comes in smaller back sizes - something I'm sure most fit large chested triathletes struggle with. When I first started to wear it it made me laugh because unlike the enell that just squished everything into place the Shock Absorber lifts and separates keeping the girls nice and perky, even while running.

I'm curious to try some of the other running bras recommend for women who really have a larger chest - a size c or d really shouldn't be considered a large chest.

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"There's good all around you, you just have to be able to see it".

I just had a nice run with a friend of mine who is pregnant (yes it's come to that, I am so slow that pregnant women run my pace..but whatever)

Anyway, before pg, this girl was a a size 30DD. Now she is a "more normal" 34DD and she says things fit her better. I told her about this thread and she had a good laugh about the comments "C" and "D" need not apply. So thanks for the material...anything to get us through 9 miles , pre-dawn, 2 days after the time change. zzzzzzzzzzzzz

She said she was a fan of the Champion "sport top for large breasted women", we think that is the one that only comes in cotton blend , not tech fabric (why??). She said she tried the Moving Comfort Fiona (which I like but I am a flatty D turned B/C , LOL), but it moves around on her too much.

Just some additional info to share. She also said she was a huge fan of LuluLemon but not necessarily for the bras.

In a normal bra, I wear 38F. Yes, F. I didn't even know bras came in that size!

For running, I wear the Sugoi Firma Mesh and then an Adidas mini sport top/bra over it to minimize bouncing. So far, I've had no chafing or issues.

I have the Sugoi Bridget Bra but find it a pain in the butt to get in/out of - too bad the fastener wasn't at the front.

I tried those Enell bras but none seemed to fit me right. I've had a hard time finding a bra and since wearing the 2 has worked, I stopped looking.

Even w/ losing 18 pounds this year, my damn boobs are still 38F. If only I could lose weight from the boobs!!

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Proud member of the Guru Cartel, EH!

I LOVE the Sugoi Bridget bra. I wear it for running and also daily wear. Haven't had trouble getting in and out, though.

Daily wear of sports bras, you ask??? Well, I do own a sports bra business ;-)

I also race in the Sugoi Turbo Tri bra-a little longer and with a bit more coverage-perfect for racing!

I wish more people would try the Sugoi bras, actually-I totally love them :-)

Emily

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Bra Diva
Find a sports bra that won't let you down!
www.BraDiva.com

Irongirl, they come bigger than F. You can't imagine the calls I'd get when I was marathon running.

If two are working for you then no need to change. However as a long time runner in two it is so nice to be able to wear just one!

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"There's good all around you, you just have to be able to see it".

I should re-try my Bridget Bra - haven't worn it since losing weight. It should fit really well now. I seem to lack the co-ordination to get in and then do the back up :)

Haven't tried the Turbo Tri yet. That may be next as Sugoi has discontinued the Firma Mesh bra. I stocked up when I found that out!

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Proud member of the Guru Cartel, EH!

When I was fitted for some new bras, I was FLOORED to hear what size I would wear. F?! I knew bras/boobs came in many sizes but didn't think I was *that* big.

I now only buy my bras at the Lingerie store in my town. They have a great selection and are excellent at helping w/ making sure the girls are supported but sexy looking! Freaking expensive but oh so worth it.

I look forward to the day when I can wear one bra when running again. I hope that once I lose the next 15 pounds, it'll happen. Although, having lost 17, I am still the same bra size! Everyone else I know, they lose from their chest but NO, not me!

Anyway....do you still wear 2? Or did you find a really good one?

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Proud member of the Guru Cartel, EH!

I've still got some Firma Mesh in stock if you decide you need some...

I love the Turbo race top-it's perfect! Check it out when you need a new race bra. The nicest is that is can be worn alone-nice coverage, but leaves some skin for cooling, etc.


Em

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------------------------------------------------------------
Bra Diva
Find a sports bra that won't let you down!
www.BraDiva.com