lose weight fast on bike?

[Kathi]

Check here: http://www.reddit.com/r/braswap/ and http://brarecycling.com A lot of the websites recommend Brastop but the company is in the UK and I'm not sure their bras are cheaper due to shipping costs and sometimes you have to pay duty. I also just read they show prices in pounds not dollars so the prices are higher than you think.

If you don't see the size you're looking for on braswap post a request for the size. Measure, measure and remeasure before you do.

I've donated to brarecycling.com but I don't know their procedure for distributing bras. You may have to go through an agency so contact them. Also, try Goodwill, Ebay, etc. I used to donate to Goodwill until I found The Bra Recyclers. There's lots of women out there trying to get rid of bras that don't fit. Even if the bras aren't perfect fit anything's better than a bra that's falling off. Sad to say, it took me 7 years to find the correct fitting bra, I finally got the band right but was buying my cups too big. I think that's why the uprise in blogs and websites on bra fitting. There's lots of good advice on ABraThatFits. You could ask them for suggestions, too. Hopefully, the American bra industry will get their act together and start providing a wider range of sizes in their brands and in the stores and better fitting advice.

[Kathi]

Seriously? I don't think so. Women survived for millennia before the invention of bras.

A good bra will definitely make things more comfortable. A poorly fitting bra can contribute to back, neck and shoulder pain. No article of clothing, whether it fits well or poorly, is going to "damage" any body part, unless it's so tight it deforms the bones or internal organs, or alters biomechanics (i.e. shoes). Actually, the way I understand it, bras were originally invented as a replacement for corsets, which *were* so tight that they damaged ribs, pelves and internal organs...


Way to go Swan. Do remember your health and how you feel are so much more important than the number on the scale!

Sorry, I wasn't talking about permanent damage. I was thinking of bruises, rashes, fungi underneath the boobs, discomfort from ill fitting bras, tissue migration,back pain, shoulder pain from too tight straps, etc. I've pretty much disliked bras and didn't think much about them, except they were uncomfortable. I'm part of the "bra-burning generation" and I was happy without them and only wore them when needed. I found them so uncomfortable that after I retired I quit wearing them at home. However, that wasn't always comfortable either. I thought I was wearing the correct size but unknowingly I wasn't. Thanks to the internet, pictures of me looking dumpy in ill fitting sports bras and looking like pictures of my great-greatmother at age 80 I started understanding that all the ills I had suffered over the years had a lot to do with my bra fit, cups being to small (underwires pressing on tissue) and my band being too big.
Unfortunately, most women don't understand bra fit and the American bra industry doesn't help with limited sizing and poor fitters. Currently, the only brand I can find that fits me is a UK brand and my size is not sold in stores or boutiques. I've spent a lot of time, trial and error, and money trying to figure out what a good bra fit is on me. If I hadn't found that 1 brand I'd have to resort to alternations or custom made bras. It's a shame that a woman of my age, 64, never had a well fitting bra until now. Sadly, I know I'm not alone.

[Swan]

Yesterday's training about killed me orz 1mi run, leg curls, leg extensions, and squats until failure.... But when I woke up this morning and weighed myself at the usual time, I found I've dropped another pound since the doctor last Friday. Yayyyyy! And also owwww...

[Swan]

I think she mentioned she doesn't have the funds to do the shopping thing at the moment.

Yep : )

[Swan]

I've hit the -15# mark! Whoo!

[indysteel]

That's great, Swan. Way to go!!!

[Catrin]

Whoohoooo Swan, congratulations!

[murielalex]

Nice, swan.

[Blueberry]

Awesome, Swan! You are an inspiration

[Swan]

Checking in!
After losing 21# I lost my job and my car, which sent me into a bout of inactivity and toward a big ol' pint of icecream. Yay, depression won again. I gained back several pounds and am at an odd size now (a 16-19 instead of the firm *15* I'd gotten down to), but since Monday I've become more active again. I'm hoping it will catch again. Everyone slips up and it's alright to take time for yourself, right? The important thing is that I keep trying!
I finally got a proper bra fitting (36FF, omg). It does feel better, but a bit of niggling back pain is still persistent. I'll keep losing weight and if they don't shrink down, I'll just phone up the reduction surgeon I've been eyeing. Even if it doesn't help with the back pain, it'd be nice to be able to sit at a table without them blocking my way!

[Kathi]

Glad to hear you got a new bra and a UK brand, good for you. I know an FF cup sounds depressing but if it makes you feel better technically, I'm a 26G but size 26 bands are viturally non existent so I wear a 28 FF. On my small frame I don't consider it a huge size. I always thought I was small but wearing a properly fitting bra makes me look less grandmotherly. I'm not a even a grandmother! If Victoria Secrets and many department stores quit trying to convince women that they're all in the A-DD range and put them in good fitting bras you'd see more women wearing larger cup sizes.

Bra fitting takes awhile. I thought my 30DD's were great, until the band stretched a little. It took me a long time to realize they weren't. Then I went to 28G's, miscalculated that one. Once I started learning about my shape I was able to settle into 1 brand and 2 styles that work for me. Did you measure your band tight or loose? If you measured loose you could also consider trying these sizes (UK,not US sizing), 34FF, a band/cup size down or 34G, same cup volume as your FF, but tighter band. Also, remember to "swoop and scoop" often.

I don't have any other advice except to say good job on your progress.

[Swan]

Thanks, guys. I'm benched again.
Riding my bike has made my back flare up really horribly again. I don't know what's causing it. I stretch, I hydrate, I eat... I'm going to try raising the handlebars to more of a casual commuter's level and see if that helps any, and I'll raise the seatpost a bit, too, to further extend my legs on the downstroke.... Haven't been doing this because like most casual bicyclists in my area, I like to be able to put both feet on the ground. Looks like I'm going to deal with being wobbly for a while, because I'm getting real tired of not being able to be active.

[Catrin]

Thanks, guys. I'm benched again.
Riding my bike has made my back flare up really horribly again. I don't know what's causing it. I stretch, I hydrate, I eat... I'm going to try raising the handlebars to more of a casual commuter's level and see if that helps any, and I'll raise the seatpost a bit, too, to further extend my legs on the downstroke.... Haven't been doing this because like most casual bicyclists in my area, I like to be able to put both feet on the ground. Looks like I'm going to deal with being wobbly for a while, because I'm getting real tired of not being able to be active.

Any option of visiting an experience fitter? Seriously, the difference of even a couple of mm can make a huge difference. My own fitter adjusted my height by less than 2mm and that removed the hip pain I was experiencing at the time. If you can see a talented fitter with good experience it might go far in helping you - without possible ramifications that come from guessing incorrectly in adjustments. Sometimes bike fit issues aren't obvious as everything is connected. Hoping you feel better soon!

[Swan]

There aren't any mechanized fitting machines or anything like that in my area. Maybe if I drove to Tallahassee, I could find one... I'll look around on the web. But what are the fitting machines called? The ones you get hooked up to while your bike is mounted??

[Catrin]

There aren't any mechanized fitting machines or anything like that in my area. Maybe if I drove to Tallahassee, I could find one... I'll look around on the web. But what are the fitting machines called? The ones you get hooked up to while your bike is mounted??

The fitting system is no where near as important than an experienced and talented fitter. Technology does not matter if the user cannot think outside the box or have experience with people with physical issues like you, and me.

Check to see if there is a local cycling group who can give you a recommendation. You need someone who can think out of the box. You might also want to see if there is a PT who is also a fitter, I know they exist but not how common they are...