Questions about bra size change, related to weight loss or gain, perimenopause and other stuff

[Skirtingboards]

Firstly, I have name changed as it's good practice.

Secondly, I can't have a breast reduction for various medical reasons. So if you were thinking of writing something like "I had a breast reduction and it changed my life, best thing I ever did" etc, go and write it somewhere else. It's not welcome on this thread.

Thirdly, this is a stream of consciousness thing so feel free to add anything relevant as long as it's not about surgery.

I'm absolutely at my wits' end as I have just gone up a cup size again, from 30HH to 30J. I was a 30F/FF throughout my 20s, went up to 30G when I was about 32, never had a problem. In my mid-30s I suddenly went up to 30GG then 30H within six months, stayed for a while, then went up to 30HH and 30J in a similar way. Went to my GP who did some blood tests which showed nothing, saw a breast specialist, nothing. My GP told me to try losing weight so I lost half a stone and went back down to 30HH, stayed for a year or so, but it's so hard to keep the weight off. And as I'm approaching 40, I'm wondering if this new size increase is to do with perimenopause and I'm going to end up going at JJ or K. Or if I could possibly get back down to 30HH with a bit of weight loss. I know a lot of people say that they lose weight but their breasts stay the same. How common is it to actually lose a cup size rather than just back size?

I thought maybe my sudden mid-30s increase was due to perimenopause but maybe there's more to come? I can't cope with this any more. The pain is real. Even with the most expensive Rigby & Peller bra it still takes its toll.

Also I popped into a department store and although they didn't have any bras in my size, the woman I spoke to was very nice and understanding. She asked me at what age my mum reached menopause, and I said I didn't know but I'll have to ask her, but I don't think it was particularly early. She (the bra fitter, not my mum) said that when she was about 43, she went up from DD to GG. I checked I'd understood correctly and she said yes, she went up five cup sizes within a year. How common is this?

Is it an upward-only journey? Do they ever spontaneously get smaller again for no reason?

I can't take any more.

I lost 2 stone and went down at least 1 band size, sometimes 2 band sizes depending on bra. Also lost a cup size.

These a condition that makes breasts grow and grow. I can't remember what's it's called which isn't helpful.

Do you take the pill? That made my huge boobs even worse.

I must admit I thought this thread would be full of people saying tough, you're stuck at that size for life. I'm feeling really motivated to get back into healthy eating and exercise right away!

Ye they change with age. Yes they reduce with weight loss but they lose fullness a lot. And even with weight loss they will be bigger than when you were younger had you been that size. In other words, weight is a factor but not the only one. You can't have a reduction so there is nothing else to suggest I'm afraid. Good bra with wide straps to distribute weight more.

Skirting, so glad you’re motivated. I’m sure you’ll see a difference.

Some of the lingerie companies still have Black Friday sales on, so I'll order a sports bra tonight.

Are your breasts fat or tissue? If You have a good poke around you should notice that they are soft with a hard lump in the middle. The harder bit of tissue and hard to loose. The soft bits are fat and can be lost if you loose weight. Maybe consider some kind of forest/back brace to help with the pain. You have my sympathies. Sounds horrible.

Feels soft on the outside so hopefully could lose a cup size.

I hope this works. I'm so unhappy. Currently preparing a healthy dinner.

I just came back to say that I'm still eating healthily today, and I've ordered some sports bras.

I really hope this works. It's 3.5 weeks until Christmas so maybe I could even lose 4lb to start with. I just hope I can get my breasts to reduce. Ideally I wish I could be a size G again but that's unlikely, but if I could just get down to HH again that would really be a big deal.

Just checking in again to say I'm keeping up the healthy eating, although I actually feel like I've got larger within the past two days but my period is due this weekend.

I've received an email to say my sports bras have been posted, so they should arrive soon.

Still feeling desperate as I know it will take a few weeks to see any physical difference if it works, and then it'll be Christmas and I will be taking part but I need to really be careful.

That’s fantastic Skirting It will be so worth it!

Mine have gone from an H to and E (same brand of bra). If you go to R&P for your bras you may have the Prima Donna bras? They are amazing imo, expensive but they last amazingly well.

Also look at your posture, I used get back ache, then I was filmed as part of a training exercise for work. I saw how much I slouched so I took up Pilates and it really helped, I also did some strength work for my upper body and I was able to carry it better.

The reduction in size was due to slow and steady weight loss, calorie counting, food tracking and lots of walking. I think I was dropping 2 or 3 lbs a week, now I weight the same as I did at 17 or 18.

Dotte that's amazing! Do you mind me asking how much weight you lost in total?

The LCHF (low carb, high fat) way of eating makes the biggest difference to my 'measurements' of anything i have ever tried. Come over and join us in the low carb boot camp threads for some encouragement and inspiration.

I was slim all my life until I reached 38 and found that it was much harder to keep trim and I ended up overweight in my fifties.

Hormones played a huge part and perimenopause and anaemia made me feel pretty rubbish which made it harder.

I found that the 5/2 diet worked wonders at shifting peri weight gain that normal restricted eating didn't seem to work with so well.

After a hysterectomy and oophorectomy I now use this to keep at a healthy weight, it was hard getting started but once you're in the swing of it it isn't bad at all. I wouldn't use it if you've ever had any issues with eating disorders though. I hope you find what works for you.

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but could I possibly ask people not to give exact diet method advice. I will lose some weight my own way, but I just didn't want to turn this into a this diet/that diet thread. Sorry but it's b all a bit sensitive at the moment. Thank you to everyone who's replied so far.

No worries OP; I only mentioned what worked for me because when you are perimeno it is much more dfficult to lose weight and I found that this was the only thing that actually shifted the stubborn weight gain areas when other methods failed, (and I know several others who had the same issues) It's perfectly fine to do what works for you, good luck with it all

Thanks

You poor thing. It's so hard to cope with isn't it? And people often don't seem to take it seriously.

I would agree with posters above, that focusing specifically on back, core, and shoulder strength training might help with the pain long-term. It can also be less demoralizing than thinking only in terms of weight loss, if that's something that's not shifting despite eating well... Could you arrange a few sessions with a professional trainer or a physiotherapist to get your started? Someone who will be sympathetic and understand that your main priority is improving your core/back/shoulder strength for pain-reduction, rather than just losing weight in general? I heard that some GPs can 'prescribe' exercise and give you a referral to a specialist.

I lost 3 1/2 to 4 stone altogether. Part of my incentive was to shrink my boobs to be honest. I’m only 32 back size, so now they feel fairly neat by comparison (4 stone ago is was a 34/36).

I'm not being funny, but increase in breast size and painful breasts? Are you certain you're not pregnant? POAS

I've just lost a stone, btw, and gone down from 32E to 32D, so they do go down.

I've just come back to say that I've lost 2lb since last week! I think that's particularly good seeing as I'm on my period, otherwise I might've lost 3lb. It's early days but I'm going to try and keep it up.

I'm definitely not pregnant.

Well done op! It's a great motivator when you see progress.