Bra bulge? You know what I mean: the mounds of fat that roll up around, and out of, the back and sides of our bras—totally ruining the sexy silhouette of a form-fitting dress or tank top.
Clearly, we’re just a little bit overweight and less toned than we should be. (Read our tips on the healthy way to lose those pounds, fast.) / But the problem of bra bulge can get worse when we hit our forties, and enter the stage of perimenopause. Fat migrates up our abdomen to our chest and back area. How to stop the bulge? Read on.
Get a good bra
A good bra is your best friend. Bra bulge could be a sign that you’re squeezing yourself into the wrong size, or the wrong kind of cup. And some styles are more flattering than others—it may look hot on the mannequin, but everyone’s got a different body shape (even those who aren’t overweight). So always fit a bra before you buy it!
Here’s a quick exercise: go to your underwear drawer and try every single bra that you own. How many of them give the right support and fit well on you? Your bras may have been perfect when you first bought them, but your breasts and back area change, just like the rest of your body.
Other great tips: pick bras with thicker brands (about 2 inches) that won’t cut into your skin, and adjust the straps and bra brand until it falls below or level with the bust line. Make sure it doesn’t ride up your back. And if you wear clingy clothes, try getting a body shaper which helps create a smooth silhouette.
Think about your diet
Generally, extra pounds and fat in the bra area is just part of extra pounds everywhere else. And you know what that means…. A change in diet is in order. Little changes like minimizing your intake of processed sugars and switching to complex carbs (like brown rice) and fruits and vegetables. Watch your portions, too. Even brown rice becomes unhealthy if you have three servings of it in a meal!
We can’t blame you for overeating if you’re ravenous by the time you actually have a meal. So don’t reach that point: take smaller but more frequent meals (just choose low calorie snacks).
Exercises that help beat bra bulge
In general the best way to lose weight is through cardio and strength training which works out your whole body, not just one part. You can however augment your chosen exercise with something that targets the upper body. This includes the breast stroke (swimming isn’t a very effective way of losing calories. If you don’t have access to a pool and you don’t have time to go to the gym, get elastic resistance bands and perform exercises like the seated row (its motions will have you singing ‘Row, Row, Row your Boat’), The Chest Fly, and the Kick Back.
Photo from livestrong.com