Buying the Right Bra - The Boob-alicious Gal's Guide

if you've never given much thought to your own over the shoulder boulder holder, today is the day of enlightentment. I was shocked to learn what large percentage of women aren't wearing the right sized bra...or for that matter, aren't wearing a 'quality' bra...Breast health is a huge concern for me, so I dedicate this hub to all you women (and you men who love us) who need to "get the girls back where they belong"...not just because it LOOKS better, but because it's HEALTHIER! After all, if your girls are dragging the ground when you walk - it's probably not hygenic :) Enjoy!

It doesn't matter what kind of shape your body is in - you need the proper support when it comes to your bra. Women who are in the best shape possible still struggle with ill fitting bras that give them back fat or "quadraboob", among other bra related issues.

Why is it so important to wear the right bra? It's not just about your looks - your health is a factor as well.

A bra that's too loose will allow for bounce - bounce might not bother you all that much in the short term, but on down the road the ligaments supporting your breast tissue will begin to stretch, causing serious saggage - lots of bouncing can expedite this process. A little give is a good thing because it allows your ligaments to maintain a certain level of elasticity - but if you're ta-tas have ever hit you in the chin while you're working out, you're experiencing some sag producing bounce...and that's never good.

On the other hand-

Wearing bras that are too tight can be harmful because they restrict the lymph flow in your breasts. Lymph fluid washes out waste materials and other toxins away from the breasts, but tight bras inhibit this action, so toxins start to accumulate in the breast, and that can help dangerous cells to develop. Tight bras can also be irritating to the skin causing rashes and other irritating effects.

You can ensure that your bra fits properly and looks great, but there are some factors to consider. For starters, what purpose will the bra you are about to buy serve for you? Are you buying an athletic bra? Are you buying an every day bra? A nursing bra? A "strictly for my husband" bra? The answer to this question will make a big difference when it comes to shopping.

For practicality sake, We'll focus on the two most commonly complained about bras - the sports bra and the every day bra.

THE SPORTS BRA - Assuming you're looking for 'no bounce' support, the A and B cup gals will find that the pullover compression style sports bras work well. The important thing to remember is that you buy a bra that is going to be tight enough to hold you in place without cutting off circulation. Sometimes a standard Small, Medium, or Large will not suffice - if you're between these sizes, try a specialty athletic store. Try on as many as you can until you find one that does the job.

If you're sporting a C cup or larger, you will likely need an encapsulation style sports bra. This is the style that deals with each breast by itself - there are two separated cups with specific weaving to ensure your girls don't go bouncing out of control.

Bear in mind that, even with a larger chest, a pullover style will work okay if the activity you're engaged in is very low impact - like yoga or pilates.

Your activity will be the biggest determining factor in the the bra you choose. I prefer if my chest is well confined in any activity so I always choose a bra labeled for high impact activity. An example of my sizing would look like this: High Impact, encapsulation D cup, Medium or Small (depending on the brand). Yours might look like this: Medium Impact, pullover constriction, Large. Once you know what size and style you are in general circumstances - the search will become fairly easy.

THE EVERY DAY BRA - The fit of your every day bra is of vital importance because it will make a difference in everything from your posture to the way you wear your clothes. The proper every day bra will leave you will minimal back fat, a fluid and youthful shape, good support, and comfort.

Believe it or not, at least 85% of women are wearing the wrong bra size.

The band around your rib cage should be firm but comfortable. When you stand side-on in front of a mirror, the band should be horizontal and parallel to the floor -it should not ride up at the back at all. To ensure that you're buying the right band size, measure your rib cage with a measuring tape (this is more accurate if you can have someone measure it for you). Using the number you get, in inches, will determine the band size you should buy. If your number is an odd number, you should round up to the next band size. So if you're a 37, get a 38. The beauty in band size is that most bras have two or three settings to provide optimum fit.

Once you've measured your band size, you move on to cups. This is where it gets tricky for some women. (You should perform this measurement braless - but if you're breast flatten significantly when you remove your bra, it's okay to measure in a soft cup). Measure your bust at its fullest point around your 'nippy' line. Let's say you get 42. You'll next want to subtract your chest circumference from that number: 42-38 = 4 So you'd be a D cup.

1 inch translates to an A cup, 2 inches to a B cup and so on. When you get up to 5 inches, some brands call it a DD and some call it E- your size will depend on the brand you're buying. Some brands offer half sizes as well.

It's VERY important to try on your bra, especially when switching brands. And when you do the general rules of thumb are;

Underwires should lay flat against your chest - no sticking out or poking under the arms or in the sides of your chest...if this happens - you need to adjust your size.

Straps should not dig into your shoulders. If they do you have one of two problems, the band around your torso is too large allowing the weight of your chest to pull on your shoulders OR your straps are simply too short. (Large busted women may find wide or padded straps more comfortable).

Cups should not be wrinkled (indicating the cup size may be too large), nor should you be sticking out all around - if you have too much boob and too little cup - get a bigger cup size.

If you follow these steps you should be lookin' "stacked" and feeling your best in no time.