Tight under arms

anne

Increasingly, I am finding things tight just to the front of under the arms. I am very small busted, so I might simultaneously be tight there and not fill out the bust.

To illustrate it, I took a photo of a recent new sports bra that was bothering me a bit. Fortunately it seems to have eased a bit with wear since them.

All my daughters are swimmers, and ALL of them get their bathers (swimsuits) tight in the EXACT same spot - sometimes it even rubs and cuts them. Clearly we share the same body type!

Any comments or commiserations? Or advice re brands to try?

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5 years ago

Body Type

8 replies

Latest reply was from Janet

Sal

Veteran

I imagine this could be due to lat muscles......? I honestly don't think some clothing is designed for fit active women - I know several women who have problems with bicep fit - and I have issues with my muscular calves....

I don't have a solution except a different cut - if you go up a size then it could be too large in the waist and bust and length...

It is not you it is the clothing!!

5 years ago

Cardiff girl

Veteran

Yes you are not supposed to have any muscle tone at all.l am slim and slightly built but a regular exerciser and find that problem that you describe with swimming cossies. I also have Sal s “problem “of having muscular calves but I d rather be fit than not.Try different brands of active wear ,they are all cut differently and my recent swimming costume that I love because it’s got legs (yay ,no more bikini line issues)doesn’t rub at all.

5 years ago

Sanet

Active Member

Not sure if it is relevant, but have you tried the Scoop and Swoop method? (Method used to move all breast tissue into the cups of a bra.)

5 years ago

Anonymous

Another one that suggests you try different brands. They all fit so differently.

5 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

You have a beautiful, slim and sleek figure, very fit and slender. But I get what you're saying too, I'm a swimmer and I train, people see me as thin but that part of my body has changed (for me with age).

Have you tried using structured sportsbras that povide shaping and separate the boobs (even if boobs are not heavy)? Look for crisscross in the back. Somehow the multiple support points allow to adjust it so that it is to your comfort, in terms of where and how it hits in the back. You need a high quality one. Often I have to make straps as long as possible, detach them and re-attach crossing them.

5 years ago

anne

Veteran

Thanks everyone. The funny thing is that I am quite a weakling at the gym and compared to many of you! And as I have mentioned before my bodyfat is actually pretty badly high. So women who are more muscly, must find it even harder
Krish, my new bra is actually cross backed. I will try adjusting it.

5 years ago

anne

Veteran

Thanks to everyone. I am so shopping averse I confess I am not all that keen on just trying lots of things, hoping that I will wake up in the morning with someone who has this too, and can recommend a brand!

5 years ago

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Anne, this is a really common problem and has nothing to do with body fat -- you are plenty slim and fit. This particular sports bra is cut high and wide, as many of them are. It may be better suited to someone who has more breast tissue. When I was shopping for a bra for yoga (my really structured running bras always feel a bit too stiff for yoga), I found this a LOT. Seriously, I had to try on a dozen sports bras to find one that worked best for me, and even then, this still happens a bit because sports bras are meant to provide the ultimate level of support. (My challenge is fitting a small band with a large cup size without cutting into my armpits too, because the assumption among bra makers seems to be that if you are big busted, you also are a large person with a longer torso. I actually had to size up to a *gulp* 32G to get it right.)

I agree with Krishnidoux that the more structured, separated style of sports bra may provide better support without this extra fabric on the sides. If you really want the right fit, be prepared to try on multiple styles, and multiple sizes in those styles. There is no shortcut to good bra fit.

5 years ago

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