Wearing a Sports Bra Every Day

Is it Bad to Wear a Sports Bra All the Time?

The style of a bra is a matter of personal choice and comfort. There are many conflicting thoughts as to whether a normal bra or sports bra is more comfortable for daily use. Sports bras are super comfortable for wearing every day if you make the best choice in style, size and compression/impact level.

One mistake that girls make is to try wearing workout bras with higher impact levels and expecting to be comfortable in them all day or night. If a sports bra is good for running, it is most probably not good for daily use.

Many women dread sports bras fearing that the garments will make their chest flatten. But this effect is only cosmetic and there are no long-term consequences. If you feel more comfortable in sports bras, they are your best choice. If you wear a sports bra all the time and it hurts, it’s probably not for you, or you may be missing something.

Which is Better; a Sports Bra or Regular Bra?

Sports bra vs. regular bra – which one is better for normal daily use? There is no clear answer. The solution depends upon your own individual needs. Consider these points;

• If your work involves lifting your arms above your head (like in arranging stuff on shelves etc), a racerback sports bra will save you a lot of pain
• Work or stay in hot areas? Look for a moisture-wicking sports bra. It will cool you down rather than become soggy like ordinary bras
• For busty ladies, the answer to digging straps is a wide strap sports bra
• Want a bra with no wires or hooks? The answer is a pullover sports bra
• Want a front closure bra? It’s difficult to find a normal bra that closes at the front. But front close sports bras are easier to come by
• If your breasts are unpredictably changing in size, find a Stretch Sports Bra to accommodate the changes. This happens if you pregnant, in your teens, or post-op
• If you are prone to playing football or running around with your kids without any prior planning, wearing a sports bra during weekends is good advice
• When going for leisurely picnics or hiking, consider wearing a sports bra. You can remove your top if the going gets hot but you can’t do so with a normal bra
• If you like wearing a bra to bed, your best choice is a low impact sports bra

Some women and girls wear sports bras to accentuate their outfits. For instance, you can make a fashion statement with a plunge cami in a dark color and a sports bra in a brilliant color. You may like a bra with a wider band and a camisole with low armholes. Also try a low back cami and a racerback sports bra in different colors. All these sports bra outfits are not possible with a normal bra.

Sports bra for daily wear

What Happens if You Wear a Sports Bra All The Time?

Some people claim that sports bras are only designed for workouts and running. But this is not the case anymore. Designers are always under pressure to manufacture sports bras for daily use.

In order to tap into this demand, they have created bras that can’t pass for athletics, bralette or a normal bra. Some sports bras available nowadays look almost like ordinary bras. But the look does not mean that the bra is fit for daily wear.

If you wear an ill-fitting sports bra or one with unnecessary support/compression for everyday use, you will suffer discomfort. But with the right choices, nothing extraordinary should happen. You will just feel cool, relaxed and modest.

Benefits of Wearing a Sports Bra Everyday

In some circumstances, it is better to wear a sports bra instead of a regular bra. Some of the advantages are highlighted below;

1. Straps don’t fall
2. The wide straps do not dig into your shoulders
3. If your top has a wide neck, your breasts won’t show as you bend over
4. Cute to show off under other garments
5. Moisture-wicking material keeps you cool
6. Available in wider bands that won’t pinch
7. Sports bras are usually longer than ordinary bras and support better by sitting closer to the natural waist
8. Minimizing effect
9. Easier to find in seamless styles
10. Modest enough to allow unbuttoning your shirts in public areas if need be

Sports bra for everyday wear

Sports Bra Disadvantages

Sports bras have their own limitations and drawbacks when used for normal wear. These include;

1. Most sports bras are not adjustable
2. Precise sizes are not always available
3. Lack of adjustment compels some ladies to wear the wrong sizes. This leads to pinching and chaffing especially if the bra is wired
4. They make your chest look flat – some ladies hate the minimizing look
5. Difficult to style with wide neck outfits
6. Pullover styles are difficult to put on and off
7. If a pullover bra shrinks, chances are that you have to discard it. See also How to Stretch a Sports Bra
8. Some styles are pullover but you have to hook at the back – this is difficult for people who are not flexible
9. A feeling of constriction
10. Mono-boob look
11. It’s difficult to hide your nipples unless you use padding
12. A feeling of suffocation
13. Sports bras are very expensive compared to regular bras

Best Sports Bra for Everyday Wear

The perfect sports bra for daily use is one that has minute compression. Breasts are soft and will be okay with gentle compression. If a bra is too rigid, you are bound to be uncomfortable if you wear it for the whole day or night.

Studies which are yet to be verified suggest that too much compression for long periods can hamper the lymph flow. This, they say, “can cause breast cancer later”. To minimize this compression, opt for a low/medium impact encapsulation sports bra.

As stated earlier in this article, some circumstances call for an athletic bra instead of an ordinary one. Try and see which sports bra is more comfortable than a normal bra. If you tried one style and was not comfy, try another one. Also, consider whether the discomfort is because of wrong sizing.

When to Not Wear a Sports Bra

Using a sports bra for normal daily use is not unsafe or unhealthy per se. But at times, it might not be okay in certain situations. Below are pointers that you ought not to wear your sports bra;

• When there is breast spillage at the top or sides
• If band rides onto your bust
• If your chest hurts during or after wearing the bra
• A feeling of too much relief when you take the bra off
• If it is your regular workout bra
• When you need some cleavage
• Doesn’t pair well with outfits you plan to wear
• If your peers can notice the uni-boob look

Sports bra for daily use

We wear clothes for comfort, style, and modesty. If you can find a sports bra that offers you these, you don’t have to worry what people may think. It’s just like choosing between a skirt, trousers, and shorts. What you like is what others should like you in. Ponder on all these points and decide whether wearing a sports bra every day is your best choice.

20 Best Back Closure Sports Bras

Shop the best back closure sports bras whether for workouts, daily use or post-operation. Also learn why you may need to wear a back clasp sports bra even for everyday wear

Wearing a Sports Bra After Breast Augmentation

How to Wear a Sports Bra After Breast Surgery

A sports bra after breast augmentation is probably your best choice. Immediately following breast surgery, you need not only a cute bra but also one that offers sufficient support and speeds up the recovery process. That’s why most surgeons recommend sports bras for most breast procedures.

Complete healing after breast lift takes 6-12 months. In the first 4-6 weeks, a sports bra is normally used to hold wound dressings in position, protect breast ligaments, and minimize the movement of the implants. Some implants require a stretch compression sports bra for several months to ensure proper positioning.

Wearing No Bra After Breast Augmentation

If your surgeon instructed you to stay bra-less after surgery, try the no bra camisole. Otherwise, it is not okay to stay without a bra. There are reasons for wearing a sports bra. Some of them are highlighted below:

Purpose of a sports bra after breast augmentation:

• Reduce swelling
• Hold implants in their proper position
• Speed up recovery
• Minimize the risk of scar tissue formation
• Protect the incisions from irritation
• Improve blood circulation
• Aid in eliminating toxic fluids from the body

Adjustable front close post-op sports bra

How Tight Should a Post Operation Bra Be?

A sports bra that is too tight is not good following breast surgery. If the advice is that you wear a loose bra, this means the implants need to be allowed to move downward slightly. If you wear a tight bra, you will interfere with this process.

In worst case scenarios, a bra may hurt if it is too tight. But some gentle pressure is required to reduce swelling. That’s why some surgeons will tell you to wear a bra that is snug but elastic for 1 week or so. If you feel that your recommended bra is hurting rather than supporting your bust, you should consult your boob job doctor.

Breasts naturally point somewhat outwards. If there is excessive compression, the breast can be mispositioned to take an awkward look. You should only wear a tight sports bra if you’ve been advised by the clinic to do so.

Best Bra to Wear After Breast Augmentation

Breast surgeons usually recommend two types of bras after surgery; a Surgical Bra or Sports Bra. Surgical bras are only essential when exceptionally accurate support is required. One scenario is when a surgery needs amending. In some cases, surgeons may advise patients to use other garments other than bras.

Breast surgeries are not all equal. Some require a bra that will prevent the implants from riding up. Conversely, some need more support than others. But most surgeons recommend gentle compression. The user-friendly restriction of a Stretch Sports Bra allows for better recovery and comfort.

Whatever bra you choose to wear, it must fit and be comfortable. Unless your surgeon tells you otherwise, the perfect bra to wear after breast augmentation is a Front Closure Stretch Sports Bra. Do not buy expensive bras at this time as you are likely to discard them later.

In the event of breast cancer operations, mastectomy and breast reduction, a Post Mastectomy Bra is your best choice.

See Also: Best Front Hook Sports Bras

Post surgery bra

How Long to Wear a Sports Bra After Breast Augmentation

Breast surgeries differ from one surgeon to another and from one patient to the next. A number of issues must be considered when tackling this query. That’s why it is highly advisable that you should ask your surgeon about the specifics of this subject.

Below are some reasons why different surgeons offer diverse advice concerning wearing post operation bras:

• Wear only during the day – the implants only need to be held against gravity
• Only at night – implants can move sideways but can’t be lowered by gravity, or need gravity
• All day and night – healing requires compression
• Not to wear a bra at all – the implants need the pull of gravity to move to their final destination. Or, they are held by the chest muscles and do not need support

Can You Take Off Your Sports Bra After Surgery?

If your doctor told you to wear a sports bra for 24 hours, your implants need some compression to settle better and faster. Taking off the bra for a few hours won’t hurt. If you need to stay braless like for a whole day or night, you should confirm with the clinic whether it will be alright.

In the event that your chest hurts if you take off your bra, you should minimize the duration and frequency of doing so. When the pain is too much, talk to your doctor. If taking a shower is torture because of the pain, use a bikini top.

When to Sleep Without Your Sports Bra

In case you were told to wear your sports bra to bed, it’s because the implants need to be held in place as you turn and toss. You should confirm when you can sleep without a bra. It will normally be for up to 3 months.

Some breast surgeries do not require wearing a bra to sleep. If that be the scenario, you can only wear your sports bra if you feel like. In some situations, the implants may slide outwards as you lie down and that leads to pain. That may necessitate you to wear your sports bra to avoid sleepless nights.

When to Wear Regular Bras

Following breast surgery, there is a great temptation to rush through the recovery process and wear your dream bra. Push-up bras obstruct the positioning of breast implants, while underwire bras can pinch or irritate post-op breasts. This leads to inflammation and may hinder or prolong healing.

Do not rush. Surgical and sports bras are essential in the recovery process. Your hurry might hamper recuperation and you won’t be able to wear a dream bra anytime soon.

A number of surgeons will allow you to wear wired sports bras after 3-4 weeks if the ‘crease incision is not irritated by the wire’. But the best thing to do is to wait until 3-6 months. They may be long months, but you have years and years of wearing the bra of your choice.

How to Calculate Your Post Op Bra Size

Measuring for a post-op bra is the same as taking measurements for other types of bras. See Finding Your Right Bra Size. If you can’t get a chance to take your measurements, use your normal bra size with a cup size or 2 higher. Unless your breast crease was adjusted, your band size should not change.

When shopping for post surgery bras, buy as few as possible. The size and shape of your bust will change as healing continues. If a bra feels too loose, replace it immediately. Start fitting and buying designer bras after 6 months.

Post breast augmentation bra

After your boob job, do not judge the appearance of your breasts before complete healing. The shape and size will change as healing continues.

Remember to attend the follow-up visits. Before leaving the clinic, ask your doctor what to expect and what should spell alarm. Consult your surgeon if you experience any of the following:

1. Excessive swelling
2. Burning sensation
3. Severe pain
4. Fever
5. Wounds become septic
6. Reddening of skin around the operation areas
7. Unexplained lumps or deflation

Avoid violent arm swinging or activities that put a lot of strain on your chest. If you do anything strenuous, your chest will hurt afterward and not during those activities. So, think before you do anything.

Though breast implants can correct a saggy bust, they do not stop the sagging process. In the future, your chest appearance might change as you age and experience different hormonal changes. In the meantime, just wearing your sports bra as advised by your surgeon should ensure that all goes well after your breast surgery.

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How to Stretch Out a Sports Bra

Stretching a Sports Bra That is Too Tight

For a sports bra to offer the required support, it needs to fit tighter than ordinary bras. But sometimes an athletic bra can be too small that it needs some adjustment to fit properly. Stretching it seems to be the only option.

A workout bra can be small in two ways. The band may be smaller than it should be. The straps on the other hand, especially if they are not adjustable, may make the band sit higher. While some fabrics are easier to stretch than others, most are more difficult than you can imagine.

All bras will eventually stretch out after months of wearing. But if your exercise bra fits tightly than it should be, wearing it repeatedly to stretch it is not a good option but some kind of punishment. As most sports bras are made of cotton or polyester, this article will deal with bras made with these fabrics.

How to Stretch Out Cotton Sports Bras

Cotton sports bras which are not pre-shrunk will shrink after a few washes. Once shrinking occurs, it cannot be undone. However, you can adequately loosen up the fibers so that you can stretch the bra to the desired size. The same case applies if you bought a bra that is too small. Follow these steps:

1.      Pour about 1 liter of warm water into a basin, bucket or sink

2.      Mix the water with about 15ml (1 tablespoon) of hair conditioner or baby shampoo

3.      Stir thoroughly to form a consistent solution

4.      Immerse your small sports bra and let it soak for about 30 minutes

5.      Remove the bra and squeeze it gently to get rid of excess water

6.      Place the bra on a dry towel and roll both

7.      Squeeze so that the towel absorbs as much water as possible

8.      Stretch the bra with your hands until it has reached the appropriate size – you can use another fitting bra to trace the size

9.      Rinse your sports bra in warm water

10.  Stretch it once again and hold it in place until it is dry

How to Stretch Polyester Sports Bras

The ease with which you can stretch out a polyester sports bra depends on whether the bulk of its strength comes from the fabric or the elastic. Polyester is a very stiff material, the main reason it’s used for athletic bras. Elastics, on the other hand, are made to rebound after each stretch. Some adjustable high impact sports bras use very little stretch material.

To stretch a polyester athletic bra, you need to weaken the spandex or enlarge polyester as if it has been worn for long, or both. This means the quality of the bra will become considerably compromised. The following process will allow for these two occurrences to happen in various degrees:

1. Wash your sports bra on high heat for 35 minutes or more

2. While still wet and warm, hang it on a clothing line

3. Use weights to stretch the bra – you could secure the weights with pegs etc

4. If the weights do not seem to work, first use an iron box with a steamer. Stretch the bra with your hands as you iron. If the iron does not steam, use steam from another source

5. Allow the bra to dry completely in order to retain the size

6. Repeat the process as many times as required until you achieve the desired size

Note: 1. Whichever method of stretching you choose, you can use your body to hold the bra in the required size. Just wear the bra when still wet and carry on with your house chores, or just exercise until the bra dries.

2. If you would rather avoid all the trouble, take your sports bra to a dry cleaner and ask them to stretch it.

How to Determine if a Sports Bra is Too Tight

How tight should a sports bra be? Normally, an exercise bra is supposed to be tighter than a normal bra. With insufficient support, you are bound to run awkwardly, adjusting your movements to reduce bounce. Conversely, a sports bra that interferes with your breathing can considerably lower your athletic performance.

Some bra fitting experts have devised various methods of identifying whether a sports bra fits. One technique is to clap your hands above your head with the bra on. If the band slides up your body, the bra is small, or too tight. Below are more pointers that your bra may be tighter than necessary:

·  Your ribs hurt along the band

·  You feel too smashed or you suffer chest pain after wearing your bra

·  Band is higher than is supposed to be – threatening to ride on your bust

·  Horrible chaffing marks

·  Lots of visible imprints

·  Breasts are spilling from any of the cup edges, or the cups seem to cut into your bust

How to Avoid Your Sports Bra Shrinking

Another result of too small workout bras is shrinkage. Sports bras are made of a base cloth (e.g. polyester), and the stretch fabric (e.g. spandex). There are two ways of dealing with the issue of contraction. One is to buy only from reputable makers (found on Amazon.

Makers of bras who have been in business for years will make their products only from materials that don’t shrink. If they are sure that a fabric is prone to shrinkage, they have ways of shrinking the cloth before the bras can go on sale. So, their athletic bras are pre-shrunk, meaning they will not reduce in size even after washing.

Another consequence of shrinkage is high temperatures. Washing bras in hot water might make them decrease in size. Drying in too much heat (like the drier on high) is not good either. Though synthetic fibers are less likely to shrink, you should be careful with cotton sports bras. Some elastic types will also harden and shrink if exposed to high temperatures for long.

How to Buy a Sports Bra That Fits

One issue that that results in sports bras that are too small is ordering the wrong size. If you buy your bras from a shopping center, ask them to measure you. Better still; opt for stores that will allow you to try the bra before buying.

When shopping online, choose sellers/makers with a good reputation. If they have unquestionable status, it follows that they sell good quality bras. They are also likely to have fewer complaints or handle them in a satisfactory manner. Be careful with clearance stuff as they do not accept returns.

Always choose sports bras with thicker material as they offer more support than thin ones. If you insist on thin fabrics, you might be forced to buy tighter so as to support better. If you still think you need a tighter bra to support your bust properly, you probably need an encapsulation style sports bra.

If you are buying a sports bra after breast augmentation, order a bigger cup size. Your normal size will not fit. You can later discard it or use padding to fit for workouts.

Note: If size seems to be the big issue for you, consider adjustable sports bras.

Exercising has so many benefits. Take good care of your body so you can enjoy years and years of an active lifestyle. Wear your correct size sports bra, or stretch it if need be, and you will have many more hours of pain-free workouts.

20 Best Back Closure Sports Bras

Shop the best back closure sports bras whether for workouts, daily use or post-operation. Also learn why you may need to wear a back clasp sports bra even for everyday wear