Exercise.......chest???????

[Mattfromengland]

Hi all,

I just recently starting binding for the first time. Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!! Love it.....well, love the look, not so much the binder digging into the pecs but well worth it.

Anyway, my question is what do you do when you exercise?

I know it's not advised to bind when working out, and I don't want to, but at some point once I'm on T I'm concerned how it will work? Anyone know of any good flat, and reasonably firm sports bras that would be suitable?  I do group classes so it's in public and I also ride horses.

Any advice appreciated

[DriftingCrow]

I mostly work out at home, but sometimes when I am out, I just wear multiple sports bras under a workout shirt. One of my binders is kind of loose, and I know I could easily wear it without problems if I was doing a lighter kind of exercise (like weight lifting or light cardio).

For sports bras, I have been wearing this, because it makes things not bounce around at all, which is a very rare find for me. It doesn't flatten things out, but if you're worried about bounce, this is a good pick.

I've heard the "frog bra" is awesome for transguys, but unfortunately it's not made anymore. The same company has a similar sports bra out though I believe.

[Dante]

If I'm being honest here, I've been doing light runs for about a month now, and I always wear my binder. I have two underworks binders, so I normally just wear the older one which is slightly looser. I haven't actually noticed it being much of a problem, though it certainly collects a lot of sweat, and to a lesser extent, heat.

I probably shouldn't be doing this, but my dysphoria is so strong any kind of exercise is hard for me, what with my clothes sticking to my body, people being able to see me, etc. that I couldn't do it at all without wearing the binder. My suggestion to you is either loose binder or a very tight sports bra/several sports bras. The one LearnedHand suggested looks like it would work fairly well.

[spacerace]

I run every other day, and I wear a loose-ish binder (too loose to wear normally) over a sports bra. The sports bra holds them in place and the binder squashes them down. I never could make myself run in a sports bra alone. It is the binder that allows me to be comfortable enough to do it, and hey - maybe I will have great lung capacity after top surgery.

Just emphasizing again the binder is really loose - I wear a medium now after weight loss seriously deflated my chest (and 20+ months of binding), but the binder I run in is a XL. The sports bra I wear is made by Enell.

[Mattfromengland]

I mostly work out at home, but sometimes when I am out, I just wear multiple sports bras under a workout shirt. One of my binders is kind of loose, and I know I could easily wear it without problems if I was doing a lighter kind of exercise (like weight lifting or light cardio).

For sports bras, I have been wearing this, because it makes things not bounce around at all, which is a very rare find for me. It doesn't flatten things out, but if you're worried about bounce, this is a good pick.

I've heard the "frog bra" is awesome for transguys, but unfortunately it's not made anymore. The same company has a similar sports bra out though I believe.

Great thanks, yes that one looks quite good. I'll need to see if they'll ship to the UK

[Mattfromengland]

I know once we start T we want to always bind and always present as male at this point. However I'll say this. Any decent noticeable changes won't be visible for months. For most anyway. It is a process. So if you are one week on t and go to the gym not binding people aren't going to think that is a man with boobs! Ha but yeah. My only thing is the hair on my legs. which is fixed by wearing long pants. But yeah. Working out isn't worth causing permanent damage because of a binder. Just don't bind. Maybe go early or late when few people are there. Or get yourself things you can use at home. My family got a treadmill on sale. They came to house and built it and everything. Just look into different ways to overcome this. Maybe get weights. Good luck!!!

Yeah you're right with the changes coming in slow. I'm actually thinking more of how to cope a bit further along the line.

I don't go to a gym, I do an exercise class. It's taken me years to finally find something that works for me fitness wise after having to quit my martial arts due to injury. Given that once on T muscle is easier to build that's the time I really, really want to be doing the classes. I'd be no good at home as as soon as I get tired I want to stop. I need the motivation of an instructor (can't afford one on one) and also the competition of the others in the class.

Again, with my riding, not something I can do at home. And it will reach the point where you pass well enough for it to look odd to have breasts, before surgery takes place. I'd hate to have to stop these things just 'cos of that.

[Mattfromengland]

I run every other day, and I wear a loose-ish binder (too loose to wear normally) over a sports bra. The sports bra holds them in place and the binder squashes them down. I never could make myself run in a sports bra alone. It is the binder that allows me to be comfortable enough to do it, and hey - maybe I will have great lung capacity after top surgery.

Just emphasizing again the binder is really loose - I wear a medium now after weight loss seriously deflated my chest (and 20+ months of binding), but the binder I run in is a XL. The sports bra I wear is made by Enell.

Mmm Might see how that works. Although not sure it will be comfy for an extreme workout. Defo worth a try though Thanks