Any kind of binding you do could be detrimental (ever hear of old chinese maiden feet that were tiny and childlike due to constriction!)

If you do plan on transitioning, wearing a bra and/or letting your shirt pop out slightly.  Most people will think its your tummy poking your shirt even if you look different underneath =p. 

As far as HRT goes, before its physical it is mental.  HRT rewires our bodies to meet the specifications of our mind.  It is invisible but you can feel it.

Quote from: Rita on September 15, 2012, 12:01:32 PM
Any kind of binding you do could be detrimental (ever hear of old chinese maiden feet that were tiny and childlike due to constriction!)

If you do plan on transitioning, wearing a bra and/or letting your shirt pop out slightly.  Most people will think its your tummy poking your shirt even if you look different underneath =p. 

As far as HRT goes, before its physical it is mental.  HRT rewires our bodies to meet the specifications of our mind.  It is invisible but you can feel it.

Oh my.  Knew compression garments were uncomfortable before trying them, but never considered the damage they could do.  -----  Now this girl's head is spinning.  Can't afford to go out and buy a bunch of tops and bras anymore.  So about bras in general, what is best?  I've owned soft, underwire, and sports, but they are all gone to the trash or Goodwill except for one Vanity Fair underwire that is now too small.  Has anyone done a thread about what is best for a plus size girl?  I'm just too tired and confused now to start one.

Quote from: kathy b on September 15, 2012, 01:03:40 PM
Oh my.  Knew compression garments were uncomfortable before trying them, but never considered the damage they could do.  -----  Now this girl's head is spinning.  Can't afford to go out and buy a bunch of tops and bras anymore.  So about bras in general, what is best?  I've owned soft, underwire, and sports, but they are all gone to the trash or Goodwill except for one Vanity Fair underwire that is now too small.  Has anyone done a thread about what is best for a plus size girl?  I'm just too tired and confused now to start one.

I'm 5' 7" and 169 pounds today and dress in an androgynous mode with bra. It's a stage in my transition, I have boobs, lots of people do, especially plus sizes. I'm assuming that as you describe yourself you had man-boobs (Moobs) not long ago, so go with the flow rather than allow yourself to let self-consciousness overwhelm you. It can be emotionally crippling if you let it.

Mmm. Leaving tiny boobs visible could be difficult for me, since everybody at work knows I am an exercise nut with almost no fat. I'd have to go back to my old (and now oversized) shirts. My current "moobs" are just tiny pointy things, exercise induced.


Now thinking about another thing. BA could be a point of no return? Even with FFS and SRS I could use "boy mode" if I wanted or needed it for something, but with decent boobage... I don't know if it would be bindable, or even if I was to do it (it is covered in social security along with SRS, so if they still looked like manboobs I would take it), I would not want to damage it...

I've never been a fan of big boobs, preferring functional things that won't obstruct, but... Sometimes...

Well, this is me whether as myself or in boy mode for work...I love these little things and dont really want to hide them however loose tshirts do the job just fine while working.

I just got a new seamless bra, it's the "Danskin Now!" medium impact sports bra, I think it does a good job of hiding them and it's very invisible with even a tight t-shirt. I like the Danskin better than the Adidas that I've been wearing. The Adidas can be detected under a tight t-shirt, unlike this one.



and here's one with a regular bra for to see the difference.

I'm 5'7", 220- dropping weight, but still "curvy." I'm hoping that will help me pass off the girls as "moobs" for a while, but they are growing faster than I had anticipated- and starting to take the rounded, fuller shape of female breasts. I know- it's a good problem to have But I'm going to try undershirts and "layers" if I need to before going to compression shirts or sports bras..

Quote from: michelle666 on September 16, 2012, 10:48:34 AM
I just got a new seamless bra, it's the "Danskin Now!" medium impact sports bra, I think it does a good job of hiding them and it's very invisible with even a tight t-shirt. I like the Danskin better than the Adidas that I've been wearing. The Adidas can be detected under a tight t-shirt, unlike this one.



and here's one with a regular bra for to see the difference.

Michelle, I like that look a lot! Might look into one of those one day....thanx

Quote from: michelle666 on September 16, 2012, 10:48:34 AM
I just got a new seamless bra, it's the "Danskin Now!" medium impact sports bra, I think it does a good job of hiding them and it's very invisible with even a tight t-shirt. I like the Danskin better than the Adidas that I've been wearing. The Adidas can be detected under a tight t-shirt, unlike this one.

This looks like it works very well!
It doesn't hurt/feel too snug, does it? I'd be afraid of limiting my breast growth long term.

Quote from: Slightly Interested on September 16, 2012, 01:17:42 PM
This looks like it works very well!
It doesn't hurt/feel too snug, does it? I'd be afraid of limiting my breast growth long term.

That works but is a bit severe for someone developing breast tissue. I keep saying to check out Rhonda Shear, she has an Ahh Bra that is made from stretchy material that fits nicely, smoothes out the pointiness, controls the jiggles, and is slightly compressive and doesn't even show through a T-shirt or make a statement that says, "See, I'm wearing a bra!" Don't get white, it shows through even a white shirt or top, get flesh tone and black which will cover all your needs. I've been doing this for some time now and I can assure you that I do have a set of rockets and these bras do a nice job of understating one's assets.

Quote from: Slightly Interested on September 16, 2012, 01:17:42 PM
This looks like it works very well!
It doesn't hurt/feel too snug, does it? I'd be afraid of limiting my breast growth long term.

After wearing this one for a day, it's way too constricting. I'm going to look into that ahhh-bra. I dont want to potentially damage what I have going on here.

Quote from: michelle666 on September 19, 2012, 06:58:03 AM
After wearing this one for a day, it's way too constricting. I'm going to look into that ahhh-bra. I dont want to potentially damage what I have going on here.

You won't be sorry hon, let us know what you think when you've worn one for awhile!

Quote from: michelle666 on September 19, 2012, 06:58:03 AM
After wearing this one for a day, it's way too constricting. I'm going to look into that ahhh-bra. I dont want to potentially damage what I have going on here.

I wear something very similar to the ahh-bra. I have four of them now and I do not wear any other kind of bra.

http://www.jmldirect.com/uk/personal-accessories/belvia-bra-4-for-3-offer/invt/b13ao60100000001

Amazon sells them. They are very comfortable and for small breasted women like me (A-cup) they are great.

Quote from: brc on September 19, 2012, 08:19:17 AM
I wear something very similar to the ahh-bra. I have four of them now and I do not wear any other kind of bra.

http://www.jmldirect.com/uk/personal-accessories/belvia-bra-4-for-3-offer/invt/b13ao60100000001

Amazon sells them. They are very comfortable and for small breasted women like me (A-cup) they are great.

  I think these are the ones I have also.  While I'm not on HRT yet and have no chest to speak of I've started wearing them under my shirts in male mode anyway to get used to it and because they feel so damned comfortable.  (They work well with inserts of course when desired.)  I'm not sure if it would be enough to hide more than an A-cup but they are so thin and stretchy layering more than one might be an option.  The Ahh Bra infomercial suggests layering theirs too but for other reasons.

@michelle666:
Compressed or not you seem to have decent form there at your size.  In fact, they're pretty hot!  I have little attraction to anything over a B so you're good in my books.

Quote from: Violet Bloom on September 19, 2012, 10:54:41 AM
I'm not sure if it would be enough to hide more than an A-cup but they are so thin and stretchy layering more than one might be an option

They will NOT hide an A-cup. Trust me on this - I know!!! If anything they lift and boost my A-cups.

Quote from: brc on September 19, 2012, 11:54:11 AM
They will NOT hide an A-cup. Trust me on this - I know!!! If anything they lift and boost my A-cups.

  Well, this is actually good news to me because later on when it's time to show off they will still have been a good investment.

Quote from: Naturally Blonde on September 12, 2012, 03:37:05 AM
I know the laws in America are very relaxed compared to the U.K where you are rarely allowed hormones unless you are showing you are living as a female, which I think shows some kind of commitment.

I was completely freaked when I saw that ... my entire transition strategy will depend on delaying the point where I go full-time until I have already made significant progress with hair restoration, beard removal, voice and HRT. For personal and professional reasons I absolutely have to pass pretty much from the word go, certainly from the point where my transition goes public. I had got the impression from doctors and shrinks I'd spoken to that this would be possible. And it is. here's what the official NHS website has to say about treatment of gender dysphoria ...

"Cross-sex hormone therapy means taking the hormones of your preferred gender:

a trans man (female becoming a male) will take testosterone
a trans woman (male becoming a female) will take oestrogen

The aim of hormone therapy is to make you more comfortable with yourself, both in your physical appearance and how you feel psychologically (mentally). These hormones start the process of changing your body into one that is more female or more male, depending on your gender identity.

Hormone therapy may be all the treatment you need to live with your gender dysphoria. The hormones may improve how you feel and mean that you do not need to start living in your preferred gender or have surgery."

In other words, you CAN have hormone treatment before living in role. I think it's important that any other Brits reading this should be reassured. The link is here:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gender-dysphoria/Pages/Treatment.aspx

Quote from: Violet Bloom on September 19, 2012, 11:43:23 PM
  Well, this is actually good news to me because later on when it's time to show off they will still have been a good investment.

When they get beyond the point where they are, (to quote someone here), more than just traffic cones and have a little meat and cush around them, then the Ahh Bra will round off the pointy-ness and control the bounce so that you are not overstating your boobs. Lots of cis women wear them as leisure bras.

BTW - for those who want to track the actual breast development as opposed to fat, look in the mirror and lift both arms over your head. Those round humps on your chest under the nipples are breast glands developing, everything else is just fat. Only do it once a month if you want to see dramatic and measurable results, do it every day and you won't notice much if any changes.

Quote from: Carlita on September 20, 2012, 10:00:17 AM
I was completely freaked when I saw that ...

The standards and requirements change from time to time

Quote from: Carlita on September 20, 2012, 10:00:17 AMmy entire transition strategy will depend on delaying the point where I go full-time until I have already made significant progress with hair restoration, beard removal, voice

All of which you can do without HRT.

Quote from: Carlita on September 20, 2012, 10:00:17 AMand HRT.

Quote from: Carlita on September 20, 2012, 10:00:17 AMFor personal and professional reasons I absolutely have to pass pretty much from the word go, certainly from the point where my transition goes public.

I would say, it has to be obvious that you are serious about your transition and putting effort in. Everyone I have encountered has seen how important it is to me and that I really am doing my best to transition to an ordinary woman. Everyone has been accepting (if somewhat puzzled and baffled).

I would say its important to have hormones before living in role, hormones play a major part in your mental health and going from T balance to E balance made me feel oh o so great on the inside.  Dressing up while still having like no E and massive T is definitely detrimental to feeling beautiful.

Modulating your voice becomes easier to... not because of physical changes but confidence levels.