I hear it's really, really bad for you. I don't usually do it unless I'm running. What's your preference, workout binder free, or bound?

Well, a binder works if I'm just lifting or whatever.

But, for cardio (running, biking, etc) it gets tougher to breathe.  I recommend a Frog sports bra.  It's for females who basically want absolutely NO movement.  You can get em online. 

If not that, just get a small sports bra!

I wear my binder when running (long-distance even).  No problems breathing.  When I lift weights, though, it feels too restrictive (muscle-wise) even though I can still breathe fine.

My binder restricts my breathing only when I'm sitting down, of all things.

- Benjamin

Quote from: Benjamin on May 05, 2008, 06:12:24 AM
When I lift weights, though, it feels too restrictive (muscle-wise) even though I can still breathe fine.

I know what you mean, it's almost like I can't feel the burn of my muscle fibers ripping, and thats pretty much the reason I lift weights.

I've never tried actually... I wouldn't do it. Then again mine is actually too small for me so I get a little short of breath just walking around lol. I think maybe working out is just one of those things, like sleeping... you CAN do it with a binder on but really shouldn't

Depends. I did years of phys. ed in high school with some type of binder, but in the privacy of my own home , I go unbound when I do free weights. 

I have a velcro mesh back binder from love boat shop. I just keep it a little looser than my regular everyday binding and it helped with the breathing.

My binder is pretty loose, I haven't worked out with it on, but I've been hiking with it and it was fine. I think it would be okay for me to do cardio in it, since I can easily take deep breaths while wearing it. Sport bras for me don't really work that well, I have to wear at least one sport bra with a tight workout shirt that has the elastic to keep your tits in place, but for really bouncy stuff I have to wear two sport bras and the tight shirt. I think my binder would be perfectly fine for me to do cardio in, and it'd def do a lot better job than my current set-up at holding everything in place, and I know I'd be able to breath well in it. I just don't do it now, because I only have one binder and I don't want to have to wash it even more often.

If I had a tighter binder, I wouldn't consider doing it.

I ran a 5K in mine (full length compression tank from Underworks). No problems at all. In general, I'm always jumping around or doing something outrageous.

Actually, because of the nylon material, it's much harder to put on or take off when the skin is not completely dry as it sticks to the skin. So I can't put it on right after a shower, and I have to wait til I'm not sweaty after sweating to take it off.

Before i had top surgery i would usually wear a sports bra when i worked out. In the beginning i bound when i worked out but it wasn't comfortable. It wasn't the tightness that was the problem though, it was sweat. First off, i only had two binders and at the time i was working out daily, and i wouldnt be able to wash my binders every day. Second, i would get chafed and just the feeling of sweat in my binders disgusted me. Tightness wise, it wasn't an issue while the binder had fit, though after a couple of months of working it didnt fit anymore.

Go for it, just monitor your own feelings and reactions. I always wore mine and sometimes it felt like it hindered me when doing weights, but just slightly. Cardio is a whole other story though. You may run out a breath faster, but I did that too and it's only hard the first few times.