Gynecomastia Support Forum
Gynecomastia Acceptance => Photos => Topic started by: Dale Warnio on November 30, 2020, 09:02:48 AM
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What do you think?
Bare breasted?
In a bra?
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Well Dale, I'm sure you already know this but you are definitely best served by wearing a bra. I also think that you should get yourself professionally fitted. It looks to me like you should probably go up at least 1 cup size. The gore is not tacking and you look like you are borderline overflowing your cups.
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ABWG, thank you. Yes, I feel best and believe I look best in a bra. That bra is a C cup! You think I could be a D?(https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f62e.png)
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May need to go down a band size for the gore to fit flat, and up a cup or maybe 2. I had to go up to a 44D from a 46C after losing some weight to check all the fit boxes.
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p.r. 1974. Wow, so you think I am a D, maybe even a DD cup? Going to have to wrap my head around that. I felt I was full-busted thinking I was a C cup.
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I agree with them, looks like you need a larger cup and maybe a smaller band size. But no doubt you need a bra and look better in one. What size are you wearing now?
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C cup is not as much as you think. When I looked at the pictures I also thought they were D or DD. It sounds like you suffer from the same thing that a lot of women suffer from, improper bra size.
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Getting Boobs and Goodnplenty, thank you for your insights. I agree I need to wear a bra and that I look better in one. I also feel more comfortable and confident in a bra. The bra in the photo is a 38 C. I will go in for a bra fitting and see what I come out with.
You are probably right I am like so many women who are wearing the wrong size bra partly because we are in in denial about our true bra size. The "I can't be that big" issue.
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Do you know what led to the development of your breasts? Have you had them since puberty or did they develop later in life? Based on those photos there's no doubt that you need to wear a bra.
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Fatty, I agree I need to wear a bra. As you might see in my picture, my breasts are semi self supporting, but they have gotten so big they need some more support. Also. my breasts are more conical than perfectly round, so I love the shaping a good bra gives me. And I am very prone to nipping out, so a bra helps me be less suggestive.
I have gynecomastia so have had breasts since junior high, but my breasts have gotten bigger the last few years.
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What do you think?
Bare breasted?
In a bra?
Wow u have nice sets esp in bra. It looks amazing dear. :)
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Robin Wayne, thank you. Since I have breasts, I hope they look good.
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You’re a pretty busty male. Based on your profile pic, do you present female full time?
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Traveler
It depends.
More androgynous
Not really very successful as male (https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f62e.png)
I have what might be called crossdressed, but with my shape, sometimes not sure which mode is crossdressing.
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Robin Wayne, thank you. Since I have breasts, I hope they look good.
Indeed they are. How do u manage them ? I also have breasts. Not big like u but r kida big & not so easy to carry myself.
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Robin Wayne
I wear a bra pretty much whenever I go out. And around the house, I typically wear a cami with built in shelf bra for soft support and modesty.
I find women’s tops fit me better because of the extra room in the bust compared to the size of the shoulders. I prefer tops that are not overtly feminine, so solid colors, muted colors, no lace, etc.
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In a top. Because it is low cut, I would wear something over it when out. So, a more typical look out in the second pic.
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That's a particularly impressive chest and you clearly manage the situation very well.
Not sure I'd be brave enough to carry it off the way you do, so hats off to you.
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Dudewithboobs and Gary, I don't know if I carry it off or have confidence, but thank you.
As far as being a male photo, and ample bust, would it surprise you, that with my body shape, if I also have tried going out as female? I get so tired of being looked at as a man with big boobs, but it makes me feel anxious when I try to blend in as a woman, always worrying people can tell. Sometimes I think I pass, but sometimes can tell I have been made.
One place I feel completely free is cosplay. Everybody is in costume there, being something they are not. That is how I feel every day, which is different from most people's everyday, but at cosplay I feel the same as everyone there.
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I know this crosses into a territory this forum doesn't particularly like, but even so, I believe it is important not to simply dismiss it. As men with breasts, I believe we are that bit closer to being women /feminine and cannot ignore it.
I think you look amazing in both images and would definitely be passable in public in the first. May struggle a little in the supermarket in the second!
I've been told I'm fairly convincing in my 'girl next door' look, but like you, don't always feel that way.
For the purposes of full disclosure, my bust is enhanced in these photos.
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Gary, you look very good in those pictures. Do you feel you look as good in pictures of you as male?
Dudewithboobs, to answer your question, I am a D cup. Had been wearing a C cup, but comments here were right, I needed a bigger cup. More maybe on that another time.
I was anxious when I posted those last two pictures. If people feel they are inappropriate, I can take down. Was just trying to be responsive to questions I was asked.
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Hi Dale
That's a really good question and I guess it all depends on how I'm feeling.
Generally I don't like photos of myself, for obvious reasons and occasionally I see one I like, usually either due to lucky camera angle or because I'm at the lower end of my constant weight cycle.
The feminine photos are me fully made up and I can see why women like to have make up on before facing the world.
I'm also happy to take those pics down if required but just wanted to illustrate a point to Dale.
I totally get how difficult it must feel being a guy with boobs, especially when they are as well developed as yours, so presenting as female could and should feel like an escape, if only for a small while.
You look stunning in both photos and have nothing to be fearful of.
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Gary, I know what you mean about not liking most of your male pictures. I feel the same about mine. A lot of times, I don't even like looking in the mirror. Thank you for your compliment about my female pictures. I like looking at those pictures and in the mirror when dressed female. On makeup, I completely agree. It is like a suit of armor, makes me feel invincible. And on looking in the mirror, well, putting on makeup requires a long time in the mirror, so you better like what you see ;)
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Do you mean you wonder if those are pictures of a real woman? If that is what you mean, I will accept the compliment, and guarantee you would not find a female under those clothes 😉
Can you tell I like cosplay/costumes?
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Go away for a few days and look what happens! :o
I know this is a slippery slope that I've danced across at times. We definitely are in a rather bizarre situation simply because nature has seen fit to give us a hormone stew that yields breasts rather than flat chests. Remember, those same hormones affect not only our bodies but also our psyches. How we respond to the fact of having breasts will be impacted by those hormones. It is very difficult striking a manly pose when our bosoms are saying something else. I understand that simply accepting the reality of breasts sprouting on our chests is challenging for men and that entertaining a more feminine presentation complicates rather than simplifies matters. But as I've expressed here and on crossdressing websites I've visited, being a man who actually has breasts, rather than one who buys breast forms to fill out an outfit he wants to wear, changes the equation. I may want to wear a brassiere, which I'm doing at this moment, but not desire pantyhose, wigs, fingernail polish. But I also want to celebrate the fact of having breasts even if the celebration is erotic. I understand that can feel like a step too far for men thinking of cutting them off because they are so embarrassed by their presence.
Personally, I find playing at the edge enjoyable. I've read comments and KNOW there are men here who feel the same way I do, but who contain themselves so as not to offend anyone. We can say, "the brassiere fits you well"... "you really need to be wearing a brassiere"... or "that is a nice looking brassiere", but that is about it. That Dale and Gary took it a step farther makes me smile. In fact, when I saw your new avatar Dale, I knew something like this was lurking behind the scenes. I'm not offended. Have fun!
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Thank you for those who accept what I have shared, even if it is reluctantly.
My steps were reluctant at first, too. I finally accepted I not only have breasts, but also a shape more like a woman's in general.
I found I felt and looked better in a bra, but also that women's tops fit and looked better on me, too. The same with bottoms, because as you can see, I have wider hips, more round thighs, and as a sales associate helping me once said, "some booty action going on there," too.
I am not planning to transition, but I do like to look my best. And I feel I look better when presenting as a woman.
Plus, I have found women's clothing is softer, smoother, and fits me better. And much more interesting than men's.
I am not saying this is for everyone, but if you accept that you have breasts like a woman, need to wear bras like a woman, you might want to at least try women's tops, as Dudewithboobs just did. You just might find they fit and look better on you.
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Life is an adventure and we get to live this particular version only once. Self-acceptance is a far better response than rigid conformance to someone else's idea of how we should live. I understand that enlightened attitude is not always embraced, as we've witnessed recently. As I say above, we have a rather unusual challenge because folks don't expect to see or feel breasts on a man's chest. As the article I posted some time ago suggests, that may be changing, however, it is still a bit of a mind melt. Men in this forum are exploring the implications for themselves and for some, with their wives. I wish us all well in living the life that gives us freedom and joy. Go for it Dale.
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I have stayed away from this forums for months because I was not comfortable with the close minded responses of some here. I am happy to see the acceptance shown in this topic. I am going to give it a try again.
BTW, Dale and Gary, I love your photos. You look like those clothes were made for your shapes.
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Because I have only been dealing with this for about 1-1/2 years I cannot go full blown on any specific aspect of the dressing or the prose behind it.
What I can tell you is that over the past year as my bust slowly creeps to 4 inches over the band size, I have notice a substantial change in my attitude toward many things.
Perhaps the hormones are in fact changing me.
I have started to wonder if trying a women's top or even jeans is something I should try mostly because my waist has been changing and my hips are slightly wider than before.
In times past you wouldn't have caught me dead with women's outerwear, but I have been wearing women's bike shorts regularly for about 15 years simply because they fit better on me. Though the hips are not as wide as some others.
Today I hiked with a friend up a peak and back down, wearing a regular sports bra that wasn't entirely hidden. Yet felt no dismay about it. Its and odd topic for some, and other seem fine.
I am now of the opinion that much of the social course set from millennia ago are breaking down.
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Taxmapper, sounds as if you are a C or D cup, in which case, you are too big to go around braless, both for comfort and appearance, so it is good that you are wearing a bra hiking and such.
Because your bust is as big or bigger than the average woman’s, I think you’ll find women’s tops fitting you better than men’s, which to be big enough around the bust would fall off your shoulders or if they fit you in the shoulders would be too tight in your bust. Similarly, if your hips and such are fuller, then women’s pants will most likely work better for you, also. I suspect with men’s you’re having a problem that they are too big in the waist if they fit you in the hips and conversely, if they fit you in the waist, they are too tight in the hips.
There are a lot of women’s tops and pants that in color and such are not that different appearing from men’s.
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That's interesting.
Though I am a full 4 inches wider across the bust, a c cup is still loose on me.
I am a 44 inch band.
But I am seeing the b cups of the sports bra starting to pop out a bit more.
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Taxmapper. Have you tried scooping and swooping? Bend over, so your breasts hang down into your bra cups You gather up all that loose fatty flesh across your chest and let it further fill your bra cups.
You said you are overflowing a B cup right now, and with your measurements, I predict you will fill a C cup. I know it will sound crazy to you, but you might even find an underwire D cup is a more comfortable fit, especially if you go down one band size.
Have you had a bra fitting? You should.
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Speaking from experience, changing over to female outerwear was one of my best decisions. I've worn a bra full time since I was sixteen years old. I switched to panties shortly after that. It was quite a few years after that I started wearing ladies outerwear. I started with jeans and slacks because my but and hips were even more of an issue than my bust.
In the last 10 years, I have gone from a D to an H cup. I couldn't find anything in the men's department that would fit. Torrid has been incredibly helpful and supportive. I can't say enough about how wonderful they have been.
If your clothing is getting to small in the bottom or the bust, I think that its probably time to make the switch.
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ABWG, I could not imagine being an H cup. I feel busty as it is, and I am more like a D.
I agree with you that if your body shape is more like a woman's, then it only makes sense to wear clothing that suits that shape. If you have breasts like a woman, you will feel and look best in a bra. Also, women's tops are proportioned differently than men's, with more room in the bust relative to the size of your shoulders. Dudewithboobs, for example, I think it was smart and brave of you to try to put aside societal pressures and see how a woman's top might work for you.
As you said ABWG, for some of us, it is not just our busts, but other areas of our bodies that more fit the feminine than masculine ideals. We are faced with the decision about how much we want to camouflage and how successful we might be able to be. For example, I have bigger hips, rounder thighs, some junk in the trunk haha, more slender shoulders and arms, and even feminine hands. No way to camouflage all that.
Some here might judge or criticize me, but what would you suggest I do?
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Dale I think you look amazing in that photo, very feminine and what you are wearing definitely enhances you rather than detracts.
I know it's a tricky one on this forum but you are definitely doing the right thing!
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Dale, I would say first off, you look comfortable and you look like you are wearing clothing that flatters, rather than hides your gorgeous figure.
I have a similar body shape. That's why I had to start looking beyond my bras. Men's clothing just makes me look dumpy due to how badly it fits. I have tried " relaxed" and " loose" fit jeans and slacks. I just have too much of a round bottom and wide hips. I know its because of I'm naturally estrogen dominant.
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Oh, my, but things seem to be more accepting than when I took a break end of summer. Good for all of you.
All of us have breasts like women, so all of us wear bras like women do. Naturally, women's tops are going to fit better over female busts, like ours, than will men's tops. I would not go so far as to say any women's tops are masculine looking, but, if like Dudewithboobs has started doing, you can find and wear women's tops that are not overtly feminine, but fit more comfortably and look better on you.
Here is an example of a sweater I love wearing and that I think works for me.
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Sideset, that looks great and you clearly have much bigger breasts than me, so no support clearly isn't an option.
Your breasts look pretty amazing and as they say, if you've got it, flaunt it!
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I agree. Sideset, that sweater looks great on you. There is no way you can hide breasts that big.
I love how that bra gives you such a rounded and lifted shape. You have a full, high, bust. Do you get many comments?
I also agree that you need to wear a bra, both for comfort and modesty. And no way on earth, would men’s tops fit you because you are so full busted.
You are bigger than most women, and I would imagine most women would kill to have a bust like yours
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As a newbie I've kept coming back to read through this thread recently and I can understand both sides regarding whether a line has been crossed or not.
Particularly regarding some posts that were made here several days ago, my take on it is, if people have suffered severe gynecomastia, then it could be considered as a form of involuntary feminization. There is a clear cut choice to be made; embrace it, begrudgingly accept and hide it, or get rid of it.
If the best way to deal with the mental trauma is to embrace it and it results in downstream choices that others don't agree with, even if the mental well-being of the 'victim' is greatly enhanced and no-one else is being caused harm, then I see that as a good thing. I cannot see anything wrong with sharing it here because it just might inspire people - and even save a life.
Dale Warnio you are being very brave and I see nothing wrong with you telling others how happy you are by being what you are. By doing so you are giving people choices! If it works, it works. BTW you look magnificent.
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It is hard to know exactly where to draw the line. I definitely get what people have been saying all this time about it not being a crossdressing site (and agree with them). But I also understand the practical aspect of wearing clothes that fit. And I also get the aspect of hormones affecting how we all think (which is a bit odd in my case, having always had a more feminine personality, but at the same time having had a visible scalp at 16).
Personally, I prefer to err on the side of not discussing crossdressing unless it's due to poor fit, as that's not really what the site is for and it really does have a tendency to get uncomfortable.
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I know this is a slippery slope that I've danced across at times. We definitely are in a rather bizarre situation simply because nature has seen fit to give us a hormone stew that yields breasts rather than flat chests. Remember, those same hormones affect not only our bodies but also our psyches. How we respond to the fact of having breasts will be impacted by those hormones. It is very difficult striking a manly pose when our bosoms are saying something else. I understand that simply accepting the reality of breasts sprouting on our chests is challenging for men and that entertaining a more feminine presentation complicates rather than simplifies matters...being a man who actually has breasts, rather than one who buys breast forms to fill out an outfit he wants to wear, changes the equation...I also want to celebrate the fact of having breasts...I understand that can feel like a step too far for men thinking of cutting them off because they are so embarrassed by their presence.
That Dale and Gary took it a step farther makes me smile. In fact, when I saw your new avatar Dale, I knew something like this was lurking behind the scenes. I'm not offended. Have fun!
Aussie, I love that phrase, "involuntary feminization," and thank you for the compliment on my pictures and sharing your typology of embrace, accept, hide, reject, cut off. What you wrote made me think of the insights from 42CSurprise!
Involuntary feminization.
Involuntary feminization. I think that phrase says it all and is consistent with what 42CSurprise! was saying. In my case, I went from denial to acceptance to embracing to becoming proud of my feminization. So, I guess you could say for me, it has gone from involuntary to enthusiastic volunteer.
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JohannK, you make a good point, and you said it nicely. And no more pictures from me. And to reiterate, I am fine taking down what I have previously put up.
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I think the pics look great.
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The posts that border on crossdressing advocacy have always bothered me, there's plenty of other places on the net for that. But after seeing Dale's pictures and thinking about my own experience I think that gynecomastia and some degree of "crossdressing" go hand in hand. In my mind I saw men with gyne as men with breasts and thats it. I think that might have something to do with the fact that most of the pictures here are of only the chest area. After looking at Dale's pictures it's quite obvious that male clothes are not going to fit. Those pictures were eye opening as to what the effects that a lifetime of hormone imbalance can have.
As for my self I don't have that much feminization but I've always had large thighs and a bigger butt. I found it difficult to find pants that fit and I would have to buy pants that were big and baggy so I could be comfortable and not feel constricted. Then a few years ago I tried a pair of womens jeans and the difference was amazing. There was room for my butt and thighs and the waist band wasn't several inches too big. My wife went from making comments about how I was swimming in my pants and how dumpy I looked to now she's complimenting me and is a little jealous that my butt looks better than hers.
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FredL and Goodnplenty,
Thank you for the compliments on my pictures and for the acceptance.
FredL, how did the surgery go? You must be just beginning to recover. Like Goodnplenty, my body shape is more like a woman’s and it’s not just that I have big breasts; I never considered surgery.
Goodnplenty, does your wife know you are now wearing women’s jeans? What brands and styles do you find work best for you? Don’t you just love how soft and comfy they are, in addition to the better fit? Ever tried jeggings? Talk about soft and comfy, and if your wife is jealous of your butt now, just wait till she sees you in a pair of jeggings 😍
You are right that I can’t wear men’s pants and tops. To fit my hips, butt, and thighs, too loose in the waist, and if I get the right size waist, I can’t pull them up past my thighs and hips. Similarly with tops, if they are big enough for my bust, they fall off my shoulders, and if I get the right size on my shoulders, too tight for my bust.
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Appreciating this conversation. I know we all want to be manly men... that is generally what our families and society expected of us. Then we develop gynecomastia, some of us in adolescence and some of us later in life because of medical challenges, surgeries, drugs. But it is important to remember that gynecomastia is the result of hormones over which we have no control unless we are intent of feminizing ourselves. I've written about websites where men ARE trying to increase their breast size by taking supplements that will elevate estrogen. Some even have surgery to remove their testes to reduce testosterone. That's not happening here. There are also websites with men actively crossdressing, wearing breast forms and butt forms to create a feminine appearance. That's not happening here. We're men whose bodies ARE changing, not by choice but by circumstance. Yes, we can wail and gnash our teeth to say we don't want it. Some men choose to have surgery, take testosterone shots, change diets. There is nothing wrong with taking that path but surgery is expensive and not always successful. Those of us who've had gynecomastia since puberty have lived with elevated estrogen in our bodies for a long time. THIS is who we are. We've likely never been the manly man, the well muscled athlete, so we've made the best of what nature gave us... all of it. And now with growing breasts, again, not by choice, we find ourselves here talking about how best to respond to the situation. Honestly, I don't see what is wrong with enjoying having breasts since they've been our companions for so long and playing with how to present them. Personally, I'm not interested in flaunting the fact I have quite lovely breasts but that doesn't stop me from enjoying wearing a sexy brassiere. That said, I definitely appreciate seeing what other men are doing to accommodate and celebrate the breasts and bodies mother nature has given them. It is simply dressing and we do it every day. What we put on our bodies should ideally fit well so we can be comfortable. If we find what we wear enhances our look, wonderful. It's nice to feel we look good, for ourselves and the people in our lives. Enjoy it everyone... breasts and all.
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I ran across a couple of pictures a while back myself. One in high school and one about 25 years ago. In both I was in denial of my chest but it was all there to see. A bra would have actually made a better appearance.
The things you learn too late to really matter in life.
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I'll take the bait and respond about Gary and Dale's pictures, as well as the idea of crossdressing. Gary and Dale, you both look great dressing in female clothing. Clearly, hormones have given you a shape that makes women's clothing more comfortable and appropriate to wear. I believe that all of us who have gynecomastia are under the influence of hormone changes that are out of our control, some more than others at this point in time. If women's pants and tops fit you better, by all means, wear what fits best.
For myself, I do not have a female shape. I'm 5'11" and 260 lbs with an apple shape. I'm in the process of losing weight. Right now, I have a large waist, thick thighs with shape, large bust, but my butt and hips are not female in appearance now. Who knows what will happen over the years. My physique might become more feminine and would be required to wear more female clothing. If that's the direction my body takes, it's ok and I'll work with what happens. I wear a couple of women's t shirts and layering tank tops now. I'm ok with that. For now, men's jeans are fine. They are a bit tricky because of my waist, the jeans can be baggy in the butt and legs. Maybe after losing inches in my waist, they might fit better. If not, off to the women's section I'll go.
I can't see myself wearing makeup or dresses, but I think that hormones have a strong hold on us. You just respond to what the hormones do to your body and act appropriately. After years of gynecomastia, I finally worked up the courage to begin wearing a bra and wish I would have done it is sooner.
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42CSurpise!, Johndoe1, and CuriousK, I think the common theme in what each of you said was that we have all this estrogen flowing through out bodies, and what are we going to do with that. I believe there is a continuum of masculine and feminine and everyone falls in someplace, and we just happen to be more towards feminine compared to masculine men. Then it comes down to what we are going to do with it.
What we do is governed by how the estrogen individually affects us, both physically and emotionally, our unique circumstances, and our priorities. And these change over time. Johndoe1, you gave a great example of how you were in denial about having breasts like a woman, and if you could go back, you would have started wearing a bra much sooner. Maybe, even when the girls in your class did? CuriousK, you are on a diet, and will have to see what your figure looks like afterwards. 42CSurprise!, I like your point that we were given breasts just like women were, but some men work hard to grow breasts.
I guess, to me, it is all perspective and context. We each have to choose our own paths and hope that path ends up being right for us.
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...For myself, I do not have a female shape. I'm 5'11" and 260 lbs with an apple shape...
Same here, though I'm shorter and weigh less. I have fairly broad shoulders but am definitely round in the middle. I look at Dale's photos and marvel at his feminine shape. That is not me. My breasts are real and if I chose to give attention to them they would definitely be noticed. But I don't always wear a brassiere and my breasts spread a bit on my chest and I always wear a shirt over either a tee shirt or turtleneck. My preferred shirt is from LL Bean, a canvas shirt with two front pockets with flaps and buttons. I've worn them for years and even with breast growth over the last year and a half, my development is hidden.
I did buy a women's turtleneck a few years ago simply to get a color I like... men's clothes definitely have the drab thing going on. When I put it on I realized immediately that my shoulders are too broad for such a garment. So I'll continue to be a man, continue to cover my breast development AND wear a brassiere when I'm home and when I'm inspired to play... not with crossdressing but with the breasts nature has given me. I get to do that.
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95 % of what I wear for clothing either comes from the ladies department or ladies clothing store. Torrid is probably my favorite place to shop for clothing.
I know that I am a size 10 in most of their jeans and slacks. I do wear leggings too and I wear a size 0 in them. They have a wide selection of tops and sweaters that can be considered androgynous but, they fit my shoulders, neck, and waist but more important, they fit my chest. There is no way that I can find a men's shirt that can do all that!
Same goes for my pants. Torrid jeans almost always fit perfectly! I even ended up on the Torrid website last year. One of the SAs who I usually got to took a couple pictures of me in a pair 9f Torrid Bombshell Skinny jeans that I was also trying on a white sheer top with. I had no idea that she sent it to Torrid and they had it up for a few weeks.
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ABWG, would love to see that pic and did you have on any makeup?
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As far as Sephora and boots and dresses, Dale clearly shows the effects of long term high levels of estrogen flowing through his body, and obviously has a female body shape. And quite curvy at that.
Dale has not talked about or shown anything here to do with Sephora, boots, and dresses, but would probably go through life easier that way than trying and failing to be masculine, manly, macho.
As blad says, if the bra fits, wear it.
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I think we all agree that we want to look our best. If that means that some of us look better in non traditional men's wear, then that is the way life has dealt us. My own personal case, some women's clothing just fits better beyond a bra. I am wanting to know how to work that into my regular male wardrobe. That doesn't mean I want to cross dress in the classical sense and present as a woman. I want to wear what looks good and feels good on my body and if the result is more feminine than male, then that is an issue I will have to deal with. Would I have asked to have a butt load of estrogen dumped into my system? No. But since it is there, it IS effecting my body and my mind and I have to be aware of that and know what and how to deal with its effects. Knowing how to do that in the context of gynecomastia is well within bounds on this site. I believe, those who cross dress can teach us a lot about that. But this is not a cross dressing site per se and I don't think anyone would say it is. But it is a fine line. For whatever its worth. I just want us all to get along. There is too much hatred in the world these days.
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Johndoe,
I am a great example of this. I have been estrogen dominant since puberty. When the guys were growing chest hair and developed muscles, I was growing breasts and rounding out my bottom and thighs.
I tried for several years to try and find men's clothing that actually fit me. It was so much easier for me to walk over to the ladies department or a woman's clothing store and find clothing that fit..
I still have men's work boots and some men's socks and a few other leftovers that I can still wear. I shop Torrid and Soma for mostofmy clothing now. I also have a couple of local boutiques that I use for alot of my Intimates.
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I've mentioned my forays into the world of crossdressing and made reference to some of what I discovered. I don't doubt there are among those men folks with gynecomastia, but the preponderance seem to be men who need to buy breast forms and other kinds of padding to create a feminine appearance. A few of them are inspired to transition and they begin with breast enhancement surgery. I wrote a bit about gynecomastia and the need for wearing a brassiere and the topic was NEVER picked up by anyone. These folks will talk about dresses, makeup, wigs and many will want to present themselves in public as women. They have get togethers to party with like minded folks.
I mention all of that to say the men here really are on a different path. It is the changes in our bodies, that for some go back to puberty that drives this conversation, not first and foremost our desire to present as women. I imagine the hormone mix we've lived with has affected us in many ways. This simply IS who we are... each different of course, but all somewhere on the feminine side of the gender continuum. I certainly haven't reflected on these matters even when confused over my attraction to lingerie and to wearing brassieres, not simply as a functional thing but as a sexual thing. But looking honestly at my life, I've never been an athlete. I've always felt more comfortable with women than with men. I've always loved wearing colors that are very hard to find in the men's aisles. Yes, I can watch an hour long video of an excavator rescuing another piece of heavy equipment that had submerged in a pond it was dredging, noting the line of men on the shoreline watching as well. I've replaced engines in my car and done plumbing and electrical work. I'm good with my hands for which I'm grateful... but I want to wear a brassiere and actually have breasts that are larger than any of the women who've been my lovers over the years.
I know exploring these things can be unsettling, especially for men who are disturbed by the presence of breasts on their chest. But acceptance is what this side of the website is all about. I can imagine for the doctors who bought this site some years ago would prefer the men who come to the site will wish to avail themselves of the services they offer. We may be TOO accepting for them. But I think we owe it to ourselves to be honest with who we are and what this condition has led to in our lives. We will be different... I know that. But even if one lands in a place where he is most comfortable presenting as a woman, so be it. That is the product of his unique hormone stew, not simply a desire to crossdress. This is an expression of who that person is... something worth celebrating in my opinion.
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Very well said!
This is certainly how my life has evolved. It really has been a case of " one thing leading to another". Bras led to panties, panties led to slack and jeans, which led to blouses and other ladies tops. It goes on and on from there.
Im not ashamed of where I came from or where I am headed. It's where I want to be. I don't encourage anyone to follow my path. It is certainly not for everyone. It is the right path for me.
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You also have a wife who accepts the whole package that is you. Granted, you were wearing a brassiere when your courtship began so she knew what she was getting from the beginning. I tip my hat to you simply because you were able, having lived with the reality of your body and doubtless with the less than kind response you sometimes received, to seek an intimate relationship. Sometimes our own shame about who we are can stop us cold.
All that said, it will be a challenge for relationships when the breast development happens later in life, after the relationship began. We read about those situations on the board. And, of course, the questions about wearing a brassiere during the day, with co-workers, friends and family members. As we witness today with so much angst about transgender issues, men wearing brassieres is not universally embraced. It is often seen as perversion. As I've explored this subject, I've been careful with whom I share what is happening. And when I am out and about wearing a brassiere I dress to conceal it, not to bring attention to my breasts. This can be a lonely and confusing journey... but, alas, it is the one we're on. I'm glad this website exists so we can support one another along the way.
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42CSurprise!, you made such sense and said it so well. Thank you. ABWG, I think your circumstances may be unique.
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I do believe that for those of us who developed breasts at the same time the girls in our school did, that more than our chest is molded by female hormones. Other body shapes may certainly be effected but also our demeanor. I do know I had a softer side than most boys did and was far less aggressive.
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That sounds just like my experience too!
As most here already know my story. I was and still am estrogen dominant. Like testosterone, estrogen is very powerful in its own way. It had and has a great influence in how a look, behave, and relate to others and how they relate to me.
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Blad, you are so right. I was not the least aggressive, more timid. And it made me vulnerable. ABWG, you are so right about how strong the influence of estrogen. Far beyond the breasts on our chests and the overall shape of some of our bodies, to our attitudes, behaviors, actions.
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Although substantial breast growth for me is a more recent phenomenon, I've always had a rather soft body with a bit of flesh on my chest. I never checked my testosterone level but I expect the hormone stew that came with this particular body leans towards higher estrogen. Now my breasts cannot be denied and if anything, my body has become a bit rounder. This seems to be a natural process since I'm not being treated for any medical conditions and the only medication I take is for slightly elevated blood pressure. From what I've read, it is simply aging with slowly diminishing testosterone which allows the estrogen to have its way with me. I may ask my doctor to test my testosterone next time we do blood work but I'm content with larger breasts and I can't imagine taking shots to boost my testosterone. So here I am... here we are... talking about brassieres and breasts. I'm still a bit obsessed about the whole thing... gazing at my reflection in the mirror or playing with myself. I have breasts I longed to touch when I was dating women... how the hell did that happen?
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Apparently the drug I take, Losartan, can reduce libido but there is no correlation with low testosterone... at least that I can find. But breasts are definitely a presence in my life... here in a lace brassiere...
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Cute bra. Perfect fit. You certainly have a full feminine bust. Looks great.
Regarding the BP meds, I am on Spirinolactone, and that can have a side effect of breast enlargement, especially if you have a predilection. Maybe you want to ask your doctor to put you on that instead :)
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42CSurprise! Your breasts look great and I love that bra looks great on you.
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Thanks guys. That brassiere is a cheapy from China which means it is not well made and is really designed for a much narrower body. I can't wear it for very long without creating painful welts on the outside of my breasts. But the lace is so thin it is a rather provocative choice to wear.
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From Sideset on 01-24:
"Regarding the BP meds, I am on Spirinolactone, and that can have a side effect of breast enlargement",
Spironolactone is a major anitandrogen and will cause gyno. It is a very common cardiac medication - I'm on it, and my breasts grew because of it. But, as I stated in another post, the choice between wearing a bra or a body-bag is a no brainer. Imo, ditto for other serious medical conditions with prescriptions that may cause gynecomastia.
This forum and the information we share helps avoid 'fake guilt' - i.e., that it's somehow our fault that we've developed breasts.
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Moobzie, I agree with you 100%
And I see you definitely need to wear a bra both your comfort and appearance.
I love your phrase, fake guilt, you are spot on, in my view.
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I used to feel like my breasts were a "fault" as well. I view them as an asset now. There are many of us here that feel the same. It sometimes takes a little while to grow into them I guess.
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In my early teen years I definitely felt like growing breasts was a significant fault and I had a constant reminder by others in school that I was not an average physique.
Some how wearing bras helped to feel better.
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Blad, I felt very similar. I also once felt that growing breasts was a fault. I know that I am an exception and not a rule being 16 and wearing a bra to school.
I first thought about my breasts as a fault. The truth is that it is not a fault. Our bodies are just doing what they are told to do. I wasn't necessarily proud to.wear a bra because of the ridicule I received. However I I felt better, physically because it held the girls in place which felt good. it also prepared me of what to expect as an adult.
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Honestly, I would have benefitted from wearing a bra probably at age 11 or 12. As you know, that was not an acceptable option for a boy that age in the early 80's. While it would have been embarrassing, I would have been more comfortable. Some of the girls in my classes at that age would tell me that I should wear a bra. Believe me, they were big enough for one. Just happy with my decision to wear one now.
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blad, I know exactly what you are talking about. I hated my chest and wanted nothing more than to have a "regular" chest. The taunting really made me question my sexuality that lingered well into my adult years. I was so afraid of being called out it effected places I went and activities I participated in. Life really sucked. I wish I had just admitted what I had and dealt with it. Since I have I am enjoying life again. I just dress my chest for my activity and go do it like anyone else.
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Honestly, I would have benefitted from wearing a bra probably at age 11 or 12. As you know, that was not an acceptable option for a boy that age in the early 80's. While it would have been embarrassing, I would have been more comfortable. Some of the girls in my classes at that age would tell me that I should wear a bra. Believe me, they were big enough for one. Just happy with my decision to wear one now.
Actually, I had my first bra talk with my mother when I was12. She gave me a stack of hand me downbras frommy olderr sister. She had me try them on and said I could wear them around the house if it helped me. I did this for a few years butwhen I turned 16, I had gotten large enough that she had a second bra talk with me and said that I really needed to start wearing a bra full time. I told her thatn would but, I wanted my ownn bras. I was fitted at JCPENNEY that same day and I was a 34C.
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This conversation is like a walk down memory lane... or should I say mammary lane. Couldn't resist. My breast development was minimal though it was enough that I felt shame about it. It affected all kinds of choices I made because I didn't want to expose my chest. When I did, I felt embarrassment even if no one said anything. There were still stares but it was more my mind that knew I was different just from looking at my friends with flat chests. I've spoken about this before. What greatly complicated the presence of small breasts on my chest when I was an adolescent was the fact I started putting on women's lingerie including brassieres when I was 12 years old. I didn't understand what that was about until decades later when I encountered memories of sexual abuse when I was a young boy. From age 12 to 15 I broke into homes to steal lingerie. You can imagine the confusion about all of that as I got older. I won't go into that story but I will say that finding this website and giving myself permission to put on a brassiere has been part of my healing around that trauma. And that is one of the reasons I keep saying that wearing a brassiere for me is not simply to deal with back problems or sensitive nipples. It has a sexual element to it and I'm learning to accept the whole dynamic... me having breasts that benefit from wearing a brassiere; putting on a brassiere and feeling aroused; talking about crossdressing here and elsewhere. I have this particular hormone stew that led to this body and life experience of sexual trauma that complicated the whole journey... gender confusion and sexual orientation confusion. I've landed at a place where I know I'm heteorsexual and not on my way to transitioning to become a woman. I'm simply a man with breasts who lives alone and sometimes puts on a brassiere while enjoying those breasts. Go figure... so many ways to live a life and this is one of them.
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Honestly, I would have benefitted from wearing a bra probably at age 11 or 12. As you know, that was not an acceptable option for a boy that age in the early 80's. While it would have been embarrassing, I would have been more comfortable. Some of the girls in my classes at that age would tell me that I should wear a bra. Believe me, they were big enough for one. Just happy with my decision to wear one now.
Actually, I had my first bra talk with my mother when I was12. She gave me a stack of hand me downbras frommy olderr sister. She had me try them on and said I could wear them around the house if it helped me. I did this for a few years butwhen I turned 16, I had gotten large enough that she had a second bra talk with me and said that I really needed to start wearing a bra full time. I told her thatn would but, I wanted my ownn bras. I was fitted at JCPENNEY that same day and I was a 34C.
If my mom did that, gave me hand me down bras from older sisters to try on, I would have tried them to see if they fit and helped the bouncing. I think it would have felt like the right thing for me to do. Unfortunately, there was never a discussion between myself and the females in my family about the breast development I had. If my mom suggested a bra for me, I probably would have worn one. While embarrassing, it would have controlled the movement, helped my appearance and possibly give me some confidence. I already had some, not a lot, of the boys and girls in my classes saying I needed to wear a bra. I sure could have used one as early as 11 years old.
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As I have stated in other posts before, I could have benefited from a bra talk from my mom. She was well aware of my breast development, having taken me to specialists to be assessed. I think we were both a bit too embarrassed to open a discussion; sort of don't ask and don't tell.
Openly wearing a bra to school would have been a dramatic paradigm shift, but on the other hand I was constantly told every day in school I needed a bra so it was not like it was a secret. My breasts were often on full display on the skins teem during physical education.
When I began trying bras in private, I found a strange acceptance and even enjoyed how my breasts looked in a bra. I was mentally ready to wear a bra full time as a teen ager if society was ready as well. Strange how the bra turned a negative into a positive, if only I could have taken full advantage of that right from my teen years.
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Openly wearing a bra to school would have been a dramatic paradigm shift, but on the other hand I was constantly told every day in school I needed a bra so it was not like it was a secret. My breasts were often on full display on the skins teem during physical education.
From what I've read elsewhere on the forum I don't think you are the only one to have been forcibly forced to flaunt yourself on the skins team. It was never a problem for me, I was a normal teenager I guess, but I just wonder - and this applies to anyone - if you were on the skins team but still wore a bra, would the teasing and bullying have been worse?
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if you were on the skins team but still wore a bra, would the teasing and bullying have been worse?
Oh. Hell. Yes.
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^^^^^^^
I double that above, it was bad enough to be forced on the skins team by a sadistic male coach. A female gym teacher probably wouldn’t have, but back then it was only males for the boy’s and females for the girls.
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I was very lucky that my gym teacher, also my wrestling coach and a great mentor, never put me in those embarrassing situations. If we were standing in line for shirts and skins, you could see him counting to make sure that I was always a shirt and never a skin. He never talked about it, but he never put me in that position. I'm thankful for that. Honestly, being a shirt with bouncing boobs was hard enough. I'm glad that I wear bras everyday and I'm way more comfortable that way.
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Openly wearing a bra to school would have been a dramatic paradigm shift, but on the other hand I was constantly told every day in school I needed a bra so it was not like it was a secret. My breasts were often on full display on the skins teem during physical education.
From what I've read elsewhere on the forum I don't think you are the only one to have been forcibly forced to flaunt yourself on the skins team. It was never a problem for me, I was a normal teenager I guess, but I just wonder - and this applies to anyone - if you were on the skins team but still wore a bra, would the teasing and bullying have been worse?
Most likely any consideration of wearing a bra to school would have required some sort of exemption from gym classes. Besides being on a skins teem with a bra on, simply changing into gym cloths in a bra would not likely work well. (Even though the entire class was accustom to seeing my bare breasts every time I changed or was on the skins teem). A bra would likely be visible through the required gym shirt in our classes as well.
With irony, I remember being on the skins teem in a mixed gym event, where the few girls who were also on the "skins" teem were obviously keeping there gym shirt on. And yes, I was yet again called out for needing a bra.
In some ways, wearing a bra to school under the right cloths would feel more safe than exposing breasts in gym. It may not even be obvious right away if one was wearing a bra given that everyone already was aware of my breasts.
No easy solution; even if you accept your breasts and the comfort of wearing a bra, it is not easy to fit in particularly as a teen.
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I agree with blad. There were times I really wanted to wear a bra to school. Part of me thought they already know I have breasts, have repeatedly said I need to wear a bra, so what would be the big deal of them knowing I now wear a bra? Same with PE, they all have seen me be bare breasted in the showers and on the skins team, so what’s the big deal of them seeing me in a bra?
But, I also knew that wearing a bra would make the teasing even worse. Instead of being satisfied that they were right that I needed to wear a bra and pleased that I had listen to them and come to agree with them buy regular wearing a bra, I knew I would get more torture in scorn.
Very interesting double standard that blad had to go topless while his female skins teammates did not. Did those girls say anything? Did you notice them paying particular attention to your naked breasts are talking to each other about them?
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Very interesting double standard that blad had to go topless while his female skins teammates did not. Did those girls say anything? Did you notice them paying particular attention to your naked breasts are talking to each other about them?
That gym session memory has stayed with me clearly. It was mortifying to have exposed bouncing breasts in front the of girls in the mixed class. I recall it was a basketball game with lots of jumping and running. In close contact some of the girls were suggesting they should share a bra with me while guys would just call out across the court that I needed a bra.
I would try to act engaged in the game like everything was normal, while everyone was staring at my boobs. They were probably all mesmerized as they bounced around just like a girls breasts. Who could blame them really.
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Yes, who could blame them. Probably the first time the girls had seen bare breasts in public bouncing freely during an athletic activity. They probably couldn’t help but compare their breasts to yours and think about how they would feel if it were them putting on the show for everyone.
Of course, the other irony is that both the girls and the boys were right that you should’ve been wearing a bra just like all the other girls in your PE class.
Naturally, you would try to look like you’re absorbed in the game, but I’m sure you were more aware of your breasts bouncing and everybody staring at them.
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Yes, who could blame them. Probably the first time the girls had seen bare breasts in public bouncing freely during an athletic activity. They probably couldn’t help but compare their breasts to yours and think about how they would feel if it were them putting on the show for everyone.
I could easily imagine that to be the case, even if I was never put in that exact situation. Dale, you have a way with words.
Life is full of unfair comparisons. I cannot wait until the day that people are not judged according to their physical attributes, or race, or sexual orientation, or politics, or religion, or how they present themselves, or career, etc. etc. People are people!
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I was just thinking back to when I was a teenager developing breasts, and all the many kids, and even a number of adults, who told me I needed to wear a bra.
I heard it so much, how could I not think of starting to wear a bra. I paid close attention to what I could see through the tops of the bras all the girls in my class were wearing. I tried to compare the size of their breasts to mine and imagine how I would feel and look in a bra. Each day when the newspaper came, I searched out and then studied all the advertising that included bras. I spent hours looking at bras in the Sears, Penney’s, Spiegels, and Ward’s catalogs.
Everyone in the ads always looked so happy in their bras. The bras looked so good on them.
Several times I had overheard girls in my class talking to each other about their bras, how excited they had been when they first started needing to wear a bra, moving up a cup size, what styles they liked, how a boy sitting behind one had traced the outline of her bra band on her back. I replayed those conversations over and over in my head.
I loved just hearing them say the word bra. And some of them were the very same girls who had told me I needed to wear a bra. I knew they were right. I wanted to be part of that group talking about our bras.
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Yes SideSet, once I gave in to all the comments from the girls that I needed a bra and tried one in my early teen years, I too wished I could have participated in conversations with them about bras.
I think when you develop breasts at the same time as the girls did in school, you have a bit of a connection to the "bra culture" but obviously always feel like an outsider. The whole thing becomes a confusing curiosity; you did not want breasts but you do, you resist comments that you need a bra and are embarrassed but realize how well a bra fits, you know its strange to need and wear a bra yet find it a bit fascinating to wear one, the comments that you need a bra are made as ridicule yet you realize inside that they are right, you hate having breasts yet take note that you look and feel good wearing a bra, you want to find out more about wearing a bra and trying different ones but are limited in your access.
In the end, it is not so much that you mind having breasts or wearing a bra but that you feel your situation must be hidden as much as possible and that you can not just be you.
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Blad and sideset, I can so relate.
It was so conflicting. Teasing became good advice.
I would be embarrassed to have breasts, but then when I saw how well I filled the cups of a bra, I would feel proud.
I would be ashamed of how my chest looked, and then look at myself in the mirror wearing a bra, and think how good my bust looked.
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I can so relate to all.of this. I was 16, in high school, wearing a bra full time. I had fulfilled my PE requirements earlier. No more shirts and skins. No more gang showers. I was a junior in high school and I was wearing an underwire bra to school. I tried my best to camouflage that fact but, eventually I was discovered. Before I was teased for having breasts and saying I needed a bra. Now, I was being teased for having breasts and actually wearing a bra.
Truth be known, I liked and now love having my breasts. I had to brush off all the teasing until it eventually subsided. I had secretly accepted my breasts as my own. It did howevertake several more years for me to publicly accept them. I slowly began to cut back on my camouflage technique which I had mastered. I got to the point where I am now. I will simply wear a bra with a tshirt. I wear my bra with a regular button down shirt ( blouse) and maybe a camisole over my bra depending on my top.
There is no practical reason for us to hide our breasts. Being born male is not a practical reason. If anyone has breasts and wants support and shape for their chest, they should not be shamed into either foregoing comfort, support, and shape of their chest because of what they have between their legs.
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I started puberty between 9 and 10, with some glandular growth and a bit from weight. The school days were not pleasant, and having someone to talk to without judgement would have saved a lot of heartache, poor choices, and therapy.
The girls started before little league. I have always been a big guy. I grew very quickly to 6'2 and 200lb with a b cup by the 7th grade, along with all of the usual puberty issues. I believe that my size prevented a lot of the cruelty that kids are capable of, from reaching me.
The last time I remember being around people shirtless by choice in public was an after season little league soccer party, and football practice locker room in junior high; otherwise just intimate partners at a private pool. After the pointing and laughing at the party, I would always be in a t-shirt or not go swimming. And I always made sure to be the last one in the showers after football practice, or shower at home.
My development fluctuated between an A & B cup until my mid 20's, and has increased to my current 46C or 44D, I have not been swimming but a few times 15 years ago. The housemates are talking about getting another pool....so, we shall see. I have known and trusted them for 20+ years.
I have chosen to wear a bra full time for support, comfort, and sweat management. I wear to work. And today I chose to wear a comfortable bra instead of the blasted binder uni-boob pullover bra to my sister’s birthday family lunch. Not a small step for me.
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Do you mean you wonder if those are pictures of a real woman? If that is what you mean, I will accept the compliment, and guarantee you would not find a female under those clothes 😉
Can you tell I like cosplay/costumes?
Here's a true compliment for you, and your costume only enhances the fact that you have Tina Turner Thighs. Find a photo of her on stage in a legless costume, I think you will agree. Even though her legs may be a bit shorter.
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Wow, this thread still active. But I have not seen Dale around for quite some time ☹️
Hoping Dale still active wherever they are.
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You have a very nice chest just to let you know. Looks like a cup bigger than my chest but our chests sit up and protrude without any assistance. I wear binders everyday unless I feel like having my boobs seen. There’s no hiding my boobs without compression even if I made my belly huge to compensate. My friends growing up were silly about them and would grab them when messing around with each other. I tested the waters a few times in my 20s being bare chested on vacation where I wouldn’t know anyone and a few times I caught people taking pictures of me candidly. I tend to nature walk in tank tops and I’ve actually been approached by guys complimenting my chest and an elderly cyclist even asked to see them which made me uncomfortable. Point being it’s a blessing and a curse. I’m choosing to enjoy them anyway I can and I’m lucky to have a partner who is kinky with them.
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I know this crosses into a territory this forum doesn't particularly like, but even so, I believe it is important not to simply dismiss it. As men with breasts, I believe we are that bit closer to being women /feminine and cannot ignore it.
I think you look amazing in both images and would definitely be passable in public in the first. May struggle a little in the supermarket in the second!
I've been told I'm fairly convincing in my 'girl next door' look, but like you, don't always feel that way.
For the purposes of full disclosure, my bust is enhanced in these photos.
I recently tried on a dress because I was curious how it would look. I felt good in it and it wasn’t overly weird.
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Looks good on you. Appears to be comfortable and a good fit. You should wear whatever you feel best in.
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Thank you! Not only did it look good, but it felt good too. Kind of scared me. It fit great and felt comfortable. From the picture, if you didn’t know it was a man, you’d think it was a woman in that dress.
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I just re-read this thread and it was heartening to do so. Considering how so many of us were traumatized as youths simply because the hormone stew we were given by Mother Nature left us with breasts on our chests, it is a relief to be able to share those experiences with one another. As has been noted, gender is on a continuum. It is not simply binary. This website is about breasts, but an honest conversation on that subject invariably touches on gender expression. Dale was very courageous initiating this thread and sharing photos of how he has explored this matter. I understand that some men here feel uncomfortable with his choices, but honestly, he opened a conversation that definitely belongs on this website. In reality, I can't imagine any other venue for having this conversation simply because the fact of having breasts as men makes us different. Before I found this website I searched and found discussions of men wearing brassieres and I imagine some of the men I encountered there are regulars on this website. We focus more on the "need" for brassieres but invariably touch on the desire to wear brassieres. That is evident in the conversations in this forum. Dale simply is celebrating in a more expansive way than most of us have done. I appreciate this conversation. As I've noted before, my journey was complicated by sexual trauma as a boy. I don't need to go into that here, but it is a salient part of my journey that definitely has been complicated by gynecomastia. So here I am... once again wearing a brassiere and once again appreciating what it does to breasts that are my own. I've said it before that the breasts held in this Lilyette brassiere are nicer than the breasts of any woman with whom I have a relationship. Go figure!
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That dress fits you well. Thank for sharing your pic.
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I just wanted to note that I ordered a woman's long sleeved tunic a few days ago. I'm very curious about how this will differ from the men's turtlenecks and tee shirts I've always worn. With greater breast development this seems like an experiment worth making. Who knows where it might lead.
I decided to post this on an old thread simply to bring attention to this very rich conversation about the challenges of living with gynecomastia. I'm sorry Dale is no longer with us, but he certainly opened a conversation that is well worth reading. This is the heart of what we're all coming to terms with, simply because we've developed breasts.
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I miss him as well. He started this conversation and I realized it was sometime later that Sophie introduced herself fully. Dealing with estrogen as a man is definitely an adventure not for the feint of heart. Dale was definitely doing that and sharing his experiences with us. Sophie chose to make the transition to being a woman while the rest of us explore what changes in our bodies are all about. I know this is uncomfortable for some men but honestly, coming to terms with this reality seems a healthy thing to be doing. As I've said elsewhere, had I been able to achieve a flat chest as a teen I would have much preferred that option, but such was never going to be. And so I lived with the emotional angst and covered my body as best I could. Finally, I'm learning self-acceptance and that leads to enjoying the process of selecting and then wearing brassieres. I have breasts that fill a C cup... so here I am wearing a well-filled brassiere. 8)
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Dale was indeed cool, but to me (personally) applied an uncomfortable amount of pressure to be like him, which I am not and that made me very uncomfortable to the point where I had to tell him that and cut contact. I sincerely hope that he is still out there, and frankly he made a damn good and attractive "woman" in his photos. We should all be so lucky, right? Godspeed to Dale regardless of what has been going on; we wish you the best.
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I agree that we must each find our way. Some of the support given here can feel like too much, but then, given how often we've encountered negative responses to our bodies, it is nice to be among men who understand. Then we have to unpack our own experience and find ways to express ourselves that feel good to us. We seem to have in common an appreciation of a good brassiere, which makes us rather unique as men... I just bought two more! ::)
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I miss him as well. He started this conversation and I realized it was sometime later that Sophie introduced herself fully. Dealing with estrogen as a man is definitely an adventure not for the feint of heart. Dale was definitely doing that and sharing his experiences with us. Sophie chose to make the transition to being a woman while the rest of us explore what changes in our bodies are all about. I know this is uncomfortable for some men but honestly, coming to terms with this reality seems a healthy thing to be doing. As I've said elsewhere, had I been able to achieve a flat chest as a teen I would have much preferred that option, but such was never going to be. And so I lived with the emotional angst and covered my body as best I could. Finally, I'm learning self-acceptance and that leads to enjoying the process of selecting and then wearing brassieres. I have breasts that fill a C cup... so here I am wearing a well-filled brassiere. 8)
I have been dealing with high levels of estrogen and breast growth for only about 4 years now. So like you said it’s not for the feint of heart. A lot of you have been dealing with it much longer then I have. The results can be seen physically. But the mental part is what a lot of people don’t understand. I know my mindset has done a 180. Without my wife’s support I’m not real sure I would have made it through this. So now I accept my new breasts, and I accept my new way of thinking. Whatever we want to wear is ok. I know my wardrobe has changed drastically....so what happened to dale?
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...Whatever we want to wear is ok. I know my wardrobe has changed drastically....so what happened to dale?
I took a break from the board for some months and discovered he was gone when I returned. I think this thread was a bit controversial since he showed photos of himself engaged in what he called COSplay which is defined as "the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game." Likely because of his rather ample breast development and his curvaceous body, he chose to dress as female characters. For anyone anxious lest this conversation focus on cross-dressing, what Dale was doing was not well received by everybody. I don't know if someone complained to the moderators or if he concluded that there wasn't acceptance for his unique journey coming to terms with gynecomastia. Perhaps some others here know more than I do. I had some rather deep private conversations with Dale, but then I've explored cross-dressing myself. I loved his freedom in being himself.
Glad you've had such wonderful support from your wife. That can make all the difference. As a single person, I'm navigating these waters on my own... with a bit of help from men here, but also from a few friends who know about my fascination with brassieres... brassieres that make my breasts very happy.
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I miss him as well. He started this conversation and I realized it was sometime later that Sophie introduced herself fully. Dealing with estrogen as a man is definitely an adventure not for the feint of heart. Dale was definitely doing that and sharing his experiences with us. Sophie chose to make the transition to being a woman while the rest of us explore what changes in our bodies are all about. I know this is uncomfortable for some men but honestly, coming to terms with this reality seems a healthy thing to be doing. As I've said elsewhere, had I been able to achieve a flat chest as a teen I would have much preferred that option, but such was never going to be. And so I lived with the emotional angst and covered my body as best I could. Finally, I'm learning self-acceptance and that leads to enjoying the process of selecting and then wearing brassieres. I have breasts that fill a C cup... so here I am wearing a well-filled brassiere. 8)
I have been dealing with high levels of estrogen and breast growth for only about 4 years now. So like you said it’s not for the feint of heart. A lot of you have been dealing with it much longer then I have. The results can be seen physically. But the mental part is what a lot of people don’t understand. I know my mindset has done a 180. Without my wife’s support I’m not real sure I would have made it through this. So now I accept my new breasts, and I accept my new way of thinking. Whatever we want to wear is ok. I know my wardrobe has changed drastically....so what happened to dale?
I have had breasts for most of my life since I was 13. Sometimes I feel out of place, but I have had them so long you tend to forget about it. Maybe unexpected by some, wearing a bra full time helped me forget about them even more. No doubt because they are nicely under control and physically feel better held by a bra. During the day and out in public I am not thinking "I am wearing a bra", as it just feels right to be wearing one.
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Wearing a bra because you have breasts is no different than wearing shoes because you have feet. The clothing is functional. That's not to say that it can't be fashionable too 😉🤗🥰
your sister,
Sophie
💋
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Sophie - You've remained close to this website. I'm wondering whether you know anything about Dale's departure that you feel you could share. He was very involved in the conversation when I arrived and I enjoyed the conversations I had with him. He seemed like a kindred spirit.
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Sophie - You've remained close to this website. I'm wondering whether you know anything about Dale's departure that you feel you could share. He was very involved in the conversation when I arrived and I enjoyed the conversations I had with him. He seemed like a kindred spirit.
I really don't know where Dale went. We had chatted a few times. I can say that I feel that he no longer felt welcome. Some members felt strongly that the crossdressing aspect didn't belong here.
I was apprehensive myself about letting the members here know that I am a woman of transgender experience. I did start here while I was still pretending to be a man. But that didn't change the fact that I I went through all of the same experiences as any other woman. That being said, I have always felt welcome here and all of the members here have been so supportive of me and my social transition which this girl appreciates.
I do hope Dale is well. I personally thought that he had some very cute outfits and a pretty little figure.
Sophie🥰
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Well if some people don’t like things that are posted on this site...don’t read it!..don’t complain about it!...just as myself have quit reading about surgery...ain’t gonna happen...lol...there is something for everyone on this site. So if you don’t like what some post..please just move on and don’t complain or try and make others feel bad.
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I am still grateful to be accepted here and welcomed. While at one time I did suffer from gynecomastia and was a crossdresser, I no longer qualify as either one as a woman.
Bras are bras and boobs are boobs and neither have anything to do with what's between our legs. I do enjoy being part of the conversations here and I'm always happy to help anyone who has any questions about bras or boob. I also welcome any personal messages and happy to share my story.
thank you so much,
your sister,
Sophie🥰😍❤️🤗
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👍😃🥰🥰
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Second hand, so not definitive information, but another member of this forum told me Dale told him quite some time ago that Dale believed other forum member(s) had complained about what Dale had shared.
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We all know that coming to terms with breasts developing on our chests, whether as adolescents or later in life, is challenging. That is especially so for men who lean into rigid ideas of what it means to be a man. A manly man will not take kindly to the notion that having breasts can lead one to explore brassieres or other feminine garments. I've visited this site for a couple of years and have witnessed some rather nasty exchanges around something as ordinary as whether wearing a brassiere is a reasonable response to growing breasts. Sophie took the long journey from a teen whose breast growth was so significant that his mother encouraged him to wear a brassiere, to transitioning to live life as a woman. That is probably the journey that would most terrify a manly man. Dale hadn't gone that far, but he did make play out of the fact he'd developed a rather feminine looking body. He looked great in the outfits he showed us. Technically he was crossdressing, but he was doing it in a specific way... COSPLAY. Perhaps that will lead to transitioning, but he certainly wasn't advocating that, any more than Sophie has.
We have breasts because we have elevated estrogen in our bodies, likely coupled with diminished testosterone. From this place we will have great difficulty playing the manly man. In fact, both our bodies and our emotions have us leaning into a more feminine presentation and many of us are enjoying that experience. Again, that is terrifying for a manly man who is clinging to his fantasy of who he must be.
I know the man who started this website eventually had surgery and was happy with the outcome. He created a website with the two sides because he recognized not everyone would choose the surgery route. But there will eternally be two sides with differing perspectives on it all. Since the site is now run by doctors who make their living doing plastic surgery, I don't expect there is a great deal of enthusiasm for what happens on this side... but the conversation continues. It is easier to talk about the practicality of needing, finding and wearing a brassiere than to talk about what it is like to live in a more feminine body. But we do some of that as well. I appreciated Dale's contribution to that side of things, in the same way it heartens me that Sophie chooses to continue chatting with all of us despite transitioning. This seems to me a very healthy conversation to be having. One size DOES NOT fit all... Learning to love ourselves exactly as we are... breasts and all... is important. Being honest about our comfort in our changing bodies is part of that process. Enjoying a well fitting brassiere that shows off our breasts makes good sense to me. Sharing that with one another is simply fun... and there is nothing wrong with that. 8)
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I agree with you !
Thank's (https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/72x72/1f44d.png)
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Exactly 42CSurprise! Exactly!
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Learning to love ourselves!...spot on 42Csurprise....well said
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I tried on a dress for the first time 7 months ago and found it fit me well. I liked the way it looked and the way I felt in it. It has forced me to confront gender identity and expression issues that I didn’t know I had. I believe that there are hormonal changes that can influence these things. Regardless of any gender issues I might have, the fact remains that I have breasts and a bra helps me. Bras are for breasts and I have them.
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...I believe that there are hormonal changes that can influence these things. Regardless of any gender issues I might have, the fact remains that I have breasts and a bra helps me. Bras are for breasts and I have them.
Absolutely and that is what we're talking about. Of course, this is a topic that isn't easily addressed when one feels obliged to defend one's masculinity. As John noted on another thread, it is those of us who have lived with elevated estrogen our whole lives who have needed to come to terms with it. Men whose bodies have changed as a result of medications taken later in life are aghast when breasts begin to appear. Here our conversation has been fairly narrowly focused... we have breasts and for the sake of comfort we need to consider wearing brassieres. That is a fine place to begin, but an honest conversation will include comments like yours. For you, wearing the dress is more than being comfortable in your body. I would say there is emotional comfort for me when I wear a brassiere. It just feels right. Sharing that here is a relief. I sit on the feminine side of the gender continuum and appreciating my breasts seems to be part of that for me in the same way wearing that dress feels natural for you. So be it. This is about SELF acceptance, not simply acceptance of breasts. Who we are, how we express ourselves, how we care for our bodies are all part of the same package. Can we be fully who we are? Can we be fully alive? That is what we're working toward in these conversations. It is much more than "you need to wear a brassiere because you have breasts like a woman."
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I like needing to wear a bra like a woman does. And I enjoy checking out other women the way a woman, and differently from how a man, does. I compare her bust to mine, consider what she is wearing and how it works for her, and think about how it might work for me.
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nothing wrong with that , I do the same thing
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Truth be known, I bet many of us do.
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I also believe that I have given more thought to and know more about bras than many women
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I also believe that I have given more thought to and know more about bras than many women
I know I do! My females who know have told me!
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We always hear that statistic about the high percentage of women wearing the wrong size bra. I never would wear the wrong size bar, as it would neither feel nor look good. Yep, all too often when I’m checking out another woman, I will think, oh, goodness, that bra does not work at all for her
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I suspect the wrong bra size has to do with many things. Women's mom's will tell them what size they think they are and they never change. Or a big box store will not have their size and put them in a bra that's close but not right. And many get hung up on the letter. They have been told a bra over a C cup is huge. So they buy to the cup size and not the band size. And some just don't know better because they won't find out because they hate bra shopping so much.
Sad actually.
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my wife is like that, so was my first wife. both always wearing the same old bras. I have mentioned to this one that she needs some new ones
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Rich meier, your wife is good with you wearing bras?
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yes and bladder control womens panties daily even when we go out
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Rich meier, your wife is good with you wearing bras?
I read this SidSet and find myself wondering who in your life that is not part of this thread knows about your affection for wearing pretty brassieres. You've mentioned that like me, you live alone. Are there any friends or family with whom you talk about your journey with breasts and brassieres? Especially given the fullness of your bosom I imagine folks are aware of your breasts. Do you talk with them about your reality?
I've spoken with a few friends and even showed two women friends what my breasts look like in a brassiere. They were impressed... I don't really go into my affection for my breasts or pleasure in finding an attractive brassiere but the fact I wear a brassiere from time to time is known. How about you?
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Rich meier, your wife is good with you wearing bras?
my late wife excepted it and bought my first bra and panty set for x-mas. wasnt too long before I out grew that bra . I tried one of hers and fit good so I started buying my own. ended up with mire bras then her.I also started wearing womens jeans and shorts except when working and with out the bra and panties. when I fot remarried , the new wife commented that I need to wear a bra.I aways went swiming without a shirt, beach pool and cruises.the firdttime I went swimming at my step faufgters pool she commented to my wife that my breasts were as big as hers.. I also heard people commenting about my big nipples.later on i said to my wife that my breasts wre sore so she said get a bra so I did. now the first thing when I get up bra goes on.I dont flaunt it or advertise it but if someone does or feels it which has happened a few times . dont care
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Rich Meier, thank you for sharing those experiences. I can relate to such comments and suggestions. Interesting how some women, like your step daughter, compare their breast sizes to ours. Of course, then their next step is easy. We would feel and look much better in a bra just like they feel and do. And if we have large feminine nipples, like you and I and women do, then a bra is also essential for our modesty.
What you shared about comments you received at the pool reminded me of an experience I had as a young teenager. We had an extended family swim outing. I was swimming topless like all the other boys when my uncle commented quite loudly for all to hear that I need to wear a bra. My mother was there, and I expected her to stick up for me and reprimand her brother, but instead, she laughed and said I was probably the same bra cup size as her.
I almost expected, and almost even wanted, her to get one of her bathing suit bra tops and have me put it on. It would’ve been nice to be covered up like that. I remember when this was going on, I had the strong impulse to hold my hands in front of my breasts, you know, the way a woman or girl does when she is caught bare breasted, feels vulnerable, and wants to preserve her modesty. However, I had the awareness to restrain myself because I knew that would just bring more attention and ridicule.
By then,I had been teased about my growing breasts for quite some time, the most common being told I needed to wear a bra. When my breasts had first started developing, I was oblivious, and when they started becoming obvious and the teasing began, I was in denial. I had progressed to embarrassment and shame, but never really thought of the suggestion that I need to wear a bra or something I should act on.
However, when my mother said we were probably the same bra cup size, that started me thinking about wearing bras.
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thank you for the comment. and I was and still am a 46c. she is small frame so that can give you an idea if what size she is. I had been told a few times even before I remarried that I needed a bra if i was sitting out shirtless. as has been said by amany here just go with the flow and dont let it bother you. I dont know if you go to the beach but I have seen other men much larger than me that should and need to be in a bra. in fact both wives have made a comment,he needs to be in a bra. I just let it pass and laugh to myself. always wondere what either would have said if I wore a bra top to the beach.where i used to go there was an issue with women wanting to go topless. i always wondered if they would tell me to put a top on or a bra top.. i always said to my self if that was the case it would be a bra top.. ot always gets me,. women have to cover and we dont the case where we went to the US supreme court and they ruled the city had the right to say cover up but for women only
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Or what they would have said to each other about you and maybe needing to wear a bra if they didn’t know you and saw you topless on the beach?
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the only times I covered up at the beach, pool or cruise was so as not to get sunburn or if I was getting one.my first wife git one on her breasts at a topless beach in the carribean and was she sore it was almost purple. i got one too but fortunately it was my back while snorkeling