It’s just a bra

[Dudewithboobs]

I was out for a run today on my lunch and was wearing a new sports bra. It hides well but angles such as running especially when sweating my bra lines show sometimes in the back from the low neckline. Wearing one in areas like a gym or in public running where there’s really “no where to hide” has helped put my mind at ease in wearing one more confidently. 

On one stretch of my run, I passed a guy who seemed to be in fair weight but his chest was not terrible but obvious enough that it was more fat or glandular than muscle how it poked out and pushed his shirt, and slight fullness seen. I’m sure I’m just aware of it more than others dealing with it for self, and I’m sure he is fine with it and I’m confident a good amount of men with any level of gynecomastia from just some cushion to pendulous d cups don’t feel the need for a bra. But it did make me think 

It’s just a bra. Men with breasts are becoming more and more common as foods, and other factors create a space for it to be more common than before. And contrary to how full a mans breasts become it seems the idea of a bra is never an idea to pursue. The stigma is terrible and it’s weird to me a man would rather let his breasts if visible, be seen as such, rather than in some kind of support that keeps it flush, and put together for a cleaner look. 

I understand bra lines are a real thing and a fair concern. And even in pullover or racerback bras, the outlines are fairly obvious in being a bra more than a tank top. But does anyone really even notice it on a man? The gym has been my biggest obstacle. In an age where men are jacked up and women are walking in bras and tight leggings it makes someone like me who’s in shape but has a shape more self conscious that someone’s gonna see “something is different”. But in the end it’s just a bra. 

My bras are neutral colored and colored ones are ones for my specific shirts. They aren’t lace and feminine or push up or designed to accentuate. They are designed to conceal and provide comfort. I have breasts. They seem to grow periodically. And whatever the reason may be, if they stay in their current size of a B or double their size, it is what it is. And I wish there were more than just the 7 or so of us here who understand, it’s only a bra. 

[OldSlowAndRound]

Well said DWB.  And thanks for giving me a wake up call about what I need to realize about my training runs.  I just signed up for a fall race and will need to be doing a lot of miles starting next month. 

At a different point in my life, my focus on a bra was sexual, to see a woman in her bra and to help her take it off and all that implies.  The practicality of a bra never entered my thoughts until recently when I had breasts that hurt and I had to decide what was I going to do about it. Once I eliminated surgery my brain needed some adjusting.

The last 6 months I’ve had to wrap my head around the fact that I needed a bra as a piece of clothing to help my breasts.  It’s been a journey.  Not liking pain, and not wanting surgery maybe I was more open to the idea of wearing a bra than others might be.

And I’m finding I am trying at times to minimize my camouflage.  Going out it just a t shirt and when i wear a long sleeve shirt over the T shirt I find myself keeping the shirt unbuttoned to my sides.  I’m not that large but I have noticed several times getting the look by some women.  I think my plan is to minimize my camouflage starting now, and then if there’s additional growth just go with it.  

But DWB I think I disagree with the comment “7 or so”.  I think there’s a lot more than that when you count people like me that only chime in when something strikes a chord with them along with the “never posters” who just take it all in and for their own reasons do not join in.

[Johndoe1]

As a lady friend told me once,  a bra doesn't change you, it just makes you more comfortable.

And once you come to that realization, the bra loses any stigma that may be attached. Society uses the bra and breasts as a powerful weapon against men. Bras and breasts are a feminine thing not a masculine thing. Well that's not true. Look at us.

Once a bra becomes utilitarian; and for you; it's just another piece of clothing. It loses any power or mystic. It becomes a necessity. No cooties.

[Parity]

  The subject of wearing a bra as a male is and can be difficult for most.  As stated before that's not how we thought of bras.  We liked the fact that those we were attracted to had them, not us.  

  As my breast developed it took some serious brain rewiring for me to try one.  For some it may come easy,  others a longer period of time to gain that acceptance.  And that's okay.  We all have different social norms and pressure's around us, and, friends with various opinions on the subject that we still want to have contact with despite their lack of understanding on the matter.  When I began wearing it was strictly one of wearing a utilitarian bra.  Plain and nondescript.  Today I wear anything.  I like wearing colors, lace and what ever else is flattering.  One that makes me look good, feel good about myself, is comfortable in various weather conditions and activities.  I'm still a man and I can wear shades of pink, hides under clothes well, and lace.

  It's just a BRA. 

  Fabric sewn in a way to provide the wearer comfort and style.

  

[Dudewithboobs]

OldSlow, I’m glad you’re getting more comfortable with things. It is tough to wrap the mind around not just having breasts appearing more apparently on the chest, but becoming more apparent. A little cushion is fine. Not warranted but tolerable. A bit of projection is whatever, everyone seems to have a little now days for the most part it seems. It’s fine. But once they begin filling out in the sides and center and once your arms are always hitting them or they begin pressing against any shirt, moving about when walking running etc and just the subtle and slow changes that now have become obvious to self and probably others, and like you said, pain, once pain comes with it, it’s very real and very tough for some to grasp the reality of what to do for comfort now. A bra is obvious but insanely tough for the male ego. Surgery is the go to for most but crazy expensive to most, but years of debt is sometimes worth it. It really comes down to what you can see yourself when at the pub, church, social circles, etc being ok with in regard to comfort. And there are so many options that it doesn’t have to be tough. If I’m in a social setting I wear a tank top with a shelf bra for comfort and support. My chest sticks out cause things are pulled in but no one seems to mind. And if someone hugs me they likely won’t hit my band. If in the gym or work I usually opt for a pullover bra or racer back but some days may feel ok wearing a t shirt bra. Overall, I’m glad you’re finding comfort with your chest and options. 
And thank you for calling out the amount of people here. You’re right. Just cause 5 people have a microphone at a protest or conference or whatever doesn’t remove the 300 in the room who have the same passion or interests just don’t feel the need to take the mic. 

John, very true. Like anything it just comes with stigma taboo and difficulty for men in general to come to terms they need a bra like any woman does, cause that’s how it’s always promoted. Be nice to see commercials, articles on main stream media, etc promoting men in bras. Rather than just the soccer players in gps fitness garments but hey progress is progress I guess lol. For me, it took months before I felt good in a bra. No anxious and paranoid about it. Some days I still do get that way but mostly I just look around me and go wow they’re so confident with how their body’s are. I will be too. 

Parity, absolute facts. It’s just a bra. If I can wear all shades of shirts and socks and underwear why not the same for a bra. 

[Midagemoobs2]

Well said all. I, too, found it easier to wear thinking about it as a support and shape garment (I look a little more fit or a little less flabby).

[blad]

With first trying a bra on in my early teens to see if my breast growth would actually fill out a bra, I concluded very quickly that it was an appropriate clothing item to wear to manage my breasts. They finally felt right when wearing a bra rather than a background irritation. I think I knew from an early age that I would be destine to wear a bra for life, and I was OK with that in my mind.

[OldSlowAndRound]

I am filling out more on the sides and a bit on top.  Hitting my breasts with my arms is becoming a common occurrence.  On a different note, I always thought I could take a quick glance at a woman’s breast and not have her notice.  I think I just deluded myself.  I’m getting more experiences of a woman taking a glance at my chest as if to say “something doesn’t seem right”.  Their glances are easy to catch.  😎

[Justagirl💃]

I am filling out more on the sides and a bit on top.  Hitting my breasts with my arms is becoming a common occurrence.  On a different note, I always thought I could take a quick glance at a woman’s breast and not have her notice.  I think I just deluded myself.  I’m getting more experiences of a woman taking a glance at my chest as if to say “something doesn’t seem right”.  Their glances are easy to catch.  😎

Ask any woman who has the biggest chest in the room and she will tell you right off the top of her head. It is just common to check out the competition.

[taxmapper]

Ahh the glances.. What a wonderful sensation.. 

One of the first times this actually happened to me was in.... Seattle.   

Had a cashier who was rather small in the chest department notice my budding girls. She staired (this in front of the other half BTW) and I had to do the "my eyes are up here"  routine. 

EPIC!!!! 

The poor girl was sooooo embarrassed and I just smirked a bit and told her its ok.   

But the glances for me of a more like...     "now you know what we go through..."

[gotgyne]

It’s just a bra. Men with breasts are becoming more and more common as foods, and other factors create a space for it to be more common than before. And contrary to how full a mans breasts become it seems the idea of a bra is never an idea to pursue. The stigma is terrible and it’s weird to me a man would rather let his breasts if visible, be seen as such, rather than in some kind of support that keeps it flush, and put together for a cleaner look.

I understand bra lines are a real thing and a fair concern. And even in pullover or racerback bras, the outlines are fairly obvious in being a bra more than a tank top. But does anyone really even notice it on a man? The gym has been my biggest obstacle. In an age where men are jacked up and women are walking in bras and tight leggings it makes someone like me who’s in shape but has a shape more self conscious that someone’s gonna see “something is different”. But in the end it’s just a bra.

My bras are neutral colored and colored ones are ones for my specific shirts. They aren’t lace and feminine or push up or designed to accentuate. They are designed to conceal and provide comfort. I have breasts. They seem to grow periodically. And whatever the reason may be, if they stay in their current size of a B or double their size, it is what it is. And I wish there were more than just the 7 or so of us here who understand, it’s only a bra.

The number of boys and men who develop breasts due to environmental factors, nutrition (soy!), medication and a hormonal imbalance is increasing rapidly. Unfortunately the mentioned stigma exists. But it is necessary that we at least should try not to hide our bras anymore.
For women it was a tedious fight gaining acceptance of wearing pants. Amelia Bloomer (c. 1850) was the forerunner but her efforts were in vain. Nevertheless it is important that she tried it.

By the way: Two decades ago my wife and me participated in Feldenkrais exercises at a gym. I was wearing shorts and a black opaque pantyhose. There was no reaction by the other participants (mostly female). Men need to be more courageous.

[WPW717]

Feldenkrais, yes, thoroughly enjoyed it.
Teach became too old to continue ( late 80’s) Switched to yoga. One instructor once had us doing an exercise with the entire group in a conga line formation. That put 2 people with hands on my back. No mistaking the bra and hardware. Not one word was ever said. I did get a few looks from time to time. But all remained friendly and social. Probably was some gossiping inside their locker room. That was years ago. 
   I do believe that we need to be a bit more fearless about our condition.

[gotgyne]

  I do believe that we need to be a bit more fearless about our condition.

Yes we do.

[Johndoe1]

In recent years I have been more true to myself when it comes to my breasts. While not putting on a show, I have "learned to live" so to speak and to adapt living with my curves taking cues from women. I have been happier since I have and have done it without drawing unwanted attention. 

[Busty]

In recent years I have been more true to myself when it comes to my breasts. While not putting on a show, I have "learned to live" so to speak and to adapt living with my curves taking cues from women. I have been happier since I have and have done it without drawing unwanted attention.

So true. We need to embrace what we have, each in our own way