Sports bra problem (sensitive stomachs beware)

[QuixoticNotions]

Okay, so I've been using the Enell for years. Only in the last year or so I've started having chafing problems on my chest along the ribcage in the center at the very bottom of all the hooks. I kind of resigned myself to there being a scar there and let it go long enough that the skin is tougher.
I thought it was because I lost some breast size (from 43.5 inches to 41.5 inches; 33 inch chest) and dropped down from the 2 I was wearing, to a 1...
which seems to be the appropriate size.
http://enell.com/sizing.html

The drop to a 1 minimized the previous chafing (still there, but no more blood!)
However, now I'm getting chafing on the underside of the breast (both sides) in towards the center (where the innermost seam is) Very painful. It was bad enough after my long run yesterday that my breasts started sticking to my normal bra with pus. I have bandaids on now, but I have no clue what I need to do from here on out.

Any suggestions?

Enell is the only bra I've found that stops the bouncing (I don't feel them moving at all while I'm running like I normally have; the chafing confuses me)... Then again, when I last tried other brands years ago, my breasts were significantly larger (DDD cup as compared to a D cup now; some measurements even put me at a C cup but I find those give me multiboobies regardless of what my measurements say *shrug*)

I really have ENOUGH scars on my breasts I don't need more. :)

[altoids]

If your size has changed, it's possible that your proportions have changed as well, and you may need to find a different brand of sports bra. Unfortunately, this usually takes a lot of trial and error.

Are you using BodyGlide?

[merigayle]

Try the Frog Bra from Title 9.

[muzicgrl]

I know it sounds strange, but I REALLY like the sports bras at Victorias Secret. My cup size has decreased 2 sizes in the last year and the same brand still works for me at a 38B, just as it did at a 38D (I have no idea why my cup size decreased so dramatically, but the size around did not BTW). I have not had a single chafing issue since I switched to them.

I agree with some of the other posters...it sounds like you need to switch brands and do some trial and error testing.

[QuixoticNotions]

(I have no idea why my cup size decreased so dramatically, but the size around did not BTW). I.

Don't ask me, cuz I'm with you! Actually, I can one up you... I'm not that much smaller than I was at DDD, except for in the breast area. About 10 lb smaller than I was at DDD, not really smaller at all than I was when I was originally DD. I lost weight, and that was a lot in the breast area, then gained weight, none of which returned in the breast area. It's madness!

[RaisingArizonainNH]

Have you contacted the company about the chafing problem ? Perhaps they can advise on the fitting and if this happens with their bras they may be able to help you with alternatives?
Otherwise it may be trial and error to find a new one- Title 9 seems to have a very good selection and they offer customer service help to get the best one for a particular shape and body type.

[wyrillco]

QN, have you tried body glide or vaseline? I know that helps me when that happens.

However, I do most of my running in the Fiona Bra.
http://www.fitmaternity.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/mc771.jpg

You can really adjust the straps to hold things in place. There is a little more bounce than Enell, but not much. I use my Enell still, but I've noticed that as it wore out, that chafing that you described gets a lot worse (for me).

[altoids]

QN, have you tried body glide or vaseline? I know that helps me when that happens.

However, I do most of my running in the Fiona Bra.
http://www.fitmaternity.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/mc771.jpg

You can really adjust the straps to hold things in place. There is a little more bounce than Enell, but not much. I use my Enell still, but I've noticed that as it wore out, that chafing that you described gets a lot worse (for me).

I use the Fiona, too, and I love it, since the straps are adjustable, unlike most running bras.

[diablita]

I like the enell, but mostly I use the Champion Action Shape Sport Bra (http://www.championcatalog.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ProductDisplay?prnbr=CH072&cgnbr=3031000000) which I've been using for years. This bra allowed me to go from 2 bras at a time to one. And it's still great.

I do get a little bit of chafing under the bottom of the bra on the really long runs unless I use Body Glide.

[merigayle]

the Fiona bra chaffs me in weird places. The Trilogy Bra from Title 9 is my recent favorite! NO chaffing at my 100 Miler = superb bra!!!! Oh, and hydropel (similar to body glide) all over the place, ask Altoids, i think she smeared me up at the race! :p

[altoids]

the Fiona bra chaffs me in weird places. The Trilogy Bra from Title 9 is my recent favorite! NO chaffing at my 100 Miler = superb bra!!!! Oh, and hydropel (similar to body glide) all over the place, ask Altoids, i think she smeared me up at the race! :p

Superb bra, or superb hyropel application? You decide. :razz:

I always bodyglide anywhere bra bands touch me, and I am sure that helps a lot.

[merigayle]

Superb bra, or superb hyropel application? You decide. :razz:

I always bodyglide anywhere bra bands touch me, and I am sure that helps a lot.
I think both. At JFK50 in Nov, i used hydropel for my bra (Frog Bra) and had severe chaffing, and the weather was much cooler than Umstead and the race half the length.

[IEatHills4Meals]

I have HUGE chafing issues, with pretty bad bleeding and scarring. I tried 6 different bras and the ONLY thing that works for me is body glide. I don't get a single line if I make sure I cover all the contact areas... Course when I am anywhere over 50mpw, I spend 1 tube every 2 weeks. To me, it's money well spent.

[lkschiller]

Another vote for the Fiona, as well as the Champion Action Shape. The Champion Marathon bra is very similar to the Action Shape but a different fabric--more of a wicking fabric. But only two rows of hooks so it's not quite as adjustable.

If you have to do some trial and error, you can find many of these brand new or factory seconds on eBay. I don't think I've paid more than $15 for any of my Champion bras--which is great since I've shrunk over time from a DD to a C. I think I have around 5 sizes of sports bras now and only the smallest fit. Sometimes they are factory seconds but whatever the issue was to cause it to be a second has never affected the function of the bra.

Lisa

[Tithers]

Body glide doesn't work for me.

Bra and HR chest strap would eat me up...BLOOD.

I got a clever idea and bought this thin rhonda shear or whatever brand off HSN...cut holes in it so only the sensors for HRM touch skin. Then I put it UNDER the bra...making sure it's sticking out from the bottom seams.

Never chaffed since then...

[Gingerbread]

Body glide doesn't work for me.

Bra and HR chest strap would eat me up...BLOOD.

I got a clever idea and bought this thin rhonda shear or whatever brand off HSN...cut holes in it so only the sensors for HRM touch skin. Then I put it UNDER the bra...making sure it's sticking out from the bottom seams.

Never chaffed since then...

What is that?

[bikegirl72]

i have this cheap one i bought at walmart that works and i have the victoria secret's one. I just was a bra model for Medlea and we did measurements so I"m confidently a 40DD. I use some body glide but for the most part I don't. Right now my runs are roughly3-4 miiles but i've worn the VS with success on my 12 miler.

[jeans541]

I like the enell, but mostly I use the Champion Action Shape Sport Bra (http://www.championcatalog.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce/ProductDisplay?prnbr=CH072&cgnbr=3031000000) which I've been using for years. This bra allowed me to go from 2 bras at a time to one. And it's still great.

I do get a little bit of chafing under the bottom of the bra on the really long runs unless I use Body Glide.
I have this one (the Champion one in the link) and have been using this bra for the last 8 or so years. Because it is so adjustable, I was able to use it as a DD and E nursing mom as well as a size C now. I do get some chaffing over 8 or so miles if I don't bodyglide.

Good luck with finding what works for you!

[Gingerbread]

I have this one (the Champion one in the link) and have been using this bra for the last 8 or so years. Because it is so adjustable, I was able to use it as a DD and E nursing mom as well as a size C now. I do get some chaffing over 8 or so miles if I don't bodyglide.

Good luck with finding what works for you!

What kind of clasp does that have? I can't tell from the picture.

[jeans541]

What kind of clasp does that have? I can't tell from the picture.
It has double hooks on the back with 3 different settings and then a little plastic snap on the end to secure the end that would otherwise flop around. The shoulder straps also adjust with velcro in the back.

Like I said, mine is probably 8 years old....It looks like they may have made some improvements to the bra so it isn't such a masher/uniboob sort with their mention of the non-stretch molded cups.....pretty sure mine doesn't have "cups" per say. There's also a "marathon" bra that looks similar in style, but is made out of polyester rather than cotton: http://www.championcatalog.com/product/CH1018.html?cs=upsell

[Gingerbread]

Thanks, jeans. It looked different in the picture but the detail wasn't very good. That's got to be on sale somewhere in a regular store so I can try it on. I'll see what I can find.

Thanks for the tip, that might be a nice alternative bra.

[fit45]

This subject seems to come up fairly often!

I'm a 36DDD in real life, so a supportive, non-bouncy sport bra is critical for me, too.

I agree with folks above that Body Glide is an essential to prevent chafing. I use it on my skin everywhere the bottom front of the band touches. For long (10+ miles) runs, I'll also use it on the shoulders & front-of-shoulders areas where the straps touch. I do wear a HRM strap directly over my Body Glide and directly under the bottom band of the bra. I like this arrangement, because it sure keeps the HRM strap in place!

I am very, very fond of the Maia by Moving Comfort. It has separate cups with a built-in, well-covered underwire and a dual-layer construction. It only comes in sizes up to DD, but the 38DD on the smallest hook fits me perfectly. I get zero bounce with this bra.

This bra also separates the breasts, avoiding the squash-to-the-center uniboob thing which I find incredibly uncomfortable. Uniboob nets me a heat rash between my breasts when I sweat, so that's a complete no-go.

[merigayle]

Once again i wore my Moving Comfort bra (Lila) for a 100 mile race and was fine. I used Hydropel instead of bodyglide, i think it works better and lasts longer. I had some minimal chaffing on my back from the bra, but i did not notice until DH saw it and pointed it out.

so, i have worn the bra for two 100M races, two 50 mile races and a 50K and a marathon and I APPROVE!!! It took a loooooong time to find something.

I think moving comfort is tops!

[wyrillco]

I have just been suffereing from chaffing for the first time as my runs get up around the 2 hr mark. Ouch.

I need to get some bodyglide!

[Gingerbread]

I have just been suffereing from chaffing for the first time as my runs get up around the 2 hr mark. Ouch.

I need to get some bodyglide!

Dude! That stuff is great!

[merigayle]

i think bag balm or hydropel trumps body glide in lasting power. :)

[Gingerbread]

i think bag balm or hydropel trumps body glide in lasting power. :)

I yield to your superior experience in this matter :)

[NBjunkie]

HEATHER--I have had the same issues with my ENELL bras--I did email them about the chafing--they told me for more money they could make me a bra--well I did not want to spend that much money, on yet, another bra--so I just body glide, body glide, body glide--and it doesnt solve the problem--but makes it less bloody? I seem to have tried every bra out there and dont no where to turn at this point--so I am staying with ENELL at this point......let me know if you come up with a solution...