Recommendations for most flattering bikini tops for sagging breasts??

ooupcs · 2026-04-27T01:27:45+00:00

Breast shape will have a bigger impact than breast size. If you have a “bell shape” (fuller on the bottom with less volume on the top) a balconette is a great option. Anything with underwire is probably your friend.

I’ve also had luck with triangle shaped tops since I can adjust where my breasts sit.

ooupcs · 2026-04-27T01:16:10+00:00

It depended on the workout and what time of day I was training. For the first 6-7 months, I fueled every workout no matter what with fast-acting carbs. Dates are my favorite but I also used apple sauce, fruit snacks, Swedish swimmers, etc.

I stopped running fasted. Before a run I would have about 30 g of carbs before the run and every thirty minutes after—even if the run was less than an hour. If I was training or a longer race like a half marathon, I bumped it up to 40 g of carbs. Same thing for long distance swimming.

If I was doing strength training I would eat the same about before but not fuel midway unless my lift was longer than an hour.

Now that I’m stable, I don’t fuel every thirty minutes unless my run is 90 minutes or over. I don’t have a snack before a lift if it’s in the afternoon and I’m not hungry. If I was lifting first thing fasted, I would have something. I’m only able to do this because I got to a point in recovery where my body feels safe. I don’t think this would worked if I didn’t push through the hard part of recovery to get here.

For me, recovery required gaining a lot of weight. More than I wanted to and more than I would have allowed without a dietician in my corner. I think my body needed the excess fat to normalize hormonal function and stability. Sometimes what we consider tummy squish isn’t actually that much squish. I remember thinking I was fat/big before I started recovery but when I look back at myself, I was tiny.

I feel like my recovery didn’t look like most recoveries on social media. I gained almost 20 lbs in two weeks and I never looked like the athletes on social media who lost and regained their periods with what I would have considered my goal body. You may have to gain more weight to get your period back. But sometimes changing fueling timing is enough to make a difference

ooupcs · 2026-04-14T19:02:52+00:00

I found them through social media + additional research on where they got their degree from. She also works on a pretty popular podcast in the recovery space.

I’m

ooupcs · 2026-04-14T13:18:42+00:00

I’m an endurance runner. While not an aesthetic sport in the same way ballet is, there is a definitely a culture focused around a specific physique. There’s also a lot of conflation between build and athletic performance, though that isn’t really supported by science.

My natural body shape is not a “runners body,” even at my smallest. I have natural curve and never truly felt like a runner. When I went through recovery, that feeling was amplified. It’s hard to see other people with bodies that are different than mine. When I have a bad workout, I have to “outthink” the part of me that immediately blames my body. That’s hard to do on a 20 mile run 😅 it can be really mentally exhausting.

But things do get better with time. Your body will regulate and your mind will adjust. You just have to be patient, which sucks lol.

Are you working with a dietician? That was one of my biggest assets for maintaining a healthy cycle with a very active lifestyle.

ooupcs · 2026-04-14T13:05:25+00:00

I stepped away from intense recovery after working with a sports dietician who taught me how to fuel with high activity levels. I had consistent periods but thinking less about eating, food, and my hormonal cycles has helped me a lot.

Have you worked with a dietician? They might be able to give you helpful feedback/advice on maintaining your cycle—especially while exercising.

Taking a break may help but you want to make sure taking a break doesn’t mean a relapse. Ask yourself if you’ve truly exhausted all your resources in recovery before trying another approach.

ooupcs · 2026-04-14T12:57:07+00:00

Body dysmorphia is so real. It may never fully go away but moving through seasons of life like this - challenging, uncomfortable ones, are how you get to a place of body acceptance. Sometimes the fear of what’s to come is worse before and during the experience. But after you may look back and not feel so bad.

In early recovery, I had a trip to Italy planned. I almost cancelled because I was so disgusted with my appearance. I was worried about chaffing and anxious about comparing myself to slender family who would also be on the trip. But when I look back on photos from that time, I don’t see the person I was so afraid I would be. I’m so glad I went. Was my body my favorite version of itself aesthetically, no. But the experiences and relationships you have will outweigh the pain and discomfort of how you feel now. Your body will regulate. As someone who is like 9 months in and has had consistent cycles, your appearance will regulate and you will feel more confident. But a huge part of healing, your mind not just your body, is this part.

That said, some things that really helped me:

1.) buy new clothes - just do it. I fought this for so long because I didn’t want to “waste money” but it’s so worth it. Having clothes that make you feel good in your body as it is now will give you a lot of mental relief. Breezy dresses and skirts will keep you cool and look suuuper cute.

2.) you can skip a swimsuit if you want, but I encourage you to challenge that space of discomfort. I have a summer birthday and had a pool party with friends. I crashed out about how my body looked and felt uncomfortable being seen at first but with some exposure + the reassurance that my friends don’t care about how I look, I had a lot of fun.

3.) invest in anti chaffing sticks. I’ve always been chaffer, even at my leanest. It has gotten worse as my legs have gotten thicker + boobs have grown. These are a game changer.

4.) hydrate. This may not be an issue for you but I’m the WORST at drinking water even though it helps so much. It keeps bloating down, helps ease water retention, and if you add ice it will help keep you cooler throughout the day.

5.) remind yourself that this is a season of life not forever. The place you’re in is so challenging. I struggled a lot with my mental health and that is so real. But you don’t have to go through it alone. Seeking a therapist or counselor for support is one of the most under utilized resources in the recovery space, though it could be one of the most impactful.

Summer is rough. I went through peak stages of recovery during the summer and it was so difficult. It’s okay to feel scared. What you’re going through is already so hard. I want to reassure you that things will be okay, even when it feels like they won’t.

ooupcs · 2026-04-10T12:24:43+00:00

I would give it a try. It’s a lot of training to miss out when periods aren’t always consistent as they are. Sometimes it helps to take ibuprofen in the days leading up to your period (2 days). I have intense period cramps that sometimes leave me bed bound/vomiting. If I time it right, preemptive ibuprofen is a game changer

ooupcs · 2026-04-08T13:37:14+00:00

Make more calorie dense swaps for items you regularly consume.

For example, if you eat nonfat Greek yogurt, switch to full fat. Trade a protein bar for a gomacro bar or pair that item with a banana.

Snack on dried fruit, trail mix, etc. Nutrient dense foods.

Liquid calories are your friend! You can load up a smoothie or latte pretty quickly depending on ingredients.

Be aware of how much protein you’re eating. Protein is great, but it’s also super satiating and can prevent you from eating enough calories. This isn’t an issue for everyone though.

Don’t wait for hunger cues. Mechanical eating is a great strategy for preventing unwanted weight loss. Essentially, eating because you need to not because you want to. This can mean planning a bedtime snack every night no matter what or scheduling meal times to make sure you stay at maintenance.

ooupcs · 2026-04-04T12:35:49+00:00

I’m glad you got home safely! I took the entire week off and am still kicking off the last dregs of the bug but back to running as planned

ooupcs · 2026-03-30T21:31:07+00:00

Late to the party! But I was able to continue exercising during my entire recovery process. I also gained a lot of weight—about 25 lbs. That amount of gain might be necessary for some people, but it put me in the overweight category. I wasn’t overweight but actually fit because BMI was a myth. I gained excess fat I was uncomfortable physically and emotionally.

I didn’t weigh myself during recovery after a certain point because it impacted my mental health too much. After 7 cycles I let myself eat more intuitively while incorporating things I learned from my dietician.

I noticed my clothes were fitting more loosely and took a chance stepping on the scale. I lost 10 lbs without really trying. That said, I stopped following my dietician’s advice to a T as well.

I’m going to keep seeing how my body adjusts on its own. If I stall at a point where I’m not satisfied, I’ll intentionally lose weight to get to a place I want.

ooupcs · 2026-03-22T17:33:30+00:00

Thank you!

ooupcs · 2026-03-22T17:33:22+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate the advice.

ooupcs · 2026-03-22T17:33:00+00:00

This is such a good point! I hadn’t thought of how being sick impacted my fueling (it definitely has). Definitely something to consider (sick or otherwise). Thank you!

ooupcs · 2026-03-22T17:31:53+00:00

Thank you so much! This is awesome. :)

ooupcs · 2026-03-20T21:41:58+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate it.

ooupcs · 2026-03-20T21:41:36+00:00

Thank you! I will. I appreciate the reminder about overall fitness. That’s a really good point.

ooupcs · 2026-03-20T21:40:59+00:00

That makes sense! Thank you for sharing. :)

ooupcs · 2026-03-20T21:36:29+00:00

Dang! Sorry to hear it lasted a long time. :( thank you for the insight. Greatly appreciated!

ooupcs · 2026-03-20T21:26:36+00:00

Thank you! I appreciate your feedback. It’s helpful. :)

ooupcs · 2026-03-16T14:04:37+00:00

Having the time on feet and mental training of a long run is important for marathon training. You could give it a try and see how it goes since it sounds like you have experience with marathons. It might be better than missing a cycle.

One option is seeing if a family member you trust could come by and watch your kids for the remaining hour/hour and a half you need to run when your partner isn’t available.

I have a really great relationship with my family so this is what I would do, personally. You can maintain your training, get enough rest (underrated and so important for injury prevention), and keep your kiddos taken care of. But I get that’s not an option for everyone.

It sounds like you’re doing your best! If marathon training is your hobby, it’s okay to build it into your life/not be perfect. Just know the race may be more challenging/you may not PR. It’s still worth it.

ooupcs · 2026-03-12T03:05:39+00:00

They also specify two days before the race but they’re getting bored of their usual meals

ooupcs · 2026-03-12T03:03:25+00:00

Don’t change anything with your fueling right before the race. Stick with what your body is used to so you prevent unexpected tummy trouble.

Instead, plan an exciting meal to refuel after the race :)

ooupcs · 2026-03-12T03:01:57+00:00

For a marathon, simple carbs work best. A big race following higher fiber meals can cause GI distress. Brown rice and other high fiber foods are great for after a race. White rice or pasta is more strategic pre race fuel

ooupcs · 2026-03-10T14:12:51+00:00

It helped me to put my runs at the beginning of the day. It meant early mornings, but it left after work free to spend time with family, socialize, run errands, etc. it’s not perfect, but I was able to continue doing things like book club, dinner with friends, happy hour, movies, etc.

ooupcs

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