Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

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After experiencing epic breast tenderness (Hack My Sore Boob) back in November, I decided to take the plunge and start going bra-less. I love it! And more importantly my boobs are happy. They don't even get tender during my period. Any other ladies, either large or small-chested, start giving their ta-tas the freedom to go au naturel?

Bra-Free testimonies

Why I Go Bra Free

EDIT: I'm beginning to think that all of these hang-ups about boobs are really just in our heads. If fewer women wore bras it would become more socially acceptable. Are women self-perpetuating a vicious cycle? Yikes.

EDIT2: Wanted PH'ers to discuss this as well--Are large breasts a Neolithic phenomenon?

While representations in the form of carvings and paintings of large-breasted women were common throughout the Upper Paleolithic, those seemed to be more of an ideal/fetish than based off of actual women. I'd imagine that having to forage and even join in hunts for game would not favor those with large chests. However, with the advent of a more sedentary existence brought on by farming and lots of downtime, large breasts would not pose as much of a hindrance.

edited Apr 4 2012 at 22:55

asked Apr 4 2012 at 16:58

Nemesis
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I support it – Todd Apr 4 2012 at 16:59

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Bwhahahahaha Todd! :) – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 17:05

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this brah is pro no bra – lostgoonie Apr 4 2012 at 17:12

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Speaking as a doctor bras are really aren't that healthy for lymph circulation, speaking as a man, I can with great certainty that we men will support you universally! – Dr. Shawn Soszka Apr 4 2012 at 18:22

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Best question of the day! Girls, tuchus, I'm learning so much. – Dave S. Apr 4 2012 at 19:33

show 6 more comments

Sarah · Answer 1 · 2012-04-04 17:21:16Z UTC

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Large chest, two years of nursing....um no. I would look like I had two tumors coming out of my belly after about a week. It hurts to even go braless at night.

answered Apr 4 2012 at 17:21

Sarah
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I'm with you. Sigh. – Paleoette Apr 4 2012 at 18:07

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Me too. Big boobs love bras! – Madeline Apr 5 2012 at 0:05

Happy Now · Answer 2 · 2012-04-04 19:13:42Z UTC

I've always felt better with a little something fitted to prevent nipple chafing, but even with mondo tatas, I prefer something with minimal support like the Barely There ones that look kind of like sports bras, but are very thin. Nips shine through those loud and clear, but so effin' what? I am a female mammal with functional mammary glands, I am not a Barbie doll. I am fed up with the notion that letting one's nipples show through is unladylike, it is in its very essence the definition of ladylike. Dudes will fetishize anything that is feminine and in short supply, not so many years ago a glimpse of ankle was considered scandalous, then knees, then bellies. This is all about desensitization, so my call to arms this week is for my fellow ladies to stop fearing their nipples. If the men around you can't concentrate on their work because of it, that is their problem, not yours.

I'm also not anti-underwire, and have found few "real" bras that hold the girls like a "rose in full bloom, cradled gently in a tea cup" as once saw written as the ideal bra fit, but I I've worn each and every one of them to death, and have not found a sufficient replacement yet that is breastfeeding compatible.

Beth-WeightMaven · Answer 3 · 2012-04-04 17:06:31Z UTC

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Wish I could ... the link between bras, lymph drainage and breast cancer seems at least plausible. But go braless? Umm, no, not my girls!

answered Apr 4 2012 at 17:06

Beth-WeightMaven
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blueballoon · Answer 4 · 2012-04-04 17:15:52Z UTC

I switched to completely wire-free a few months ago, and go without whenever possible (at home, with thick/looser clothing). I'll never go back. I have a couple of CK wire-free padded bras for occasions that call for them, but otherwise wear a Shimera bralette or something similar that I got at Nordstrom Rack.

This is all anecdotal, of course, but I had a cancer scare almost two years ago at 28 (several years after my mom had cancer and died from it). Everything turned out fine, but the massively swollen lymph nodes around my breasts were worrisome. Since I went wire-free and mostly shaped-bra-free I haven't had swollen lymph nodes at all, and the inflammation has gone down considerably. Coming from a family in which at least half the women on my mom's side have had breast cancer, I'm going to keep with what's seemed to help inflammation for me. So wire-free it is!

PS- I wear a 34DD and I'm pretty comfortable unless I'm running. (Then I wear a real sports bra.)

A at Grain Free Diet · Answer 5 · 2012-04-04 17:25:03Z UTC

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Not completely, but the thought is intriguing.

I refer to the damn thing as a "medieval torture device" and wear it as little as possible. The first thing I do when I walk in my door is rip the thing off, toss it somewhere and declare that the girls want to be free. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I'm into seeking alternatives... those shelf bra tank tops may not be a bad idea....

answered Apr 4 2012 at 17:25

A at Grain Free Diet
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Well the bra and the corset were both invented by men...I wear shelf bra tanks often and have ceased to care if my nips show a bit. – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 17:30

I wish I could feel confident enough to wear a shelf bra tank. But when I wear one, my chest completely disappears and my stomach fat is a million times more apparent because it bulges further out than my breasts. It's awesome that you wear a shelf bra though. I bet you feel much more free and comfortable!! – Sunny Beaches Apr 4 2012 at 17:36

How about wearing one underneath a regular shirt or a looser-fitting tank top? Layering is my friend :) – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 17:43

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I'd like to not care. Actually, in most instances I probably wouldn't care if anything showed. But I'm really not interested in any comments that may come from people in my workplace. (I have heard some things in my office over the years that make me think it really is possible something would be said, so this isn't just me being paranoid.) I figure the shelf bra tank top would at least give me a double layer of fabric and possibly enough coverage for work, even if I wore a loose one so it wasn't really acting as a bra. Anywhere else I'd just wear a tshirt and be done with it. – A at Grain Free Diet Apr 4 2012 at 17:46

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Same here...I wish I didn't care. But it would just be very obvious if I wasn't wearing a bra. Unless I'm wearing a hoodie or bulky sweatshirt, I feel like anyone could tell. I work with children and I'm not sure if parents would feel comfortable Ms. Sunny Beaches not wearing a bra. Unfortunately, I need to be a little more conservative...even if that means wearing a bra that does absolutely nothing for me. – Sunny Beaches Apr 4 2012 at 17:56

JeJ · Answer 6 · 2012-04-04 23:12:43Z UTC

I have a trademark "stair run" in my household that my mother believes is very un-lady like: because I usually whip my bra off as soon as I get home, and we have a million stairs (yay for building houses into hills) I have to hang on to my chest as I run up and down. My ex-boyfriend thought it was so weird (he likened it to him running up and down grabbing his crotch, no wonder things didn't work out). All I can say is that it is the best of both worlds- no wild-flying girls and all the freedom of bra-free. Probably wouldn't fly in public however.

That being said, I find that when I am bra-free (graphic description coming) I still tuck my shirt underneath there to prevent rubbing/sweat/that weird sticky feeling. I'm a C, up from a B when I was too skinny, and wear a sports bra for most of the time (MEC has some fabulous ones), or a lacy-wireless-thing for fancy occasions.

ZombieApocalypseKitten · Answer 7 · 2012-04-04 23:55:52Z UTC

I got razzed by a drunk at a bar for being bra-less. Really obnoxious. It was entertaining when another guy at the bar razzed him about his tits.

Frankly, I go without as often as possible and I'm a D-cup. Bras are helpful with certain fabrics though.

ulcova · Answer 8 · 2012-04-04 23:59:41Z UTC

I'm a 34E and in my fifties and rather drop dead than go braless in public. But at home I'm usually without. Last year I discovered decentexposures.com, a group of women in Seattle who sew bras and other underwear, leisure wear, maternity stuff. Since then I've been telling every female I meet (grocery store, post office) about them. If you have a larger cup size I'd recommend the 90%cotton/10% lycra material , double lined with regular elastic band for outdoors/good support, and single lined with 2" ribbing for at home/leisure wear, both with front closure. And made in the USA by adults for good money.

Bill1102inf · Answer 9 · 2012-04-05 02:38:16Z UTC

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I am VERY sad that there are not any photos posted to this thread.

answered Apr 5 2012 at 2:38

Bill1102inf
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See...this is what happens in a world with hidden nipples. – Happy Now Apr 5 2012 at 3:08

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All the more reason to remove the taboo! – Nemesis Apr 5 2012 at 11:10

It's a NIPPLE REVOLUTION BREWING! – JeJ Apr 15 2012 at 0:42

Firestorm · Answer 10 · 2012-04-04 18:03:33Z UTC

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I hadn't worn a bra in over a decade when I accepted my current job -- unfortunately, one of the clauses of the dress code REQUIRES that women wear, specifically, a BRA and Panties -- I tried to get them to let me wear camisoles instead, but that didn't fly -- so I wear as minimal a bra as I can get away with -- really, not much more than a sleep-bra -- and I get out of it as quickly as I can get my little tuchus home.

answered Apr 4 2012 at 18:03

Firestorm
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That would be like companies forcing men to wear rubber bands around their testicles all day. – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 18:13

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What sort of work do you do that they can specify the type of undergarments you wear? – Jen Apr 4 2012 at 18:21

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ummmm, are you an underwear model? cause otherwise, that totally smells like sex discrimination. wtf. – PaleoVenus Apr 4 2012 at 19:00

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Just bring a note from your doctor saying you can't wear one for medical reasons. That way you can set them up for a lawsuit if they persist in making you wear one ;) – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 19:25

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I worked in insurance. And not in a position that had public contact. They wrote it into the dress code that the 'bra-less look' was unacceptable. On my exit interview I asked if that applied to the obese man who walked down the halls. He had headlights. – ZombieApocalypseKitten Apr 4 2012 at 23:51

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Ali · Answer 11 · 2012-04-04 19:08:38Z UTC

I find that going without a bra, even at home, causes me to sweat from the boob overhang (I'm a 34D~DD). I even sleep in a tank that has a built-in shelf bra to keep from sweating. On the occasion that I do take my bra off immediately upon getting home, I'm either tucking my blouse up under my boobs or I change into my PJs so that there's a layer of fabric there.

Funnily enough, I have a tendency to be cold (cold hands and feet, I am almost always under a blanket at home or in a sweater at work) but I do seem to get hot flashes (always have...it's not an age/menopause thing) and I get very very hot when sleeping.

I have been toying with the idea of abandoning the underwire, especially since going paleo and dropping hormonal BC seems to have caused the girls to shrink a little (some might be sad, but I'm happy to be dropping out of DDs!). I am secretly hoping to fall back down to a size C (high school size), but I'm at what I consider my optimal weight, so I don't know if that will happen.

I imagine I will always wear a sports bra when working out. No need to sling them all over the place! 8)

Kirsten · Answer 12 · 2012-04-05 00:05:27Z UTC

I'm a 34D and switched over to the camisoles with the built-in shelf support. I actually base my entire wardrobe around having a plunge neck or open-front shirt on top of a brightly-colored camisole. I wear pretty heavy-duty sports bras when sprinting or jumping though because I find the jiggling very uncomfortable. I'm intrigued by some of these answers though and may try going with even less support than the camisoles when I'm at home...

lostgoonie · Answer 13 · 2012-04-05 05:26:21Z UTC

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i <3 (free) boobs

answered Apr 5 2012 at 5:26

lostgoonie
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Jackie · Answer 14 · 2012-04-04 17:10:00Z UTC

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I am sure there are good reasons to free the girls, but I don't want too much gravity to take its toll, whether standing or laying down, so I even sleep in tank tops with shelf bras to keep my B cups perky!

answered Apr 4 2012 at 17:10

Jackie
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Wearing a bra causes your breast ligaments to atrophy, increasing the likelihood of boob sagging as you age. – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 17:25

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Nemesis I'm interested in the source of this comment. Is there supporting research to this? – Jen Apr 4 2012 at 18:20

Google "Cooper's ligaments, bras". Breast ptosis is the proper term for sagging. 007b.com/sagging.php – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 18:51

Also, my mom (56) is proof positive that wearing a bra will not prevent sagging. She used to be a B cup as well, but now has pancake A cups! – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 18:57

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I was more looking for something that compared the results of bra-wearers to non-bra wearers. Although bra wearing is clearly not a 100% effective method, and the theory that a supportive bra prevents sagging is not borne out in practice all the time...the theory that not wearing a bra keeps tendons strong is also just a theory until somebody compares the two using scientific method. Just curious if you had come across such an objective evaluation. – Jen Apr 4 2012 at 19:07

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jesuisjuba - paleorepublic.com · Answer 15 · 2012-04-04 18:49:02Z UTC

It all depends for me. I'm a very happy 32C and love the American Apparel - I know.. don't kill me, triangle/lace/tube bras as they're comfortable, cute, and give a little snuggle to Le Boobies to hold them into place. I also have some really pretty lace (wire free) with a low shallow cup (no padding) for when I'm dressing up. When I CF or lift - sports bra. At home they're free to roam as they please.

On occasion I'll go adventuring without, went to a wedding in September commando style - gasp - el escandalo!!!, but more often than not I go with the snuggle.

Note: A little bralette is definitely handy in the middle of a NY summer and you see a fire hydrant to jump into.

Sunny Beaches · Answer 16 · 2012-04-04 17:15:55Z UTC

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I wish it was "socially acceptable" to go bra-less. I'd do it in a heartbeat! I barely have an A cup so it's not like a bra offers support or any benefit. As soon as I'm off of work, my bra goes OFF.

edited Apr 4 2012 at 17:15

answered Apr 4 2012 at 17:09

Sunny Beaches
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I say, to hell with social acceptance if it means being in pain or discomfort. – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 17:24

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one word my fellow A-cupper: pasties. They provide coverage for the nips and come in heart shapes with sequins. ooh shiny shiny. – PaleoVenus Apr 4 2012 at 19:02

LOL! I tried using the silicone ones, but they left such a raised profile on my boob that it looked weird. Plus, they don't let your nips "breathe" and the smell when taking them off at the end of the day would make my nose hairs curl. I've tried surgical tape "X"'s, but those hurt wayyyy too much to peel off and left welts. I wish pasties weren't so expensive! – Nemesis Apr 4 2012 at 19:06

I wonder if those little round band aids would work? – JeJ Apr 15 2012 at 0:43

Jessica G · Answer 17 · 2012-04-04 18:30:56Z UTC

With my paleo weight loss, my still-nursing boobs went from 38DDs to 32Cs. Not only is it near impossible to find that bra size, but when I lost the fat, I lost almost all form as well. I've tried padded bras, which feel totally fake, and heavily-seamed bras that support but make me look like there are two odd torpedoes coming out of my chest. I wear sports-like bras (if anything) when I go out and pretty much nothing when I'm at home. The restriction around my ribcage just feels too uncomfortable.

Have any other Paleo women opted to go bra-free?

17 Answers