[buttercups]

Strongirl can I just say- you are awesome! God I wish I had the balls to do all those things! Sounds like you def live life to the fullest! As far as the physical exam day went, you ladies were totally right- I was the only one who would notice anything bc I was being breast obsessed. Everyone else was too nervous about passing the test to notice or say anything about my difference in chest size. I felt so silly for worrying about it as much as i did. My next goal is to wear this bra on a day when we don't have a test looming over our heads so nobody is nervous and see if anyone notices then. We'll see if I can do it.

Just got Oprah magazine today, there's a picture of a woman wearing a dress with a mechanical leg- apparently she had to have her leg amputated when she was 5. She's quoted on the page saying something like "looking "normal" is over-rated". I really like that, it struck a nerve bc all I've ever wanted to look like was average.

I didn't like how the page before it was a picture of a woman with a small chest and they were trying to give her some dressing tips and at the top of the page her body type was listed as..none other than...*drum roll please*..Boyish! Well that nonsense just has to go!

Other than that, good issue of Oprah hahah

[anna k]

Visiting from large breast thread:

Things that make me happy: dancing, writing film reviews, listening to music, being given more writing challenges at work, watching good films, going to dance performances, cooking delicious foods, keeping my body healthy and strong, kickboxing, yoga, spending time with my mom, seeing my best friend, trying new cuisines, wearing stylish clothes that make me feel sexy and pretty, meeting interesting people, feeling at peace in a warm, nice-smelling bath, advancing in my career and finding more opportunities within my work, sex, reading great literature, and appreciating other people's talent and ingenuity.

[karategrrl]

LOL on the links, aithinne!

Might I say, too, that if one ever gets tired of the motorcycle (I know, not happening!), one could always sell it to finance their new passion. But who would buy a pair of used implants? Ew.

Sorry, my weird brain at work!

[strongirl]

Cute, Aithinne!

Buttercups, how did your physical exam day go?

nbdx, that is awesome re. your "boob job motorcycle". If more chicks would get bikes instead of boob jobs, the world would be a much more rockin' place.

On the "what do I do that makes me me" question: being a good mom to my 14 yr old son, sex, distance running and trail running, weight lifting, rock climbing, sex, scuba diving, sailing, yoga, sex, partying, cooking, gardening, sex, motorcycles (on the back only so far but maybe someday), hiking, natural remedies and health, clothes-optional hot springs, sex, literature, music, art, sex, animals/nature, feminism, politics, sex. Plus there's my career: hi tech in a male dominated field.

Let me say that while I applaud any endeavor that anyone takes on that makes them feel good for any reason, none of those activities are compensatory for my small breasts. My breasts are so freakin' hot that I could just exist and never do a damn thing but sit around and appreciate my breasts and my existance would be justified (or at least that's what my boyfriend thinks, and me too sometimes). But I enjoy all of the above anyway.

[buttercups]

That was so cute Aithinne! I love it!

[Aithinne]

A funny note on the YZF-R6 Raven, I call it the "boob job" bike since it costs around the same amount.

Lol!!

I have come up with the ultimate in small boobie metaphorical pictures!

Ok, ok. So this picture is how our culture sees women with small breasts: Culture sucks.


And this picture is how our wonderful small boobie busties truly are: Y'all friggin rock.


Hugs to all!

[nbdx0645]

Most definitely. I don't want it to dampen conversation, but perhaps it can supplement emotional healing. It's good to know why you want to fight these feelings of shame, embarrassment, and sadness. People don't have to post, but it might be something to think about.

A funny note on the YZF-R6 Raven, I call it the "boob job" bike since it costs around the same amount.

[angie_21]

You certainly can't think about breasts when you're operating a Yamaha YZF-R6!

OMG, so awesome! I don't have anything that cool, but I have spent enough time off-roadig on an ATV to appreciate how awesome it is that my girls aren't any bigger than they are. Wearing 2 bras and still having them hurt when bouncing over rough & washboarded trails, I have no idea how larger girls handle it.

Since the forums here are self-moderated, it's really up to us how far off topic we can take our discussions. The small breast group does kind of make up its own little community on Bust, and since we always talk about the importance of appreciating ourselves and our bodies for things that have nothing to do with our appearance and chest size, I personally don't see anything wrong with talking about hobbies and other things here, as long as we don't lose focus of being here to support other girls who are needing to talk and commiserate. Also, nbdx, many of us post on other forums in the lounge, and if you want to learn more about us, you can always get involved in discussions in other threads. There's a pretty rockin' discussion on society and gender going on in the femininsm forum right now, for example.

My biggest issue is that I feel like I can do anything, and I still think that there's something I can do to change my size. But I'd like to change my attitude so I can be accepting and understanding toward my body, throughout my lifetime.

I know what you mean, I went through that too. I think it was a necessary step on the way to realizing I didn't really care anymore. I was most angry when I was younger and hated that I felt bad about an aspect of my appearance I didn't even have any control over. Then I got older, still small, and thought well, there has to be something I can do.. but I didn't want cosmetic surgery, so over I time I just realized, this is what my body is, and it's never actually caused me any problems in life, so why do I think there's something wrong with it? I don't need to change it.

[nbdx0645]

Thanks if there are any knitters here, look up the 'slip stitch bra' on ravelry. If you're a AA, I can help you with the necessary dimension changes. I've learned so many things in my life to help improve my holistic wellness. I do admit, that I learned a few of them because I felt like I needed to 'make up' for the physical, but I also picked up other things to make me stop thinking about it. I'd get so consumed by my feelings, I would be out of commission for the day. I couldn't function. So, I started learning new things whenever those feelings crept in. It forced me to stop thinking about it, and I have a bunch of cool hobbies to talk to people about. You certainly can't think about breasts when you're operating a Yamaha YZF-R6!

I'd like to know what your people's hobbies are. What do you love to do? What makes you happy, proud, or at peace? Are you an athlete, master gardener, student, musician, proud parent? I get mad that sometimes, people only seem to emphasize the body as an indicator of success and beauty, and fail to look at the contents inside. Sure, you could have great packaging....but what if nothing is inside?

I'd like to hear about the things that really make you, *you.* If that's okay, and not too off-topic.

I wish there was more I could do to help with women struggling with low-self esteem because of small breast issues. I still think about my size every day, but it has been much more manageable in the last 2 months. I'm still working on accepting the fact that this is the way they will be, I am done developing in that area, and it's not a 'deal-breaker' for good people. My biggest issue is that I feel like I can do anything, and I still think that there's something I can do to change my size. But I'd like to change my attitude so I can be accepting and understanding toward my body, throughout my lifetime.

[strongirl]

nbdx, you knit your own bras? That is totally bad-ass!!!!

[karategrrl]

I dye the white bras I get from there in beautiful colors, and I'd like to learn how to sew in the future so I can embellish them. I also knit my own bras.

SUPER idea about dying them! I've embellished mine with funky trims and buttons from the fabric store. Knitting is way too advanced for moi but I admire your creativity!!!

I have to tell you ladies, I went to a work conference last night and was totally girl-crushing on this woman there who had a tiny chest. She just looked so awesome overall that her bust size was just part of her wonderful package--what made her beautifully HER. Made me think that you never know when someone might be admiring you in just the same way. Take that, all of you.

[nbdx0645]

Hey buttercups,
I am recovering from compulsive comparing disorder. You always lose when you compare. I rarely found someone smaller than me, and when I did I'd worry that nobody found her attractive and people didn't like the way her breasts looked. It was strange, I didn't know if I was trying to find 'me' so I didn't feel alone, or if I was trying to find 'me' and say "See? See how you look?" Either way is unacceptable. We get mad at men staring at women's breasts and putting so much emphasis on them, but I know that a ton of that emphasis is perpetuated by other women. Also, getting caught looking at a woman's breasts is the WORST. Ugh!

Strongirl's story is so awesome. I went from a padded, full A to an honest-to-goodness AA when I stopped padding. I was so worried that my coworkers would notice and say something, but they never did. I was happier at work because my new bras were more comfy, and they moved with me throughout the day. Soft triangle cups are my favorite, and I eventually stopped worrying about shopping in the young women's section. I dye the white bras I get from there in beautiful colors, and I'd like to learn how to sew in the future so I can embellish them. I also knit my own bras.

I think it's alright to pad if you're aware that it's make-up. It was hard to figure out how to hide the change 'under special circumstances' (bathing suit, interesting clothing, working out, or skinny-dipping.) I wasted a lot of time at social events worrying if my padding was going to fall out of my too-big bra. I also did tons of self-checks to see if the bra wasn't dented in. Heck, I didn't go to concerts and parties because I was worried I was going to be made fun of. (It happened once before, but really....the guy was a jerk who was definitely jealous of me.)

I wasn't comfortable having my chest evaporate every night before bed, but I know some women don't find it to be an issue. My cousin's friend pulled out her chicken fillets in the bathroom to rinse them off and wipe them down since she was sweating at the club. It didn't bother her that she lost a a cup size or so. It was like a pair of pantyhose to her -- just a fashion accessory. I think that's way cool.

[buttercups]

Thanks Strongirl, I know I am noticing it more bc i am obsessing over it, but idk it just seems like such a completely obvious difference to me. I would wear something ruffly or loose, but we have to take our shirts off to perform physical exams on each other- so there's no hiding anything here (hence my problem). I also am always noticing other girls' breasts and comparing them to mine and obsessing over that, so I'm sure I do notice it more than other people. I'm just so afraid of being humiliated and I have had other girls make nasty comments to me about my chest before i started padding. and yes i do wish now that i never padded...guess its too late at this point but i would def recommend other girls to either not start or at least only pad lightly so its not as visible as my problem currently is..

[strongirl]

Buttercups, one thing I can think of that may just help calm your fears is that several years ago I did the Brava breast enhancement thingy - you know, that suction thing. I had to wear it 10+ hours a day and at the end of that 10 hours (overnight), my boobs were 1-2 cup sizes larger than normal. Also at the time I was training for a marathon and frequently met up with my running group in the morning. Well, I'd show up with 34C's and by the end of a 16 mile run, I'd be back to my 34A's. And this was in FL, so it wasn't like I could hide under a bulky top. I felt very self-conscious but not enough to stop using Brava, running, or training with others - however, I wondered what they thought and worried about it. After a couple months of this I confided in a couple of the women runners who were close friends and asked if they thought it was weirding anyone out. They were quite adamant in saying that they had not even noticed and they were sure no one else had noticed either!

The moral of the story is: no one is really focusing on your breasts to anywhere near the obsessive degree you are. Many, maybe even most, people who interact with you in a non-sexual context won't even notice them at all. So just relax, wear something loose or ruffley or a jacket, and make eye contact. It'll be fine.

Note: chicks reading this who don't pad and are considering it - this is one reason why it might not be such a great idea.

[buttercups]

sorry to bombarde everyone with my problems as always, you are just so very helpful. tomorrow i have to practice my physical exam skills with some girls in my class and we all have to wear regular bras. I'm really nervous and upset bc i wear super padded bras to school so everyone thinks im ALOT bigger than normal- and those bras only fit me with padding inside. my real 32AA bras me look, well, completely flat (sorry to use the term i just can't think of a better descriptor) and im really worried and embarrassed about everyone finding out how flat (excuse me, small) i am...i dont know what to do- any and all advice would be appreciated since i have to do this tomorrow!

[Aithinne]

Pencil falls? You flunk. Pencil stays? You flunk. Stupid pencil.

Yeah... dumb pencil. Little fucker.

How about we start thinking with the glass half full though? Instead of busties and smallies failing the pencil test, how about we say that we all pass? Smallies pass the busty pencil test and the busties pass the smallie pencil test... voila! We all pass. Take that, pencil.

About that movie, koffeewitch.... I find the director who said those things about the women's breasts as having very unsofisticated thinking. I cannot logically attach a sexual quality to a certain age, body shape, size, or general asthetic of a woman's breasts. What retarded thinking. I've got small boobs and I'm crazy-sexual. And as much as I don't want to think about my biological mom having sex, I get the impression that she's a sex fiend too, and she's almost 60! The director is attaching his sexuality, or general male sexuality, on women based on how young and curvy (hence how fertile) their bodies look. Pssssh. It's so frustrating to live in a culture where people sexualize certain people based on how their body parts look and reject the sexuality of others because their bodies aren't up to snuff... they couldn't possibly be sexual, right? After all, they're old/small/not curvy/etc/insert superficial physical quality here. Idk, it annoys me personally that people reject my own sexual quality as a woman because I am not curvy, have small breasts, and look twelve. Almost like you're not allowed to be sexual until you reach the standard carbon cutout of woman. Almost like you're considered deviant or a whore because you don't look like you should be sexual, and expressing your sexuality is doubly wrong because of your looks. I'm sure if I looked like a 'real woman' or that older woman from the movie looked like a 'real woman', then it would be acceptable to express our sexual nature. I hate stereotyping.

[culturehandy]

*delurks*

(((((nbdx0645))))), wow. That's astonishing that your mom would do that.

Just to add to the pencil test, I'd fail. I'd fit in to the bigger boobie thread, but I'd fail.

All you busties just rock!!! It's too bad more people don't think in the way that boobies are just great. I mean, not in an icky way, but breasts are just so neat. I like them regardless of size, shape or anything. I think they're beautiful regardless. I'm just nattering now. I'll go now.

*relurks*

[koffeewitch]

Wow. I 'm an average cup size and I fail both ways. I'm not big enough to hold the pencil securely nor am I firm enough to keep the pencil from sticking some.

Recently I was watching a Japanese historical film about two women, a mother-in-law and her 20 year old daughter-in-law. There is a scene in the film where both women are positioned next to one another, both with their robes open and bare breasts displayed because of the heat. After the film ended, I rewatched while listening to the director's comments. In that scene he was making a statement using the actresses breasts. The younger woman still had rounder breasts (representing her voracious sexuality) and the older woman (whose breasts were beginning to sag) of course represented a waning sexuality. All these descriptions of breasts and sexual voracity are the directors, not mine.
Up until watching the commentated version, the only thing I had noticed was the beauty in the different shapes of the two women's breasts. I had thought the older woman lovely, like a sycamore tree in autumn. It took a man's perspective to suddenly shift my point of view and even apply it to my own (now increasingly flawed) body.

[strongirl]

Edie, your insight about the pencil test is so dead-on. It's like this perfect reflection of how pretty much everyone has self-doubt and insecurity about their body. Pencil falls? You flunk. Pencil stays? You flunk. Stupid pencil.

I agree re. Lily Allen! Love her, her cute tits, and her bad-ass 'tude.

And yes, Karategrrl, that term "breast buds" has a bit of a squirm factor for me, too.

[edie52]

Also, I've been enjoying Lily Allen's frequent nudity of late. She has small-ish breasts (definitely bigger than mine) on a figure that's not as waifish as some of the other small celebs (like Keira). I don't have anything against waifs, but I like diversity. She looks cute and natural.

Lily
Allen

Google will turn up many more results for anyone who wants to see more of Lily's boobs. FYI.