BREASTS ARE TOO BIG

Dear Jellybean,

I have a problem with my breasts being too big. Their a bit big for my age and size (14, and medium.) and their bigger then a lot of my friends. It's embarressing when I'm shopping because I always have to buy somewhat large tops. I have to worry about getting the right size bras, and then making sure they don't show. I'm worried about it because they make my shoulders look wider, and they make my back look hunched over when I don't sit ramrod straight. (And when I do sit ramrod straight, they stick out front.) My own Mother makes fun of me! It's demoralizing annoying and embarressing. I'm worried that I'm getting a hunchback from the weight, and I think the weight makes me slouch. Is there anyway to solve this problem? With concealing them so they aren't so noticeable, is there anyway to do that without wearing baggy clothes? And as to health, should I try losing some weight, would that help any? Or should I just keep trying to keep good posture? Or a mixture of both? I hope you can answer. Thank you!
-Miss Big Top

Dear Miss Big Top,

Life is funny. I get so many letters from girls who are miserable because their breasts haven't developed yet. Getting breasts is part of becoming a woman, and it is a beautiful thing. I know that big breasts can seem like alien creatures living on your chest when they're new, but in time you will get more used to them. If you have a healthy self-esteem, you will come to love your breasts as a part of you and part of what makes you beautiful to yourself and to the opposite sex.

Losing weight can reduce your breast size somewhat, but it's not much of a solution. If you’re naturally large-chested, your breasts might only shrink a bit with weight loss, and you could end up with a sickly, scrawny-looking body to go with them.

Some girls with large chests complain that their breasts are droopy. They look at classmates with smaller, firmer breasts and want the same thing. If you’re frustrated with your large breasts for this reason, don’t despair. There are ways to make large breasts look firmer.

To make breasts look perkier, your best bet is to start doing chest exercises at a gym. Doing exercises such as pushups, or using the chest-press exercise machine, works to firm up the pectoral (chest) muscles beneath your breasts. This causes breasts to look firmer and stand up more.

If you are not comfortable with your breasts being the center of attention, there are many fashion tricks you can do to take the focus off them. Don't wear deep V-neck or boat-neck shirts that show cleavage. Darker colors make you look slimmer (and your breasts look flatter) than lighter colors, so wear black on top with light-colored bottoms for a flattening effect. Don't wear belts at the waist or tuck in your shirt to your bottoms, or do anything else to cinch in your waist - that cuts your figure in half visually and makes your ample top stand out more.

You could also wear a sports bra instead of a regular bra. Sports bras are meant to hold you in (they hold your boobs tightly against your chest) so you don't bounce all around when jogging or doing sports. This can help keep your boobs reined in and slightly flatter-looking if that's what you want.

Do take the time to visit a good lingerie store, or department store lingerie department, and get properly fitted for a bra by one of the lingerie consultants there. This is a free service, and it's crucial for girls with big chests. Getting a bra that fits you perfectly will not only prevent back pain and provide much-needed support, but it will provide shaping to make your bust look fabulous. Trust me, you'll be glad you went!