BINDING TIP for those who can't get hold of a 'real' binder

Hey everyone! I just thought I'd share something with you which made me pretty happy these past days

So, first of all: I am a really large chested guy, my cup size is 75E (that's a 34DD-DDD in US) and I struggle(d) with really really really bad chest dysphoria. I am outed to my parents but they wouldn't get me a binder, mainly because my mum is so very scared about the health issues that come along with binding. However, my therapist helped me convince them to at least "meet me halfways": in the form of a compression sports bra! Sooo I originally suggested the Underworks compression and binding bra, but my mum didn't want to order from overseas.

Instead, she ordered me two different models for me to try on: the Nike high compression sports bra & the Nike compression sports bra. They both don't have cups to form breast (which is good) and on the back they are only made of mesh, so you won't sweat a lot.
In the reviews for both bras people had commented that they are great for more "extreme" sports in which you gotta move a lot but your chest shouldn't. Like tennis. I bet those ladies would hurt themselves without sports bras like this.

So on the sites where we ordered (amazon.de & zalando.de) there were no real size charts provided, so my mum just went for it and ordered each model in both M&L. I was sceptical, I wasn't sure whether I'd fit in an L, yet alone an M.

2 days later both packages had arrived and after experementing a bit I found out what binds me best:

I just wear the Nike Compression Sport Bra size M over the Nike High Compression Sport Bra size M. I don't even need to wear the size L! (I kept both in size L too though, because under a sweatshirt I could easily just wear those). Under both sport bras I still wear a cotton tank top against the sweat.

The whole thing is extremely breathable and hurts almost not at all! Only a bit at the shoulders where the straps are, but I got used to that after an hour. Also, the muscles in my lower neck have been tense in the beginning, but that feeling is already fading. I guess it's due to the different kind of support that my body isn't used to.

I can pass in t-shirts, button-ups, sweatshirts! I would never ever have expected to get this flat in just sport bras, considering my chest is a fricken 34DD.

That's why I recommend to all young trans* folks who would like to try binding, but aren't out to parents/your parents think a real binder is too dangerous: just tell them you need a new sport bra!

Here are some pictures:















(Sorry if the pictures are quite big) Just wanted to show you the results in different shirt styles!

I hope this can help someone as much as it helped me!

 

@Ningyo: So true! Honestly, seeing myself now in the mirror I can't remember how I could've put up with my chest dysphoria as long as I had to...

@Kaylen: I think they even might be a bit safer after all, since they were designed for sports and not for simply squishing down your chest, as are binders. Very welcome, and wow, thank you so much!

 

@Jaska: I'm not quite sure, I think they were both around 25-30€ where we bought them. You can always google for gift cards for certain resellers, that's how we got additional 5% off! And thank you

@black-cat: I do, thank you! (& neither am I, haha)