sports bra – HampoLand

Big Bad Boobs

Boobs, they aren’t worth it, especially big ones. Guys have no idea what a bother boobs are. Sure, they are fun to have around at first, but then the problems begin.

For me, the problems started in Junior High. My boobs showed up and suddenly my breast stroke and crawl slowed down. I wasn’t comfortable on the swim team anymore. And I had a tennis coach whom I adored, but I now realize was a wretched human being. When my boobs arrived he started making jokes about them bouncing around when I ran across the court “There goes Boom Boom” ….so I quite the team. (All this happened before the invention of the sports bra.) I wish Serena Williams could find this man now and beat him with her tennis racket on my behalf.

Most guys love big boobs, but they have no idea how expensive they can be. Sure, you can buy an off the rack bra at Wal-Mart for fourteen dollars but the never ending pinching, pulling and poking will make anyone insane. Men, you can’t imagine what it’s like to have two nine inches pieces of wire and a whole lot of elastic and hooks up under your shirt. If you have money you can get fitted for a bra that fits perfectly and feels great, but those cost between $40 and $100 dollars.

Men, have you ever paid $50 dollars for a pair of underwear? And that’s just for one bra, we have to have several in the drawer. Hopefully you have several pairs of briefs available.

So poor women or middle class women, with big boobs, who can’t afford to get fitted in a specially shop, are really in a miserable place. That’s not fair!

And then there’s breast cancer. My family has been blessed. We have not had to battle breast cancer. But men can’t possibly imagine this situation. Sure you have prostate cancer, but your prostate hasn’t been something you showed off over the years, hasn’t been something sought after or ogled. Suddenly, a breast, which theoretically has been thing of beauty, something that fed your sweet hungry children, is bad.

Boobs get in the way when we run, sleep and jump on trampolines. Most men love them but they hold us back. I’m so conflicted, angry and I am not a fan.

Fortunately, my husband one hundred percent disagrees with me.

Boob History 101

Today I bought a super cute new sports bra. It has polka dots…what’s not to love about that? And I was once again reminded to thank Lisa Lindahl, the woman who invented sports bras. She’s my hero.

So here’s a little boob history for you. In 1977 a woman named Lisa Lindahl, with help from costume designer Polly Smith created the sports bra. Lindahl wanted to take up jogging but the bouncing boob situation drove her crazy.

Her husband jokingly put two jock straps on and pranced around the house… and guess what…the sports bra was born. Thank you Liza Lindahl. The original name was “jockbra”, then “jogbra”.

If you don’t have big boobs or the desire to do anything physical the invention of the sports bra won’t mean much to you. But if you are a woman who ever hoped to do anything other than knit and watch tv the invention of the sports bra is as important as microwaves and dental floss.

Life before the sports bra was miserable. I remember playing tennis when I was 12 or 13, before the invention of the sports bra. My coach started calling me “Boom Boom” so I quite the team. There simply wasn’t a place for women in the sporting world if they wore anything larger than a B cup. I was also on the swim team but suddenly, in my 7th grade summer, I wasn’t very stream-lined any more. It was depressing and embarrassing because I was tiny girl with enormous breasts.

But now, because of Lisa and the sports bra, we can all embrace our inner jock. We can run, kick, and hurdle our way into shape without the fear of the dreaded boob bounce.

While shopping for my sports bra today I was so pleased. I tried on an expensive and complicated bra and a simpler fourteen dollar bra. Then I did jumping jack in the changing room of JC Penny. Guess what? The cute cheap one did a better job.

It’s crazy to think our country had been around 201 years before the sports bra was invented. The jock strap was invented in 1874 to save bicycle jockeys riding on the cobblestone streets of Boston. But I’m pretty sure codpieces were the first jock straps.

So, today, we should all toast this remarkable woman, Liza Lindahl, l but make sure it’s with a well supported cup.

This is a partial reprint from March of 2011, by request.

Boob History

BOOB HISTORY! In 1977 a woman named Lisa Lindahl, wanted to take up jogging but the bouncing boob situation drove her crazy.

Her husband jokingly put two jock straps on and pranced around the house… and guess what…the sports bra was born. Thank you Liza Lindahl.

But now, because of Lisa and the sports bra, we can all embrace our inner jock. We can run, kick, and hurdle our way into shape without the fear of the dreaded boob bounce. If you decided to toast this remarkable woman, make sure it’s with a well supported cup.