That's Fit

Get this: The very first sports bra was two jockstraps sewn together. Thank goodness for progress, huh?

Actually, there's not been so much progress over the past 31 sports-bra years because many women still complain they don't get enough support. What exactly is failing them? Science, that's what.

Until recently, no one had ever really examined how it is that boobs bounce. In a three-year study, though, British scientists discovered that breasts don't just swing up and down. They also move in and out and left to right. They form a figure-eight pattern, believe it or not, and most sports bras only stop up and down motion. Ever felt breast pain while exercising? This is probably why.

Could the movement of your breasts within your sports bra create enough energy to power a small device, like an iPod? The short answer is yes, it certainly could. But there's more to it than just bouncing them around enough to create energy -- that energy then has to be harnessed.

Slate recently had an article on what would need to occur in order to harness the power of our swaying breasts (I mean actual energy power -- not the power to stop men in their tracks or knock over a small child), and believe it or not, there's some serious technology already at work regarding this. However, each possibility has its problems.

For example, one researcher has fabric made of nanowires that could easily be used to create a bra. However, it couldn't be washed -- ew! And then, there's the Lightning Pack technology that's already at work in backpacks for serious hikers and the military, and while this technology could be used on the bra strap, there's a generator and a piston involved, and, long story short, it just wouldn't be too comfy.

Whether your (bra) cups runneth over or the only cleavage you are able to show is with your toes, you still want to have the best breasts possible. And no, I'm not suggesting implants or augmentations -- this post isn't about surgical enhancement. I'm talking about simple things you can do at home to get "wow" breasts, and according to Fitnessmagazine.com, it only takes three steps!

You might not be planning to wear tops cut "down to there," but chances are good that sometime this summer you'll find yourself in a top with a neckline that shows at least a little bit of your chest. And when that day comes, you'll be glad you've been taking care of the "girls," believe me!

• No more zits! Did you know that the skin of your decolletage has just as many oil glands as the skin on your face? And, be honest -- even if you wash your face every night before you go to bed, how often do you wash your cleavage in between showers? I don't know about you, but I can truthfully say never. If your chest is prone to breaking out, use an anti-acne body wash with 5% benzoyl peroxide once a day. And, when you work out, wear fabrics that breath and wick away sweat. You can also treat trouble areas with a 2% salicylic-acid body spray after exercising to banish bacteria.

Choosing the right sports bra requires attention to a number of factors. First and foremost is your bust size. Obviously, the big busted woman is going to require a different type of support than a woman with small-bust needs.

Second, take into account what you need it for. Playing basketball or jumping rope requires a different level of support than going for a walk, and it really is important that, if you plan to do some jumping activities, you find a bra that keeps you from bouncing.

SheFinds.com came up with a comprehensive list of the Best Sports Bras using the editors' expertise as well as input from readers. There are bras for busts large and small made for all different activities. Check them out in the gallery and be sure to leave a comment sharing your favorite sports bra!

Whoever decided that big breasts, impossibly tiny waists, and curvy hips was a good look for a woman must not have had these features themselves. Well-endowed women often deal with aching backs, shoulder pain, and other issues due to their breast size. In fact, breast reduction surgery is one of the top five cosmetic procedures.

According to doctors at a London hospital, many surgeries could be avoided if women wore a properly fitted bra. The London Free Hospital started a bra fitting clinic and, so far, 100% of the women have been wearing the wrong bra size. For women with large breasts, an improper fit can lead to the shoulders bearing the brunt of the weight instead of the chest. This can create severe back, neck, and/or shoulder pain.

We've all heard the term "man breasts" before -- which are not uncommon among males apparently. According to this article, upwards of 50 percent of us guys have gynecomastia (at least a little bit). Gynecomastia is the technical term for the unwanted tissue making up this chest condition. But it turns out more and more teenage boys are opting for surgery to take care of it.

Males who are 13 to 19 may experience a hormonal imbalance which causes excess tissue to build up around the chest area. This can be awkward for kids in school. In fact, one plastic surgeon has seen boys tape themselves up with Ace bandages to cover the stigma.

But is this such a good idea? Some pediatricians think surgery is a bit extreme for a condition believed to take care of itself in time. However, when dealt with on a case-by-case basis, gynecomastia doesn't always go away for everyone. The operation could take an hour and a half, but the results seem to work. This could be the answer for many teens' social hang-ups. Read on for one boy's experience with breast surgery.

There has been a "growing" trend among women in recent years regarding their cup size, and scientists are trying to figure out where it is coming from. People point to early puberty as being a potential cause, but there's also another angle worth considering: lipstick.

Chemicals found in lipstick (and other cosmetic products) contain a false hormone called xeno-oestrogen. This mimicking chemical is added to things that are being applied directly to the human body, thus absorbed into women's systems. The artificial hormone acts like oestrogen, which has been known to increase bust size (even in men).

Now it's obvious that lipstick alone is not the culprit. But when taken in small quantities every day from dozens of products, xeno-oestrogen seems like an easy target. Who knows for sure what's affecting it? There's a chance it has nothing to do with these external influences at all. Any women out there with more insight and experience in this area?

Ladies, I think we can all agree that sometimes the 'girls' need a little boost, particularly for those of us who have been endowed with small bust (like my own 'mosquito bites'.) Exercise won't make your breasts larger but they can affect how they sit on your chest, according to celeb trainer Denise Austin. Want some exercises that can boost your bust? Here are the exercises she recommends:

• Wall press on a stability ball
• Chest opener
• Walk from a plank position

To find out how to do these exercises, click here.

While a lot of stars have bodies that the rest of us can only dream about, they're not all cut from the same cloth. Female celebrities have different body shapes just like the rest of us -- I guess they just know how to work with what they've got.

This set of pictures divides some of today's most famous stars -- with the most-envied bodies -- into three shape categories: The pear, the hour glass and the ruler. According to the text, pear-shaped women are smaller on top (breasts and shoulders) and larger through the bum and thighs. Examples given include Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Lopez, both of whom are known for their "bootylicious" butts.

Considered by many to be an "ideal" female body shape, women with an hour glass figure tend to have larger breasts and hips with a small waist. Often recognized for their sexy curves, Scarlett Johansson and Salma Hayek fit into this category. Often envied by those of us who wish we could eat ice cream and chocolate without putting on weight, women boasting a ruler shape are long and lean. Gwyneth Paltrow and Keira Knightley both sport this body type.

So where do you fit in? Which celeb's body most closely resembles yours?

'If only', my friend said to me as we discussed her plans to get in shape for her upcoming wedding, 'If only I could take the excess fat from my hips and put it in my boobs, I would be one happy girl'. Although I am opposed to plastic surgery, it sounds kind of ideal -- taking fat from where you don't want it and putting it where you do want it. According to this post on Fitsugar, you can do it -- move fat from your trouble areas into your breasts.

What do you think? Would you do it? Here's what I say: A boob job is still a boob job, regardless of whether it's your own flesh that they're implanting or not. And lipo is a waste of money -- you're only skinnier, not healthier. The only time I'd consider this is if I had a mastectomy. What's the big deal with big breasts anyway? I'll stick with my A-cups and enjoy the freedom to wear all the cute tops I want.