(trans)prose

Wednesday, I decided to check out an idea i saw in the ftm tags on binding for larger chested guys, since I can’t afford anything from Underworks.  I’ve bound with ACE bandages a few times, with my partner’s help, but it was painful and it restricted my breathing to the point where I got lightheaded after a bit.  Apparently, it can also deform your ribs and cause some pretty serious back problems.  Comfort has always been the most important factor, to me, when picking out clothing; if I can’t get the look I want with minimum to moderate discomfort, it’s not worth it.

After some shopping around, I found one of those ladies’ fat squisher shaper things (I think is meant for the tummy, but I can’t really be sure) in my size.  It’s got little rubber elastic bits along the top and bottom, to make it stick better, I guess, and it helps hold it in place really well.  I put the top a little above where my “cleavage” would begin to prevent the weird bulge I tend to get when I bind, because the fat gets pushed up towards my collarbones.  The rubber part keeps it from riding up and slicing my underarms, which I know is a complaint with Underworks binders.  I fold the bottom part up back over my chest, so that I essentially fold the binder in half, and the rubber part holds it into place against the binder.  By this point, I’m flat-ish–flatter than with just a sports bra.  I put my sports bra on over it, to keep my chest from falling out, to help hold the binder in place, and to flatten me out just the slightest bit more.  Voila!

I spent a little bit longer trying on shirts to see how well it bound my chest, was fairly pleased, although I still have to find shirts that are a bit looser over my chest.  I look like a slightly chubby guy, which is essentially what I am.

I wore it out to the local gay bar tonight for a little while, watched some drag, and had a beer.  It’s comfortable–nowhere near as hot as most binders seem to be–and I felt significantly more confident and at ease.  Best of all, my breathing wasn’t restricted.  I haven’t worn it for an extended period of time yet, so I’m not sure how it will hold up to that test yet, but we’ll see.  I think that I might do a bit of a repeat performance or two so that I can have several binders to use interchangeably.