Honest, from the heart question about implants and AAS

[MS]

This board has a lot af threads and traffic about breast implants or AAS for women. I have been here for a while now, and notice these topics both comes up regularly. The title of these boards "Elite Fitness Discussion Boards" has frequently left me wondering what female breast enhancement or AAS use has to do with the topic???

So I guess I am wondering why so many of you women have had, are about to have, are saving up to have, or are dreaming about having breast enhancements/ an AAS cycle? Most of ya probably think I've gone nuts asking such a broad question, or lumping the two topics together, but so far the only reasons I have come up with are
1) Perceived increase in ability to catch a sexual partner;

2) Increase in self esteem/feeling of having power or control over your own body; OR

3) You make your livelyhood in an industry that demands/expects larger breasts and leaner bodies (this could include Figure/beauty pageants/modelling/hopes of promotion/gaining the upperhand in a job interview....and you gals fill in the blanks).

I could have posted this as a survey, but I would really like to hear individual responses rather than anonymous statistics.

There are obviously many other reasons for either of the above. Perhaps there is the thrill of the unknown or forbidden (AAS). Perhaps there is the thrill of the unknown or lost youth (breast enhancement)
Perhaps there is peer pressure (well everyone else is doing it)
Perhaps there is pressure from your partner (maybe subtle or not so subtle).
Or perhaps many other reasons.....

 

[Ceebs]

That's a very good question. I can't speak for all the members, but I had my surgery because like working out, it was one more way to make myself look "better". I suspect the reasoning behind doing a cycle of AAS is similar, but not having done one, I wouldn't know. "Better" is in quotes because attractiveness is subject to societal and personal beliefs. My ideal of beauty is certainly not everyone else's, nor should it be. To some people, female muscularity is unattractive - we obviously feel differently, otherwise we wouldn't be posting in this forum.

I understand there's a difference between squatting to parallel, and inserting a foreign object in your body. It may be apples and oranges, but apples and oranges are both fruit. (And they'll both kick you out of ketosis!)

Looking forward to other responses in this thread,
-Ceebs.

 

[ann]

After three kids, and then a lowering of b/f, there was nothing left. I did it for my own self esteem.....now I like sex with the light on

 

[FitFossil]

I can't actually answer this question since I've neither used AS nor gotten breast implants. I will, however, share my ponderings on both topics ...

AS use: Haven't done it because I'm pretty much where I want to be musclewise and bodyfatwise. I think my natural test levels are high enough (if the acne I've suffered with most of my life is any indication). I'm not planning to compete and my livelihood does not depend on my physique. I'm not saying I think I'm so wonderful, just that my goals are different from a lot of women here. There'll always be tweeking to do, but I'm not in any hurry. Even if there wasn't the legality issue, I still wouldn't use them at this time. However, many years down the road I may consider as an anti-aging weapon to maintain strength and muscle mass - more for quality of life rather than physique. I have to admit though, being a jacked granny would be pretty cool! I hope by then the medical establishment will be more open-minded.

Breast Implants: Haven't gotten them because my husband says he hates them, and he's not just saying that to make me feel better. The only time I really wish I had them is wearing a bathing suit or naked. Any other time, I can wear my wonderful strapless bra that gives me great boobs without the weight. It even fits under my sports bras, which normally flatten me out to nothing. I'm definitely glad I don't have them when I'm sprinting - ouch!

 

[luv2workout]

I find that people who are into working out/fitness lifestyle are more concerned with the way they look than the average Joe...it kinda goes hand in hand...will do almost anything to achieve that "near perfect" look.....I think the media has ALOT to do w/the increase in fake boobs - the world is boob crazy right now...almost all of my friends in the gym either have boobs or they want them....

just my .02 Hope this is what you were asking

 

[VooDoo Lady]

.

 

[Sassy69]

I did the boob job before I ever considered competing. It was a personal choice - I'm single, 36, was never particularly proud of what I was sporting, but only really aware of it in a bathing suit. As I started dropping bodyfat, I lost whatever little amount of perkiness I had and it wasnt' gonna get any better because I ain't gettin any younger. So I figured why not check it out. I spent 3 months researching it and talking to docs to make sure it was ok from a health standpoint. Then I did a focused effort of dieting & training to check myself - make sure that I could pursue something that takes to time to meet the goal -- not just looking for a quick fix in my looks. At the end, I was certain that I wasn't doing it to make myself happier, get laid or get a bigger paycheck. I did it for myself - My reason is the same as Spatts' for not -- symmetry. I've got wide hips, even at 8-9% bf I had wide hips and with a deflating B cup, I felt like a tall bowling pin. So bottom line, I could afford it, figured I should enjoy my shape and I did it for me. I'm very happy with it. I think it freaks my mom out a little tho.

One comment about the evilness of society and the media as far as boobs, etc. -- if you are in the field its almost a pre-req because the look "doesn't sell" otherwise. I would also almost say the same for competition. I know a girl who went from a double D to a B after doing her first competition - a week after the comp she got a boob job to get back to where she was.

 

[rasta]

As a person who has breast implants and works out regularly, I did it for symmetry. I have the ability through diet and exercise to make my body any shape I want. I can increase my butt decrease my waist and increase my lats. Although I was able to increase my peck muscle I was not able to increase by breast size. I felt it was the only thing out of my control and the only option to making them bigger was surgery.

On the other hand, breasts are often associated with femininity. Young women and teenagers have smaller chests and as you develop into a "woman" one of those indications physically is increased busts. Many times the sight of a child next to a womans full breasts provokes thoughts of femininity. It was this feeling of feminity that I did not have when in clothes or out.

I can say that now that I have them, regardless of the fact that I am a fairly small person, I am no longer mistaken as 16 when in my bathing suit (I was 22 when I got them and was mistaken for 16). I feel more like a woman when trying to pull off the classy yet sexy look. I wear lingere for my husband with a greater sexual confidence because I feel like I look feminine and sexy, where before when trying on teddies I felt like I looked like a boy in sheeps clothing.

I am very glad that I had the surgery!

 

[sheez_ripped]

For me...

i had implants 7 years ago...and it was because i had always disliked the appearance of my breasts....i had "banana boobs" or ski slope boobs...all the breast tissue was in the bottom of my boobs...so i looked like a native woman in Nat'l Geographic!

several of my friends had the surgery and i loved their new look...also i had the symmetry issue as well....looked wider at the bottom just from the lack of anything at the top....

i have had no problems with the implants and absolutely love them...would do it again in a heartbeat...

as for the AS...i've gone as far as i can with out a little boost....and am finally gonna have the body i want at soon to be 40 yrs old....

i'm doing it all for me....and no one else....and i feel great!

been on winny for 4 wks and have dropped 15 lbs of fat and gained 8 lbs of muscle....and looking really hard....

 

[SteelWeaver]

I haven't done either of these things, so I can't offer my experiences on them, but I can say why I won't do them.

AAS: simply, too scary. As much as people say that slow, small dosages minimise sides, the risk is there, and very real. They're enormously powerful drugs, and the scary thing about any drug is, once it's inside you, you can't get it out again, even if you want to. You just have to wait for the effects to wear off, if they do, and deal with any consequences. I ended up in a rehab at 16, so I've had my fair share of experience with illegal drugs, and it's taken me years to get away from them. Bodybuilding played a huge part in cleaning up completely, so the last thing I want right now is to get into another drug scene.

I don't know yet whether I'll be any good as a bodybuilder, but I aim to be the best I can. If the world were different, and testing a lot stricter, I would like to consider getting into the fitness industry for my livelihood. But I don't think I could compete a lot - I get the feeling there's not much room for naturals.

Boobs: the idea of a foreign object in my body, under my flesh, freaks me out. The idea of surgery freaks me out. The risk factor exists, and just it's existence freaks me out. I also have a whole lot of gender politics/psycho-social ideas about this which I won't bore anyone here with.

I guess I look like a bit of a nervous pussy.

I'm not a pussy. I'm just in possession of the super-confidence of naivety.