This is a very interesting thread, and I would love to see more responses from you guys about this subject.
Unlike some of you, I am not overweight, quite thin in fact. I am about 5'9" to 5'10" and 140 pounds. My chest at the moment measures 33" below and about 35" above. This could be considered my starting point I guess since I just started with herbs (SP and FG) yesterday. I started pumping 2 days ago with a contraption of my own design which does work and is not too uncomfortable, but need to get a Noogle if I want to see what is going on in there while I pump. (My cups on my contraption are not see-through). I stopped the pumping after the first day because for one thing, I over did it. Not a lot, just a little, but it will be a couple more days before the redness goes away. That being said, I was flat-out amazed, and also a bit scared of what popped out of the cups the first time I took them off after an hour!
I am really thinking hard about what/who/when/how to respond to someone noticing. I have thought about this for years, and I am fully decided on what I want to do. My main concern is that I will not be able to stop once I see real progress. One day of pumping sessions, and my breasts were noticeable under a tight shirt. Also, the swelling did not go down until after about 24-36 hours. Just in that one session my upper chest measurement was up from 35" to 37.5"!! This is now gone, but it did give me a small idea what I might have to deal with soon. I really have NO IDEA what I am going to tell people, all I know is that it is what I want. I am fairly certain that even a very small B cup may be nearly impossible to conceal without some sort of compression shirt, etc. So basically, any amount of breast growth that would be enough to make me happy will be enough so that is is VERY difficult to hide while clothed, and impossible to hide/explain when not clothed. On top of that, I am not so sure I would be able to stop there if I wanted to.
I suppose my social situation is a bit different than some others, as well. I am 37, never been married, and have not been with any women in a serious capacity in over 3 years. This is not necessarily by choice, but I am lazy when it comes to pursuing women, and definitely way too picky for my own good. So, telling my SO is not a concern at the moment. My family situation is also a bit odd. My father died when I was very young, and my mother has not been in my life at all, really. I was raised by my grandparents (who were AWESOME, btw), and they are now deceased as well. The only family I really have is an aunt and 2 cousins who I see rarely, mainly around the holidays, but they do live in my area and we stay in touch. I live in Texas, and this is not something most people around here would be very understanding of, including my few good friends. I saw that Andy was raised Southern Baptist, I was as well, never really was given a choice about it. I no longer attend church in any capacity and have not for years, but that mentality is very pervasive here where I live. I guess that I should also mention that I am fairly certain I do not want to transition, or to try to live full time as a female. I have been a closet crossdresser since a very young age, however. After reading Cheryl's story of starting on her journey by originally not wanting to transition, followed by her amazing transformation and decision to transition, I may be more confused about where I would like all of this to end than I ever was before! I can only imagine, starting where she did mentally, how much courage it must have taken to tell friends and family the truth, even if she couldn't hide it any longer.
Sorry for the incredibly long post, reading back over it I suppose I have raised more questions than I have answered. I am just so happy to have found this forum and group of amazingly supportive members, and will gladly read any advice etc from any of you who have been there, or are going through it. I could keep rambling about this forever(can you tell I have spent my entire life with nobody to talk about this with?!), so I better end it here. Looking forward to any responses any of you may have on the matter...
Lisia
Unlike some of you, I am not overweight, quite thin in fact. I am about 5'9" to 5'10" and 140 pounds. My chest at the moment measures 33" below and about 35" above. This could be considered my starting point I guess since I just started with herbs (SP and FG) yesterday. I started pumping 2 days ago with a contraption of my own design which does work and is not too uncomfortable, but need to get a Noogle if I want to see what is going on in there while I pump. (My cups on my contraption are not see-through). I stopped the pumping after the first day because for one thing, I over did it. Not a lot, just a little, but it will be a couple more days before the redness goes away. That being said, I was flat-out amazed, and also a bit scared of what popped out of the cups the first time I took them off after an hour!
I am really thinking hard about what/who/when/how to respond to someone noticing. I have thought about this for years, and I am fully decided on what I want to do. My main concern is that I will not be able to stop once I see real progress. One day of pumping sessions, and my breasts were noticeable under a tight shirt. Also, the swelling did not go down until after about 24-36 hours. Just in that one session my upper chest measurement was up from 35" to 37.5"!! This is now gone, but it did give me a small idea what I might have to deal with soon. I really have NO IDEA what I am going to tell people, all I know is that it is what I want. I am fairly certain that even a very small B cup may be nearly impossible to conceal without some sort of compression shirt, etc. So basically, any amount of breast growth that would be enough to make me happy will be enough so that is is VERY difficult to hide while clothed, and impossible to hide/explain when not clothed. On top of that, I am not so sure I would be able to stop there if I wanted to.
I suppose my social situation is a bit different than some others, as well. I am 37, never been married, and have not been with any women in a serious capacity in over 3 years. This is not necessarily by choice, but I am lazy when it comes to pursuing women, and definitely way too picky for my own good. So, telling my SO is not a concern at the moment. My family situation is also a bit odd. My father died when I was very young, and my mother has not been in my life at all, really. I was raised by my grandparents (who were AWESOME, btw), and they are now deceased as well. The only family I really have is an aunt and 2 cousins who I see rarely, mainly around the holidays, but they do live in my area and we stay in touch. I live in Texas, and this is not something most people around here would be very understanding of, including my few good friends. I saw that Andy was raised Southern Baptist, I was as well, never really was given a choice about it. I no longer attend church in any capacity and have not for years, but that mentality is very pervasive here where I live. I guess that I should also mention that I am fairly certain I do not want to transition, or to try to live full time as a female. I have been a closet crossdresser since a very young age, however. After reading Cheryl's story of starting on her journey by originally not wanting to transition, followed by her amazing transformation and decision to transition, I may be more confused about where I would like all of this to end than I ever was before! I can only imagine, starting where she did mentally, how much courage it must have taken to tell friends and family the truth, even if she couldn't hide it any longer.
Sorry for the incredibly long post, reading back over it I suppose I have raised more questions than I have answered. I am just so happy to have found this forum and group of amazingly supportive members, and will gladly read any advice etc from any of you who have been there, or are going through it. I could keep rambling about this forever(can you tell I have spent my entire life with nobody to talk about this with?!), so I better end it here. Looking forward to any responses any of you may have on the matter...
Lisia