(The Rack is a weekly Friday column by musician, fit model, waitress and soon-to-be-former babysitter, Tammy.)
With The Consultation looming, (next Wednesday!) I’ve been paying more attention to my girls than usual. I know the only way my insurance will cover the reduction is if I meet the criteria that deem the procedure medically necessary. While I don’t have back pain, other than a bit of achiness in my lower back some mornings when I wake up, I definitely get grooves and broken blood vessels in my shoulders from my bra straps, as well as across my back where the band sits. I don’t know if the back aches are breast related, so I’m not sure that’s the way I’ll make my case.
Something I have been noticing, to my horror, is that my breasts themselves are pretty sore on a regular basis, and not just during PMS. Being the hypochondriac I am, I started to chart my symptoms so I could try to figure out the cause of the pain. I’ve been startled (but not really surprised) to find that on days I eat dairy, my breasts seem more swollen and tender. The same goes for really greasy foods, and alcohol. We can all attest to the general grossness felt after a night of drinking, or the bloated feeling after eating, oh say, a pint of Ben & Jerry’s . . . but for me, it seems the symptoms of bloating and discomfort extend to my breasts as well as my mid-section.
A year ago, because of a random but amazing part-time personal assistant gig, I found myself renouncing my carnivorous ways cold turkey in favor of an eco-friendly, plant based, macrobiotic & unprocessed vegan diet. Drastic, I know. After two weeks without meat or dairy, however, I had lost 5 pounds and looked considerably leaner, despite the fact that I hadn’t changed my lackadaisical workout pattern. After going months without dairy, (and then slipping back into it) I’ve become more sensitive to its effects, which is why I think I’m more aware of how it might be affecting my body now.
I am very curious to hear from you all on this–pay attention. When you eat a lot of dairy, can you feel it in your chest?
Now that I think of it… I do! I'm a breastfeeding mother, and my daughter has a dairy allergy, so I have cut all dairy and beef from my diet. I certainly have felt more comfortable in my own skin since doing so, and that does extend to my breasts. Perhaps it is a way for our bodies to tell us that we are not designed to process cow's milk (since, really, it is meant for baby cows!) because it can be pretty tough on our guts.