I’ve been having a lot of back issues lately. Between the card table and antique dining chair I’m forced to sit in at work three days a week (it’s a home office, so there isn’t a real office chair or ergonomic desk), the cramped seats on the subway, and regularly carting heavy bags around the city for my other job as an assistant, my lower back has been in quite some discomfort and pain lately.

When I complained about it to my boyfriend, he also pointed out that my posture is dreadful, even when I’m just standing around. So I’ve been making an effort to sit and stand up straight lately. It helps that I switched to a new three-day-a-week job just this week, where I get to sit in a real office with a real desk and office chair. But even when I’m just standing in wait for an elevator or the next bus, I’m trying to be conscious of my posture.

Then the other night, when I was reiterating this newfound consciousness to the boyfriend, he also pointed out that I’m carrying a lot of weight on my chest. At first I scoffed, but then he lifted them up as I was standing thereand what a difference! It felt like I’d just taken off a heavy purse or other carryall after a long day.

Then I got the genius idea that we should weigh my boobs! We grabbed the scale, weighed me alone, then I stepped off and stepped back on while he held up my breasts. The difference was 5.2 pounds. That doesn’t sound like that much, but I suspect if I could actually remove them from my body completely, it would be even more. (Maybe I should buy a kitchen scale, so I could just plop them right on the scale?) Anyways, this means I’ve got 5.2 pounds at minimum pulling my chest downward all day, every day. No wonder my posture sucks!

With excellent timing, the next day I received a package of four brand-spanking new Freya Deco bras (two regular and two strapless) that I’d ordered a couple weeks prior. My old ones were worn out and didn’t fit anymore, since I went up a cup size a few months ago. Putting on the new bra felt pretty similar to when someone else held my breasts up. That’s what I love about a good molded push-up—if it fits well, it hoists the girls up enough that they feel less heavy. Even if you don’t like the ultra cleavage look of molded push-ups, you have to concede to this most excellent benefit. Plus, just having a bra that fits well, push-up or not, makes it a lot easier to hold my shoulders back and keep my back straight.

Have any of you tried weighing your boobs? Were you surprised by how much they weigh (or how little)? What method did you use?