I'm a little bit at a loss, lol. I recently found out what it means to be nonbinary and that it's basically me in a couple lines of writing, I've never been so... comfortable in my own skin since this realization. Backstory: I was raised pretty traditionally, only recently found out the meanings of some of these terms.

That said, the upstairs girl bits are still the cause of a great deal of discomfort, annoyance and embarrassment. From fitting shirts to just general... appearance, you know what I mean? I'm not overtly feminine to begin with, I teeter right on the precipice of absolutely androgynous.

I've looked at several binding sites but the measuring is confusing me a bit? Help??

PS - I have no intention of transitioning, I do want to get the lady parts properly removed later on. But it would be wonderful to look down and see flat right now.

Hi I am also nonbinary with experience binding! First off, for measurements, it's best if you can have someone help you out with it, for accuracy. You'll want to measure around the widest part of your chest, and use that for your measurements. If you're between sizes, I'd recommend starting by going up a size, since using a too-small binder can be bad for your health!

That brings me to my second point: binder safety. Because of the way they fit around your ribs, binders can cause damage to your ribs and lungs, so there are some things to avoid while wearing one: Don't wear it for much more than 8 hours a day. Don't do hard exercise in it (although there are binders that you can swim in). The biggest don't is don't go to sleep in it! (It's also good, especially if you're wearing it for a long time, to take a few super deep breaths every hour or so, and maybe give a cough from the bottom of your lungs.)

Sites that I'd recommend buying binders from: Underworks (here are their full tank and tri-top), GC2B or Shapeshifters.

If you have any other questions feel free to ping me or send me a message!

Ah, hello! c: Sorry, last minute Christmas preparations and I got my butt whooped by gift wrap, per usual.

So in ways it's a standard chest measurement? I'm familiar with those and I haven't exactly... come out yet, I'm not sure how the family would take it, but I know I can't measure that on my own accurately.

The binder safety points I'm familiar with as well, I wish they were able to be worn for a while longer than eight hours given I'm up for more than that. I know not to sleep in them too and the breathing exercises you need to do to avoid things like pneumonia, etc.

One site was saying to take your measurements and divide them by half and I'm sitting here like, "Wot." Does that have any premise?

Yeah, it's pretty much a standard chest measurement. If you don't want to be out to your family, you can ask for help and not tell them what it's for, or tell them it's for new bras or something like that. Afaik, dividing your measurements in half makes no sense at all. Most sites will have a size chart that'll tell you something along the lines of "If your chest measurement is between X and Y inches, get a medium" or whatnot.

I looked around and found a front clasp binder from a company called - and I don't get why - Lesbian, which I was reading into. They have a 100% exchange/return policy so I won't have issue if it's problematic. I know my measurements from the last time (read: last month for a coat) and the one I got wound up spanning between my measurement and several inches more.

I'm nervous and excited.

Good luck! If you have more questions about binders (or top surgery when you get around to that) feel free to ask me.

I'd like to eventually get everything removed, not a transition, just a removal. I'll let you know and thank you. <3 You did help in that I was finally able to make sense of the sizing better.

Just FYI, a binder won't make you totally flat. You always look lumpier looking down on them. But if you push your boobs out towards your armpits, it'll look flatter.

You may know all that already, but I figure'd I'd streamline the learning curve.

I found that out with my binder I've since gotten. c: It's a nice natural bump, not completely flat but not so... boob-y at the same time.

I'm nonbinary too! And while I have never personally binded, I have two close friends that have, including one that has binded for nearly 10 years. A quick rundown:

-NEVER use ace bandages, tape, etc. If it isn't mostly spandex and nylon (over 20% each) DON'T use it.*

-Binder companies I know off the top of my head are: Underwear, f2m Binders, and gc2b. •Ironically for what I've heard Underwear's best binder is actually a bra. Their "Underworks MagiCotton Sports Bra an Minimizer Bra" Is suppose to be amazing. I've heard their actual compression tops are far too tight, minimizing one's ability to breath and move, but also streach out far too fast to be worth their price. •F2M I haven't heard much about. •GC2B's best is suppose to be their half binders.

-If you can't afford binders, sports bras are amazing alternatives. They are designed to hold the chest tightly, flatten them as much as possible, and keep everything from moving- The higher the impact, the better! •I've also heard about dancewear tops, which is like a sports bra but for dancers, works, but I've only every found them in kid's sizes. •Lastly men's compression workout shirts are suppose to help too.

-Some websites also give out binders to people in need! Point5cc is the most famous I've heard of.

-For absolute alternatives I've heard getting stomach-compression/high-waisted spanks, and cutting a slit in the crotch and you have a make-shift binder (you head goes through the slit and your arms through the previously leg holes). I don't recommend this unless absolutely necessary, because while I haven't hear anything bad, and they are made of similar material, stomach compression products weren't made for the chest.

-NO ONE has a completely flat chest! If you got a bump, you just have pecks! Most cisgender people can not tell the difference.

-If it's marketed as "for lesbians" DON'T use them. Most "lesbian" binders (lesbian put in quotes, because they weren't made for lesbians either, that's just who the companies incorrectly ASSUME use binders) aren't properly made PERIOD, and if they are, they aren't made for long-term wear and can severely hurt your ribs. (My more experienced friend actually had a rib badly bruised by a improperly made binder, and had to go to the ER)*

-NEVER bind for more than eight hours, and while you sleep. This especially goes for if you have asthma (or any breathing related condition) and any circulatory problems. *

-Similarly to the previous one, don't exercise in your binder. Sports bras and compression workout tops are a great alternative for exercising while binding.

-Never double bind or order too small a size just to "maximize" binding. This, just like using an improperly made binder, can damage your ribs.*

-Always check your measurements before ordering a binder or alternative. As the old saying goes: "Measure twice, cut once".

That's all I can think of that I've been told.

*Doing this will severely limit your ability to get top surgery later on, because it damages the tissue. No surgeon will work on someone with damaged tissue from binding, because it's too risky for the patient.

If LesLoveBoat is still around, their velcro binders were the most comfortable and easy to clean ones I ever wore before I had surgery, much more comfortable than the one I had from Underworks (That one was so hard to get on and off that it made me panic at the end of the day when I had to and the material literally chafed my skin.). If I absolutely had to, I could wear one for far longer than recommended by readjusting the side velcro and making it looser under my shirt and the thickness of the material would still give some flattening effect even if worn very loosely.