Breasts are made of milk glands, called lobules, milk ducts and fatty tissue. This fatty tissue increases as overall body fat increases, and it decreases when body fat is lost. There is no such thing as spot fat loss, so when you shed those extra pounds you will likely lose fat from your breasts as well. There is not much you can do to prevent loss of breast size as you lose weight, but there are some techniques that can help keep them looking perky.

Size

Breast size is primarily determined by heredity and hormones. Varying levels of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin can cause the breasts to swell, produce milk or return to their normal state. Breast development begins during adolescence and continues until the late teens, but hormonal swings during the menstrual cycle can cause changes in the size, sensitivity and feel of your breasts at any age.

Effects

Fatty tissue is the part of your breasts that respond to increases and decreases in your overall weight. When you drop a few extra pounds, you lose fat all over your body, so chances are you will lose some volume in your breasts. The best thing you can do to maintain your breast size is to maintain a stable weight.

Considerations

The breasts do not contain any muscle tissue, so there is no exercise you can do that will maintain your breast size while you lose weight. While exercise won’t increase breast volume, certain exercises can tone and improve the size and condition of the pectoral muscles that are located beneath the breasts. Toned pectoral muscles can help to lift the breasts, giving them the appearance of being fuller and perkier. Proper posture can also help to improve the appearance of your breasts, and take some stress off your back.

Types

Two primary types of exercises can tone the pectoral muscles. Weight-training exercises, such as the bench press and butterfly presses, apply stress to the pectoral muscles as the weights are lifted. This helps build muscle mass, making the breasts appear larger. Isometric exercises, such as wall presses and push-ups, use your body’s own weight for resistance. This helps tone the pectorals, giving you a shapelier bust line.

Benefits

One of the best things you can do for your health is to maintain a healthy weight for your age and body frame. Repeated weight gain followed by crash diets can put a lot of stress on your body and result in floppy breasts as the skin surrounding the breasts loses its elasticity. Eat a sensible diet and exercise regularly. The benefits include more energy, an improved attitude, a more satisfying sex drive and a stable figure.