Bathing suits and resort pools

[grace&philipsmom]

Last year I was the mom who wouldn't get in the pool due to body image. I also avoided having my picture taken as I didn't want my kids to look back and see how "bad" I looked. After our vacation pics were developed my husband was the first to point out that the kids will instead look at the photos and wonder why mom didn't go on vacation too!

This year I am forcing myself to get past my insecurities and go swimming and be in pictures no latter what size I am! I finally broke down and bought swimsuit!

 

[mom2mizmous]

To the OP- first happy 50 from another 'new" 50 something (as of March). I know what you mean about "things changing" body-wise. I now REALLY NEED to color my hair vs 'sorta have to". I too feel like I look permenantly 2 months preg ( even though I am a size 8-10). Those little(little?-ha!) bulges and stretch marks from my 2 c-sections 25-29 years ago all of a sudden seem more noticible -lol! And don't get me started about varicous veins! My long-winded point is , many of us are there with you girl, so grab a suit you feel you are comfy in ( my dd25 often wears tankinis with skirted bottoms- she was a size 16, now about a 12-14) jump in and join us- the waters fine!

 

[pooh2001]

Please let me first thank everyone for their wonderful encouraging responses.
I feel so much better about my body and I did order a sleeveless V-neck white cover up from LandEnd, in size 14-16 (large) - on sale for $15 !

Yes- in my teens I was a size 6 - even at my wedding at age 27.

Then our 2 kids were born (not twins - 3 years apart) - one a premie and the other a c-section. I became a size 8 and stored my size 6 jeans in my drawer.

The years passed , but I did go to a gym during my lunch hours - and still became a size 10 by age 35. The size 6 jeans were donated to Goodwill and the size 8 jeans went into my storage drawer.

Approaching age 40, I stopped working (layoff), I drifted into size 12 -14, on top. My waist line and butt could still wear size 10 jeans. The size 8 jeans were still in the storage drawer.

Now that I am 50 - I can squeeze into size 10 jeans - but honestly, size 12 are more comfortable (but sometimes baggie - I wish there was a size 11).
Small Erika & Co shorts (JC Penny) seem to fit me fine. I am only 5' 3" and ther medium shorts are too big. My top is a size 14-16 or large.

The size 16 bathing suit seems to fit me the best from LandsEnd. It does not let anything on top stick out, but the bottom part has some extra material, which is great to bunch up a bit to hide my tummy.

By the way, the size 8 jeans are still in the storage drawer. I can not part with them yet.

I am glad to hear there are other women my size out there in bathing suits. Most of my girlfriends are in their 40's. I am the only 50 year old in the bunch. I guess I have reached my 'womenhood' and all I can do is watch my friends eat their bagels and dunkin donuts, while I drink a water bottle or iced tea (unsweetened)

Thank you all!

I also best do some exercise to at least keep my heart in shape.

 

[monorailsilver]

Happy swimming!

I am not skinny but chunky. I wear my bathing suit & when I look around the pool I see people heavier then me & skinnier then me.

Some of the ones skinnier then me I often wonder why they are wearing that suit (even the size 2 people, yes bathing suits can look bad on people that size if they don't get the right one).

And then I look to the others side & I see people heavier then me & I think they look great & I am glad they are out there swimming in a suit.

Of course I do see some heavier then me or about the same size in suits that they should not be wearing. For instance, sitting on the Poly pool edge was a lady in a bikini. I only knew it was a bikini & she wasn't bottomless because I saw the back side of her bathing suit. That front side was hidden by the extra fluff! But whatever floats her boat, right?

 

[MickeyNicki]

I say do whatever you feel comfy with....people come in all shapes and sizes and my DH has a pregnancy belly and he lets it all hang out at WDW

 

[CoolPool]

HI Op.
If you want to avoid the "heavy wet hard-to-dry t-shirt" coverup, then buy a rash guard. They are made of lightweight synthetic materials and they offer great sun protection. I'm a size 2 but I wear one with long sleeves to keep the sun from advancing my freckle army. In regard to larger sizes, my friend who recently had a baby, has bought one in a man's size - it doesn't matter - they look the same just bigger. I mean, you could wear one the first day, then remove it as your confidence grows! Now go swimming!

 

[disgram]

I am so glad that I opened this thread! I was so worried about going to the pool this year because of surgery scars on my stomach. I am not a large person and so they seem to stand out. At least in my mirror. I am pasted the age of the bikinis but like the two piece suits. Now I won't worry so much or care!

 

[snykymom]

I say do whatever you feel comfy with....people come in all shapes and sizes and my DH has a pregnancy belly and he lets it all hang out at WDW

Ever notice that somehow it never seems to bother guys much anywhere? They just don't seem to have the same "bathing suit phobia"!

I agree with all of the above. I'm wearing my tankini and I don't care what people say!

Of course, I do think that the terms "size 16" and "bikini" should never be used in the same sentence, let alone on a clothing tag , but that's a whole 'nother story! There are still a lot of nice-looking, appropriate bathing suits out there!

 

[brianheather]

The only time I feel totally comfortable in a bathingsuit is when I'm on vacation. I don't know anyone there and when you look around you will see a whole lot of women wearing things that they really shouldn't. I guess they feel more comfortable too.

BTW, I'm a size 14 and last year I bought a really great suit that is a two piece but the bottom is like a skort and the top is tankini style that goes down to cover the waitband.

where did you get this bathing suit?

 

[jrc-elpaso]

where did you get this bathing suit?

I'm not the OP but I got a great tankini with a sort of jogging shorts bottom at Lands End (on-line). Great quality - not cheap but I think you get what you pay for.

 

[drcandon]

Don't beleive what guys say about not caring..if they did not care they would all wear the very fashionable?? speedos so common in european destinations..after all "board shorts" were not developed just 'cause they look cool..they hide a multitude of male sins...as far as the guys with huge beer bellies and bathing suits that hang or should I say barely hang onto something, well that is just plain crude...I am a fairly fit male and am constanly aware of encroaching love handles, that just keep getting worse as age gets longer...also DW reminds me as well..

DW found the mesh type covers ups ( Solumbra used to be one of the brand names) to be very useful, they are light and airy enough with a high spf rating to be protective and best of all depending on the colour and lenght - hide almost everything...DW got hers at a small womens specialty shop locally - sorry don't know the national brands availlabe in the US. And they dry very fast as well..

 

[Bearybear]

I buy tankinis from Lands End because I am 2 sizes bigger on top than bottom. This year, I got the swim shorts for a little more coverage. They come with a "control panel" and I have to say they are very comfortable. I am not skinny by any means (size 14 on top, 10 on bottom) but I don't want to miss out so I don't care how I look. Lands End is great because they have lots of suits in different sizes and coverage, and even up to DDD on top. I don't care who sees me, because as long as I'm laughing and my son and husband are laughing, we're getting our moneys worth.

 

[Stargazer]

HI Op.
If you want to avoid the "heavy wet hard-to-dry t-shirt" coverup, then buy a rash guard. They are made of lightweight synthetic materials and they offer great sun protection.

Really agree w/ this -- I also am not a fan of how I look in a bathing suit. This year, I got a rashguard for snorkeling, but now I wear it regardless of if I'm going to be in the ocean or pool!

I also really love this suit I got (also from Lands End ); it provides the coverage I like and is VERY comfortable :
http://www.landsend.com/pp/SportVne...sku_0=::VCL&CM_MERCH=SRCH_00001&origin=search

 

[DisneyLiz44]

We are going down to WDW in Aug and I am 48 and a size 22. I bought a beautiful new brown suit and I am going to wear it and not worry. In fact I just remember Lilo and how she takes pictures of chubby tourists and thinks they are beautiful. (I love the writer who thought that one up.)

When I was in my thirties, I did not put on a suit because I thought I was too chubby. Psssst, I laugh at myself now because I was THIN back then. Enjoy the time with your friends and family, they will not remember your size but the fun you had. If you sit on the sidelines they will remember that instead of the fun.

Live.

Well said. So true.

 

[pooh2001]

where did you get this bathing suit?

The best place to get what you wnat in any size and style - even buy separate sized tops and bottoms which match is LandEnd - maybe at Sears - but the best place is the Landsend website...

www.landsend.com

have fun picking out what you like

 

[Bearybear]

The best place to get what you wnat in any size and style - even buy separate sized tops and bottoms which match is LandEnd - maybe at Sears - but the best place is the Landsend website...

www.landsend.com

have fun picking out what you like

I have to 100% second Lands End for bathing suits. I am big chested, and let me tell you, trying to get a suit that fits, let alone supports, the "girls" is next to impossible. This is the only place I buy. If you live near a Lands End store, you can order from the store for free shipping, and return to the store as well. It is nice for trying on, but I find they don't have a lot of selection. The web site on the other hand has so many choices. I am thinking of buying additional coordinating tops/bottoms to match my current tankini.

 

[gracie1]

I feel the same way as you do! I just bought a bathing suit and am going to invest in a cute cover up. My body is very flabby. In the past year I have lost 81lbs on weightwatchers and am now exercising very much (even though I hate it) and trying to make things look just a tad bit better. but I have a lot of flab. But you know what? I am going to enjoy myself regardless. If people have that much time to stare at others and make comments the whole time then they have to much time on their hands
Enjoy yourself and do not worry about others!
(I haven't worn a bathing suit in public since probably elementary school! And I am 28 and was freaking out!)

 

[Bearybear]

Congratulations Gracie1 on losing all that weight! That is terrific!

 

[Lamandpercy]

You see just about everything in the pools. The water parks are even worse, especially during the winter time when the brits are the majority... they have less "diginity" when selecting a suit. I also sat across from a family that decided right there was just fine to change into dry clothes. And the bathroom with showers was less than a 100ft away. Not only the kids who were above 7/8 yrs old, but also the parents. And thought that a towel covering the middle section being held up by some one else was good enough cover.

Sounds like these Brits thought they were on the beach, I remember my parents getting us changed out of wet swimsuits like this when we were little but adults doing that is just plain WRONG

Not all us Brits are shameless though

I used to worry about the state of me in my cossie but have got to the "on holiday, don't give a monkeys" state of mind. It's a good place to be, as many OPs have said, if folks are busy looking at others what sort of a holiday are they on??