Horrified in a Swimsuit. Advice?

[Bird-Mom]

I highly recommend the It Figures! suits on QVC. They are very pricey, but you can get them on ebay for less than half the price. I adore the slender thighs suits. The tags say something like "better than liposuction" and they aren't kidding! I am a size 16-18 and I look hot in my suits! I also don't care who is looking. I am very proud of my body-it produced and nursed 2 great kids, so who cares what anyone else thinks!

 

[3DisneyKids]

I agree with many of the suggestions here. (Though I have not read the whole thread...sorry...it is almost 2 am here...lol....addicted to the DisBoards!)

But like others have said, I too was once a hard body, pre-kids. I have about 15 extra pounds on me, and considering that I am 5'2, you can really see 15 pounds. I have found a great bathing suit solution, though. I a few of the many things mentioned here...Land's End, LL Bean, etc. but I also wear SURF SHORTS. These are meant for the water and look really sporty (like a jock look, which works for me as I am short and now stocky)...the look make me look more athletic than it does overweight. I have several pairs and I either wear the shorts over a one piece or with a tankini top.

My real secret is this, (and I have shared this with all of my girlfriends and they agree)--whether I am wearing surf shorts for bottoms or regular bottoms, I always buy the bottoms TWO sizes too big (if you normally are a 10, buy a 14--yeah, it hurts to buy a size that much bigger than your normal, I know, but it really is worth it). First, I find that bathing suits almost always run smaller than clothes sizes. But more importantly, if your bottoms just rest on your hips or waist, without having to be cinched in...then you don't get that awful "roll" over the top of the waist band...and you instantly look much slimmer and feel more comfortable.

Hope this helps.

 

[MomtoEmIs&Ow]

"So what suits have you found that are young-adult"

First of all, young adult suits are for...young adults...People in their....20s. i really really really don't think grown women should be wearing swimsuit skirts. Kinda like the no miniskirts over 25 rule. Maybe thats what your daughter was laughing at.

Sorry, I'm 28 and NOT a "young adult".

ETA: This sounds harsh, but what I am saying is that it is 100x more flattering to DRESS YOUR AGE than to attempt to look younger than you are. Everyone knows whats under the skirt! We're not fooling anyone!

'


You've got to be KIDDING! I really don't think that everyone over 25 who wears a skirted bathing suit looks like they are trying to dress younger than their age! And I think that many others will agree. IT's A BATHING SUIT! It's not supposed to cover you like regular clothes. Hence the no mini skirts after 25, oh and it NOT 25 by the way. But that rule be whatever age it is applies to regular clothes!

The original poster was looking for suggestions not someone to tell her how to dress! and if the original poster wears a skirt with her suit I sure she will look great! As long as she is comfortable! And no people don't know what's under her skirt unless your peeking! And I think that the original poster just didn't want to wear a 'grannie' suit when she refered to 'young adult'

I guess I'd better go throw my new suit out though because this year I am going to be 26! so no more young adult for me hence no more skirted bottoms! Because I would not want to try and dress yunger tham my age!

To the original poster, I'm sure than you will find something you feel good in, I know it can be hard no matter you size when you are not comfortable with some part of your body! Good Luck!

 

[UtahMama]

OOOHHH baby girl, I have a SOLUTION! Glad you're willing to put one one first of all! DONT watch everyone else have fun without you!!!! As for DD13, she's being a "normal" 13 year old (*sigh*). So, here's what I do with my had- 4- kids, lost- 150- lbs, re-gained- 30 Stretched out body: Since my arms are fine and so is my upper half, I wear a nice bathing suit with a SARONG on the bottom! I look just fine and I'm stylish and feel adorable. When I want to go in the water I put on BOARD SHORTS (Lane Bryant-or draw string men's would work) When I tried on bathing suits I was also traumatized until the sarong made me feel...you know, GREAT! If your upper body is the problem, there's so many cute "cover-ups" that wont make you look like an old lady or fat, whatever.
And just for her laughing at you, when she gets close enough to you in the pool, SPLASH the crap out of DD13!!!!!!

 

[taximomfor4]

OOOHHH baby girl, I have a SOLUTION! Glad you're willing to put one one first of all! DONT watch everyone else have fun without you!!!! As for DD13, she's being a "normal" 13 year old (*sigh*). So, here's what I do with my had- 4- kids, lost- 150- lbs, re-gained- 30 Stretched out body: Since my arms are fine and so is my upper half, I wear a nice bathing suit with a SARONG on the bottom! I look just fine and I'm stylish and feel adorable. When I want to go in the water I put on BOARD SHORTS (Lane Bryant-or draw string men's would work) When I tried on bathing suits I was also traumatized until the sarong made me feel...you know, GREAT! If your upper body is the problem, there's so many cute "cover-ups" that wont make you look like an old lady or fat, whatever.
And just for her laughing at you, when she gets close enough to you in the pool, SPLASH the crap out of DD13!!!!!!

LOL. You cracked me up!! I took the advice given here and purchased an off-white sarong yesterday to go with my brown halterkini. It's a bit bit (they only had size 18 left, of the one I liked) but if it dips down on my hips a bit that is ok...It's the fat-above-the-butt that seems to go all the way around thing that I am hiding, lol.

And yes. DD13 will get SPLASHED (as long as other people are not too close -- some people really hate being splashed, like my younger kids!)

 

[DisneyPhD]

LOL, I like the answers and feelings of support on this thread.

About a year and half ago I started my quest to be a MILFW (Mother I'd liked to Flirt With) Not the other slang, get your mind out of the gutter.

A lot of it is how you view yourself and taking time for yourself. I agree with the poster who talked about her mother caring more about how she looked then being a mother. I think it is a fine line, but one worth walking. Not to give yourself up for the job of mothering, but to know that often your needs will come 2nd. (that doesn't mean they don't come at all though.)

I think I look better now as a mother of 2 kids and a 35 year old women then I did at 25 and no kids. Part of that I was I was actually trying to look older then I was then. (I had just got a job as a clinical therapist/ social worker and being young and hot doesn't actually help you in that field.)

I have found with suit you need to accentuate the positive, in my case that is the Ta Ta's (to steal a term from the bra thread.)

If my DD ever told me that (at 13 years old or older) I would tell her that I looked as good as her or better at that age (and have the pictures to prove it) so maybe she should just keep her options to herself and be thankful I loved her enough to get the stretch marks that came with giving her life.

Now as far as suits go, I like the tankini a lot. All the comfort of a 2 piece, but the coverage of a one piece. I am not going back to one pieces again. I agree, the skirt or wrap should come off. It is pain to swim in it, and is even more a bother wet after getting out of the water.

There are a lot of good suits out there, but not as many in the stores as on line. This can be an issues since you just never know with swim suits until you try them on.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

My everlasting thanks to the posters who recommended Miraclesuits! After reading about them here, I tried some on at Strawbridge's and Lord and Taylor today, and they really are as good as y'all said they are! Since all of the swimwear was on sale (these were 50% off) I bought 2 one-piece suits as well as a sarong. I LOVE the sarong - it's sheer black and long, but when tied it still shows some leg, and I know DH will like that !

 

[UtahMama]

Good!!! You'll be so cute!!!! I hate body issues!! I used to be BIG and stood by and watched as life pranced by me (in little teeny b-suits!) and had fun all around me! GONE is that person! NEVER want to be her again!

Oh ya, I also wanted to say, NO ONE will care but you! You'll be SO beautiful to all those strangers!

Hope you have a great time!
LoveYa-Utahmama

 

[J&J]

LL Bean has swinsuits to help people with proplem areas.

 

[ribbot]

I am overweight and very self conscious about my weight. I am way more than just 15 or 20 pounds overweight, plus I'm only 5'2" so it's really not a pretty picture. BUT....I have found over the years that I'd much rather just be able to BE in Disney, be alive and well in Disney, watch the smiles and fun on my sons face than to worry about how fat I look in my suit.

Sure, people might do a double take or comment on how I squished myself into my suit, but do you think at the end of the night those people are still talking about me? I'm just a blink of an eye, my body image is the last thing on their minds.

So on that note, I just go and have a great time. I am thankful that I have a healthy (even though chubby) body, I have a wonderful, healthy family who I share a great vacation with. There are people out there that don't have legs---fat or skinny, or arms--with wings or not. I am blessed to have all of my parts....I just have a little extra, that's all. If it disgusts you, don't look or turn your head and look at the silicone broad next to me.

And these are things that get me through my weekly Weight Watcher plan. Just be happy, thankful and do the best that you can with what you've got.
Make your life happy---it's the only one you've got!! Have fun and enjoy that vacation!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

I'm gonna ditto the board (surf) shorts!

If you get them big, you can wear them over a bathing suit, and you feel very comfortable! I have bigger hips, and they accentuate my smaller waist and draw attention away from my hips and thighs!

 

[tammy1210]

I have the same one as the link that kldmom2000 posted from Lands End - and LOVE it- I ordered this one, and a few others to try on - and then returned what I didn't want - I got this one and one other - it was seperates - the top is more of a halter top, but still covers your tummy and the bottom is the shorts. For me, the shorts looked better than the skirts did. Good luck - bathing suits are hard to find!