Wearing a swim suit and being overweight

I am not overweight, but some of my friends are. We go swimming together anyway, so I thought I'd share their swim attire with you, which I think is very stylish and looks great on them personally. A couple of my friends use those swimsuits with the skirts on them. I am almost tempted to get one myself because while I am not overweight, I could use some extra modesty since I am not in shape. I think those swimsuits look great on a lot of people, no matter what size. Another idea, that I like for the sun protection factor, is a swimming shirt over the bathing suit. That way, if you are concerned about your arms or anything like that, it is a big baggy t-shirt and hides all, but it is light weight and flowing enough (made out of bathing suit material), that it won't weigh you down like a regular t-shirt does. And the best part, is the extra sun protection (I sit here sunburnt, wishing I had one!). But I think you should just go to the community pool however you feel comfortable. I think that is very rude for people to stare. You and your daughter should both enjoy swimming.

I am not overweight but I don't have a great body either...small chested...a little bulgy in the mid section...I am so so self concious and my girls get after me for it. I'll go to the beach so covered up. I even did this when i only weighed 100 pounds. I looked around me at all the over weight women in bathing suits and I envied them....not for their bodies but for their guts and self-confidence. they really didn't look half bad. My girls will tell me that I look just fine....it's me...i know every lump and bulge and defect. I'm sure you don't look nearly as bad as in your mind you do. Even if you did which I doubt you do....why do we really care about such things. vanity is a fun-spoiler every bit as much as jealousy is.

i wish i could help you with this one but i have the same exact problem. i vowed i was not going to spend another summer overweight and i was doing pretty well losing and then all kinds of stress got in my way and i got way off track. so here i am yet another summer not going to the pool. i do not care how many other overweight people there are on the beach or at the pool. i just cannot get past my own insecurities and have a good time so i just avoid the whole thing which for me is no big deal because i hate the heat and the sun.

First don't worry about it. There are more women (and men) who are not in perfect shape than the opposite. Overweight is really an issue of self assessment anyway. When you say this do you mean that you are not a size 2? Most women aren't. Most women are a size 10 to a size 12. Personally I gained a great deal of weight after injury, hurt my pride and made me very self-conscious for a long time. Ultimately I figured it out -- I am not what is on the outside I am what is on the inside. The judgement of society does not define me. So to your question regarding swimsuits here are my suggestions. 1) Identify your body type (hourglass, apple, pear) 2) Identify what you feel are your best assets 3) Identify what you feel are your worst flaws 4) Spend what you can afford (don't go cheap) to buy a suit, extra Lycra, extra coverage, whatever it is that you need 5) Don't be afraid to try suits on in the store and when you do make certain that you bend, squat, twist in them to make sure that you get the full coverage that you are looking for! This is what I wear regularly. Different suits for different things by the way. 1) Swimming at the gym - 1 piece tank style. This one is great as it goes all the way to my neck and leaves nothing to chance when swimming laps. It has extra Lite Lycra which helps it to stand up to chemicals in the water and also gives me a bit of extra "hold" for my trouble spots. 2) Public pools and the beach - two piece tankini. This one has a halter top with extra bust support. The top is full coverage meaning it goes down below the navel line. The bottom sits just below my natural waist and has a short skirt, coverage for one of my personal "trouble" spots. 3) Public pools and the beach - one piece with extra hold and extra bust support. Bends in all the right places, doesn't ride up where it isn't supposed to and shows my assets to best advantage while covering my flaws to a great extent. I wear a sarong with this one usually, except when I am in the pool. I always wear a cover up, usually a sarong or a big shirt. Hope that helps.

Black one piece ALWAYS does the trick #1 black is slimming and most one piece suits have a tummy control support built in as well. If you still feel uncomfortable then maybe wear a pair of shorts over it. That is what my sister in law does. I had to wear one for a while too. After being put on hormonal therapy for just 6 weeks I blew up and this was 2 years ago I'm still fighting through excersice and diet to lose those 20 pounds!! So far I keep losing only 5 of them and gaining them back.

I am overweight and also feel uncomfortable in a swimsuit. I find a fairly plain one piece suite to be the best. Just always keep in mind that no one is perfect and you should not keep yourself or your daughter from enjoying the nice weather at the swimming pool because of what others may think. People are most likely not staring anyhow, you just feel that way because you are insecure about your weight. Possibly if you swim regularly you may lose some weight and feel better about yourself. That is what I'm hoping for myself this summer. Good luck

You could wear a cover-up and sit and watch her until you become more comfortable there. Eventually you will find yourself wanting to be in the water more than you think about how you look. There are some very flattering queen-sized suits. Get past your self-image of unattractive and see the health and intentionality you have for promoting healthy behaviors in your child. She will learn to accept herself if you learn to accept yourself. Ain't parenting tough?

i am a little bit chubby and absolutely hate the way i look in a bathing suit too! and this year i had to shop for a new one! i find the sports ones are the best because they cover the most up. we have a company here in canada called 'roots' and that was the one i bought because of its coverage... how about wearing shorts or a skort over your suit?

dont you know how envious i am whenever i see people spending their time at pools or beach,,i mean im not that overweight,,but i really am a frustrated swimmer,,haha...i thought alot of times in enrolling myself to a swimming school,,but i guess as of this time i really dnt have the guts..im a ground stewardess in one of the airline companies in the philippines,,but im planning to become a flight stewardess,however the main reqt is i have to pass the training and that includes basic skills in swimming....so i thnk you dnt have to feel insecure just because you are overweight,,,how can everyone admire you for being you if you dnt feel worthy of yourself? confidence must start within yourself..and that follows all,,,

Millions of women have successfully lost weight and kept it off! This seems like the right approach to me. I've heard women say that obesity is a disease not a habit, but I don't buy that. Forget about the camouflage swim suit and get that extra weight Off!

Those swimsuits with the skirts are AMAZING! I too am overweight, and I LOVE mine... although I do want to get a new one... a "tankini" they're called... a two piece swimsuit... but the bottom has the skirt feature, and the top fits more like a tank top, and covers the torso, unlike other two piece suits.

To tell you frankly, i never tried wearing a bathing suit. I have these scars to my right leg. I had it during my childhood. Even my mother don't know why I had that big scars on my legs. That's why until now, i can't wear bathing suit. They says that there are surgery to remove it but I don't know how much does it cost.

I know how you feel about bathing suits. I try to just go to the pool and not give a darn what anyone thinks but it's difficult. But there are bathing suits you can choose that look better depending on your body type. I have one which is two pieces that actually looks like one, but the top has a couple of layers to it so that it hides my stomach. I have another one that is one piece and the bottom looks like shorts. I see a lot of two piece tank-top & shorts suits in stores. I've noticed that the bathing suits with "skirts" that I used to think of as something my mom would wear, seem to be making a comeback. This is a good thing! :) I am not saying that you should feel the need to hide yourself, but just wear something you are comfortable in. Most of all, just go and have fun. :)

I'm not a swimsuit lady because whenever I go swimming, I only wear tank top and underwear and usually I go to the beach not a pool. I don't have the greatest body in the world but I dare wear something sexy when swimming. I don't have the nicest skin tone but I dare show off because I think that everybody has their own sad dilemma when it comes to wearing something short when swimming. So show yours confidently and i'll show mine as well. Have fun so your daughter will do as well. ;)

Hello dawnmiller, As you have said there are a lot also women who have that size so if they can do it, you can also! Enjoy life, once piece will be great or 2 piece but the one that still covers the middle part...or whatever will make you comfortable is the best!The awkwardness is only at the beginning but once you will overcome that by starting soon, you will just love it!

You know everyone has a different body. I understand feeling like everyone is staring. It can be unnerving and upsetting. The average size in the US now is 14. I suggest finding a suit that fits you well.Maybe one that comes with a skirt or surong. They do have very stylish suits now for those with a little more to love. Just remember, no one is perfect. Even skinny minnies are insecure. Enjoy the pool and the summer.

I would suggest a one piece rather than a two piece. A one piece would hold your stop and thighs in and your boobs purt, so you will have a better figure than you would in a two piece. If you still feel insecure then have some form of light clothing over, you can get loads of by the beach / pool tops / dresses / sarongs.

I suggest the shorts tank variety and I suggest you quit caring what other people think and live your life. Don't let your weight interfere with the time you get to spend with your daughter. Swimming is the best way to burn calories and you are getting to spend quality time with your girl while doing it. If you don't feel it, FAKE it. The more you just get in there and do that which makes you uncomfortable the easier it gets.

Hello, i feel shy wearing a swim suit with my extra weight, but over the years I have just learnt to make do with the best choices they have , and you know what I dont feel all that bad. You may wanna try a swim dress, swim short, swim skirt . You could buy a a swim set that is what i have . A halter style top , with a matching skirt , and it looks good to me and my fiance.

Well, ya know no matter how much you weigh, its a matter of liking your skin. So what if people stare at you, but if you have the confidence, people would love you. But of course, discipline and exploiting yourself with something you don't look good at don't go hand in hand. What I mean is, you can always dress up yourself even you have sweet extra baggage. It's just a matter of how you carry yourself. However, not all clothes looks good on us.. So we have to pick something that will fit us and we feel comfortable with. Since you have some sweet extra baggage, we can work it with a tankini and mini shorts. Never get striped ones, expecially if its line is from left to right. Pick the dark colors, black is a good pick, prints would do too, still, stick with dark colors and hues, for a more curvier look too. Never underestimake yourself, you don't know what it may bring if you have this self confidence with you. I hope that helps! =)