Help!! Have booked beach holiday with two women 15 years younger than me!

[janmoomoo]

I was really happy when I booked it but about two weeks later woke up in the night in a cold sweat. They are both beautiful and skinny, I am middle aged and a bit soft around the middle.

What can I do now to make sure I look my best. I have three months to transform myself into a beach goddess.

[QueenBoudicea]

Shred. Religiously.

[AnyFucker]

Stop stressing and enjoy yourself ?

[OneLittleLady]

30 day shred. It's awful, it hurts but it has good results if you can stick it out. Three months is plenty of time to use it and get the results. If you simply don't want/don't have time to exercise, look for flattering clothes/swim stuff that flatters what you want to hide and shows off your best bits, be that cleavage/legs whichever. Body brushing will make your skin glow combined with lots of moisturiser. Best advice though is to work from the inside and drink plenty of water, cut down on white carbs and eat lots of fruit and veg. I'm sure you look great anyway and are panicking over nothing

[NigellasDealer]

buy a black one piece and a big hat and a sarong?

[princessalbert]

Ripped in 30 and 30 Day Shred.

It works - alongside a good eating plan.

Cut the sugar and crap. Good carbs and good protein. Lots of veg.

You'll be surprised.

[Floisme]

Of course you want to be in as good a shape as you can and yes to one-piece swimsuits and sarongs. But don't get sucked into a competition with women who are 15 years younger. You are never going to win.

[janmoomoo]

Yes I have come round to the idea that I can't really compete. Best to develop and exude an air of confidence.

But.... I do have the shred somewhere, I have never managed to stick at it for more than two weeks, but might dig it out. Also interested in the body brushing.

[BitOutOfPractice]

OP I just clicked on your profile to see what you look like and all I can say is I liked what I saw but I don't think that worktop will work with a sarong!

[WholeNewProblem]

Buy a really big stunning beach hat, to make you look smaller.
Buy some really big glasses, to make you look smaller.
Buy a really huge beach bag,...you get the picture.

Oh, if you buy a tunic, make it flat-fronted and a sort of slight A-line shape over the hips.

I bought a Togz swimsuit last year that was quite good at sucking me in round the middle. Alternatively, some of the M&S ones have tummy control. A poster last week was really happy with something she had bought from Debenhams.

Or, just dive into the water and spend all of your time in there.

There was once an article about how to get a flattering holiday photo and the conclusion was to get someone to take the shot from above your shoulder with you lying down on your back on a sunlounger, smiling back at the camera. This will help wrt Facebook etc.

[janmoomoo]

I am loving these answers! Feeling better already.

I did smile inside a little bit when one of the friends who is thirty, beautiful and skinny as a rake was telling me she is worried about how her bum will look in her bikini. Guess we all have body issues regardless of our size.

[specialsubject]

why on earth is this an issue? you should be well past the comparing looks stage by now.

what competition? What 'winning'? What 'body issues' that we are all supposed to have? I'm not perfect, no-one is.

it's a holiday. Enjoy.

[janmoomoo]

I didn't mention competition or winning. They are my friends, I love them! Its just that I have got three months to make the best of myself so I might as well use them constructively! And I definitely will enjoy myself.

[Floisme]

I was the one who mentioned 'competition', sorry op! I think you've got the right idea - look the best you can but don't stress about it.

[janmoomoo]

Bitoutofpractice Glad you liked my profile pics. I guess I should stay out of the sea and rub danish oil into myself

[Floisme]

Op, if you look half as good as your worktop, you've got nothing to worry about

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

Good sun glasses, lovely bikinis ( try on loads of styles and sizes. Big M&S stores are good), nice assecories and sandals. Don't do the one piece/sarong thing. It look likes you are trying to hide.

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

If you can, ditch bread a few week before. I think that's really good for the middle area.

[BitOutOfPractice]

It seems that one piece swim suits are a no no for anyone under 70

[janmoomoo]

Have been googling callenatics now. 80s flashback! People who like it really seem to love it.

[WholeNewProblem]

Why on earth is it a 'no no' to wear a one-piece? Who says?

I think a nice one-piece is often more flattering than a bikini, especially if someone's stomach reflects a bit of the life they've lived.

[Cristiane]

I think bikinis are way more flattering than a one piece.
Big, suck you in swimsuits are just weird and don't exude holiday fun, they look a bit like armour plating.
Confidence is a much better cover up than a sarong too.
I have never seen a single European woman wearing a swimsuit on the beach - it is all bikinis, it looks more relaxed.

[BitOutOfPractice]

"they" do whole - you know, society!

Though I shall keep mine for the water slides!

[WholeNewProblem]

Well, the OP can wear a tee-shirt and shorts or a beach dress if necessary. Who gives a monkeys what everyone else does?

I am a European woman and if you saw me on the beach this summer it would have been wearing a one piece. If I was about to go into the rather chilly sea in the surfer's paradise we were staying, then it would have been in a lightweight wetsuit. And I had a great time!