To think that there's no solution for me (fat legs and the beach)

I have these in several colours and love them. also v self councious of my legs. but if you dislike leggings then you may not like them. I just love them and can lounge around all day in them.

Aleumdr Womens Fashion Cross Rope Front Printed Tankini with Boyshort Swimming Costume Sporty Racerback Swimsuit Purple XX-Large : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

But i do usually find other people care far less than you think. People are naccissists (not in a bad way) but usually too wrapped up in their own world to pay you attention

This has reminded me of a tip in a teen magazine in about 1998/99 that to disguise fat legs at the beach just dig a slight trench in the sand for your legs and place them in so the fat doesn’t squish outwards. And my mates and I actually doing it in Greece that summer.

Anyway!! Please don’t worry, enjoy your holiday, enjoy your life!! You only get one. Will you spend time on your death bed wishing you’d covered your legs up more and gone in the pool less? Also remember my aunt’s mantra as she put on a tiny bikini at every sun ray “brown fat looks better than white fat” (assuming you’re white because of the corned beef comments!).

The best way to make your legs look better is to put your chin up, put your shoulders back and put a smile on your face. I notice confident happy people. I don't care how big or white their legs are.

I started swimming lessons and just bought a nice swimming leggings that are 3/4 i.e. just below the knee and a rash vest (basically a swimming tshirt). I feel much more comfortable and also handy if you need to go to the toilet don't have to take whole swimming costume off etc.

I like going to beaches but I don't go there to get a 'tan' I want to protect my skin a bit so don't mind being covered up so long as its the right material. End of the day hot sun on your bare skin or if your wearing lightweight material - you will still feel hot and sweaty.

Another one who opts for browner, not so milkbottley, legs that will always be of the chunky variety. Also, although a fake tan can't protect, you often do go slightly browner from a fake tanned start point.

In a salon, they often do it by a person spraying the tan evenly onto the areas you want to have it, from a fine spray with a continuous coverage. It dries on you. There is a tint in it so they can see where they have already been. When the colour develops over a day, you can then shower it off.

If you do it yourself, get a good cream or mousse, and exfoliate gently on 2 days before. If shaving, leave a good gap between shaving and doing the tan as otherwise you may get it collecting in little hair follicles.

You smooth it on, and then I recommend using a fine cloth or a tanning mitt to rub gently over the bumpy areas like knees and bones, about 15 minutes later so that the absorption is more even. There should be various online tips about doing your own. (I am cack handed but have got to be ok about this).
NB - if ever fake tanning your face, don't forget your ears!

I always feel a bit self conscious in swimwear on holiday too but for completely different reasons to you. I remind myself that no one cares except me and that I am exaggerating my 'faults' anyway.

We don't usually hang out all day with very little on, with a ton of time to observe what everyone else is doing / looks like. We dont have to come to terms with the 'exposure' in everyday life so it feels uncomfortable. But really, no one cares. If I see an over weight person showing a lot I often envy their confidence TBH.

But your leg issue is easily solved with a sarong, longer pair of shorts or lightweight wide trousers. Even a large beach towel.

And I saw beachwear ankle length dress cover ups out shopping the other day - long is very much IN apparently.

You can get shorter and light material board shorts. Men wear them all the time. Why do women have to have their entire legs and arse cheeks exposed while men can be comfortable and covered?

Please don't wear bloody board shorts so some long swim dress, this is Greece, no one will care except you and your sweaty thighs as you bake under the sun. Get yourself a bikini, big sunglasses and rock it. Focus on the feel of the sun on your skin, thank you legs for getting you to the pool in the first place and have a swim and a cocktail. Think about how much of your day you spend thinking about random people's legs.... I bet zero.

Echoing the lipoedema suggestions. I have it and if anybody on this thread thinks they might then I urge you to see a doctor as compression can make a big difference. I am slowly having private surgery in Germany to get rid of it but MLD massage and compression have made a big difference! You get two pairs of compression on the NHS but not much else. It's common but lots of medical professionals either confuse it with lymphoedema or have never heard of it all.

It fades quicker if you go in the pool but I take some fake tan in a can to top up

A person does it for you using a spray whilst you're standing in a booth. They give you a little pair of paper pants which you can wear if you like but you're otherwise nude, no make up or perfume on. The spray is quite cold so prepare to shiver a bit, they'll swoop all over you, back and front then you stand there for a few minutes letting it dry. Get dressed then in old, very loose clothing (no bra) I take flip flops too. Then go home! Make sure you don't wash your hands or get water on you until it's developed, anything from 3 hours to overnight. I try and have mine around 7pm the night before I go wherever and eat fish n chips or something!

No one will be looking at you , they will be worried about themselves!

I have worked hard to pay for this holiday
I am holiday miles from anyone that I know
I will never see any of these people again
I am going to enjoy my holiday & I don't care what other people think
Once you are in the water, you are free !
We are all human

Just wear your swimsuit and enjoy the beach. Nobody cares about fat legs.

Me and my big fat thighs enjoy the sun and the sea in a high-cut bright blue 50s style swimsuit. And we look fucking fabulous. 😁You only get one life OP - don’t waste it, get out there and feel the summer breeze and the sea on your bare legs and be grateful for those strong, healthy legs that carry you through life.

You will not be the largest woman on the beach, I can guarantee this. I can also guarantee that when you see the largest woman on the beach, she will not be remotely concerned about her size. Neither should she. Or you, for that matter.

I'm sure your legs are perfectly fine and when you're getting in the pool etc think about the memories you are making and how beautiful things are around you instead of missing everything focusing on your legs and what other people may or may not be thinking.

Genuinely, You know who cares about your legs when you're on the beach/round the pool? You and only you.

Have a fabulous holiday

I live in Portugal. In summer the beaches are full of everyone from 8 months to 80. Bikinis are everywhere no matter how fat or thin. Stretch marks, wrinkles, saggy tummies and thighs are all on display. Trying to cover up in a one piece or sarong just draws attention. It really doesn’t matter to anyone else.

Those swim skirts are bloody awful.

get some board shorts with a bikini top or tankini.

Slap on some fake tan, a big smile and remember everyone's too busy worrying about their own fat bits to care about yours!🤣🤣

This 100%

The messages here are really inspiring but I have to say I am not able to ignore my awful body maybe I lack the maturity but I am so self conscious I hate the summer months. I'm going on hols in 2 weeks to a big kid friendly resort and if we bump into someone I know then I probably won't go swimming at all and ruin my own hols. Ridiculous - yes it is.

What troubles me is that I was this heavy about 8 years ago and lost loads of weight over 3 yrs but when I cast my mind back to the holiday I took at my slimmest I felt exactly the same. And now I can't understand why I wasn't dancing around in a string bikini. I foolishly thought I was still on a weight loss journey. Anyhow my point is its how you feel that counts so you should own and love your wobbly bits and to hell with everyone else, then come back and tell me how to do the same!!

One tip - I sometimes wear my sarong to the pool edge and just slip out of it and leave it there in a little bag or with a towel and get straight back into it. No one on loungers gets to watch my walk of shame

Yes, there is a solution. Stop saying your legs are 'bad'. They're just your legs. They do a bloody good job for you - one day they won't and you've wasted all this time obsessing about whether they're good enough for other people to see.

So what op. Just go and have a great time forget about everyone else..its awful feeling so self conscious when you're somewhere you ought to be relaxing and enjoying!

I wasted so much time worrying and panicking about having no tits whatsoever and how I looked like a child in a bikini ,agonized over which one had padding big enough, is it push up, maybe ruffles will make it look better, maybe I can stuff in extra padding in this one.
I've even worn bras with them or just felt so shameful I wore tshirts in the pool. 🙄 I imagined men laughing at me and women pitying me...in reality nobody gave a shit about me or paid any attention 🤣

Now I wear whatever I want I and couldn't give a shit who noticed or not. Its my body, it's all I have🤷‍♀️
Hope you have a brilliant holiday op!

Sorry, I mean these are the two things you need - fake it til you make it !