Going on holiday and feeling fat

OP I am 62, 13 stone 10 and decidedly untoned, especially around my bum, hips and lower belly. Off to Greece in about 7 weeks. Will I lose 10lb before I go? Probably not. Will I wear a bikini on holiday, enjoy food and wine? Hell yeah! I get my waxing and nails done before I go, and have some nice long shirt coverups from Primark for the beach/pool.

Go away, don't worry what others think, and have a fabulous time and rock your curves!

I was on holiday a few weeks ago for the first time in a few years. Since we last went abroad I had gained and then lost over 5 stone and was feeling a bit down in the dumps about everything being a bit older and a lot baggier than last time I wore a bikini in public. At the hotel pool, waterpark and the beach there was every shape and size in their bikinis (very few one piece swimsuits) and nobody gave a shit. It was honestly really lovely and made me wonder why I had been beating myself up so much when I should have been focusing on looking forward to the holiday and enjoying myself.

Literally nobody will give a shit what you look like apart from yourself, and with the number and diversity of other people also in their cossies, you won't stand out unless you happen to have green skin or multiple heads. Don't waste your energy worrying about it.

Enjoy your holiday :)

It’s all about comfy clothes BUT clothes that make you feel a little bit nicer than your everyday. Op you’ve done amazingly, enjoy your holiday, they’re meant to be fun, not about how you look etc x

Unless you look like Cindy Crawford or someone from my 600lb life, no one will notice you. Think about the last time you went to a pool or beach, can you recall the weight of anyone there?? Of course not because it’s the least interesting thing about them.

I’m your height and a stone heavier than you. I just got back from holiday where I wore a swimsuit every day around others. I focussed on enjoy my holiday and having a lovely time splashing around with my kids, just like everyone else was doing. Maybe some people thought I looked fat, because I do look fat. Probably the vast majority gave my appearance no thought at all. There weren’t many other perfect bikini bodies around either, and they are all strangers who I have no interest in and will never see again, their opinions of me are completely inconsequential. Just go and appreciate your body for being able to swim, feel the sun, run around with your kids, whatever you’re doing, just enjoy it and don’t waste your time worrying about something that doesn’t matter.

On holiday currently, untoned, flabbier and heavier than normal. Feeling the yearly regret of not getting in shape. I brought lots of long dresses with me thinking I’d got a capsule wardrobe. Packed a couple of pairs of shorts in case I felt brave enough to wear them, ( never do). It’s been so hot, I’ve lived in the shorts and been to the market to buy some short dresses. The feel of the sun and warm breeze on my legs has been lovely. No one is looking at me and even if they are, I don’t really care. Would be self conscious at home but here I’m not bothered. I’ve also got an old one piece costume with me. Good to hide in but I wish I’d invested in a good bikini. Hope you have a wonderful time OP.

It's true, we're all judgemental on some level. There may well be the odd person who might think that way but you know about it, so don't worry about it!

Personally, I'd judge anyone who is unkind enough to make judgements about someone based on their weight. I'd also suspect that they're not altogether happy in their own body to care or compare that much!

The majority of people aren't areseholes though and there will be loads of people too busy enjoying themselves or struggling with their own insecurities to notice anyone else. Do whatever makes you feel nice and find something that makes you feel good about yourself. You are worth much more than your weight.

I hear you. I was around 12 stone this time last year and I felt so self conscious. Even if strangers don’t look, YOU don’t feel confident and that matters loads. I didn’t care if other people were fatter than me, I cared that I felt fat and hated how I looked.

I agree a good fake tan does wonders. I stuck to one pieces) and removed every single phone photo of me in swimwear that my husband kept taking) 🤨

But they are shallow cunts so who cares what they think in their tiny pea sized brains anyway? I don’t. Fuck em.

And this.

Well put. We are so hard on ourselves, in a way we would never be to those we love like friends or family.

All good advice already. One thing I'd add is start talking to yourself differently.

You're not fat/a failure.

You're a sexy buxom mamma. Wiggle that butt, hold your head high and walk with a strut. You belong on that beach feeling fine, cocktail in hand. Dressing yourself well, holding yourself well and looking confident is super attractive whatever your size.

This.

Exfoliate, get a spray tan, do as much as you can with diet and exercise between now and departure, and drink lots of water. No matter what sort of shape you're in, these things will make ANYONE look a bit better.

Then hit that beach and relax!!!

People might notice, they just don't care. Of the people I saw in swim suits this morning, I've probably seen them again this afternoon around the place (I'm at a caravan site) but I won't recognise them. I clocked them then they fell back out of my head. My head's full of my stuff not of judging other people I don't have anything to do with.

Well I’m going to go against the grain here. I think some people do look at other people’s bodies and judge . Otherwise, how would we have the fat-shaming that goes on every day? I’m not saying it’s right but I think it’s disingenuous to say nobody notices.

I'm on holiday now (in the UK). I've been to the pool and the beach today, and there were plenty of people much heavier than you in swimsuits /short shorts/tiny vest tops. I don't give a shit and they don't seem to either. I saw a load of people in the pool this morning, couldn't pick any of them out of a lineup now. People don't pay much attention to other people, they're thinking about thier own stuff.

If you can treat yourself to nice items, well fitting bikini, swimsuit, coverups and dresses I would do this. Get hair and nails done, perhaps a spray tan, nice flips flops/wedges and a smile!

Nobody will care though, either because they aren’t interested or they’re panicking about how they look.

Just an edit to say size 12 is probably common these days - if not much larger.

Op if you had lost the weight and were now feeling good and when you arrive there’s another guest size 12 worrying about what you must be thinking, what would you say to her?

I was like this for years, it was only last year when I went away - about a 1.5 stone heavier than I wanted to be - I thought to myself, don't look down. This is when I see my big boobs, my belly and my fat knees. When I look down.

I picked and packed all the outfits that i felt confident in and bikini (this was a first for me too). I just got dressed, tried to not take too much notice of the mirror - although I know my outfits looked fine but if you start to look you start to pick fault. Once dressed and ready to go I didn't look down. When I took my clothes off at the pool or the beach, I didn't look down. I felt good, I didn't need to look at myself.

When I looked around there were a lot of people bigger than me that did not give a damn and were walking around in next to nothing on, very confidently.

get nails, pedicure, eyebrows etc done before. Make yourself feel good. And as the other say, no one will be looking at you or care. Try to relax and enjoy yourself and be happy/grateful for your health and holiday. 🤗

I can assure you that there will be much larger people than you lounging by the pool in a bikini and nobody will give a hoot. Stop stressing and have a fabulous holiday.

Agree with this.

Noone cares at all.

Most people will be overweight.

Im 9st and wouldn't wear a bikini!

Go shopping and fiend a one piece that makes you feel amazing, theres some gorgeous ones about. Throw on a sarong, have a cocktail and have fun!