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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you slightly larger or maybe less confident women what you wear.to swimming pool? :(

91 replies

floatyflo · 26/07/2013 22:30

Going away in a week. There will be a fab swimming pool, with huge flumes and slides.
Went two years ago with dp but was slimmer then :(

Really want to go again this year, especially as ds is old enough to go too :)

Thing is I am dreading it. Feel huge in all the wrong places and swimwear is not my friend. Its just all the getting in and out of the pool and walking around to go from one jacuzzi or slide or pool to the next. And other members of our family are going this year. If it were just dp, I might've been ok!

Anyway I am rambling now. Reason for posting is if anyone has any good tips/ideas on what I could wear so am covered up without looking obviously fat and self conscious iyswim?!

OP posts:
sweetestcup · 27/07/2013 21:21

Right epic fail

Gingham,size:

MultumInParvo · 27/07/2013 21:32

What about this

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 27/07/2013 22:39

I'm a size 26 with fat in all the wrong places...think beached whale look Wink and I wear a one piece with a skirt bit

Like this but in BRIGHT turquoise :o

Honestly OP. no one will give a shit what you look like in there....I take the kids swimming twice a week and honestly couldn't tell you what anyone looks like or what they wear or anything

Go, be confident and have fun!!

Cravingdairy · 27/07/2013 23:02

Do you stare at people in the pool or at the beach and judge them on their appearance? Nobody else does either and that goes for family too. I certainly wouldn't look too closely at a family member's figure myself. Try to focus on having a good time with your DS and model healthy body image for him. Even if you're faking it!

A friend on FB recently posted about how when ahe was young her mum had called herself fat and ugly all the time. It really upset this friend because she thought her mum was beautiful. So children pick up on these things.

Have a lovely time!

DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved · 27/07/2013 23:16

I have two words for you:

strategic ruching :)

I loathe my body in an utterly unhealthy low self esteem way but am surprisingly comfortable swimming in my all in one black costume with ruching in a front panel that glides over my disgusting stomach and pulls up my boobs, so I look big but the right shape IYSWIM

It's quite similiar ruching to this that PinUp posted earlier

www.very.co.uk/resort-halter-playsuit/1178618784.prd?amendCommerceItemId=187172001436

YetAnotherMum · 27/07/2013 23:35

I'm a size 14/16 and really love this www.forluna.co.uk/102-red-and-white-polka-dot-retro-swimsuit. It is expensive but feels worth it.

EBearhug · 28/07/2013 00:47

I'm 22 and I just wear an ordinary 1-piece swimming costume. Current ones were ?5 in a store in Germany, but I've paid a lot more in the past - depends what's around when I'm looking. My main criterion is that it's something I can swim properly in, and the straps won't slide down if I'm doing some fast front crawl and it won't fall off my bust if I dive in or anything.

I also go to aquafit, where I am average to slim in comparison - most people have 1-pieces, but some wear bras underneath, and a couple wear t-shirts over the top. Some have tankinis, and also those ones with mini-skirts, to which I think, what on earth is the point, but if it makes them feel it's easier to get in the pool with that, then does it matter? We're at the class and exercising, which is more important than how you look.

Mostly, people won't be looking at you. If they are, chances are it's because they haven't got their glasses on and are trying to work out whether they recognise you, because they've lost the group they came with.

I've been wearing a bikini in the garden, and when I've been down to the beach a couple of times (though I did add a t-shirt to swim in, mostly to avoid extra sunburn.) Don't care what anyone else thinks about how I look, I was there because we've actually had some summer this year, and I could swim outside.

Like everyone says, it's mostly down to attitude.

EBearhug · 28/07/2013 00:47

I mean I'm a size 22. I'm in my 40s, age-wise.

Original poster
floatyflo · 28/07/2013 08:26

I really appreciate allyour fab advice and support. It is nice to know I am not the only one.

I know a few people have said not to go wearing t-shirts as this will make me stick out more. But to be dully comfortable I really need to cover up a bit.

I'm thinking either a light kaftan. The sort of thing you would chuck over a bikini and what not at the beach/pool anyway. It would keep the tops of legs and upper arms covered, which are my most hated bits tbh. And it wont get too cold and heavy in the water.

Or a new tankini/cossie with good boob support and some nice girlie boardshorts to cover bell thighs.

I want it to be a bit stylish, to make up for the fact ill be covered up!

What do you all think?

OP posts:
AChickenCalledKorma · 28/07/2013 08:34

I wear a swimsuit from this range, which caters for my ample bosom and also holds me in in all the right places. In fact, it's the one at the left hand end of the second row, which is currently reduced (considers getting another as it's the only flattering costume I've ever had!!!)

Lands End do an assortment of swim skirts, wraps etc. I think they are quite expensive for what they are, though. I'd probably just stick some stretchy shorts off and whip them off before getting in the pool.

EBearhug · 28/07/2013 09:28

I'd be going for a tankini or cossie rather than a kaftan. When you get in the water, a kaftan will float up, so it's not going to cover your thighs in the water anyway. Cycling shorts would be better for that, but they won't let air in and be cooling when you're out of the water.

Original poster
floatyflo · 28/07/2013 09:33

I'm not bothered when im in the water as no-one can see anything then! Its all the getting out to climb a hundred steps to get to top of flumes.

OP posts:
Beastofburden · 28/07/2013 23:32

Nah they will be too busy trying not to fall off the steps with their eyes full of chlorine and no contact lenses in and wondering what's for lunch and is it too early to start drinking yet.

possum18 · 29/07/2013 01:56

I'm slightly bigger than my friends, hubby...etc. I hate granny one piece suits but the thought of my muffin top in an itsybitsy bikini makes me cry. i always feel insecure and anxious when anyone suggests going to the beach or pool, to the extreme I didn't go on holiday with friends this year so I didn't have to face my own poolside-cellulite!
I'm a size 12 but really short.
This sunny weather recently forced the issue and I had to find a solution. I was too happy to find Marks and Spencer's do sexy one piece swimsuits with built in suck-me-in pants !! Plunging clevages and backless haters! Feeling fabulous and confident by the pool at last!!!

kezLOU1977 · 29/07/2013 09:08

Aww I am so glad someone has asked this because its something I thought about a lot after a recent trip to the swimming pool with my dh & dc's.
I wore a gorgeous cream & black polka dot swimsuit which is meant to hide all the lumps and bumps and to be fair it had a 'big' job to do but it did it well and my dh couldn't keep his hands off me ;) while we were at the pool I noticed a lot of bigger ladies who were wearing all sorts of swim suits and bikinis and I have to say I admired all the ladies who wore a bikini and flaunted it! So much so that I went out and bought one and I love it! I know it's a confidence thing but you should wear what you want to wear!
My advice is though if you are going on a flume wear a sturdy swim suit ;) unless you enjoy your boobs being on display when you shoot out the end, I didn't mind but my dh wasn't very happy lol ;)

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