AIBU to face facts ?

[frumpety]

And realise that I am not going to lose 7 stone and suddenly tone up in less than three weeks , but to put on my swimming costume and actually go in the sea this year , instead of skulking under various flowing cotton garments on the beach like last year ?

Do it! Get in the sea.

In the nicest possible way, no one will be paying attention to you, they'll probably be too busy worrying bout what they look like themselves to care.

Have fun

I would really recommend a holiday to Italy for anyone who has body issues. Women of all shapes and sizes and ages wear bikinis with an utter lack of self-consciousness - most of them would be bewildered at the idea that you have to look a certain way to enjoy feeling the sun on your belly.

Get in your cozzie and enjoy yourself

I have honestly never paid attention to anyone because of how they look on holiday unless they are walking round with a miserable face.

I met a wonderful lady on one of my holidays who was similar to your size and her attitude was fantastic, we had a fantastic holiday in and out of the pool and will always remember her for the laugh we had rather than her size.

Go for it and enjoy! X

Some minor celebrity recently said that she always puts on her costume and plays with her kids in the sea even though she isn't stick thin because when they grow up her kids will never think "wow we had a terrible childhood, mum had a huge belly and horrible thigh cellulite" but they would certainly think "mum never played in the sea with us, I wish she had". Get out there with your costume on and make memories with your children whilst you can, it won't be long before they won't want to play anymore.

I am a size 20/22 so quite a bit larger than all of you on here , think Dawn French in wetsuit photo from her book

Well Dawn was never bothered what anyone thought of her size. She always enjoyed herself and even now she has lost some weight she says she loved herself and her body even at her heaviest. She was considered sexy and pretty...and that was to do with her attitude, positivity and confidence.
You don't have to wait until you think others consider your size ok...Go for it and love every minute

Well assuming you're not Jesus Christ himself.
You've got 2 chances of losing 7 stone in 3 weeks
ones called fat (no pun intended) and The other is called no
So you might as well relax in your own skin. Easier said than done of course it is. However what's the alternative. Hide away and exist rather than live. Life's too short for all that.
Plus said with respect
You're not that important. People have got enough worries of their own, so I doubt anyone Will take a blind bit of notice

I am a good size 18 and am currently on holiday with my children. For the first time ever I have thought sod it and have enjoyed being in the pool, queuing for flumes etc not trying to skulk away and hide as actually my children want to be with and spend time with me as I am, happy not irritable and grumpy because I feel self conscious and ashamed. Its been great !

Oh, please DO go for it! Ive managed to lose some of my weight, but still a long way to go..but we will be off on holiday in a few weeks to our favourite place in the world (Croatia), and swimming in the sea, snorkelling etc is our greatest not there. It will be our 3rd time, and the biggest lesson that I have learned from being there is that no one cares what size they or you are - genuinely, they just get on and live! Even 80 year old grannies are in their bikinis, and no one bats an eyelid. It's completely liberating. I would never let my size hold me back again, please don't let it hold you back, you are so much more than a number, and life is for living.

*greatest not = greatest joy

DO IT. Currently on holiday in Umbria with (skinnier) friends and parading my lardy ass up and down to the pool regularly!