To wear a wetsuit when I weigh so much?

[Arkengarthdale]

I'm desperate to go swimming in the sea when we go to the beach soon. I love it. But I'm 5 stone overweight and self conscious. WIBU to stick two virtual fingers up to judgy people, zip myself into a size 18 wetsuit and hide in the water?

Or is the prospect just too grim to contemplate? Might I be mistaken for a stray sea lion and culled? Or find myself on the wrong end of a whaling harpoon?

We're talking Scotland BTW, although it's June it's still bloody freezing, hence the need for neoprene

Oooops swimming not winking

you say that now OP, give it a couple of months and you'll be signing up for your first OW swim

Ooo open water winking! Wonder what that's like 😂

I probably have enough blubber not to get too cold arms and legs and I think a shorty would be less of a palaver to get into. And out of!

I share this a lot so don't be bored of me please but this stands for wetsuits as much as bikinis. Enjoy swimming!

Thanks for that graphic. I'm the one on the bottom left

Can I ask where people are buying size 18 or bigger wetsuits? I'm a size 18-20 and tried on a size 18 wetsuit (from Sainsburys) and it wouldn't go anywhere near me. I love swimming in the sea and would like to try an open water swimming event near me but don't know where to get a wetsuit.

I was a size 22 last summer and wore a short one. Even permitted a picture to go on Facebook. Do it!

Other woman swimming? Whatever next!

I'm thinking of moving to the Lake District so I may well take up wild or open water swimming. Apparently cold water is very good for you.

Go for it, OP ... enjoy yourself and wear it with confidence. No need to hide !

Around a third of adults in Scotland are obese according to a few websites so I don't think anyone will even notice! Who cares if they do?!

My wetsuit is oddly flattering. Not bloody easy to get in and out of mind!

Full length so you don't get cold!

If I get a chance to surf/swim in the sea this year I will wear a wetsuit whether I'm a size 18 as I am at the moment or whether I can slim into my old size 14 one!

I think wet suits are a great leveller - as mentioned earlier they flatter no-one!

Everyone looks ridiculous getting in and out of a wet suit, everyone. Crack on with enjoying your summer. There were no wet suits growing up in Scotland when I was a kid sadly, I still remember the cold!

I have long & shortie, I find the long one tight on arms & legs, plus it's a fight to get it on. I love my shortie. I also have cheap & expensive & this is one area not to skimp as expensive ones are stretchy. Board shorts over the wetsuit...but I don't bother.

Absolutely go for it. I'm a size 16-18 and won a water sports holiday a couple of years ago. One of those glam 5K a person type places full of actual sporty people all bleached hair and slim.

I'm thinking of going back to sport and have been eyeing up pictures on their Facebook looking for people fatter than me.

I'm a pear-shaped 14-16 top and a 16-18 hips and I have this wetsuit in size 16. They also do an 18 so may suit you. All wetsuits are a bugger to put on though.

amzn.eu/aS4lCDx

I live near the beach & surf all year round. All shapes and sizes wear wetsuits. Don’t worry about anyone else, the sea is there to be enjoyed.

I do loads of open water events every size and shapes take part nobody cares go for it

You'll look fine in a wetsuit! I even wear mine to toddler swimming classes as I get cold. If you get a 3mm good quality one it holds everything in like a body shaping thing

If anyone is looking at you and judging, then they aren’t having as much fun as you and should be pitied!

I was a 16-18 when I bought my wetsuit in France, I was SO embarrassed in the shop even looking, but they guy just judged me on my size, gave me one to try one (to which I thought, I am never going to get into that!) Snug as a glove! Zip me up handsome I said in my best French (didn't really, just awkwardly pointed)

Don't forget your body board for some extra fun in the waves!

I felt the same last year OP , I didn't have a wetsuit though just a cozzie , and do you know what as a size 22 no one laughed or pointed as I lumbered down the beach to the sea ( plus I am sure my flubber gave me much needed buoyancy ). Wish I had had a wetsuit though because they lie about the sea temperature in the SW