To go on skiiing hol despite DSIL?

[bluetheskyis]

Need advice from skiers, preferably ‘bigger’ ones. Booked to go on a family ski holiday at Xmas with friends, not a posh place think family friendly not very trendy! Was really excited as never been skiing, kids will love it etc. Love idea of daily exercise, fresh air, & socialising with friends in evening. DSIL, who prides herself on being forthright took me aside and told me that there’s no way I can do it - I’ll be embarrassing myself ( and DP, kids) because I’m not fit enough and too fat. She reckons I won’t find ski clothes to wear anyway. And people will be staring, i’ll Slow everyone down, ski lift will be an issue.
Should I pull out? I’ve just paid deposit so there is time.
I’m currently size 18/20 but aiming to be at least 14/16 by Xmas as currently dealing with the weight issue, eating healthier, swim/ walk/play tennis or something every single day at the mo and losing 4-7 lbs a month. Which I feel is sustainable.
Am worried that I will be too fat to ski at 14-16 and will be surrounded by skinny, fit skiers even in the ski school.
Anyone on here plus size and gone ski-in gas a beginner?? I’d hate to miss out on the family holiday it will let them go ahead without me if it’s going to be a disaster.

Loads of bigger people ski.
As a beginner you may find getting up off the ground tough, I went with someone about your current size who found that tough and also finding ski boots comfortable around the calf. If you continue to lose weight you should have no problem but either way it would be a good idea to go to some circuits type classes before you go just to get the most out of it and enjoy it most.

What a bitch - stick to your goal of losing weight and enjoy your break .

Just looked - even Next have ski stuff up to size 22 - obviously if no one was skiing over a size 14 they wouldn’t have a need to do various sizes!

Rebel Wilson was wearing a Fendi ski jacket if that’s more your style 😎

Go for it! Your size won't be an issue.

That said, I would recommend anyone who has never skied before to book at least one lesson at a snowdome or dry ski slope before they book a holiday. It's an expensive mistake if you find you don't enjoy it.

I'd also make sure you do some ski fitness exercises (squats etc) to stop achey muscles spoiling your holiday. And check out what else there is to do in the resort if you need a day off or find you hate it so you have a plan B. Even the most basic resorts usually have a spa hotel and other snow activities (snowshoe walks, skating, sledding), maybe a bowling alley, nice cafes on the mountain that you can take a cable car up and down to so you don't need to ski. There may be public transport to a bigger resort or nearby town if you fancy a day trip to shop or do something cultural.

Do go skiing
I learned over 50 and 14 to 16.
Do go without her! (If you can or make sure it s a big chalet!)
Do get some basic lessons in before You go in snow dome or dry slope.

You have loads of time to get fitter generally e.g. do c25k jogging over the spring summer to build stamina then some body conditioning classes in autumn .

Have a brilliant time! Love skiing - our best every family holidays were ski holidays and I'm a rubbish skier

As others have said, stamina is more important that size. You get all shapes and sizes on the slopes. It's quite hard work so work on your overall fitness if you want to get the best out of the holiday.

PS - wouldn't be setting up too much store on the evening socialising. We were all often in bed by 9.30 we were so knackered!

Cut to 04:36 and tell your sil to keep her opinions to herself! m.youtube.com/watch?v=oCcqD6Scx-I

You know what .. do this, bollox to the DSIL, you said your trying to loose weight, do it and don’t say anything, wear baggy clothing, so they don’t suspect anything. Find a skiing class, there’s bound to be a dry ski slope somewhere near, have a few lessons. Go on hols in your new slimline skiwear and arseholes to the lot of them. Do this for you, you’ll love it. I ski, and I’m 5’2 and 80 kl, and 65. I’d love to be a fly on the wall come Xmas ... good luck

Completely off topic, but didn't realise Next does ski gear. Must have a look

I live next to the alps. I am your size. All shapes and sizes ski. For those who don't ski there is snow shoeing and sledging. I also have friends who just go for the atmosphere and apres ski, reading books when everyone else is on the slopes.

But everyone has to start somewhere.

Tell her to f**k off. And then work on your strength and fitness (don't focus on your weight) quietly between now and then. You can do it!

Ps: I have a friend who is a PT and on her instagram account she posts videos. She is great! I am sure if you messaged her she could put up some exercises to help build strength for skiing.

https://instagram.com/hiit4life?utmsource=iggprofileshare&igshid=1s7mjzcf85em4

Size isn't an issue with skiing - but fitness is. However, it sounds like you have plenty of time to prepare.

It's a lot more tiring as a beginner than as an experienced skier because there's a lot of walking up and down smaller slopes while you get used to it and also a lot more picking yourself up when you fall over. But no one will be pointing - there are always loads of new adult beginner skiers especially at family-friendly resorts.

You'll probably need group ski classes every day and because of this, you will be with people who are exactly at your level. It's a real bonding experience - you'll have such a laugh with your group and by the end of the week you'll be skiing at a reasonable pace with your new ski buddies and if your family is kind they will also be able to ski to your pace as well.

Best preparation would be to find a personal trainer for a few sessions now - get them to create a program especially geared towards skiing - which you can then follow on your own. You'll want to strengthen leg muscles, your core strength which helps you balance and up your stamina. Don't worry about your size at all - getting fit will probably have a good knock-on effect on that anyway. But strength and fitness which is what you need for skiing has nothing to do with being thin.

@ybluetheskyis I think your SIL definitely wears her insecurities on her coat not just her sleeve. Reading between the lines I guess she's a worrier & can get quite anxious (below the surface) hence getting worked up about the ski trip & worrying about stuff that won't happen/doesn't matter.
If not that then she's being a right bitch.
Anyway every pp is right you will have a great time!

does she always put you down like that? Nasty woman. You go for it, just have fun!!

My mouth actually opened as I read your OP.
Go, enjoy.
Stuff her!

What a horrible person. I’ve been about 10 times been a size 16 and also a 12

Loads of shapes men women teens.

The lifts won’t be an issue at all.

I’d show her and get fit and that will help you loose some weight. (If you want to of course) and shove it up her arse. And have a fab time.

I have been skiing, all shapes and sizes. If you have not been before book ski school and you will be fine. Anyway if you say you are going to lose weight then no issue and the holiday may motivate you. I would suggest you ignore your sil. She sounds a horrible woman

Thanks for all the tips! I’ll work on some core fitness, one thing about being shaped like a weeble is that I have thighs of steel as they’re used to lugging a lot of weight around!

Deffo doing ski school - a couple of hours a day booked in, I have very low expectations re my actually skiing ability... I was worried about having to sit loads out but seems DSIL May have been ‘nmistaken’ about it all...

You can definitely get ski wear to fit you. Like a lot of outdoor stuff the main ranges tend to go up to an 18 that is really a 14. But you can get plus size up to size 30 if you look. Are you flexible? I found as a not flexible (but quite fit) size 18/20 that the only hard bit was getting up when I fell over. But I could have been a size 10 and still struggled with that. And the chair lifts are definitely fine. As someone else said, you won't weigh more than many of the men who use them. It's not like the chair lifts with bars have the really tight ones you get on rollercoaster.

Fuck her and go and enjoy yourself regardless of what size you are by then! What a disgusting attitude. I'd be half tempted to book up with people who don't make such horrible comments.

I'm on a skiing holiday right now, and there are a lot of larger people.
A lot of tall, stocky men are going to weigh far more than you, even at size 18 now - so it's ridiculous for her to suggest the ski lift will be an issue.

And although this isn't very PC, I'm at a very very very fancy and trendy resort (I'm working before anyone slams me!) which typically has people far thinner than average, and there are still plenty bigger than me (size 12/14) and I do not feel like I stick out at all.

Your SIL is a twat.

But please please please get skiing lessons before hand so you can ski rings around her to wipe that sanctimonious smugness off her face. #petty

Agree that you need work on your fitness, cardio and core. I have always struggled to ski and I’m a small person. I enjoyed it more when I was super fit and fell over less than when unfit. I just could never get the hang of it and have ‘retired’ now.

She's a nasty piece of work. Well done on your change of lifestyle, you definitely need to be fit to get the benefit of skiing regardless of your weight. You'll have a ball.

Your SIL is an idiot (and a bitch but that's another issue). You'll be fine and you'll likely find first time skiing easier than someone very slim/petite. I am slim/petite and I married into a hardcore skiing family and let me tell you, skiing takes some leg muscles which as I'm genetically gifted with chicken legs I struggled with mastering good "control" on skis. Also, at a size 14-16 you're in a perfectly normal range of people on the slopes. Please ignore you (jealous?) SIL and enjoy your life, you'll have a great time and regret it if you don't!