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.

Is she not going? Is she jealous? Just go and enjoy yourself!

If you are losing weight regularly it sounds to me that she's a bit of a jealous cow. I've been skiing with friends and seen loads of people who are at least 16/18 and doing just fine on the slopes. Squats, ski sits and lots of core work will be your friend.

skiing takes some leg muscles

This! Definitely work on your quads. I used to go to a personal trainer in the months leading up to a skiing holiday as most of the group I went with were hardcore exercise freaks.

I ski a lot and I'm always surprised at the sheer size of many of the people you see doing it. Some of the men e.g. Dutch, Germans and Swiss are absolutely enormous. I mean way over 6ft and big with it. Have you ever seen a pro skier - men and women, all huge.
Undoubtedly you'll have a better time if you're fit, and as with everything, you'll have more choice of skiwear if you're slimmer, but honestly, size makes no difference.

Bluetheskyis you are not too big and anyway just because you are bigger than your SIL doesn't mean you aren't as fit as she is or fitter! I have skied as size 18 and had a ball. There are plenty of places to get ski kit to fit and I particularly love my men's ski jacket that I got in a sale. Ski clothing is pretty androgynous anyway. Go and have a blast on the slopes

She said the ski lift would be an issue? What a mean, mean person.

Interesting to compare the comments on this thread to the one about the shop assistant who thought a woman was too big to swim!

Please please go to ski school (don't tell her) and show her up on the slopes :-)

She sounds like a cow.
Especially since you said she skies. Maybe she is worried about you being better at "her" thing. Which would be ridiculously petty, but may explain her faux concern.
Good luck with your fitness goals and have fun on the slopes!

What a horrible nasty person. I have been snowboarding loads of times. You get all shapes and sizes. She is wrong and horrible to say that to you. She must know she's wrong as she's a skier so will know all shapes and sizes ski.

I first went skiing as a very unfit (smoker) beginner . I didn't do any pre ski exercises and didn't go to a dry slope either.

Apart from being a bit stiff after the first day , I had a ball - I went to ski school alone because the rest of my party were all experts and I loved it. I honestly haven't laughed so much.

One young woman (tall , slim , PE teacher ) was absolutely hopeless!

It really doesn't take long to get the hang of it and I managed a red run on the last day .

So , you go , you'll love it!

Everyone has already said it, but you will be fine. And as a PP poster said look for Dare2B online for ski clothes, they are not expensive and perfect for a beginner. I wouldn't under estimate the fitness though, but you have plenty of time to sort that out. Lots of leg strength will help, especially with getting off chair lifts. You'll have a great time and be surrounded by like minded individuals who just want to have a great time.

There's a 3-mile button lift in Zermatt... I challenge anyone 6 stone up not to have burning quads by the end of that! I was more than double that when I did it...

Go enjoy OP!

Definitely go! It’s a lovely holiday.

I would recommend steps and yoga (strong legs and core plus the flexibility to get up when you fall over (and you will!)

Have a fabulous time!

You've got plenty of time to lose weight OP and I recommend you do, because when you ski you notice every single extra pound you're carrying around when you have to stop yourself while going downhill at speed! I notice a difference in how much hard work it is if I gain so much as half a stone, so I'd say lose as much as you healthily can and get as fit as you can as once on the slopes you'll be very glad you did.

And you 'D'SIL is a cow!

I am much larger than you. I can still ski (I don’t anymore because I hated it, but that was personal preference) In fact, I can still do pretty much any activity I want.

I've never been skiing, but I just did a quick google and found a site that sells women's ski clothes up to 9XL. That's US size, in the US a 3XL is about 26/28. So...I think you'll be fine.

Map of UK ski facilities, it's worth having a try so you can get to grips with the kit etc before you go so you know what to get when you're there. You will be Bambi-on-ice for a little while so don't panic!!

www.skiclub.co.uk/uk-slopes-map
Honestly, you'll love it - there's no feeling like it when it clicks and you're whizzing down the slope.

Your SIL is being a complete cow. I started skiing in my 40's and I won't lie it wasn't easy as I am not sporty at all but 8 years on I really enjoy it. Also as my husband and daughter love skiing I want to be part of the fun. There are all sizes on the mountain and my SIL is a size 16 and she is a good skier, albeit she had skied for 30 years. Go for it, the scenery is great, you will get loads of exercise and the apre-skiing is fab.

Just one tip from me is as an adult beginner I arranged to have an individual lesson for 2 hours per day for 3 days which was much better than a group lesson. The instructor can concentrate on you and can go at your own pace which I found invaluable for confidence.

As someone who was quite fat on the larger side I’ll be honest and say she is being a bit of a knob BUT it can be uncomfy if you aren’t sensible
I recommend you

• Make sure your ski gear is big enough I always think it makes me look fatter and size down or go for a snug fit which restricts mobility and is invariably a boob move on my part and makes standing up etc harder

• don’t lie about your weight when picking up skis or board.

• Be careful of button lifts. It’s sort of general advice as they are evil but I hate them because they don’t drag you constantly so I find the jerkiness plus my weight = wobbling followed by toppling over.

being skied over by a French child is no fun

Good luck and enjoy though!!!

Don't worry about falling over either. I have frequently done an excellent impression of an upturned turtle and literally been picked up by men I don't know many times. Skiers are generally lovely I think boarders are often gits.

I’d probably tell her she can’t possibly go skiing as her mouths to big and so’s her arse as she’s talking out of it so the ski lifts definitely won’t be able to accommodate her.

Thanks for all the wonderful, practical advice - I’m deffo taking it all on board, particularly the get as fit as you can in the time you have advice! Happy to Say DSIL isn’t coming, am going with marvellous friends who love me just as I am! i only have to see her once a year or so as she’s in a far, far away country. She’s quite a difficult person, whereas i’ve never met a stranger and I think that gets right in her goat!

You get some people undermining things you do,. It's probably jealousy.

Three things you need to know:

1. You aren't too fat to ski and you won't be laughed at.

2. You need to be fit (or fit-ish to ski) otherwise you run a very serious risk of being injured. Skiing injuries are nasty so avoid this by (a) getting fit and (b) if you aren't fit, be very very careful - slow, easy slopes and ski school.

1. Plenty of people go on a skiing holiday and do very little skiing if any. If all else fails and you don't like the skiing, a good lunch up a mountain with a load of gluhwein is a great way to spend time.