To think that there's no solution for me (fat legs and the beach)

[JMSA]

I am very overweight and am going to Greece next month. I am making a massive effort to lose weight, but let's face it, I've left it too late.
I really envy overweight people who have decent legs! You can conceal a flabby stomach or bum with good 'shaping' swimwear. But you can't cover up fat, toddler-like legs. Of course you can put on a sarong or cover-up while wafting around the pool. But the thought of the dreaded walk between sunlounger and sea/pool is leaving me cold! I'd look ridiculous with one of the skirted swimsuits, and there's no point because the skirt is too short. Swim leggings might make me stand out more than just my actual legs!
Is there a solution I haven't come across?
Thank you.
PS I've always had bad legs, even at my slimmest. The varicose veins and corned beef tinted skin don't help the cellulite either.

Spray tan in a salon, or decent application of st tropez - St tropez is better than other self tans for masking veins I believe. A nice sarong for when not in water? Purpose built leg makeup like Sally hansen are pretty water proof too. I have chunky veiny legs too so I feel your pain!

I like a tankini top with men's swim shorts. I buy them from primark because they usually have a huge range of plain bright colours that I can match to the tankini top so it looks like a set. They come to mid thigh, have a drawstring so adaptable and always have pockets, usually with a zip. Plus they are generally about £3 a pair compared to £20 for women's swim shorts.

Do your legs work well?
Thats the important thing
Honestly, nobody cares about your legs

I mean this kindly, but the only person on earth who is bothered about your legs is you.

I highly recommend a trip to Rio one day. It's expected that women of all sizes wear a tiny bikini, flip flops, and nothing else. It's incredibly relaxing!

I'm very pear-shaped and even though I'm not overweight and exercise a lot they're still wobbly and cellulity. I also wear swim leggings which are in fact not even officially swim leggings - it feels so much more sporty and practical than just what is effectively a pair of pants.

The benefit of it being too late to do anything is that you don't have to do anything 😊

Tbh I feel envious of the bigger ladies ladies swanning around as they have more confidence than me who covers up and feels miserable

I used to feel so self conscious about my body to the point of not enjoying myself until I realised it was all in my own head. I never looked at another man or woman in their swimwear and thought nasty thoughts about them. I often looked at people larger than me looking confident and happy and envied them. So now, although it takes practice, I buy whatever swimsuit I feel happy in and I enjoy myself because I’m pretty sure no one cares what I look like and I shouldn’t limit my own happiness.

Absolutely everyone is so busy worrying about their own bum/legs/tum/tan/hair/bony shoulders/lack of boobs/spotty back they really haven’t seen your legs and in many cases would possibly swap their horrible hair/wrinkly neck or baggy arse.

Order a cocktail and enjoy your holiday 🕶🍹

Every body is beautiful in its own way. I try and think my legs work and we are all just specks on a rock here for a short time, so body hang-ups are a waste of time. We are what we are. Most people don’t really notice other people and people rarely memorise what a stranger looks like. Try and love your legs and enjoy your holiday.

Is there any chance you could have Lipoedema? I think I have had it since puberty and honestly the stress I’ve had about my legs being bigger and veiny even when I was slim. I haven’t had an official diagnosis of Lipoedema but all the online photos are exactly the same as my legs. I’m lucky I don’t get pain or anything. Since hearing about it though it’s given me much more peace of mind. I realised it was something I couldn’t help and it’s made me feel so much better about myself somehow. Which is silly as it didn’t matter before I had a label, but somehow knowing I’m not ‘lazy’ or something makes me feel better.

Do follow the other advice about just enjoying your holiday though, I hope you have a lovely time!

No - that’s me as well. I have fat legs with thread veins and need the fake tan to stop me being the whitest person on the beach, but I’m usually that by the end.

Unless I’ve burned and then I’m the reddest person on the beach.

I just march into the water until only my top half ( by far the best half) is showing. Yes, I need to lose weight but if it hasn’t happened by holiday time I don’t let that spoil the holiday.

I'm really big and my legs are massive, I know what you mean, my friend is bigger than me but has slim calves so looks better in dresses. I wear gorgeous maxi dresses and have lovely sarong and cover up, but honestly I refuse to let it spoil my holiday. You will 100% look worse if you try to cover up, get the best cossie you can, stride to the sea, swim , sunbathe , laugh and enjoy, no one will care, and if they do frankly fuck em.
I'm going away with my friends and will feel a bit self conscious but I will not let it ruin my precious holiday.

I have ridiculously wobbly thighs - when I see larger women at the beach, I don't think they are revolting, I wish I had their confidence and am very pleased they are happily enjoying the sun and the sea.

Last year I went for a very early swim and set my camera up to take a video of myself. When I watched it all I could see was cellulite! I sent it to my best friend, my daughter and my chap. They were all 'Oh my god - you look so happy' 'look at your smile' 'what a gorgeous video' 'you lucky thing' 'more of this!' etc etc - at no point did they block or disown me, or need to lie down after being subjected to my wobble 😁

I wear a swim dress and leggings, honestly it was a game changer for me
I know it’s better to not give a shit what I look like and believe me I don’t care about my face and hair ! But the legs I just can’t get past- I never wear shorts or skirts

Also people think I am really brave - you know how cold the sea can be in the UK - well I don't go in slowly, I dash in asap to cover up!

Honestly all I ever think about anyone is ‘good for her enjoying her holiday’.

I have lipoedema and my legs are hideous. I wear swim shorts (like board shorts) and I feel so much more comfortable. I wear a nice swimsuit and stick a sarong on if I want to wander round. Honestly, I makes me so much more relaxed around the pool.

That’s a great idea! why haven’t I thought to do that?!

By the way, all these people saying they have big legs - check out lipoedema, it’s much more common than people realise.

Fake tan works wonders but the best thing I found was changing the conversation - instead of “I hate my legs” it became “my legs are strong and have never let me down” sounds at bit woo but it worked for me.

Fuck anyone that looks at anyone’s body and judges them! Bloody own your beautiful working body and enjoy your well deserved holiday ❤️❤️

Think back to holidays you’ve been on before. Can you remember what anyone else’s legs look like? Or what their tummy looked like? Can you remember thinking ‘oh they shouldn’t have worn that’.

I bet you don’t, you remember all the good times you had but definitely not what others looked like in their swimsuits.

I guarantee people are too busy either enjoying their holiday or worrying about what they look like to care about what you look like. And if on the off chance someone is looking and judging, let them. Your memories of an amazing holiday will last far longer than someone’s memories of what your legs look like.

Having a serious O. Henry Gift of the Magi moment here...
Because I'm literally sat here as a skinny leg skinny arm egg-torso person (basically Humpty Dumpty), packing for a beach holiday, thinking I'd give anything for a waistline because fat legs and bums are easy to hide and don't look that bad even in a bikini but my big tum and wobbly back lumps are soooo gross and I hate them...

Moral is, we all hate our own bits and envy each other's so enjoy your beach (and you shouldget a nice sarong and I should get a kaftan thingy)

@WheresTheForum I've often wondered if I have this mildly but then I don't get any pain, and my shape is a lot more common where I'm from so maybe just my genetics.