To tell you that if you're overweight and worried about going on holiday, don't be!

[SpeedbirdSquawker]

I'm almost 24 stone and a size 24. I'm lucky enough to be able to get away a few times a year, but my weight has always held me back doing things. I know other overweight people have similar fears, so I was hoping to alleviate those with this post.

Firstly I worry about the flight and if i'm going to fit into the seat. I always need a seatbelt extender (with Ryanair, not so much with other airlines), but I fit in the seat absolutely fine! I use the toilet onboard and have room to manoeuvre.

When I have been away, the beach is always full of the people with perfect bodies, as is the complex pool and i've always avoided the beach (for fear of looking like a beached whale) and i've only used the pool when it's empty, first thing or just before sunset.

I don't eat out at restaurants because I thought people might judge me scoffing my face.

Well, this holiday, I thought to fuck with it all. I ate out in restaurants. I went to the beach and even stripped off to my swimwear and went in the sea. It was liberating! I sunbathed on the beach. I went in the pool at busy times. You know what, people didn't bat an eyelid? I got friendly hellos and people were more busy with themselves and the people they were with to even look at me and if they did, to give me a second glance.

I know that being overweight can put some people off living life to the full, but please just do it.

I’m amazed you could get in the seat at 24 stone. At 20 stone I needed a seatbelt extension and was half in my husbands seat too.

it spurred me on to lose 7 stone and I enjoy holidays A LOT more now

I know what you're trying to say. But it feels a lot like you're pissing on ops chips a bit.

Talk about missing the point @Look85 🤦🏼‍♀️ OP wasn't asking for your "helpful" opinion. She was saying how much she had enjoyed her holiday and encouraging others to do the same.

@SpeedbirdSquawker this is a great post, I hope all your holidays are as joyous from now on. Please don't hide away any more x

Hang on...everyone on the beach and poolside has perfect bodies....?

I'm going on holiday next week and that has made me feel shit...I was hoping I wouldn't be the biggest person

@Look85 Very well done on your weight loss. That's amazing!

I definitely need a seatbelt extender on Ryanair, but I fit in the seat fine. My weight is definitely around my belly and boobs, but width-ways, i'm not too bad which is good for flying.

Fabulous post. 👏 I'm so chuffed for you!

@justaskingaquestion Aww thank you. I can't wait for my next one, although I have nothing booked yet.

One highlight was walking past two handsome Spanish men on the beach, and I don't know if other people find it hard walking on the sand (I seem to sink as I walk!). As soon as I was infront of them, I lost my footing...not the look I was hoping for!

I love this post! I wish I could feel that way. I don’t judge other people, but would never get into a swimming costume the way I feel now. It has stopped me from doing so much. I wish I could do it.

Aww, don't be worried. Not everyone, but I guess a high proportion did have nice bodies. What spurred me on to get in the pool and on the beach were the ones with the extra weight. On my first day, I saw a woman about my size sat on a lounger poolside and I thought, well, if she can, and she looked great, then so can I!

Thank you very much @Icandothis1970 It felt so freeing being on the beach in my swimming costume jumping the waves! Definitely something I'll remember when I'm an old lady looking back on my life.

Exactly

@Look85 - that was very ungenerous and mean spirited of you, so apparently weight loss doesn’t improve that.

Glad you had a great time OP, hope the next one is even better.

You know you can get board shorts and a Tankini top.

That’s what I do because it covers my stomach and upper thighs which I am not keen on. I am proper overweight but I feel fine like this.

@DarkDarkNight Oh lovely, there are lots of different types of swimwear and cover-ups to help you feel more confident. I promise that no one would be looking at you.

My outlook was that I will never see these people again, so if they want to look and judge, they can as I won't know their feelings about me and although I care what people think of me, at that time, I thought that whatever negative thoughts they might have about me, that was their problem and not mine.

You can do it!

OP maybe you would like this group of people who are trying to make beaches more inclusive for all.
They do beach shoots where anyone can turn up and meet other like minded people .

https://topsycurvy.co.uk/pages/team-topsys-pop

Thank you @continentallentil . I love your username!

You're just being mean.

Oh wow, I love this! I'd definitely be up for a beach shoot.

@Look85 Congratulations on losing 7 stone....you might be skinny now, but you're obviously still unkind.

Well done OP!

There was a lady sat round the pool in shorts and a tankini top and she looked beautiful! She perched herself on the edge of the pool to sunbathe for a while too. I was honestly looking at her a bit too much as she looked so good and her confidence was so evident!

Thank you @WhatInFreshHell :)

It honestly never occurs to me when I'm on holidays to judge other women's bodies. If anything i love the beach because no one cares and everyone is happy - old young every shape and size.

I sunbathed on the beach. I went in the pool at busy times. You know what, people didn't bat an eyelid

I spend a lot of time on some of Florida's most popular beaches and there are some gorgeous model types, some heavy people and every variation in between. Nobody cares. Really.

Sure, if some stunning woman (or man) walks by they get a few "looks", but mostly people are just enjoying themselves and couldn't care less about how large/small other people are.

I hear EasyJet and Jet2 are much more generous with the length of their seatbelts. On my flight out, there were loads of extenders being handed out. Having to ask for one used to be on my mind constantly in the weeks running up to the flight, but for the past year or so, I haven't cared one bit. I haven't ever experienced anyone judging neither when I've asked for the extender or been waving it about while trying to get my case in the overhead compartment! I travel solo and have been on loads of flights and not one person sitting next to me has been outwardly unkind about sitting next to fatty me.

What a lovely post! I'm so glad you had a great trip.
We all have our body hang ups and if I look at someone else, I tend to think "what a nice top/ hair do / nails" rather than a negative thought.
Happy travels!

That's exactly what I found. On the odd occasion anyone did walk by and looked over, it was to offer a smile and to say hello (the Spanish are so friendly!).