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 find the 'tbh' at the end of sentences such a nauseating addition. It's not 'being honest', it is merely expressing an opinion, however ridiculous or awful it may be.

Good riddance to posters who pile on to cause upset. We see you a mile off.

Did you bother to read the OP's posts, just those? She's commented on this dazzling observation already.

She said in the first post that she fit in the seat fine. Love the inverted commas around "people of size", as if you're trying to be polite.

So OP fitted in the seat fine, but you still feel the need to berate her, this time for something she didn't do.

Brilliant post OP. I live in Spain and am at the beach/ beachclub a couple of times a week. Im 50 with wobbly bits, a good stone over overweight, grey hair and I can confidently say no one cares about how anyone else looks. And a good body is one that can do what you need it to do, not one that looks a certain way. I was underweight when I was late teens/ early 20's due to food issues. I was usually knackered and ill.

No, they know - that’s why in my own experience fatter people have been much more considerate passengers than thin people to sit next to. Many thing people haven’t been trained to be conscious of how much they are imposing on other people’s personal space, and they still do it in different ways.

Replace 'people of size' in your post with 'disabled people' (for example) and see how it sounds (I'm disabled and often 'intrude on my neighbours' personal space' because of the way I need to sit to be comfortable, or because I use walking aids). Or even 'thin people with no concept of personal space'.

Perhaps those of you who are so offended by fat people are the ones who need to stay at home, seeing as they are such an affront to your sensibilities.

I absolutely agree with this.

ALSO another tip

Wearing footless leggings under your beautiful summer dress, or a cardigan, does not suddenly make you look slim.

You still look the same. And that's ok. So you may as well wear clothes that are comfortable for you in hot weather! There is literally no difference in your size to others if you are wearing a bikini or a full swim suit.

I don't think anyone wears a cardigan or leggings with summer dresses because they think it makes them look slim. More because they're self conscious and want to cover themselves up (I speak from experience here!).

Unfortunately some of the attitudes on this thread illustrate perfectly why people feel so self conscious. It's hard to feel confident when you know that so many people are judging you or are openly hostile towards you because of the way you look.

I'm sure that I saw online some where that there was a holiday destination with a pool exclusively for plus size women. I'm sure it was in America some where. The ladies all looked so happy and liberated, jumping in the pool and having fun without a care in the world. Looked brilliant

Sadly, also accurate. But the point still stands - you cover up because you feel self-conscious - nothing changes about how people view your body.

I am similar to this and never would take the kids swimming or anything but I've realised that they love it so much to have me join in and they don't care what I look like so I try to put it out of my head. Once you are in the pool no one can see you anyway.

Echo this, horrible thing to say

Nope - I cover up (to the point I'll wear swim leggings in the pool) because otherwise I know people will get offended at having to SEE my awful legs and make comments... if I cover up as much of the offensive fat woman daring to have flesh as possible it removes one point of attack for people.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

The fact that this thread had got some people angry because the OP is having a great time on holiday speaks volumes!

Don't be concerned! It's not contagious!

That's exactly the issue, fat people enjoying themselves. That's all it's about.

I’m intrigued about that too. I think the OP sounds fucking awesome with a great attitude to life, as I said upthread, and I have a BMI of 23 and am a stone under the maximum recommended healthy weight for my height and age.

How wonderful. I'm overweight and feeling exactly the same. Worried about the beach etc.

Last time I went there were people of all shapes, sizes and ages, and no-one batted an eyelid.

It's in my head because of the many hideous smug people who post on mumsnet about those of us who are overweight.

No-one would ever say the things in public I hear on here. But it leaves a scar of thinking everyone in the world is like that.

💐💐

I don't even think it's just about weight. The point the OP is making applies to anything that's making you self conscious: fat, scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, aging...whatever. Don't let it hold you back from enjoying yourself, don't wait until you're a little closer to "perfect" to have a good time. Don't put off being happy.

You're correct, no idea why anyone would think only fat people would support the OP. Weird take on the OP's post and the responses🤔

It’s not mean. It’s the reality. Fitting in the seat doesn’t mean you’re not intruding into someone else’s space. And at size 24 there’s no way that isn’t the case.

Hugs op, I always wanted to tell people this- I have very very (very very very!!) bad circulation and so my legs are purple. I always just kept them covered until I started swimming lessons and realised everyone was just about getting themselves swimming. Then went on holiday and braved shorts. Nobody even looked as they were just enjoying themselves. It’s terrifying but then lovely to just have them out, at one stage was just wandering about in swimsuit uv top and baseball cap as if I were the same as everyone else and it was magical!!

OK, so I'm a bit overweight, lost a couple of stone and probably not qualified to comment on how OP feels, but, honestly, most people nowadays ARE overweight (maybe MN-ers think they're not, lol). When I go on hols, the majority are "bigger people" - who cares? No-one looks twice, no-one judges how much food you eat (unless you're one of those on AI who take plates full of food at each meal and leave most of it on the table). Holidays are to be enjoyed NO MATTER WHAT - and as a PP said, you'll never see these people again, so who cares what they think (if anything?) Anyone mean-spirited enough to think you shouldn't be there because of your size is not worth a moment of your time. You do you, and F-em!!!

Thank you for this @ElectricTouch. Beautifully expressed. Made me feel a bit tearful in recognition.

If you don’t like people near you, fly business class. Or better still- don’t fly at all!

I don’t like crying babies, perfume or aftershave, arguing, music playing, food smells, annoying people talking too loud, kids playing noisy games, snoring, people getting up to go to the loo, people tutting at me because wheelchair users get priority boarding but it takes time for me to get on the plane, people who set off my kid into a meltdown one way or another and about a million other things that impinge on me when I’m on a plane- but I suck it up because we aren’t promised a perfect world and everyone has a right to be there.