To ask how you would feel about seeing a plus size woman at a fairly market beach club?

[cocoonme]

I don’t have much to add. I’ve booked myself into a nice beach club in the French Riviera in the summer, but I’m plus size and feel a little bit like I should just cancel the reservation.

This. I’ve always felt self conscious by a hotel pool even when much slimmer so I just bought sarongs. Now I’m bigger (14) I’d do similar but kaftans.

Own it, look the best you can but don’t overthink it. Bring a book or magazine to read.

Please, please don't cancel. Well done from going from a size 32 to 16-18.
Lovely maxi dress to travel in. Key is coordination.
Matching swimsuit and cover up, I would choose an electric blue there is loads of that around at the moment., sun hat.
It doesn't have to be expensive.

Please celebrate your curves and don't give a flying fuck about anyone else.
Tummy control swimsuits - invest in a good swim suit.
Palm Springs Tummy Control Swimsuit | Pour Moi | M&S
Beach Waves Wired Scoop Neck Swimsuit | Fantasie | M&S

Cobalt Blue Theme
St Kitts Wired Plunge Swimsuit | Pour Moi | M&S
Fringe Trim Multiway Sarong | Pour Moi | M&S
Buy Pour Moi Blue Border Print High Low Midaxi Beach Dress from the Next UK online shop

Hey lovely, I know exactly what you mean, I’m 9 months postpartum but I’ve also gone from a size 22 to a size 14 in those 9 months (before anyone comes at me, it was due to breastfeeding and running around after a 2 year old). I have no idea what suits me as I am so much more used to covering up. HOWEVER, I had an important event recently and I had no idea what to wear, so I ordered something I would have worn when I was bigger, something that I would never thought that I would wear and then something that I thought might look cute. And I went from there, turns out the something I thought I never could’ve worn is what I ended up feeling most comfortable in. The dress I would’ve usually picked looked awful on me. So order a few bits that you like and have a try on sesh at home. Get yourself a decent bikini or swimsuit - spend a bit of money on yourself if you can! And tbh everyone will feel judgmental of themselves and won’t even notice you, if I was to see you, I’d be more worried that my kids were annoying you rather than what you looked like. But your comfort and how you feel is the most important thing so get something that makes you feel amazing! And try styles that you wouldn’t normally try as they might just surprise you! But don’t do it in store as those mirrors are just ghastly in the changing rooms! I hope that helps!

I like that fact that on holiday I am outside all the time and there are no mirrors!

Gemma Collins has always looked fabulous wherever she goes, remember that

Enjoy yourself. Many people are plus sizes.

Take a couple a bright caftans and search for bathers that give you confidence.
Sunglasses, comfortable sandles, hats, sunscreen.

Rash tops and boy leg bottoms are easy to find.

DONT LET IT STOP YOU!!!

Male view, everyone has the right to go to a beach club and just because you might be considered plus size should in no way stop or limit you from doing it.

I saw a post earlier in the thread about what to wear and public transport to get there. An upmarket beach club will have changing areas, take a bag wear whatever you want on the bus (or train or whatever) and change when you arrive.

Wear what makes you comfortable, enjoy your time.

I wish I could tell you no one will even give you a second glance but unfortunately there are still arseholes in the world so thats not something I can guarantee but I promise you that anyone who does look at you and judge it is saying far more about them than it is you!

Beach clubs are great because you’re waited on hand and foot, provided with towels and water, staff on hand to adjust your parasol etc. You’ll love it.

Clothes wise, a good bikini or swim costume that you feel good in. Spend some money on that. Then a giant flowing kaftan in a lovely bold print that you can chuck on if you decide to go into the restaurant or pop to the loo. A big straw sunhat and a large straw bag. Some flip flops and you’re done.

I didn't say all thin women can't go without a man paying; I said there's a subset of thin women who live off men, who have opted to live like that, who think that their passport to that is being good-looking, and that being good-looking has to mean being thin. And that those are the women who most frequently sneer at the not-thin.

Yes, of course richer people are thinner on average - especially the female ones. Anyone with eyes can see that.

I didn't say she should go even though she'll be self-conscious, I said she should go even though there's a chance she'll encounter one or two bitchy types. And that she shouldn't care.

How did you get that I'm bitter about anyone from my comment?

Size 30 women, as pp have described, get the verbal abuse, the audible giggling, people yelling at them to put back the crisps as they put their groceries in the car. OP used to be a 32, so she knows that and she's probably still scared of it. Size 16s, as I know from my experience of being one, generally don't get any of that. They just get The Look - the one that says "Well, be both know who's queen bee around here, don't we?". Think how Amanda looks at Anne in Amandaland. OP might get a bit of that on her holiday, or she might not. But she shouldn't let it stop her.

IME nothing annoys a queen bee like a woman who doesn't seem to subscribe to her views on the Natural Hierarchy of Women. The trick is to act like you don't even know it exists. Drives 'em nuts.

Well over 40% of French adults are overweight.

Happy birthday op! And very well done on your amazing weight loss! You called yourself plus sized, but at a size 16 ish, I don't think you actually are plus sized? I wonder if it's possible you have a slight body dysmorphia after losing so much weight? I see this a lot on the weight loss boards, and I know my brain hasn't caught up with my own weight loss, even though it hasn't been especially significant. I just really can't imagine that a size 16 woman would ever stand out for any negative reason. It's a pretty average size these days. I don't know what French Riviera beach clubs are like, but I would imagine it would have the usual mix of bodies of all shapes and sizes, and plenty of people who are self conscious about their own perceived imperfections. Anyway, with the body positive movement, we are all so used to seeing all types of bodies in swimwear etc, that it looks totally normal, and women much larger than you still often look very lovely, both on the internet and in real life.

Have a fabulous time.

One thing I have found that really helps (I am also plus-sized and haven't lost as much as you yet) is to look after the things that make me feel better - good regular hair cuts and highlights, facials, mani/pedicures etc, so that I feel good about some of me, even if the rest of me is still a work in progress.

It's very hard to ignore a lifetime of horrible comments and looks, and the first time you're in your swimwear you will feel self-conscious (definitely second a lovely maxi dress for travel/a cover-up) but then you start having fun in the water and get a little colour and gradually you will notice it less; last year I went swimming in the sea for the first time (at size 26) and I was enjoying it far too much to notice what anyone else was doing or thinking.

Go for it lovely x

Thank you! I would say I still am - I’m quite rotund.

I don’t really think about anyone’s body at the beach or anywhere else to be fair 😐

I’ve just had a long hard look at my body in the mirror and I think I have an element of body dysmorphia from how I used to look. I’m going to challenge myself to get my arms out, and to make a dress that has my arms out, because I’m hiding myself away for no reason

I wouldn’t think twice about it. You’re there to holiday and enjoy, I’m there to holiday and enjoy. If you seemed nice and were a chatty sort I’d probably pass the time of day.

Enjoy yourself!

I would be focussed entirely on myself/kids and wouldn’t even notice you (in the nicest possible way).

I’m just back from a similar holiday, lots of larger woman enjoying the sun, beach, restaurant’s, pool etc - like most people a small smile and move on - never thought anything of them other than we shared a space by the pool!

Nothing worse than seeing a larger woman all hot and sweaty instead of happy and dressed for the environment! Honestly if you can’t be yourself on holiday and let your hair down - when can you?

OP – I went to several beach clubs around Nice last summer, and I am a size 18. Please do not worry about your size – there will be people of all shapes and sizes there. Find a swimming costume that you feel comfortable in, and you will be grand. I hope you have a lovely time.

People who take an excessive interest in others' weight are usually massively insecure and I really wouldn't worry about them.

I live on the coast of Florida, about a mile from the Gulf of Mexico. Our beautiful beaches are loaded year round with people of every possible size and shape. Old heavy men in tiny speedos, teenagers in next to nothing, women in shorts and tops, many skirted swimsuits. The variations are endless and other people care less about how you look than you do. Go, have a WONDERFUL time.

Sorry just seen this! Well you can either do work on yourself like affirmations, therapy, body positive podcasts. Or you can fake it. It sounds silly but honestly if you just pretend you’re confident that it exudes from you. Literally delude yourself. That’s probably what I did 😂.

im sure there’s plenty of examples online that refer to how people look when they’re hunched/fiddling to cover up/ wrapping their arms around their tummy compared to standing with condifdence/posed. Maybe try it in the mirror you’ll see how much better you look between the two!