Can I go swimming? Encouragement needed

[fattygoesswimming]

Can somebody who is extremely obese go swimming?
I need encouragement as I have no confidence in myself but need to lose weight. I used to love swimming when I didn't look like an overweight whale.

Well done @fattygoesswimming I love swimming, first thing I did Monday morning when it reopened. I’d even braved a quarry during lockdown. I’m bmi 38 but in the pool I feel like a fish.

One suggestion, take a pair of flip flops or sliders to pool side, it will make you feel more secure walking on slippy floor, and if you can leave a towel pool side it makes me feel less conspicuous wrapping it around me back to changing rooms.

Have fun

I love swimming. I never pay attention to what other swimmers look like.

Assuming you know how to swim and the pool is open, go for it. Your weight is not really relevant.

Check the arrangements for your local pool, ours currently you have to arrive with your swimsuit on under clothes and then take your clothes off at the poolside. I wear joggers or a big baggy dress to make this easy. Then you can use a changing room on the way out. Aqua fit is great too.

Yes go for it.
On another note ... I wear my contacts in the pool. I’d not be able to find it otherwise!

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo That's fantastic! (Shorts or a swimsuits that cover top of legs also very handy so you don't need to be over zealous with bikini line )

Ah honestly OP it’s bloody brilliant. Pre covid I asked the exact same questions and got the same responses and I’m here to tell you the same thing. I’m a 5ft nothing obese women (17stone) so I look massive. I would walk from the changing rooms to the poolside wrapped in towel, dump towel and specs on the side of the pool and just get in. No one really stared, no one commented and when I was in the pool I couldn’t see a fucking thing in away as I was sans glasses. Only problem was navigating the other swimmers Got out grabbed towel, wrapped around again. Maybe 30 seconds was the entire time I felt uncomfortable. It gave me wads of energy, slept better, generally felt better about myself.

Tell us all about it when you do go!

@Queenoftheashes

Yes go for it. On another note ... I wear my contacts in the pool. I’d not be able to find it otherwise!

Nooooooo please don't.

I used to and got a horrific eye infection, it was so painful. I saw the tippy top specialist and he was very excited which is never a good sign. Luckily it was ok but I have never worn contacts to swim again.

Maybe if you have very tight goggles and throw them away as soon as you get out...but I don't do it any more

You absolutely can and it's also amazing exercise for you!

I cannot wait to get back in the pool. I'm a dress size 26/bmi of over 50 and only have one boob(mastecomy). I've got a lovely tankini in electric blue and black.

@Queenoftheashes

Yes go for it. On another note ... I wear my contacts in the pool. I’d not be able to find it otherwise!

I did this too but I got loads of eye infections which left me with a permanently dry eye :( (stupidly it took me ages to work out it was the swimming, as I always wore goggles). You can get really cheap prescription goggles online!

My weight has fluctuated over the years. I have been obese, overweight, a healthy weight, underweight and dangerously underweight (long story..)

I have been swimming at all of these weights, and nobody bats an eyelid. Equally, at all of these weights, I never noticed nor cared what weight anyone else was.

Honestly.

I love swimming, I find it so relaxing and great exercise. Don't let your weight put you off :).

I swim all The time. I don't judge anyone else. Just don't swim slowly in the fast lane 😀

It is a really good exercise if you're overweight as it's no stress on your joints. Try and build up the time you swim and try to swim constantly without a break.

There are lots of other overweight people there usually. I'm not thin!

Echoing @TheStarMachine please don't wear contacts to swim in, prescription goggles are about £10 online, you don't have perfect vision in them, but good enough.

I'm banned from contacts as am severely visually impaired in one eye, contact lenses increase your risk of eye infections and eye infections cause blindness so the opticians won't prescribe as if I lost vision in my good eye I'd be blind.

Most of the swimmers at my pool at fairly large, as am I. It’s a great exercise for obese people because it doesn’t hurt your joints.

Argh I have been wearing dailies but maybe I should get the goggles. I just have a very extreme prescription...

Also my mate is worse - she swims in monthly lenses and no goggles - just tries to keep her head above water!

@Queenoftheashes

Argh I have been wearing dailies but maybe I should get the goggles. I just have a very extreme prescription...

I have a complicated prescription but the goggles are just basic -4ish in each eye. I wouldn't drive in them but they are good enough for me to avoid bump into into anyone and recognise faces.

Of course you can.

Anyone can go swimming and it's a great all over workout and also improves breathing and heart fitness.

Breast stroke is best stroke for whole body workout.

Who cares what others think - good on you for doing it.

Oh and if you have eye sight issues spec savers do really reasonable off the peg prescription goggles

@Queenoftheashes Prescription Goggles have loads of choice up to -10 and instructions on adjusting for astigmatism. I wear AquaSphere Eagles as I need different powers in each eye and they are worth every penny.
A lady where I swim got the amoeba infection in her eye (they don't know if it was swimming in lenses or showering that infected her) and very nearly lost her sight in that eye. Water (even washing your hands before putting lenses in and not drying them fully is a risk) and lenses don't mix

Hope you have a great time swimming op

@Neighneigh

Hope you have a great time swimming op

Thank you.

That's good to read about breast stroke since I won't do front crawl.

In a keen swimmer! Just thought I'd add, the rules and etiquette are a bit different now, so check the website. At our pool you have to go a very long way round. And only half the showers are open (way to keep people apart! -i mean one whole block is completely closed, you can't get Covid from the other block though!)
Remember £1 for locker.
Choose your lane wisely. Don't be afraid to change lanes (we aren't allowed to overtake at the moment, although people are doing). Also backstroke is banned but nattering isn't!

@fattygoesswimming

Can somebody who is extremely obese go swimming? I need encouragement as I have no confidence in myself but need to lose weight. I used to love swimming when I didn't look like an overweight whale.

Hi OP how did you get on?

After reading your post and replies I decided to get myself to the pool. I've got a BMI of over 40 and have now been 3 times since reading your post. I'm due to go again today but I was wavering, rereading this has given me the boost to go!