Anyone else feel self conscious about going swimming.

[todayisthedays]

It's all in the title really. So my husband usually takes my girls swimming and I wait in the cafe for them watching. I've always been fine with this and they not bothered if I go or not as long as they go. But tomorrow he wants me to go in to so we can't take out son as well as the girls so he will need me to go in. My son is 15 months old. I just feel really self conscious of being in a swimming costume. Mainly because of my body after having kids, stretch marks, wobbly bits, the like. I'm 12 stone ( still breastfeeding my son so lost all motivation at the moment until my body is my own again!) so I know I need to lose a stone or two but is there anyway I can just relax and keep my anxiety at bay. I feel really odd In a swimming costume and hate showing my body. And I feel like my husband constantly 'eyes' up skinnier ladies when we are out and about so swimming will be worse! And I might end up just feeling inadequate by time we come out! But why should my son miss out??

Go. Honestly, just go. Nobody cares what you look like because they are all thinking about what they look like.
Swimming costumes with boyshort-type legs were what really helped me. They are surprisingly flattering and you don't need to shave. I weigh more than you and have had 5 babies, so I'm in pretty poor shape but that's improving all the time because I go swimming a lot. It lifts my mood as well and it's one of the few sports the kids and I can do together.
If you ask at the pool, they will be able to tell you which sessions are quietest. But do go.

I agree with zippy, when I go swimming I pay zero attention to what anyone is wearing or looks like, honestly. Your body is amazing, it's done amazing things and is still doing it! Be proud of yourself. I found wearing a skirted swimsuit helped me, but for tomorrow honestly just go and enjoy yourself, you'll be emerged in water for most of it anyway. The happiness it'll bring to your dc will be worth it, forget everyone there they won't be watching!

Please go. I'm much bigger than you, stretch marks etc. I go a couple of times a week.
No one looks, honestly.

I went recently and am hugely pregnant. Bought myself a new swimming costume and felt much more comfortable as it fitted me properly. I was completely focused on my DC, no time to think about what others thought.

You'll be in the water, only your top bit will be on show. No one else will care. And they are strangers anyway, so even if they did notice your wobbly bits, who cares what they think. A baby is the perfect thing to cover a wobbly tum with, you'll be the one carrying him between changing room and pool, and most people will focus on your lovely baby rather than on your figure.
Waterproof mascara and eyeliner, lip balm/ stain and a big smile will also help people focus on your face!

Go. Have fun. Show your DD's that playing with them is more important to you than the fact you don't have a "perfect" body. I can guarantee you that every woman in the pool will have some insecurities about some aspect of her body and most (if not all of them) would much prefer to be somewhere else.

I'm 65, 5ft 7ins and not proud to be 16st but I take DGS swimming and surfing regularly. Most people (women) have their own insecurities about their bodies and those that look at others will look once and then get on with their lives.
Don't let your insecurity stop you enjoying life to the full.

Just take the plunge. Honestly no-one will be bothered what you look like , they'll be too busy playing with their on kids or actual swimming.

I love swimming and never scrutinise or judge anyone elses body. I might get costume or goggle envy but that is about it.

I got over my fears with dd1 as i wanted her to enjoy swimming. Plus my own mum never ever came swimming with us when i was small and i knew it was because she didnt like her legs. I didnt want to pass onto my kids those ideas.
i kept swimming until the day i went in labour with dd2 at 41 weeks +5. I wore a grey / blue costume. Dp said i looked like a sexy sleek purpoise!!!!
dp is part of your insecurity- you need to talk to him about this.

I’m 5’ 2” and a good size 22 and I went swimming with my two for the first time ever today, and the first time in a pool in 15 years.

No one gave a shit, they really didn’t. But God yes I felt and looked like a beached whale.

Literally nobody cares! You will be under water most of the time and nobody will be able to see. Im pretty sure i dont call seeing any swimsuit models at my local leisure centre recently. Most people are the same as you amd everybody has their insecurities. Please dont let it stop you having fun with your kids.

Thank you everyone for your responses !!

I did go today because of all your encouragement and I actually enjoyed it! Like you said everyone was just enjoying being with their families and my son loved it so from now on Im going to be joining them all the time!

That's great, well done!

We're proud of you well done!

Well done!

Hurrah! Was about to add my 'please please go and have fun' but then I see you took the plunge (literally) OP! Well done! I hope you continue to go. Isn't it great to see how much fun the kids have in the water? Pure joy!

Fantastic and glad you all enjoyed it.

Excellent- keep going, keep swimming. It's so good for you all. Maybe join aquarobics too and get more body confident in the water - plenty of bigger women there.
I'm currently sitting on the beach and from my vantage point outside the beach hut I can see all manor of shapes and sizes of bodies, male/female, large/huge/tiny, toned/wobbly, tattooed/clear skinned, young/very old, bikini/costumes/speedos/wetsuits/tiny little thong. All they have in common is that they are relaxed and enjoying the good weather. They appear oblivious to anyone else's appearance.

That is manner

Thank you everyone :-)