Dreading Centerparcs

[Ringthebell26]

Hi

This midterm my family and I am going to Centerparcs with two other families(in laws)

I am a couple of stone overweight and hate how I look. My kids love the pool/slides but I am panicking at the thought of three days in swimwear in front of the rest of the group.

Could I get away with wearing a wetsuit? Maybe that is that ridiculous? Does anyone have any other ideas.

Thank you

Not really, someone once pointed it out to me about a different issue and it was a revelation to me. Am I so self centred that I think perfect strangers give a second thought about what I look like etc….

when you think about it, It is quite silly that we think other people give any shits about what we look like in a pool.

I would have cared when younger, and still wouldn’t personally wear a bikini. But I just wear a normal cozzie and enjoy my time with the kids. I’m a size 16. Could not care less.

I wear a leg suit. Like a swimming costume with cycling shirt length legs. I swim 3 times a week, but still am overweight, and I like them because they don’t go up my butt!! Would that be an option you’d feel comfy in?

I'd invest in a well-fitted, flattering costume perhaps? I'm a couple of stone overweight and buy Boden costumes nowadays, I always get people asking where they're from and generally complimenting them which makes me feel a bit better.

Having said that when I recently went to CenterParcs lots of mums were wearing swim shorts on top of costumes so you'd fit in fine doing that.

Have a great time.

Try not to worry about it, OP. There's so much going on in the pool at Center Parcs that no one cares about how anyone looks. People wear all sorts of outfits and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Do you have a robe or sundress you could wear over your swimsuit and you could sit at the side and watch before you decide whether to go in? (would also be handy for keeping your seat when you come out.)

You'd feel ridiculous in a wetsuit but I would recommend a big poncho towel.

There are seats dotted around the pool and it's nice to sit there sometimes, or to go to the cafe.

Being able to cover up there is probably more useful than the pool itself.

Which one are you going to? I only know Penrith but if you go there then there are loads of quieter areas you can leave towels/a bag with other cover ups. Head up the steps.

I'd also recommend a cool bag so you can put any extra swimwear, sarong type options along with drinks for the kids as you spend much longer there than a normal pool.

To reassure you there were people of all sizes, far from just your athletic types.

If you don't want to be in the water all the time you can take a book and sit around the pool for some of it. People are in and out so you won't look in any way out of place.

This is the worst part of any holiday for me, but especially Center Parcs but I love the pool.

I go for a M&S tummy control all in one in a colour I know suits me (black or navy ISN’T as flattering as a ‘good’ colour).

I also DELIBERATELY walk behind my family members in and around the pool 😬

Some of us do have awful body image sadly and it makes things like this excruciating for us, so @Ringthebell26I totally get‘ your thinking and would encourage you to try and focus on how much fun you’ll have with your own DCs, get a swimsuit you love and an “arghh, fuck it” attitude. A bit of gradual tanner body lotion between then and now will make a difference too (and take it with you to apply at night).

When I went to CP at least 75% of the adults were overweight, many obese, so you likely will not stand out at all.

The slim people stand out more

An actual wetsuit would look very out of place.

Anyway you will be so focussed on keeping an eye on your kids you won’t have time to worry about what you look like. Have fun!

Swim shorts (combined with a sturdy tankini, swimsuit or rash vest) are way more practical than something skimpy at center parcs no matter what size you are - those rapids are fast and can lead to you landing in the final splash pool in a most inelegant fashion! Have fun!

I have a very overweight friend who never went swimming with her children. They are adults now and it is one of her biggest regrets. The children didn't care what size she was.

CenterParcs is full of people of all different ages and sizes. There are so many options for you to cover what you least like about yourself. There are swim shorts or "board shorts" that come down to your knees or halfway down your thighs both lose and tight ones. You can wear a tankini top, swimsuits with both long or short sleeves. Rash vests are also popular if you are planning on swimming in the outside part or going down the rapids. You do need a bikini top underneath or swimming costume.

Maybe these board shorts? https://www.amazon.co.uk/BALEAF-Swimming-Bottoms-Waisted-Swimsuits/dp/B0BSH2DDNG

Have a look on Amazon as I have bought swimming costumes from there and the board shorts. My last costume was this one, I am a 34FF and this holds the boobs in. Great ruching across the tummy. You can put shorts over this too. Honestly, I know you feel self conscious and it is hard but your children will want you with them.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07RZ2Z16R

I'm a size 18-20. I went to Centerparcs with my family in the same week as just about every other family we know from our local town. No one gave a monkey's about my swimming costume or body. I just wore a normal one piece swimsuit in which I felt comfortable and supported. In the pool most people are more concerned with keeping their faces out of strangers' armpits in the rapids, keeping eyeball on their young kids, or checking out the queues for the bigger slides. Our friends, male and female, already know I'm chubby so seeing that I'm chubby in a swimming cozzie was no great surprise to them or me. Haha.

If you're nervous about walking around, you could wrap a towel around yourself if you're going to the bar or the loo or sitting in one of the hut things watching telly. I don't remember anyone in sarongs or whatever, honestly, no one's looking at anyone else when they're at Centerparcs with their own families.

Hope you have a fabulous time! We really enjoyed it. The spa with my girlfriends was lush. Nearly pooped myself on the highropes but so glad I did the zipline. The pool and the rapids were an absolute hoot and we spent hours in there. My favourite activities were the boats. Have fun!

Agree sturdy is sensible whatever your figure at CP.

A towel like this is practical and covers everything. You can walk to and from pool it it, sit under it reading a book or for lunch.

Online home store have them at great prices if kids need too https://www.onlinehomeshop.com/dreamscene-star-print-adult-poncho-oversized-changing-robe-charcoal-one-size

Please don't stress. Your kids will love it and you want to share in their fun. Once you are in the water you can't be seen anyway but this would avoid feeling awkward putting stuff in lockers etc.

I've felt like this and I've forced myself to wear a regular swimming costume and focus on having fun with my kids and showing my daughters that my body is as valid as anyone else's and that I don't care. (Of course I do but trying to think of it for them helps.)

I’ve got this set https://amzn.eu/d/0Zb74qV

the shirts cover my bum nicely an the long sleeve top also nice. The crop top is supportive too. I bought it for beach days when I didn’t want my bum hanging out!

I got some nice swimming costumes from Simply be, think they are called something like magisculpt. They have legs that go half way down my thigh (I’m 5ft 7) and a ruched tummy area so quite flattering

My DD wore long swim shorts and a long sleeve rash vest thing in CP swimming pool, no one batted an eyelid. In fact there were quite a few people wearing similar and other random things. There are often women heavily covered for religious reasons. I would just wear whatever you're comfortable with

I just got back from centre parcs and honestly there was a real mix of body shapes, sizes and additional needs. It’s very inclusive. Everyone was focusing on themselves and making sure their kids weren’t running off, I know how you feel but, you will be amongst a real representation of the human body there! X

I wear swimming costume with swim shorts over the top, or a 'legsuit', one where the bottom part is shorts, so not fully covered. That's just my personal preference, it's nothing to do with being body conscious. I have bought my stuff from Sports Direct and Decathlon, just cheap stuff as I hardly go swimming. At CP I've seen a fair few other women dressed similarly and a few Muslim women in fully covered swimsuits. I don't think any type of swimwear would make you 'stand out' tbh.

You need to feel comfortable and happy with what you wear, but honesty, I doubt most people would notice

When I was overweight I did this. I went to Haltwhistle outdoor pool wearing a huge T-shirt and shorts on a hot day. People stared.

I know you think people will look at you but they won’t. I’m not overweight now but I have bits of myself I don’t love. You can get flattering swimwear - Next do a good range of tummy control ones?

Once you’ve walked about wearing your swimming costume at Center Parcs for a bit it’s not as daunting. My toddler pulled my swimming costume down and flashed the wave pool my boob so think of that (the experience, not the boob).

I always wear tankinis. I hate how I look but also want to be comfortable when on holiday and tankinis cover all the right bits for me

I felt exactly the same as you also at Centre Parcs. Firstly I bought myself a swimsuit with a skirt at the bottom it really did look nice. Also there was lots of shapes and sizes there and nobody took any notice or gave you a second glance. You will enjoy it x

https://www.boden.com/products/women-sun-safe-raglan-rash-vest-navy-colourblock-s0433nav

We were at Woburn recently and I wore this. I've lost 2.5st so am feeling more body confident but I still love wearing it. I especially appreciate not having to manage my bikini line

Poi moi has some v flattering swimwear. Nowone else really cares.

Shorts are accepted I think. It is hard when you don't feel confident. Have you been to Centreparcs before? If not, they have a cafe in the swimming where you can buy lunch and beers / wine so you might want to take a cover up type thing for that