Fat on holiday - SOS!

[Ilovepearjuice]

I’m off to Spain on holiday next week and my body confidence is at an all time low. I’m currently a size 18-20 and whilst my goal is to lose weight, I can’t do anything in 5 days!

I'm desperate to wear some casual day time things that are “normally” worn on holiday eg. shorts and T shirts, wide legged trousers etc, but I have an awful overhang belly from an gynae op when I was a teen and everything just looks crap. If I wear shorts with a tucked in top, I’m worried that my stomach is emphasised even more!

Any suggestions on clothes that would suit my very-much-apple shape (see pic) would be greatly appreciated.

My usual style is midi dresses, jeans with oversized jumpers, a bit bright, funky and “youthful” (I’m only 34!). I could just wear my usual midi dresses but I would like a more casual look during the day!

Thank you all! ❤️

Also, I’ve been a size 10 and a size 22 in the past - the overhang never goes away! It’s basically like having had a C-section so hopefully some people can understand what I mean.

I think tucking is a state of mind. We've been trained to think we need fabric to flow over our 'problem areas', to disguise them. This is fine, but I'm a huge fan of the modern approach of daring to tuck in, regardless of shape really.

This gives you loads of shorts options. Get a voluminous blouse or two, tuck into shorts then pull out a bit to give some hang over the waist.

Bet you have great legs - cuprinol them to fuck and wear blinding coloured slides or sandals. Gorgeous toenail polish and you're off.

When I recently went on holiday, I was having a good look at everyone else, as I too was feeling a bit body conscious. And it really made me feel better that everyone was just wearing whatever they wanted to! There was so many shapes and sizes, but no one cared what anyone else looked like. And only saw 1 woman with a super lean sporty body that I'd love to look like! Everyone else was just like me. So don't despair, wear whatever you'll feel comfortable in. No one cares 😊

I am an apple shape and find these relaxed fit cotton tshirts from Rapanui useful, with shorts. They are not thin cotton and forgiving on the belly. Women's Relaxed Fit T-shirt | 3 Pack (rapanuiclothing.com)

Thank you all so much. I know it’s mostly in my head BECAUSE when I look at a woman in the street wearing something daring (smaller or larger than me) I always think “gosh, they’re beautiful”!

I’m going to have a hunt for some fun blouses to half tuck and comfy shorts. Got some coral nail polish ready, and animal print sandals!

M and S has a huge range of wide leg trousers. If you have a shop near you, no substitute for trying them on. I also have these which are very cool and comfortable in the heat. Pure Cotton Cuffed Parachute Trousers | M AND S COLLECTION | M&S (marksandspencer.com)

First of all you are gorgeous, you dont need to worry about anything.
Second .. You will never see these people again, wear what you want, do anything you want, you are free to be yourself

Thank you. :)

Back in March a drunk person shouted “you’re a fat bitch” over and over at me on the street when I was standing alone waiting for a taxi, so I think my confidence was really knocked. I actually went up to him (he was with his friends) and told him off, saying how damaging and disrespectful it is to speak to a person like that, and he was visibly shocked, tried to apologise and tried to give me a hug (which I refused)! I appeared outwardly very strong in the moment as I wanted to encourage him to never do that to any other poor woman in the future, but in reality I went home and cried, and have been wearing baggier stuff ever since.

Shorts suit very few people. However, as someone a similar shape and size, I find that I look best in shorter shorts with a slightly flared leg and no pleats. These look fine with a vest top or tshirt, and a long shirt over. Tshirt dresses also good on me. I avoid bunching around the middle, the tuck is not my friend!

OP I’m so sorry you experienced that! I haven’t worn shorts in ten years since a group of blokes in a car shouted “look at the thighs on that!” When I walked past them while out one day. I’m a pear shape with generous thighs that are never going to be slim and it had taken a lot of nerve to wear them that day already - now when I put anything like shorts on all I see is giant thighs so I completely understand where you’re coming from.

having said that this year I have been trying to embrace my shape a bit. I have a c section overhang and have actually realised wearing looser things makes me look bigger generally so I’ve started tucking tops into higher waisted jeans. I’ve also got some lovely maxi dresses with an elastic waist and flowing skirt from blue vanilla and apricot and had many compliments on how flattering they look as they show off my waist and more petite top but skim over the bits I’m self conscious of without making me look bigger than I am.

I have some a bit like this. Kudos for confronting the arsehole, by the way, that is wonderful.

@Zebracat where do you get your shorts from? I have a small waist, wide hips and large thighs and find it impossible to get the right shape or cut for me! Even if I was brave enough to wear them

Im so sorry these bleep bleep people have made you feel so bad , i wish you the best, i will say to you if i looked as beautiful as you i would be ready to challenge the haters, You are frikkin firstly an amazig person, you shine in the darkness . You are amazing, I believe in you

@Zebracat cross post Sorry!
and I echo your sentiment about OP confronting the blokes - really brave and badass of you, and quite rightly giving them a telling off too

I quite like midi skirts with a camisole top for summery weather, and I think it's quite flattering.

A lot of apple shapes really suit shorts and a floatier top to skim the waist, because they tend to have brilliant legs. Classic denim shorts, vest top and linen shirt over the top? Or how about a short kimono in a bright colour, or a straight T-shirt dress?

I love these - just wonder whether they’re long enough to fully go over my thighs because they rub together until a certain point down my legs!

Thanks all for the kindness - I would never have done that in my 20s so I did walk away feeling quite liberated, but also a tiny bit heartbroken that “fat bitch” is all I was reduced to in that moment. I didn’t want to give him the power to say that and just walk away. Also to add that the friends that were with him were female!

This is a fab idea!

Honestly no-one is looking at you on holiday.
Relax, enjoy , wear what you like

An oversized linen shirt over shorts or jeans may help you feel more confident and is really fashionable at the moment! Would also work over a T-shirt dress.

So sorry this idiot was so rude to you!

Some great ideas here. I’ve been told I have good legs so maybe I should dare to flash them a bit 🤩

I had exactly the same thought around the pool in Spain. It made me wish I'd packed a bikini.

Next midi dress I have one if these and wore it nearly everyday of my hols! I'm a size 14/16 at the moment, 34DD jugs. I generally wore it on the shoulder rather than off. I suffer from chub rub so I had chaff pants on underneath when it was v hot.

@xyz111 I completely agree, no one gave a fiddlers at the poolside and loads of women all shapes and sizes in bikinis. I was self-conscious even in a swimsuit but got over it fairly quickly when I realised no one gave a hoot!

I'm overweight and wear a bikini when I'm sunbathing! There is nothing worse than being in a hot one-piece! I was boiling the 1 year I wore one!

I just think if people don't like it they don't have to look!