If you had to see someone at the swimming pool....

[NumberFour]

swimming with a pair of shorts on over their costumes, would you think:

a) nothing of it?
b) how odd!
c) what's she hiding?
d) I would wear that too if I was that fat?
e) bet she needs a wax!
f) do I have a bottle of wine in the fridge or should I get one on the way home?

The word burkini makes me laugh too.

Once you're in the pool people can't see much of you. You could wear a towelling robe while you walk to and from the pool if you efel self-conscious.

I have to say, am liking Cod's post about people not being that interested...I mean how true...the paps are clearly not going to be lined up outside the local lido prior to me going for a dip - burkini or not....

But hey, religion wise, I would feel if I wasn't covered so....wouldn't want the lifeguards with permanent stiffies at the sight of my smokin bod either...

There are ladies of all shapes and sizes in my aqua class. Some keep their sarongs on for the class - they cling when wet, of course, but still give some upper leg coverage. Could this be an option, if you're taking your son into the water but not actually swimming yourself?

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I am a fat person who cavorts in her swimwear but we all have different levels of comfort and confidence. If a sarong/swimdress/burkini is what it takes to empower (loathsome word) someone to go swimming for the first time in years then surely that's fine too?

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General swimming pool etiquette I adopt is : "I wont look at you if you don't look at me". Applies from the neck down - still quite happy to smile at people.

People may not be trying to hide fat, you know.

I have suffered from severe acne since a child. Consequently my back and shoulders are plastered in deep, unsightly scars. And depending on the time of the month, lovely angry zits, too (and I'm 33, FFS!).

On the few occasions I tried to swim in my youth, I would ALWAYS wear a t-shirt. Needless to say I never learnt to swim properly, and am only just this month forcing myself to conquer my fears and get learn to swim!

I now have a tight lycra top which goes over my costume to cover my back. I would never, EVER bare my back in public.

I would love to think that people really didn't give a shit, but the truth is, some people are hideously unkind. I was in the pool last week and a guy with sores over his legs got in the pool (exczema or psoriasis I assume) and I overheard a group of adults sniggering, saying 'if "that" gets in, I'm getting out'. One of them left the pool and the rest moved away from the poor bloke.

Being 'fat' is far more acceptable in a pool imo. At least people don't think you have leprosy!

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If it was a really good swimmer they might have been trying to create extra drag to get more exercise. Competitive swimmers often wear 'drag shorts' over their costumes.

Oh I'd like a spotty swim dress

BTW I'd look at someone wearing shorts but not a fat person.

I wouldn't think twice. I'm far too busy concentrating on holding my own stomach in for the whole session to be worrying about anyone else's body hangups.

i have seperates and the bottoms are shorts

(top is loooong)

i have also worn a t shirt in the pool. i was pg and the only thing i could get my mahoosive belly in was a triangle bikini and didn't want mahoosive belly on show!

It is not so much the fatness I am trying to hide but the horrible ingrown hair scars from waxing!! Or the stubble. Takes weeks and weeks for the skin to heal and then I am hairy as a yeti again by that time
If there was a vomit emoticon, I would use it.

No4, can't you use delipatory cream?

[tumbleweed]

Last time I went swimming, I wondered why the hell people were wearing shorts over their swimsuits.

OK - they were very obviously fat, but IMO they were drawing attention to themselves. The white shorts didn't even hide it!

And as for the (skinny) Pete Postlethwaite look-a-like I saw, I wished to god she HAD worn some shorts. I was sitting in the shallows when she walked past me and gave me THE most disagreeable view of her minge, thanks to her swimsuit hanging 2 inches below her crotch. FFS, there's no excuse for that is there? A needle and thread could cure it!

Wear whatever makes you comfortable - but you see all shapes and sizes in the pool and no one will be looking.

Having said that I have an ingrown hair problem too - and it annoys me hugely . I have had some laser stuff done on my legs and it was blardy expensive. It has worked to a significant degree (had about three sessions) but need about another three and have been too busy to get it fixed up so I stupidly shaved them - cue big sore red legs (still bad a week later!). However while I HATE going swimming with hairy legs I think I have only ever once really noticed someone else's body hair while swimming and that's cause her pubes were literally down to her knees. And she didn't give a damn - to the extent that I actually began to wonder who had the problem - me or her.

Hold your head high and have a fab time. Your ds will love you for it.

And when I say down to her knees I am not exaggerating for effect. They WERE down to her knees.

Thread killer.

Ah, Lulu - think you and I lowered the tone by mentioning pubes

I would most likely be thinking about wine...

I like the swimdress thingy though. Not because I tend to hide, just cos I like it.

You should come swimming with me and DS at our local pool - honestly, it is a slice of life. To start with I was a bit surprised to see so many hugely fat/extraordinarily misshapen people, and such bizarre choices of swimwear, from the most miniscule bikinis to full-on burkinis. Now I think it's great to see all these different people enjoying the pool.