Is it bathing suit season already?
Photo by anyjazz65
So last week I went shopping for a new bathing suit and it was the usual hideous experience. I completely bypassed the racks and racks of bikinis without a backward glance—my bare midriff is not something I want to inflict on an unsuspecting public.
Moving on to the one-pieces, I found suits that addressed various “problem” areas. One had material gathered at the waist to disguise a less-than-flat belly. Another was cut higher up on the thigh to elongate the look of the leg. Necklines were scooped, V-necked, or halter-style to enlarge or reduce the bust. Backs dipped low or rose higher up to cover any back fat. Hmmm—was there a single suit that combined all these flaw fixers? I found myself desperately hoping Victorian bloomers would come back in style.
After stretching down and pulling up the sausage-casing-like contenders in the dressing room, I did finally find the perfect suit—not too revealing and not too matronly. You see, I have a no-fail selection system worked out after all these years: After trying on 100 or so swimsuits, the one that doesn’t make me cry when I look in the mirror is the one I buy!
OK, so it wasn’t all that bad. But seriously, shopping for a bathing suit can be disheartening for a lot of us. It’s probably also a springboard into trying the latest fad diet to lose a quick 10 pounds. Not a good idea. Instead, we should let the whole sorry experience motivate us to adopt a healthier lifestyle all year long—not just the week before we try on suits. And who knows? If I stick to my gym workouts, maybe there’s an “itsy bitsy, teenie weenie, yellow polka dot bikini” in my future.
Nah.
Does the thought of shopping for a new bathing suit give you the heebie-jeebies? Any suggestions for making it a stress-free expedition?
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I have it lucky. I have been pregnant for two summers in a row now.
I have my granny maternity suit which I wear with a shirt over it and a pareo to and from the water.
I’m pregnant. I’m supposed to look huge…
I don’t mind buying suits too much, it’s when you have to wear them to places like school swim parties that I freak out. Just doesn’t seem…right to be wearing a skimpy suit in front of teachers,friends, etc.
hi is david
Great Blog!!! I think most women feel your pain! I wear a tank top and shorts with my suit! lol!
I buy a speedo one piece and wear trunks with it. The speedo compresses all belly fat until it’s nonexistent, and the trunks are for the way-to-high leg/thigh portion, because the whole world doesn’t want to see my butt.
I know how that feels. as a Teen i think all those things are too inappropiate for my age [12-14]. I’ve seen 3-year-olds with bikini’s and 8 year olds with strapless swim suits.
I perfer the plan one piece- but i’ve recently hurt my leg [it's in a cast] so i can’t go swimming.
have fun in the sun!
Who cares what people think? you have just as much right as the skinny blonde to wear the swimsuit you want to wear.i am not the skinniest person but that doesnt stop me from going to the beach with my friends to have fun.
To avoid the problem you are having, you must not go to discounted stores. Those stores can’t afford customer service. You know?
try http://www.esther-williams.com! they are SO flattering and modest. they cover everything and still look hot.
I have a very nice body, so no – buying a swimsuit is not stressful. There’s a lesson in here, see if you can spot it.
Hmmm…I’d have to say no. I got this adorable tankini that comes down long enough to cover the slight roll of my stomach and actually sticks out a bit too so it’s not stuck like glue to said roll, therefore showing it off. Instead it disguises it quite nicely! And I don’t completely fall out the front either.
I have always thought of swimsuits as a reason to frollic in your undergarments no dont get something too revealing because, after all, youre swimming in your underwear.
I am a size 4… but when i look in the mirror i see all of my flaws. Some days it looks like i have a bloated belly, or some days it looks like the skin right under my bum is kind of wrinkly in a disgusting way… i look at this and my heart starts to sink and i get that feeling like “F***, F***, F***!!!!” You see I am someone who works out regularly and eats completely healthy… to put it into perspective, i have not eaten ice cream in over 3 years. I take vitamins everyday, i eat chicken breast, and i drink loads of water during the day! I have done everything correctly… everything they advise for that healthy body and healthy lifestyle. Its not like i just started… this has been going on for over 3 years. You may say, why not treat yourself sometimes? eat that ice cream, that may be whats holding you back… but no. I DONT have craving for that stuff anymore. I dont understand if its in my head, or if what i see in the mirror IS disgusting. The ironic thing is im a lifeguard and bathing suits are sort of required for my job… I have problems.
Hey Jack: why don’t you shut up already!! Time will catch up with you… don’t worry
well, even though im healthy, and i see many with my body type at the beach, yes,shopping fro a bathing suit makes me feel very vulnerable. ahha.
It is people like you that need to design bathing suits. Millions are in the same postition as you. Sketch on a pad the exact proportion of your body and design a bathing suit that contains all the elements you mentioned. If you do so, you will find an investor who will launch your bathing suit online so millions like you will finally enjoy wearing a bathing suit.
Only in 2007, Muslim women were allowed to go swimming. Their bathing suits only show their head, their hands and their feet. At last, the muslim women get to learn how to swim.
I wish I could find a bathing suit with a skirt, a mini skirt that hides my cellulite. Eventhough I am small, I also have deformities that are judged upon.
As we age, our bodies have a mind of their own. A most stubborn servant the human body can be.
Jack, I added something to your name. See if you can spot it.
Become a nudist. Non-nudists won’t look and nudists won’t care.
hahaha….shana! thats so funny lol….i agree x
I actually didn’t go swimming at all last year becuase I couldnt find one that was perfect. It made me really sad, I love swimming.
Throughout this entire year I have been trying to eat better and get healthy and I have, so I don’t really dred shopping for it…but thats what I say now….
By the way:
I agree with Shana.
Most places only sell swimsuits to scrawny teenage girls or old fat women. What is everyone else supposed to do? Stay home?
After trying on 1,000 swimsuits and stressing because my friend’s pool party is in two weeks and there will be a ton of people there, including this hot guy who thinks I’m hot and I don’t want him to stop thinking that I’m hot though I’m… I don’t know- most guys that think I’m hot have never seen my legs. I’m hourglass shaped and my tummy is flat but I’ve always had dimply fat thighs. I’ve always been able to hide them in jeans, but now I’m trapped! I’ve improved the situation some through reasonable diet and excercise, but I know I won’t lose all the dimples in 13 days!
I’ve found that the best swimsuits are also some of the most expensive. I bought a Becca bikini from Dillards. The tie straps are wide and easy to adjust so that you don’t bulge. The top is very flattering. It looks almost good enough to distract everyone from my legs. I’ll bet no one will even notice my legs- everyone will be drinking and I can arrive late or arrive early and stay in the water until everyone is intoxicated… Yah!
Hey Jack, Shana has a point.
I absolutley loathe buying a swimsuit. Not that my body is anything to be self-conscious about, because I’m young and thin, but every single semi-trendy suit is so immodest that it embarrasses me! I just don’t understand how girls can be comfortable revealing their entire bodies on the beach. Go ahead, buy that bikini and exploit yourself, but not I.
Oh god, I hate shopping for bathing suits too! My favorite ones are the Monokinis though. I think they look very stylish and cover up just enough. =)
I buy the strigiest bikini I can find.Maybe I’ll just wear pasties over my nipples!
I have found any swim suit will do that covers up the belly and most of the butt. I have found a sure fire way to make ANY woman feel better about herself in a suit!!! Go to a water park, look around. We may agonize over how we look, but you will see that one woman who said “Who cares? I love my body and I’m going to flaunt it…. imperfections and all.” It always makes me realize that I may not be a size 4, or 8, or even 12 anymore, but I’m happy, and still look good!! I could stand to lose weight for health reasons, but I’m not ashamed of who I am!!! And no woman should be. We were meant to have hips, thighs, and bellies. My body carried two amazing souls and brought them into this world. I’m proud of every stretch mark and every other imperfection. I helped God with a miracle. I no longer agonize over swim suit season. I want to let every woman hiding behind the t-shirt and shorts know there’s no reason for it. Be proud!!!
i love buying swimsuits!!!
I’m nearly 50 and eat healthy all year long in order to keep the body/weight/figure managed so to speak. I’m 5′8″. In winter I’m 160lbs, in summer it’s not too difficult to diet & exercise down to 150lbs. I wear the tiniest bikini you can imagine BECAUSE I maintain myself year round. I also tan so the skin is not pasty. I’m not skinny, but my body is relatively fit and in proportion…and I’m PROUD of my age. I just got back from vacation at the beach and all my new friends at the pool could not believe my age…they thought I was 35!
i buy my bathing suits at thrift stores. i take them home, wash them a bunch, and then replace that little crotchy pad thing with new fabric. the best bathing suit i ever got was last summer at thrift store. sometimes they’re even made of a material that is easily taken in to adjust your own shape. plus, the chances of seeing someone else wearing it is nill.
its called working out. try it and looking for it wont be so stressful DUH
i also wanted to comment that Shana does not have a point. she is probably overweight as well and that is the reason she doesnt like Jack
The first comment made me laugh! I too, am pregnant this summer! Although I am due anyday I still have an excellent reason to look huge! However, I bought a string bikini and will wear it even with my full term body showing!
It’s being white that gets to me!
I just went swimming the other day and saw a lady who was on the plus plus size, and she was wearing a 2 piece with no cover-up.
Now I don’t have the best body, I’m a lil petite. I have a stomach and thigh problem as well, and I at the time was wearing a t-shirt and boyshorts. But now I just bought me a new bathing suit and don’t care. I couldn’t find a 2 piece like i wanted so I got a one piece but its a tube top with a lil skirt round the bottom. Its sooo cute!! It shows my problem thighs but I don’t care, I think its so cute on me.
Noone can say anything about your body or how you look with somebody on. I mean they can but it shouldn’t matter to you. There’s always gonna be somebody come along whose a little bigger than you are and still where what they want: example the lady with the 2 piece on who is bigger than me.
It’s all about SELF-CONFIDENCE!!!! You gotta love yourself no matter what people say. You know you not as small or thin as you would like to be, but there’s nonething you can do at that moment about it. (the weight aint just gonna fall right off cuz you want it gone) The only thing you can do is continue to live your life to the fullest, until you do something about it.
Yea I would like to be smaller and thinner, but I’m not gonna stop my life/fun just because I’m a little thicker than most other women. Life’s 2 Short, you can die today or tomorrow with no warning, so that’s why I live my life to the fullest everyday….
lol you guys are funny… ok well i just want to say i can relate to jack AND mitzi, because i used to be overweight and trying on swimsuits was just embarrassing and i avoided things that were fun like going to the beach. then i got myself in gear and now i have a beautiful body too, and swimsuit shopping is fun because i can actually go for the styles and colors i like instead of only limiting my choices to ones that hide certain areas.
jack and cristiano are right,
and so is lapis lazuli!! that’s really a great idea, because people who don’t despise bathing suit shopping are probably the minority
I have been running for 2 + months now. I’ve run 15 miles this week. I haven’t lost a pound! But, my main goal is healthier living and tightening the thighs. Love your muffin top honey! nobody’s perfect! And don’t be a jack @$$!!!
I disagree with anyone who dislikes Jack. You obviously aren’t smat enough to find the lesson in his words. I am pretty sure that he means that you must be happy in your own body wether you are skinny fat or even average! I do not like what Shana said at all it is downright stupid and idiotic! I hope I have prved my point to all that think Jack is a Jack @$$! Thank you!
I am a full figured gal and I was tired of never finding a swimsuit that didn’t make what was already bad even worse.
Then I got a tip from a girlfriend of mine that has a prosthetic leg. Its the 21st century! Girls can wear swim trunks too! Sometimes they are marketed for females as “board shorts” but I just go to the men’s section, find a colorful pair that’s not too long then go back to women’s and find a tankini top that matches. Full coverage.
yes indeed very interesting. I would recommend getting board shorts!! I know they make them for teenage girls and they are very pretty. And you could wear a tankini top with that!!
OK, first of all im gonna say something about the whole jack thing, sami said that we arent smart enough to understand what jacks lesson was, but sami, you spelled ’smart’ wrong. i dont usually dog on people who spell things wrong but its sad when you cant even spell ’smart’ jack is a conceited man, and if he meant that we should be happy with our bodies no matter hwat he should have said that, instead he said ‘i have a really nice body’….
now, with my experience with swim suits is just okay. im a mother of a 2 year old little girl, needless to say i dont have the flawless body i had when i was 18. i have some stretch marks, so i obviously hafta go for the stupid tankini. i cant wear a regular bottom becuase my thighs are just gross, so i hafta go for the stupid skirt….i really wish they could make those a little more fashionable! im still young and you would think they would try to make these cuter!!!
im pregnant again for this summer so i guess i dont hafta worry until next year….and screw you jack!! lol
I avoided buying a bathing suit all last summer, using the excuse that all the models in Vogue had “fair” skin that year, so there was no need to tan. I don’t even read Vogue, but a friend informed me of that little tidbit and I used it as an excuse to stay out of the sun the whole of the summer. This year I gave in rather quickly and dragged a friend with me to Old Navy to pick a suit. The main mistake I had was in choosing the friend, the star of the soccer team with the perfect athletes body probably wasn’t the best choice for my self esteem, but oh well. I love my body, I’m curvy with C breasts and hips my great grandmother refers to as “baby making hips”, with the requisite large bottom to go along. All of this bothered me for some time until I learned to accept that while I’d never be model skinny I could considered my body sensual, if I was comfortable with it. However, all of this confidence was shot to hell with one look it the mirror at my pale cellulite covered thighs. Why is it that a woman who has always prided herself on being wholly comfortable in her body suddenly afraid the where a bikini bottoms without the benefit of a miniskirt or wrap over it? Why is it that we all are led to believe that we must fit in some super model form? It’s time that as woemn we learned to accept oiur bodies. I for one am pround of my breasts,evern with the slight stomach that comes along. My hips are a reminder that I am in fact a woman, and have a sensual meaning for me, even though I have the large thighs to go along. We all must see the positives in ourselves. All women are made different, just as all men are. We simply have to learn to be comfortable in our skin and the learn to love those who will love us for who we are, whether that’s a size 0 or a size 12.
yeah I never had the problem untiI after I had my twins. then I hated shopping for swimsuits but lately it doesn’t bother me so much. I live in Israel where there is the option of seperate beaches for women and men. I started going there. You can wear whatever you want, alot of the women go swimming in whatever old t-shirt and pajama pants they found in their closet. Nobody is interested in what you look like everyone is too busy having fun.
Yes I know!!!
I only have one swimsuit.
Shorts for bottoms, a tankini top, and I always wear a long sleeve short over. Here’s why:
11
girl
5 foot
95 pounds
I have no trouble finding swim suits. If you work out and eat healthy, you won’t have this epic struggle that is described in this article.
The problem is not so much with finding a one piece tank suit with a modest leg, preferably in one color,( there are too many fowery prints). I have purchased expensive bathing suits,just under $90.00 and inexpensive ones on sale for $17.00 or less.advertised to be chlorine resistnt, so far not one has lasted more than one season at the Pool . The prises are exorbitant for something that is last one summer or less. This not my experience alone, we are all having the same experience, and are looking for the least possivble price and trying to buy more than one in order to make it through the season .
I always go for the bikini top and a great pair of shorts.
A tan doesn’t hurt anyones looks. Makes you look much healthier and happy. Hides alot of sins too! Sometimes no matter what you try the bulge doesn’t come off. Could be a medical reason or just the way your built. If we were all perfect what a dull world we would live in. Be happy with who you are and not what you can’t have then people will accept you the way you are. Your positive happy with yourself attitude will shine through.
christiano and jack as i was in my final year at uni choosing between being “smrt” and going to the gym was an easy one, 17 hours a day in the library lets see if you can face the gym!
its even worse when you are busty trying to find swim wear that will cover the twins and is reasonably priced is a nightmare
Not much of a problem getting a Tank suit in size 12, with
the rauched front to diminish the stomach that is not concaving any more, rather protruding somewhat, with a modest leg, preferably not a flowery print, but a plain color. The problem seems to be that no matter at what price, I have paid just below $100.00 and $ 17.00 on a sale, they share the same difficulty, described to be chlorine resistant, they simply do not last more than one season, and sometimes not even the entire season. All of us seem to have the same experience, and end up wearing a T shirt over a stretched out bathing suit in order to finish the season, These rags are simply not worth the price, It would be good to know of any bathing suits that are more user friendly!!!
As to what Jack said, I don’t know any men, nice body or otherwise, who have ever had trouble shopping for swimsuits – I’ve gone swimsuit shopping with guys before and they don’t seem to care about anything but getting the right size. However, for girls, even girls with model-thin bodies have minor flaws they want to cover up, or at the very least a budget! I tried shopping for a generic halter/sports-bra like top and boy shorts in a basic dark color last weekend, and it took me hours to find a suit that satisfied those requirements and was under $50.
I went through the exact same thing today. My daughters begged me to go to the pool…but not before I reduced myself to tears shopping for a swimsuit. All the stores had were the little bitty bikinis, or the matronly one-pieces…nothing in between. I’m only 28, I don’t want to wear a “grandma” swimsuit!
I ended up doing what a previous poster said, and opted for the board shorts and tank top.
I was blessed
.. not being able to swim..
living miles from large bodies of water..(or
knowing anyone that had a swimming pool)
being poor has its advnatages and
and solves the
summer swimsuit problem like totally!
last time i checked, jack is a man’s name. men have completley different body structures than women. face it, it’s way harder to get a great body for women (especially after a pregnancy or two) than it is for men! and jack might have skinny parents, while some of the women commenting don’t. obesity is partly hereditary, you know. think before you type, jackass.
Last year I lost a few pounds and figured, hey this is the first time since I was 10 that I can wear a bikini. Unfortunately I gained all that weight back over the winter and am stuck with like 5 bikinis and a less than perfect,chubby body.
Ugh. And I have less than a month until I go on vacation. 1,2,3,4… Man, I hate sit-ups…
well, even the suits we would like to wear are made in other countries, so the sizes are way off to begin with. I won’t put on a bikini either, after 3 abdominal surgeries I don’t feel i need to share that area with the swimming public either. but I must say, they are some brave women at the pool pushing 250 who still wear bikinis. they must really be comfortable with their bodies. I refuse to show off my belly. At least not til I lose at least 10 pounds. it’s a one piecer for me.
BOARD SHORTS are the best! Particularly to a Mom of two who does not want to wear a “mommy” suit!
If you can’t find women’s board shorts – buy some small men’s trunks and hem them up! It works like magic!!!
Well, I have experience from the skinny side and the not so skinny side. Until about 18-19 years old I had a tiny little figure that could fit into anything but I still didn’t feel comfortable revealing my whole body for all to see and had a hard time finding something cute but not rtoo evealing. Now at 26 and 2 babies later (with one on the way) I can say that I DEFINITELY don’t want the world to see and now it is even harder to find the right suit! Not everyone is lucky enough to have super elastic skin that shrinks up after having a baby, no matter how much they work out…… so keep that in mind before you start knocking people down! (Jack,Christiano, Sami and all the rest of you like them)!!!!!! At least we are trying to conceal our selves stylishly….way too many people puposely pick the way too small bikini for their not so small figures…I think that is way worse and those are the people who you should go bother!
I liked the boardshorts and tankini idea – I would suggest gathering soe mailorder addresses: I found several which offered a variety of tops and bottoms that could be ordered separately and also had very attractive designs for a variety of figures.
Another suggestion takes planning. Whatever you find and enjoy wearing this summer, try it on the first of every month throughout the winter. Plan for a 5-10 lb. weight gain at year’s end if you socialize. (That means losing a bit both before and after.) Find some sort of enjoyable exercise to stay in shape even if spending hours at a desk. Don’t lose your enjoyment of Spring to crash-dieting!
i, personally, love shopping for bikinis.
its when i have to wear them in public that freaks me out lol.
i have an hourglass figure so when i gain/lose weight, i lose it evenly. i got lucky like that, but doesnt still mean im not toned.
i have a little bit of back roll and of course the “pouch”. [groan]. and of course that piece of fat in between our thighs that MUST touch when we walk… soo annoying.
having boobs in the C-D range does suck major meatballs =] (sorry im hungry… lol)
i need those special bikinis with tose underwire tops… kinda hard to find that is in my budget.
I’m having the same problem you are! The exact same thing…I’m thinking about getting onto the swimming scene and joining a class to learn
After scoping out the stores, I got this trendy-on-the-rack looking swimsuit with a halter top to my belly, and a boy-shorts that solves the bikini problem.
My buddha belly aka the pooch isn’t too big so I don’t have that to worry about so much, and the tops and the bottoms meet to cover, but still feel so exposed!
I don’t really want to get a onepiece coz it makes me look so…..um not good…
Btw
jack…..
hmmm…
what can i say……..
I’m sorry but I was laughing outright at your post, cuz when you’re sixty with sagging boobs and falling bottoms, you’re gonna really miss swimsuits and…elasticity… LoL
Don’t be offended, please, but jeez what motivated you to put up a post about a perfect body around peevish women who are already sensitive about their bodies!!!!
For all of the ’smrt’ people like Jack…
A. I go to the gym 5 days a week, 3 days of weight lifting with a personal trainer with an hour of cardio, and 2 days of 1.5 hours of cardio.
B. I eat the recommended six small meals a day, and drink about 1.5 gallons of water per day. No soda, iced tea, fast food, junk food, etc.
C. After 7 months of doing the aforementioned, I’m 28 and still 5′11″ at 240 lbs. Although, well proportioned and having the strength to backhand said ’smrt’ people, I still am horrified to even attempt going to shop for a bathing suit for my own self image.
I’ve come to the conclusion that as long as I’m having fun with whomever I’m hanging out with at the time… I don’t care what other people think.
hey! im sorry to hear about this problem you have. Sometimes it really will bring you down, but you have to try and not let it get to you. There are millions of people out there just like you. Always remeber you are not alone and just be yourself. All of your friends will still like you even thoough you might be a tad bit bigger then them, but guess what?! you cant help it. They should be happy that your not out there going anorexic or bulkemic! Your body is PERFECT the way it is….remeber that!!!! Don’t get stressed out over stupid things like your weight.
Yeah, I just don’t really like searching for swimsuits either simply because I either don’t like the design, price or even how revealing it is.
I tend to dress more modestly, so I tend to cringe at the sight of some of the string bikinis. My dream swimsuit would have to be some swimtrunk-like bottoms and a top that’s similar to a sport’s bra or a tank top.
My suggestion for looking for your swimsuit would have to be mail-order or online. There are so many options out there that are far beyond a regular retail/department store.
Of course, you need to be cautious of your size measurements and your budget before ordering without puting them on yourself.
Happy Hunting ^^
I used to have the same problems buying a suit. For years after my first child was born I just kept wearing my maternity suit and only swimming at my grandmother’s pool. Then, the year after my second son was born we went to Six Flags America…. I had to get a new suit and picked out the most covering one I could find, a skirted tankini. You know the ones that look like a spandex mini skirt and tanktop. As we were walking around the water park area I was amazed. There were dozens upon dozens of women 2-3 times my size walking around in string bikinis, or at least that’s what I hope they were, ’cause I couldn’t see the strings in all those rolls. Boy, did I ever feel I looked great that day in comparison. Ever since, I have felt better about wearing my bathing suit, and even will wear it in public now, and though I haven’t graduated to anything more revealing I might take my kids to the beach this summer…
I used to be extremely self conscious in anything that showed just how flat chested I am. Didn’t matter if it was a swim suit or not, if I couldn’t wear the water bra I didn’t want it. This last year going through the horrors of swim suit shopping with MY DAD, I came to a realization. NOBODY feels 100% confident with their own body. Thanks to the army I have a flat stomach and some healthy muscle on my arms and legs, so what if i’m not perfect. Nobody is.
I have always had trouble with body fat so I know the feeling, but I also love the water, love swimming and it is really the only “excercise” that I enjoy other than bike riding! Right now I am coming on 6 months pregnant and I know I look like a whale, but I am not going to let that keep me out of the pool this summer!
I wear swim dresses that cover my stomach and thighs and are super stretchy. I don’t let it bother me what other people think about my body. I am not going to the pool or beach to show off. Those days are over!
sob ! sob !
But yeah ! There are many fashions of swimming suits; from the all closed up ones for the conservatives to the bare all ones for those who have something nice to show.
If ever one fine day I get myself one, it will be a closed up one because of the pollution in the sea or river and the chemicals in the swim pool. More for health reasons.
At this point in my life I’ve stopped caring. I’m big (not just fat, but with muscle) and unfortunately with the Asian problems – small-chested and flat-butted They don’t make swimsuits that enhance either. I found a bikini that fitted well enough and wouldn’t fall down in the water (because us small-chested women don’t quite fill out the tops…and that makes them dangerously loose) or squeeze my fat into grotesque shapes. I can beat anyone, fat or skinny or fit, in the water, so let them make fun of me if they dare.
((And yes, I do have to agree with the fact that it was not necessary to rub his “nice body” in our faces. Amazingly enough, some of our diet problems are harder to solve than his conceit problems.))
well, after not wearing a bathing suit in public for ten years, this year we joined a private pool and I have sucked it up and bought a suit! I have ten year old twins and my stomach has never been the same since my pregnancy, and to top it off I put on over twenty pounds this year with a thyroid disease……….but ya know what? My children will remember mom swimming with them ,not what she looked like in her suit. There are a few suits out there that are not so bad, just not what I used to be able to wear, but I suppose I’m not the only one with body problems, and I do agree that tan fat looks better than white fat!!! See Ya at the pool!
So everytime I walk past the bathing suit area in target there are about 10 racks or bikinis and at most 2 rack of one pieces. Then I look around the store and atleast 75% of the people in the store are very doubtfully bikini buyer… who’s buying all these bikinis???
# Bathing suit? How about joing a nudist club/camp in your state and do away with the swim suit issue? We do’nt look on the body for its profections like you people that wear clothes! As nudists,we acceept the way you are–NO NASTY REMARKS–ETC! We are very open about being a ‘Smoothie Nudist Family”,98% shaved of body hair-active members of many nudist web sites,NO PROBLEM about smoothie nudist life style-freinds/family/ co workers etc! We have people,males/females-all ages-singles,couples,divorced,married w/wo children,separated,widdowed,of all walks of life,asking questions about our life style. Do you have a problem about how your body looks? True Fact:Did you know that there are males of all ages,married or not thgat find your body “SEXY”! Trust me!
why do woman put there selfs in such unwinable battles if that bath suit could talk it would not say anything -accept yourself for who you are and stop blameing yourself for something you can not change and work on the things that you can change-just be happy to be alive
Oh my gosh, I HATE BATHING SUIT SEASON!! Glad to know I’m not alone. But I’m not just that thin girl who wants to lose like 10 lbs, I need to lose at least 50 lbs. Since I’m struggling with my weight, it looks like it’s going nowhere but I hate to buy a swimsuit. Even if I had the perfect body, I like to be modest and I’d wear a one-piece anyway, but they are so hard to find! Even the one-piecers I find have an extremely low back and are high cut and have a low neckline. What the heck man! This year I need to get a new swimsuit, I’m still a teenager and apparently I haven’t stopped growing because I’ve grown out of this one. Once again, a depressing season. And I agree with you, sometimes I wish it was back in the day that if you showed some ankles it was “Heaven forbid!” That way we wouldn’t throw up when the swimsuit issue of SI comes. *shudders*
I know the feeling!! I am in 8th grade and all of my friends are really skinny and drop dead gourgous… and when Im at the pool with them I feel fat and not as pretty as them! I’m really not fat, but I do have a bit of a belly and they have rock hard abs! I don’t wanna wear a one piece either cuz I will look all like concervitive standing next to them and I still want to look like I’m confident! I just try to put it on, not look in the mirror, and not think anything about the way I look compared to them; but rather the fat girl standing behind me in line…
its definatly here I already bought mine and it waws 98 degrees where I live yesterday so I took my kids to the pool.
You’re a girl!?!
I used to like summer…
thanks to being fat, i dont anymore ;[
I found a very nice swim suit. It is a swim dress. Very nice and it was only $30.00. I got a black one I l ike that it holds everything in the right place. It covers the right places and shows the right amount. It could make almost any woman look good. Also, if you really wanted to you could wear it as a nice top on a date or to the club. Then if you wanted to take a late night swim you are already dressed.
I hope this helps.
i dont really mind shopping for bathing suits, but i do agree that good one pieces are hard to find. I wear bikinis during the summer, but for gym i will need a one piece, and its hard to find ones that dont look like something my grandma in florida would wear. I also dont like to spend money at all, so i was looking for a very cheap one. I finally found a cute bright red one at TJMaxx for only $10. It fits well, and the cut of the thigh is adjustable. The only possible flaw is that i dont know if i will need a sports one, like a speedo, because the one i got is like a halter top with an open back. Its not a cut out, but still….
oh yeah and also, in the article thingy you said that you didnt want to inflict your bare midriff on the unsuspecting public. i doubt that the public would be unsuspecting if you were at a place where it was necessary to wear a bathing suit. Just thought i’d point that out. =?)
I feel for you. I have to try on like, a million bathing suits before I can find one that I actually like, which is usually a skirt bottom and bikini top
But yeah, I am definitely not ready for the bathing suit season!
haha yea i know the feeling i am not fat but notskinny and i have a fairly big bust!
so when ever i try on tops i look like a stripper cuz everything is hanging out!
it is horrible i have never gone bathing suit shopping with out crying at least 3 times in a dressing room!
..and really all the bikinis and i really dont see that many people who can wear them! :/
AND THE PRICES!!!!!
oh geez you are paying 100$ for a whole lot of NOTHING!!!!!
well i hope i can find one this year with out the emotional breakdown included!
As you age, and I mean age………..just have fun. We are all human, all of us have a flaw somewhere and just hide the target areas, don’t worry too much about what you are gonna look like in a bathing suit and have fun with family and friends………….
Cristiano, I am not overweight, nor do I dislike Jack. Hell, I don’t even know Jack, why would I dislike him? I am a 40-something mom of 3, and content with my body. Not to say there are not flaws, but hey, if I want to change, I know how!
I just found his comment somewhat insulting to someone who it appears to me was just looking for a little compassion and understanding as to what women go through when buying a swimsuit.
I’m a big girl, more than a little overweight – tall, and muscular, but also fat. But I have also gone to the public swimming pool every year for the past 5 years (since marrying into motherhood) and I’ve never really been self conscience. I know I’m big, I have a swimsuit that decently covers me so that nothing gross is hanging out – I guess you’d call it a swimdress – it’s like a really short sundress over a one peice bathing suit (attached.) I have always been comforatable with myself – not necessarily happy, but not depressed either…
I guess I’m just glad I’m not one of those old women who need to switch their tanning oil for Armorall so that their leather skin doens’t start to crack. You know the ones who priss around afraid to get wet AT THE POOL. Ick.
I’m tall with long legs and a long torso, so when I had to look for a one-piece for church camp, it took forever! I finally found one that worked, though, but the price was a little high ($60 or something like that at Macy’s)
For 2-pieces I go to wal-mart.
If you live in the South East U.S.A., then it was bathing suit season 2 months ago.
Where have u been? Mars?
I don’t have to worry about that anymore. I just don’t go swimming so I don’t need a swimsuit. It’s not that much of a loss, considering all the fuss, and I’m not just talking about the bathing suit.
I would rather walk across hot coals while eating a box of broken glass than try on swimsuits. I am not overweight, but as the years go on, things just aren’t where they used to be. I find the whole experience thoroughly depressing.
anyone who feels overweight is gonna HATE summer, i know i do.
AND I SECOND THE GIRL, most bathing suits out there aren’t for real people! i cant find one bikini top that doesnt make my bust hang out, i do indeed look like a hooker.
I went on a little nudist retreat last year and I’ve been much more comfortable with my body. I’m over my target BMI by quite a few pounds but I even thought about getting a biki top this year.
I ended up getting a tankini due to my mom’s urging, but my fat is only a concern of my health for me, I don’t worry how it looks anymore. People are beautiful no matter what size they are.
I know how you feel!
My advice is, go to Target. I got my swim suite and it covers my stomach, and it’s like shorts on the bottom.
At one point I thought about getting a top for woman and a bottom from the men’s section. I just don’t like showing so much skin!!
Wow I have a lot to say.
I am in eight grade (or I was about a week ago)
and we have many overweight students.
It comes down to the end of the year.
And we go across the street to the community center pool for our end-of-the-year picnic
and NO ONE (that I know of, not even me) noticed who wore what type of swimsuit, what type of body, any BS like that.
All the students were at the pool to have fun, not to criticize each other’s body type. I have so many friends of different sizes, and it bothers me when they announce they think they are fat.
Then I’m like, hey, “What the hell do you want us to say?”
Don’t complain about your body!
I was born with a stick body. I hated it. I had no chest and my body went straight down, no curves or figure. I looked like a pencil. I WAS EMBARRASSED!
And the I was introduced to the trans-fat contained toaster strudel. And I got what I wanted, plus more meat.
Again I was horrified. But I belly-dance really well. So I lost some of the extra meat on my body. Luckily, I got the figure I always wanted with the right curves.
I don’t want to be like Jack, sorry if I am. But my main point is nothing is wrong with anyone’s body and you should not ever doubt the way you look.
I know a lot of men who prefer girls who are thicker. Everyone’s preference is the same!
I will not and refuse to criticize the way someone is shaped. I know it’s easy for everyone to change their bodies. Just smile!
ok i am so sorry!
i made typo mistake.
i meant to say
“Everyones preference is different!”
I don’t enjoy bathing suit shopping however next summer it’s going to be a lot of fun! I’ve given up the bikini idea for this summer since it’s clearly not happening but I am going to stick to my diet, exercise and all of that until I can fit nicely and confidently into a bikini! For now I’ll keep wearing my tankini which covers up and makes my breasts look huge so at least people will look at them and not my rolls!
I still go to the beach or pool when it’s not busy though…but next summer I will go anytime I want and looking good there!
It is horrible how this only applys for most women who are mothers and well much older women, great for them! But I’m fairly young and very very discontent with my boby, I fear going to the beach with my friends knowing that they are in their tiny bikinis and I am the FAT(what a ridiculous word humanity has invented) girl who only bathing suit will be shorts and a shirt. Not even one piece suits can make wonders in my body, it is very difficult, YOU can just feel the praying eyes of the beach goers and say “oh look at that poor beached whale…oh never mind.”
In all honesty this article is making me cry.
I really dont like bathing suit season either.
Im overweight, i have flabby fat arms, bulgy tummy, and fat legs. And im just 15.
Everyone else is pretty skinny or average; people in southern cali are pretty skinny here.
i feel like a bag of fat lard. i only own one bikini and when i put it on, i usually wear a shirt over and shorts because i dont want people to see :[ i dont know… im just lacking self-confidence :[
I too dread the oncoming bathing suit season.
but I found my one piece suit that is made to look like a one piece at torrd, they sell sizes 12-24
they are my favorite and have the best suits.
I work as a photographer in a resort and it pains me when i have to do beach photos and hear all these women complaining about their weight. They have the guy right beside them who doesn’t have a problem looking at them in a bathing suit but they are just complaining and whining about something that they can fix if they really wanted to. I love to work with confident women who will rock a bathing suit no matter what their size.
Personally i love bathing suit season, I get to drive men crazy, I’m no size 0 but I wear my bikini like a model, even after I eat. (btw, I’m a 4)
If you are upset about how you look, loose some weight! Skip lunch for a few weeks! Don’t graze on food between meals like a cattle!
i hate shopping for clothes of any kind for a different reason: im too skinny! i cant find clothes that fit because shops have been made to feel it is wrong & encouraging eating disorders to sell smaller sizes
us little people need clothes too!
go back on a day when you feel the best about your self and take alonge the friend tha can look at you for who you are and not what “body type” you are. the most beutyfull women on the beach is the one who is comfortable in her own skin…..thats what matters!!!
i totally agree.
It’s early june with thunderstorms and a tornado in a county near us just yesterday-theres no sun to enjoy anyway and some people my age are still in school, why am i buying a swimsuit? My mother dragged me (and an unfortunate yet lifesaving friend of mine) to Carsons because my sport bikini from last year is too smal in the bust. I’m a medium person at my ideal weight 126 pounds and i have a large bust…which means im wearing small-meduim bottoms and xl tops in a bikini. Carsons wasnt our”scene” so we wnt to Marshalls and after ten bikinis that made me look like a blow up doll i decided on a one peice from sportsmart acroos the parking lot. It’s black with gray and white almsot camaflouge design and very slimming acording to my mother, and it actually covers my breast so *yay*. i bought a skirt for it but i plan on orderinjg a bikini before july b/c i can still wear them, i just need a bigger top that isnt sold in any stores within a 100 mile radius.
where im from it is
My size is 12 a regular bathing suits fits fine, and I prefer a one piece, tanksuit with a modest leg cout. The problem is not with the fit, it is that no matter what price bathing suit I get an expesive one $98.00 chloren resistant or the least expensive one $17.00 on sale they last for one season in the pool. and they turn into a stretched out mushy rag, What I do not understand why they charge such exorbitant prices for theese bathng suits.
I’m 14. All my friends that are my age think im small. I dont’ think so. I know that i have a small belly, and i have no skin that sticks out from the sides. But i don’t like my thighs, they suck, to me…anyway. But i bought this suit online–which is the only way i can really find a suit that is modist, cute, and fits right–the top doesn’t go to low, and is really long, but it has these strings on the side that you can pull to make the top smaller, or pull them down to make the top lower. And teh bottoms are adjustable too, and you can make them lower or higher on the sides…i really like it, because it can be adjusted–but it was expencive, but i thought it was worth it….
i hate shopping for a bathing suit. i i usually get a tankini which covers up what i want to cover up. and besides, the only place i swim is the pool in my back yard. so it doesn’t really matter what bathing suit i get or how i look in it, not that it should matter at all.
i know exactly what you mean. i have left over flab in my tummy from my baby that just won’t go away even after 7 months of working out. and the stretch marks are what i hate even more. but like my husband says(after he tells me i look great but i still complain) when u go to the beach there is always someone who is gonna look worse.
yo dude i here ya same problem. been there done that!
OK. Sabeen is very insightful for an up & coming 9th grader. I on the other hand am 50 and never notice if someone has lost or gained weight unless its at least 40 lbs less or more. I’m 5′3″ & currently waivering around 100 lbs & it bugs me to death that I’m so scrawny, but I came to an understanding with my psyche that we are all here to enjoy life no matter what our shape or size. That old self-confidence issue crops up for me too, but I’ve made up my mind to ENJOY MY TIME at the beach/pool/lake/river/bay or wherever because it is the mindset I choose to take. Don’t let the interference of self-talk sabotage your fun and enjoyment. Even if you are looking to date men, the ones to consider are not going to be the jerks that cannot accept you in your present state of body. Remember that attraction is all in the brain and bathing suits are disposable and replaceable, not you
i share in your frustration, however i am not overweight. I am more frustrated because, not only does the clothing and ad industry have no sympathy for those who may not like their appearances in bikinis, they completely disregard those of us who refuse to wear them out of concern for modesty. Im sick of the expectation that, because i would look nice in a bikini i should wear one, or that i would even want to. I dont want to share my body with everyone on the beach because of my respect for myself and my choice to give my husband my body with the knowledge that he wont have to share it with hundreds of other men. Unfortunately my options are all too often wear-the-equivalent-of-tiny-underwear-in-front-of-hundreds-of-complete-strangers or dont swim. This is unfair and annoying as hell. Im not even asking for one pieces, becuase i prefer tankinis – theyre cute and they have shorts usually, so i dnt have to worry about a bikini bottom having a thong effect when i get out of the water. but even tankinis are usually cut to my navel, which defeats the purpose of shopping for one in the first place! i dred shopping for swimsuits, becuase all they sell for people my size are bikinis, so usually i spend the whole summer searching for a modest swimsuit in vain and never get to enjoy the pool either!
Yes and no, it is bathing suit season already. It really depends where you live and if you are planning to swim inside or outside. If you live in the warm islands of the southern hemisphere, you are able to swim almost all year round. If you live in the midwest, e.g. South Dakota, don’t plan to swim outside. Bathing suits can be warm all year round. So I would say yes, it is bathing suit season.
I know what you mean.
I just want to say, it isn’t the figure that is the problem, i am sorry, if i offend someone, but , in my opinion, it’s all about if you are content with yourself or not. At 16 I had very developed figure, as in – large breasts, large thighs, and even if there was no belly and i had very slim wrist, i was VERY self conscious with my thighs(truth to be told, with my breast either). And I was 54 kg 162sm. Then i saw the wife of my uncle. She had quite the body, but she was sooo conformable with herself, that not I, and not anybody else stopped a moment and thought – why is she wearing a bikini. Actually, everybody that saw her, doesn’t think about her weight, they thought – just a women on the beach, or what a nice women. Including myself – i remember, i thought she looked good, and she is really large.
I think , if our mother had told us enough times – that you are beautiful, you will be comfortable with your body no m?tter what, and if you are conformable with it, everybody will be too.
And if it’s the opposite – like my mom, who was saying that i am ugly when i was 5!, bitching that i have less weight that her(like it was my fault) when i was 16, and now, that i have quite a weight and never will risk the beach, she is content(because if i was feeling bad at 16 with only large thighs, now they are more large, i am 80 kg… you get the picture, and i will never be comfortable with my body even if somehow i become 50 kilo). and i love the water!!! so please, never said your daughters, that they are ugly, that their bodies are something, that they must be ashamed. I am 27 now, and i feel like…
And nothing will change those first years of my life, that i was listening my mom and thinking that everything that she says was right. I probably mustn’t post this, but, well, if i can’t find someone to understand me in internet, i will never find someone.
So, my point is, doesn’t matter what your body looks like, all that does matter, is what you think about it. And if you can think better about it – think, and you will be happy with any suit.
And sorry for my english, it isn’t my native language, so, sorry for it.
It’s gotten to the point where I find a cute pair of bermudas or capris that wont bleach in chlorine and put those on over my suit. Lets face it, neither I NOR the rest of the public wants to see me in anything revealing! (I am extremely obese)
However, pairing a cute suit with the accessories (kind of turning my swim suit into a swim outfit) not only hid all my problem spots but made me a TON more confident when going to the beach or pool. (Last years was this super cute halter-style black suit with two red cherries on the top of the left side and a pair of bright red capris that didn’t bleach out… combined with a cute red scrunchi and black and red flip flops, I felt pretty darn cute!)
oh my gosh! for my age my brests are very very huge (I’m 14), but it’s not because I have a few extra pounds, my mother is built the same way. I found the perfect bikini, It had a cute print, fit very well, and I was so excited to wear it on our class trip to a water park. well I got to the water park and after taking on a few of the tall water slides with my group of gal pals, the front of my swimsuit where it is held together in the middle, snapped. I grabbbed it just in time so no one saw anything. So I walked to the office of the water park gripping my swimsuit for dear life and asked for a safety pin. The man (yes the MAN) returned with one and I quickly pinned my suit for a quick fix. then after about 5 minutes I realized that the tie on the back was also connect to the front so my tie was comming undone too. I walked mortified back to the desk and asked for yet another safety pin, but this time, it wouldnt work. So I held my suit with both hands this time, trudged to the locker room and put on my halter top I had brought with me and enjoyed the rest of the trip. I absalutly hate how hard it is to buy a swimsuit when youre too big breasted. The day turned out to be good, and needless to say, I have a lot of sewing to do now.
yes. yes it is.
Okay I hate shopping for any clothes let alone a swimsuit. It seems that all I can ever find are either clothes that are very trendy but WAY to small for my 14/16 body or clothes that are more appropriate for my mother or even worse, my grandmother. I am 29, 5′8″ and fairly active so I am not all fat especially after having kids. Trying to find a swimsuit that doesn’t bring tears to my eyes let alone the general publics is very hard to do. I found that the cheaper suits last just as long as the expensive suits so when I find one that I like I pick up as many as they have in my size so I don’t have to go through the trauma every year. I always look for a solid color as they don’t go out of style and they are less likely to draw attention to me. And of course there is always the option of a pair of swim shorts over the suit to hide my runners thighs that I still have after 15 years.
I feel that darker skin sort of makes cellulite look more toned or “less fat” (for lack of better words).
I went swimsuit shopping in January (which I do not recommend).
My suggestion is to get some color on your skin by using a self-tanner.
Hope that helps.
yes it does. it scares me especially since i have a not so flat stomach, lots of butt, and barely any chest. so buying jeans and swimsuits scare the crap out of me. but old navy helped. a small top and medium bottom its not so scary
Im 14. And im not untra skinny, i don’t think i am at all. But, for some odd reason, all my friends refer me to “small” like when they are compairing. I don’t know why. I know that i have a flat belly, and no belly fat, but my thighs are not that great, and are ugly, in my eyes, so i hate swimsuit shopping. But, i did find a swim suit online that is great, and i love.
I am 5′1″ and I weigh 100 lbs. However, my breasts are nearly D cups. So, yes, it frustrates me because MANY bathing suits are disproportionate to me. I’ve had to pass up many cute bathing suits just because it “wouldn’t work” for me.
it is bathing suit season already DUH!!!!!!!!!
yes
JUST GET A PAIR OF THONGS– UNDER WEAR AND LAY OUT WHEN AND WHERE NO ONE IS AROUND. GOOD FOR
THE SOUL.
I found a georgeous suit that addressed all my issues. I am overweight but still so very young at heart. I found a suit on QVC that was perfect and actually very complementary to my overweight physique. Here is the description. You can go to QVC Website to check it out. You won’t be disappointed: It Figures! Slender Thighs Drawstring Brazil Print Swimdress Item #A78403
P.S. The price was well worth it for your peace of mind and the confidence it gives you. It’s worth every penny and is of such good quality, it will last you many seasons as you won’t want to have a season without it.
Well….. I’m 13 75 lbs. and 5″1 I find it pretty hard to fing a bikini that isnt from limited 2 and not from Dolce and Gabbana either.
i dont have a problem with sizing luckly 
This is to Britanni:
I suggest you wear a wet suit or wear a bikini, monokini or tankini with a pair of shorts. Or do a full bathing suit and a pair of shorts. The wet suit would probably be best for you though since you wont have anything showing. No navel back or anything. And they come long and short.
OMG!! I can remember in my young years, before bearing children, that going to the beach and seeing older women (some overweight too), I made a promise to myself NEVER to wear a swim suit if and when I began to look like that. Well, what to say? I’m a grandmother now (and was able to hold onto a body I could deal with into my 40’s) and when my grandson came over to see me and wanted to go swimming, I thought, I’m not here for that long — I want to give him a good time. So. I put aside the feelings of revulsion that immediately rose up and took the plunge. Now, a few years later, gravity is winning; and I know this to be so for other women that I talk with. Somehow, you just never thought things would get this REALLY BAD & you’d get so out of shape! (Health & Illness have taken their toll as well)
The time has now come(just was on a recent swim suit shopping nightmare). Even trying one flaw disguise, left me me with others blundering out. I thought of the wet suit (when it was too cold to swim, even in heated pool), also am one of those who wish the old fashioned swim suits would come back into vogue!
I think I’m going with a T-shirt over the suit…one more summer to participate in the fun and relaxation that I hope my grandson will have loving memories of when he gets older.
MEN: I know they get away with the most outrageous swimming trunks, seemingly completely disinterested in their appearance; but you know they are looking at the young ones with the good curves. Does the battle ever equal out???
Everybody have fun this summer! Everyday our spirits are chipped away by this tragic war, economic crises, the health care disenfranchised…and on and on. Therefore, EVERY DAY IS PRECIOUS. We are making memories for those we love, when we are no longer here.
just the way I see it.
Of course, this is only a problem if you’re a guy!
i need a new friend now to talk to for ever,
I’m 14 and all my friends come in VERY different shapes and sizes. I absolutely hate when my rail-thin friends complain that they are fat, because they’re practically calling me fat. My bigger friends just have so much confidence, it doesn’t seem fair. One of my very overweight friends has no problem buying a bikini and going to a very public beach, making me feel like an idiot, being 98 pounds and more than 100 pounds lighter than her, trying on every swimsuit in the store and leaving empty-handed. I’m “petite,” I guess, but in my eyes my thighs, stomach, and arms are pure revolting. I don’t think I’ll ever be happy when swimsuit season rolls around every year.
Sounds like you have the “try 100 bathing suits on and the one that doesn’t make you cry wins” system down to a fine art!…I have nothing to add really, I deal with the same issues and i actually wear quick dry shorts with a tankini top so my “butt” is not hanging out when I am playing with my children or strategically climbing in and out of a watercraft. lol…I enjoy walking around covered a bit more and if anyone makes a comment of “why I am not wearing a bathing suit?” I simply reply I don’t believe in them. I wouldn’t walk around outside in my underware and a bathing suit to “me” is very similar…That ‘usually” shuts them up and i can continue to enjoy my “butt covered day”…Good luck to all the ladies…I think all shapes and sizes are beautiful and to each there own on what they CHOOSE to wear… Wear nothing — wear full body armor or anything inbetween! Its all good whatever YOU are comfortable in.
yes it is bathing suit season because it’s summer
Oh, I bought new bathing suit today. It was a torture: I tried two, their size was wrong. I tried third, it was pretty good size, but it was awful. I searched, searched… and finally found a good one:) BTW, I didn’t want to buy bathing suit, but I had to. So, I don’t know, how can we do it better.
i know what you mean something is always either too low or too revaeling too wear in public and i dont have the greatest midsection either. i have worn the same swimsuit for the last three years.
When it’s 105 degrees in NJ, it’s swimsuit season.
Yeah, only problem for women, and some men.
I am disgusting and would prefer not to wear a swimsuit, but hey hey, it’s summer, and it’s sort of a given that if I want to be social at all, it’s time to get on this and go shopping. Whatever I get ends up looking like crap anyway, though, because I have huge boobs, wide, muscular man shoulders, stomach and back flab, and sinewy runners’ legs.
My problem is that I never have been and will never be content with my body, so this time of year is especially upsetting to me.
Maybe one of these?: http://www.wholesomewear.com/page-4.html
i was recently @ a public pool and not wanting to go in the water, i stayed dressed to watch the kids and soak up some of the sun….. i relized that NO-ONE looks good in any kind of swim suit. not even the teenagers. wow- i was amazied!!! they all had some disfiquering part to them. all- even the babies did’nt fit their cute lil’ fat legs into the suit. so …..my point is…go and have fun. as long as nothing goes flipping out–all is well in the world. smile next time at that mirror- it’s not the real you . just a reflexion of an image!
If you want coverage, stick to a tankini. At least that looks more like a bathing suit than a tank top and cut offs. And what’s with the concept of the more fabric, the more hideous the suit becomes?
What is this Season,. but its kewl
YEP!
Some years ago I was with a friend on the Durban beach. There were some frightfully large women in bathing suits happily frolicking in the waves. I remarked that with shapes like that, they should not be on the beach much less in bathing suits. My friend replied saying that as long as they were happy and having a good time why should we be bothered. It is a comment that has stuck with me – we are far too concerned about appearance. Get over it and enjoy your life no matter what your shape.
I never do anything that requires a bathing suit. If necessary, I’ll just go with the patented large-t-shirt-and-boxers route.
And anyway, it’s snowing where I live. In June. Bloody weather.
Just wanted to add my two cents, I haven’t worn a swimsuit in over five years, but dating a man from the carribbean and having him take me to meet the folks, I decided to suck it up. I found that MOST bathing suits are too revealing even for my 24 year old uninhibited mind. I agree with some of the other posters I don’t care how in shape I am and at 5′9″, 150 lbs, I think I am doing pretty well, I don’t want my butt showing and I never felt quite right walking around in the bikini combo. Give me a skort and tankini any day for beach days and family gatherings. For more intimate settings I like a cute one piece with a sheer cover up. Does that make me a prude?
LISTEN! with all due respect to all of you out there having stress with this, there is a simple solution! dieting and excersice(sp?)! Its very easy, 20 min a day and you will look better in 5 months. obviously this wont work if u waited forever and are looking for a suit NOW but if you follow a jogging regime or something then it will be less depressing next year!
I don’t go swimming at beaches. I may walk around at them, but I stay clothed. I am in serious shame of my figure. I suppose it could be worse. I just hate the texture of my skin. It’s too dimply. I exercise and am active, but that can’t change the skin type I have. I sweat and envy others for this special freedom they have. When swimming at a pool (at a friend or relative), I usually wear long shorts and a tee. But I don’t lounge around in them much before. I usually change right away after a swim. I don’t like the clothes hanging wet on me. It’s gross! My hubby has been with me for 10 years, and he has never seen me in the bathing suit, and he never will. That image dies with me.
I LOVE bathing suit season! even if im not that happy with parts of my body i always love it. I live in Cali, so we tan and hang at the beach all the time! and because of that we try to stay fit. I personally try to eat right and exercise so i can tighten and strencthen my body and lose some extra pounds, but it doesnt bother me that im not perfect. As for suggestions….if yourre really not sure as to what type fits your body then i suggest lookking at fashion mags, around this time they always have advice for bathin suit season and ones for your body type. that and just be confident, secure and have fun!
This is to Jessica: Don’t you know the difference between a real Question and a Figure of Speech? Double Duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
bathing suit….LOL. Mine consists of a whole piece with a skirt and a t shirt. How sexy is that!!! I like to blame it on baby fat, but my baby is 2 1/2…..LOL. I guess I need another excuse. I dont know very many exept the anorexic and bulimics that like bikini season!!
hi
hi
No bathing suit weather here in Seattle yet!! I still am wearing my winter coat and almost put gloves and a hat on today!
Coldest weather since 1894 – yes that is right.
Julie
Yeah, hey, Jack: I think this question was geared toward women. It’s a girly question. You must be a Girly Man to have posted a comment to this Blog. I think Shana is funny too and as to Gaby’s comment: IF is a big word. Keep in mind the question is being asked for a reason. It’s too late for those who are overweight. Losing weight does not cure all body issues. We don’t have time to wait for the results of excercise and diet, so the Blogger is looking for an INSTANT solution to her problem. She wants a swim suit today not 3 months from now or when summer is over — Get It ?
Jim must be a Girly Man too and I don’t mean a womanizer, I mean Jim and Jack must be femine men to post comment to this blog. Jim, your comment is very insensitive and does not answer the Question, dork!
i prefer the pic
no way
I think perhaps someone could get the wrong impression after reading this. Perhaps anger some one to be angry – which results in unhappiness once again …have a great day! and some time ppl can fit in a ity bity tiny winie polkie dot bikini and still look bad. I not sure if you ever had anyone draw cartoons versions of yourself – but its quite fitting, unlike certain bikini’s