To Beach or not to Beach that is the question.....

arewethereyet

This weekend I had a breakthrough of sorts. I was laying on the warm sand in my tankini, making sure my stomach wasn't exposed to terrorize the natives.

While looking around I noticed women who were larger than myself in small bikinis. This made me ask myself "What do YOU think of her? What does seeing her in that small bathing suit make you think/feel?"

So each time I saw a woman in a bikini I made a conscious thought process out of it. The amazing thing was I am SO MUCH NICER TO OTHERS THAN I AM MYSELF!!!

"Look at how cute she looks" or "Nice legs" or "Which I had her (ahem) upper body" or "Nice booty" or "Cute suit"

Not once did I think "OMG :noway: "

Yet after almost 5 years of hard work to lose 45 pounds (after setting out to lose 10 ) I still think people are looking at me like I don't belong.

I am now 5'2" and 125 pounds. Folks, that is 10 pounds less than I had ever imagined I could possibly get to again at 53 years old. How come I can be so kind to others, yet lay there covered because I may be inappropriately sized to wear a bikini.

I read a great post awhile back here that said something like "What are the right bodies to wear a bikini?" Someone answered "Do you have a body? Then you can wear a bikini!!" :happy:

A few weeks ago I laid out in the yard and tanned my stomach, so the next step wasn't AS horrible as it could have been.

I had to go put money in the meter because I was enjoying the beach so much I had to stay a while longer. On the way is "Wings" a tourist trap with overpriced bathing suits. As I approached the wall of bikinis, I veered towards the tank top types. At this point a sales woman, not much younger than me but with the same attitude (if that makes sense) approached me and asked why I like that type, why not try the 2 pc. :noway: I am too fat I exclaimed, but I really want to try. Will you tell me the truth?

She gave the suit she thought I would look good in.

I loved it, but still leery of walking out. As I did so there was a MAN there and not just any man, one that was 20 years younger. I was mortified!! He smiled and said "Nice!" (I almost died) I asked him if he thought I really could get away with wearing this on the beach and he laughed. "Of course, it looks good. Nice legs "

The sales girl returned and clapped her hands "LOVE IT!"

We fiddled around with a few other suits, but I bought the one she had selected.

I. Bought. A. Bikini. :huh:

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand Wore it out of the store straight to the beach :laugh: Didn't want to lose my nerve, ya know.

Oh and I didn't die, or burst into flames.

So my question is to anyone who may read this "What is holding you back from something you really want to do? Are you just too hard on yourself?"

divainsneakers

Very liberating! Great story.

d0v3r13

this is fantastic! good for you! i'm not there yet, but i have been there in the past and i know what you are talking about. i finally made the jump to a smaller pants size and feeling confident about that was fantastic. its funny how you can lock yourself up in your old clothes because it feels safer there. to make the transition to actually celebrating your body is a little harder than we tend to believe it will be.

arewethereyet

thank you divain!

ileen, WOOT for the smaller pants size! Bit by bit, it changes!


I decided if the people on the beach saw me, then my MFP friends should too. LOL so I uploaded pictures (with a small push from a friend) :glasses:

lifestyle8change

you look amazing

AlysonG2

You really look great in it! I hope you learn to love it!

verptwerp

fabulous story & pictures :drinker:

arewethereyet

Alyson, good point! I hope I learn to 'accept' it. Loving it, IDK if that will ever happen. But to just walk out there with no thought would be awesome!

babyj0

What an inspiration! I have yet to get to that point. It has been a very slow process for me...

Meerataila

I am SO MUCH NICER TO OTHERS THAN I AM MYSELF!!!

Me too! And you definitely can get away with that bikini!

arewethereyet

What an inspiration! I have yet to get to that point. It has been a very slow process for me...

I lost 35 and gained back 20 during my divorce. This time I kept losing, never thinking I would hit under my goal weight. What I didn't expect is that 10 lbs lighter than I ever anticipated, I still cant look in the mirror and like what I see.

Saturday was an epiphany for me. I realized the time is NOW. We are not promised tomorrow.

We work so hard to increase our health and to look better, but then don't enjoy it? It just hit me really hard.

I STILL cant believe I posted the pix :huh:

rdkstar

Wow! You look great. I would've guess that your much younger than 50's. I got the same attitude as you judge myself too hard. Need to try and change that

paulawatkins1974

You look great!

sunglasses_and_ocean_waves

You look fabulous! Strut the beach!

tanyoshka

P.S. You absolutely CAN pull that off!

Jelaan

You look great! Wear that bikini with pride!

sun_fish

Such an inspiring story! Isn't it interesting how we think others will judge us, when it is actually in our own head.

You rocked that bikini! :flowerforyou:

arewethereyet

Wow! You look great. I would've guess that your much younger than 50's. I got the same attitude as you judge myself too hard. Need to try and change that

Thank you! I seem to forget that often myself. LOL

RedHotHunter

Great story and something for us all to remember.

dmpizza

My wife recommends string bikinis because you can adjust it EXACTLY as you want.

arewethereyet

Thanks again, everyone.

It is amazing to me that I think others have nothing else to think about but whether I should wear a bikini! LOL

unapologetically_crystal

wohoooo! good for you! && you look smoking hot! fantastic story.

dwarfiegodsmack

good for you! you look really great!

SunofaBeach14

Nice going!

Oh, and the answer is "always Beach."

stennis

This comes from a man just a little older. It looks pretty darn good on you . In fact, I like the string bikini suggestion. That would look good too. Take a look at the threads on ladies doing weight lifting. That may be the logical next step for you. Don't worry about getting "manly." It won't happen. Hoping I can get to where I can wear a swim brief or bikini myself. Looooong way to go.

Calliope610

You look fabulous!

I turned 52 just last week. Next summer I will be rockin' a bikini!! I'm 30-40lbs away from my bikini body.

brenn24179

I was 60 last yr and bought one. I say lets do it while we can! You look great!

jofjltncb6

Looking good.



(Oh, and I owed you this one from a previous thread:


You have pretty hair.


There. Happy?)

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

ssaraj43

Fantastic !! Thanks for sharing :drinker:

kethry70

that's awesome and you look great!