Returning tattoo the pool after decades...

JennifrClaire wrote: »

Ordered a swim cap to fit over long hair. Bought goggles, fitted them with prescription lenses. As bracing myself to appear, in public, in a swim suit, still 40 pounds overweight, and age 52, with lipoedma legs. What should I tell myself, so I didn't chicken out?

Just know that sounds like you are going to be your own worst critic. So nothing anyone can say could really be worse.
Just be selfish and don't really care about them.

When I'm at the pool and worried people are looking at me, I just realise that when I'm at the pool, I'm not worrying about anyone else, and that they're probably doing exactly the same as me.

It's easy to get caught up thinking that you're getting way more attention than you really are (I don't mean that in a bad way), so I try to think about it from their point of view, which is probably that they won't even notice you beyond a glance.

If it helps, my thinking is always "Once I'm in the pool, I'm barely visible".

I have psoriasis on my foot and I'm 50lbs heavier than I should be. When I walk towards the pool, there is always that sense of "if someone sees my foot they'll worry that I've got an infectious disease!", but the fact is that once you're in the water most of your body is covered and nobody's going to pay you any attention. The actual walk, when people can see you, probably lasts seconds!

Personally, for my own comfort and confidence, I wear knee length aqua shorts over a full length swimming costume, so there really isn't too much of me on display anyway!

And remember that you'll feel more confident in your body shape as time goes on, as long as you keep at it. So, that difficult first visit is probably the least confident you'll feel - and it's all up from there!

I've been 'swimming' (if you can call it that) with my preschooler since January, and it's easy now, though the first few visits did make me feel very self-conscious. Once she starts nursery in September, I have a plan to start going and doing some lane swimming three times a week in the morning, then picking her up from nursery after lunch and taking her back to the pool! Bear in mind that when we started in January, I was doing it all for her. Now, I love it so much that I want to go on my own!

Well, you've made an investment and so can't chicken out. I've been swimming 22 yrs and we see all shapes and sizes. To tell you the truth, it's the fabulous bods that get the looks--not the average person. There are lots of them where I swim, perhaps it's swimming that makes them that way (plus CICO, of course). Swimming is great exercise so enjoy yourself and just think about your workout.

FlippingFins wrote: »

If it helps, my thinking is always "Once I'm in the pool, I'm barely visible".

This! At 225lbs I swim 2-3 times a week and love it. I hate the walk to the poolside but once I'm in I don't care. Everyone is there for their own reason and kudos to you, you are there for exercise, just like everyone else.