I think this probably comes up, at least in some thread, each summer. And I think (I may be wrong) that almost all of us have body issues when it comes to summer clothes and bathing suits. For those at their goal weights and maintaining-do you still struggle when trying on and wearing a bathing suit?

I am leaving next Friday for vacation. It is a beach vacation. Every year I say "I am not going to look like this next year, next year I will be in shape". And here it is another summer and I'm not in shape. Last year I told myself that I was going to enjoy vacation to it's fullest. I was not going to beat myself up and berate myself for still being overweight. And I had a great vacation because I focused on having fun and not how I look.

This year I am struggling more with that. I need to buy new summer clothes and a new bathing suit. I am dreading it. I really don't like anything I try on. I am trying to dig myself out of this "I am wearing jeans all summer" funk I am in. I am not the best shopper. I don't know what to buy. When I was thinner I loved buying new outfits but now, I just look and think "yuk". I want to get out of this so I guess I am here to just whine a lot and maybe get some advice.

Jill

Welcome home Jill! Sounds like a nice trip.

Peg

welcome back jilly! so glad you had a great time.

I'm back from vacation! We had a great time, I worried very little about clothes/swim suit/body issues, etc. I did gain 3 lbs-not bad considering we really did a lot of dinners out and had a good amount of wine and fresh fruit daiquiris. Back at work now. Start bellydancing summer class tonight and plan to hit the gym at least 3 or 4 days this wk.

Jill

quote:

Originally posted by jillybean:
My new favorite store is a place called CABI, they apparently do home clothing shows and the outlet store has last years items but who cares?!!!

Jill

I love CABI clothes and I had no idea there was an outlet! Although, I buy all of my clothes at Chico's since I work there and get a great discount, or can find the really good sale items before others do. I bought a pair of crops Sat. for $14. If and when I quit working at Chico's, I will hunt down a CABI outlet.

Dawn

I went on a 4 1/2 hour shopping trip yesterday at a very big, very new outlet center near Philly. I decided that I cannot change my size much in a week so I am going to buy myself nice outfits, regardless of the size. I came home with some really great stuff. My new favorite store is a place called CABI, they apparently do home clothing shows and the outlet store has last years items but who cares?!!! Their clothes are gorgeous, well-made, and less expensive than they were last year. The salespeople were amazing. Helping put together outfits, getting different sizes, they even write your name on a dry-erase board on the dressing room door so when you are done selecting items you know which room has all your clothes to try on. I bought some things at Banana Republic, Bass, and a few other places. I still have not found a bathing suit. But I have some great new clothes.

Jill

I'm thrilled to be comfortable wearing tank tops and am beyond getting bent out of shape about wearing swim suits. My biggest frustration is finding one that covers everything in a modest manner and will stay put when I'm doing laps at the pool.

I worry less about how I look now that I'm 24 pounds from my goal weight. And my problem areas are the thick calves and thighs, neither of which I can do much about and keep running, so I just quit caring.

MORE magazine regularly has great features on selecting swimsuits for differnet body types.

i don't spend anytime at the pool or beach, so this is not an issue for me, and like some have said, i am more and more liberated from caring what others thing of my dress/attire, which is a great thing to have along with my wrinkles and cellulite and increased age. even the 60 year old women at the gym who show off their midriff...sometimes, i think, ok enough already--no need to dress like you are 20 years old!

Thanks for all your posts. I'm not one who enjoys being ogled in a swimming suit but I for sure want to look better than I do now. There are some moms at the pool(and I don't mean the young 20 something moms either) that turn quite a few heads so I'm not so sure about the blending in because of age/motherhood. But I do get where you are coming from, there are many young ladies who are the pool/beach focus.

Thanks to everyone for your posts. Catherine-I never heard of bluecanoe.com before-thanks, they have great stuff. And I also had NO idea gaiam.com had regular clothes and shoes, jewelry, etc.

Where is DinStPete? She was so good at putting together outfits and I remember her posting pics here all the time. I want her to go shopping with me

Jill

I blend in as a middle aged Mom too- I also find it to be a relief. No one really cares what I look like. And I look just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Tayhudson:
There all all these hot bods at the pool and no one is going to be looking at a middle aged mom who is there with her kid with so many other fine young women around.

Dawn

I find it very liberating.

Strangely, I have more issues with wearing shorts than a swimsuit. I wear a lot of carpis and crops, part of the issue is that I don't think my skin looks very good anymore. It is pretty blotchy, and being a pale red head, I don't like too much sun exposure, as I am paranoid about skin cancer.

That being said, I have no problem donning a Speedo and heading to the pool. I think for two reason, one is that I was a diver for many years, so I'm used to it, and secondly, I think it is what Denise was saying...There all all these hot bods at the pool and no one is going to be looking at a middle aged mom who is there with her kid with so many other fine young women around.

Dawn

For what ever it is worth...

I also think that one of the benefits of getting older is fewer and fewer people notice you in a bathing suit.

A friend of mine lamented that after 40 or 45 or 50, many times we become "invisible". And we can be in a room with a 30 year old who EVERYBODY notices... and we are kind of ignored.

I have to say, being on the beach at 50 and being ignored isn't so bad. I remember being 18 or 20 and some creepy 39 year old looking me over... and that was MUCH worse. I looked GOOOOOD in a bathing suit... but the attention and looks were not always welcome or comfortable. I NEVER wore a two piece when I was younger, even though I "could" have.

So... being invisible at the beach... not too bad. You just put on the thing you are swimming in and do your laps or go in the lake or whatever... and that is that.

I actually think that I look FINE in a bathing suit... as long as I have my stomach pulled in... which I remember to do during the 27 seconds I'm standing in front of the mirror. (I posted a photo on line and dh asked, "Do you have your stomach sucked in?" Well, DUH!!!! Like I'm posting a photo of my stomach NOT sucked in??? Like ANYBODY is posting stomach-pooched-out photos? I DON'T THINK SOOOO!")

But, there is NO WAY, I'll remember to suck my stomach in for a whole day. And no matter HOW thin I am... my stomach not-sucked-in would be fodder for the tabloids, if I were famous.

I'm also so blindingly pale... my dermatologist would probably be happy if I wore a berqa to the beach. I tend to wear a "swim shirt" and I'm not really into tanning and sun bathing. And I don't think anybody notices if I get out of the water and put on my shorts and a dry shirt.

But, I remember your post from last year... and for what ever it is worth... you sound better this year! So that is cool!

I'm not at all crazy about wearing a bathing suit. We spend at least 3-4 evenings a week at the pool, so that I have to just suck it up and get over it. As we've all discussed--- I focus on the social aspects of being at the pool.

I wear 3 piece suits- the tops generally look like a tank top. The bottom is a bikini bottom, I always wear a little matching swim skirt type of thing. (This trio is actually far less revealing than a standard one piece.

My summer stuff from last year fits well, but I really want to wear more easy cotton dresses this year, so I bought a few and will probably wear those most days.

I hope you have a blast on vacation, Jill!

I still struggle with bathing suits and shorts. I was so happy when the long shorts became fashionable again. I have a lot of cellulite on my thighs and rush that is getting worse as I age and I'm super self conscious in suits. I tend to go for flattering cuts that are slimming not too high cut in the legs and then super cute cover ups.
Probably not too helpful of an answer. Sorry!

Jill,
Have you looked at Land's End for a swimsuit? They have been having some pretty good sales so the prices are a little more in line. I like to buy a suit from them for a couple of reasons. Their quality is quite good and you can try them on in your home. They also have an amazingly huge selection of tops and bottoms so you might find something that fits more flattering that way. I've really fallen for these tankinis w/shorts for the bottoms. I just got a new one from LE this spring but haven't worn it except to try it on. Their website also has all sorts of tips on buying swimsuits that flatter. You are not alone in this plight, believe me.

Peg

Buy a fun suit. I bought (and wore) a bikini last year. Get something pretty, but no skirts, they just emphasise what you are trying to hide.

The problem with summer clothes is that they are one extreme or the other. They are either long, baggy and loose (which adds about 10 extra pounds on me), or they are skimpy and tight and revealing (adding 10 extra pounds again). What shape is your body? hourglass? pear? hippy?

I am a hippier hourglass, so I need to find things that are more high-waisted. I also need more v-necks/scoop necks, rather than something that comes up to the chin. I've found some cute things at Forever 21, of all places. Not slacks, but tops and a couple of dresses. I've also ordered from gaiam.com and bluecanoe.com's sale sections with good luck...