Swimsuits, water arobics, and FEAR...Oh NO!!

February 8, 2001

In a message dated 2/8/2001 12:12:48 PM Eastern Standard Time,

sbrown@... writes:

<< I

promise to try to go tonight , and I will imagine you are there

with me.

B.

>>

Good for you . I'll be thinking of you and wishing my pool was open.

Jackie Ward

jward533@...

February 8, 2001

I have been trying to muster up the nerve to join the water arobics

class for a couple of months now. Well, this morning I put my

swimsuit in the car. Class is tonight. Maybe I will get brave and

go, maybe it will take me another month to get the nerve, but at

least I have done the first step, to put my stuff in the car so I can

do if today *IF* I get the nerve. Wow, to put on a swimsuit and walk

out in public with PEOPLE, that is like going to the mall naked,

LOL! My thighs are just a huge ugly mass of cottage cheese, really

horrific. And my tummy apron, well let's not even GO there! :-(

I just think that if I can get the nerve to go, it will help me with

my plateaus as well as add some fun to my life. I hate winter and

this weather is really getting to me right now, I want to be outside

planting flowers and cutting grass and enjoying the outdoors again!

Anyway, I am kind of venting this morning, looking for support and

understanding for my intimidation about going to water arobics, etc.

I have no support group here in SC, few people know I had the WLS,

and so YOU are my rock, my support, my friends. Thanks for being

there! {{{big tight squishy group hug}}}

Brown, SC

Switched 10/11/00, 55 lbs. gone and plateauing AGAIN

February 8, 2001

, I can totally relate to your analogy that putting on a

swimsuit and appearing in public feels the same as appearing at the

mall naked. I lived in Fort Walton Beach, FL for over 5 years and

never put on a swimsuit, even though I love the beach. I made all

the standard excuses about being sensitive to the sun, etc.-- but the

real reason is that I was acutely embarrassed by my body. Right now

a friend is trying to get me to go to the pool with her, but I can't

force myself to do it. But the real truth is that most people are

more worried about what THEY look like than what others look like.

What's the worst thing that can happen? Someone might think, " God,

she's fat " or something like that, but then they'll get over it. We

run the risk of people thinking those thoughts even when we're not in

swimsuits! The first time will be the worst, and each time should

get easier. It might help to have something to wear over the

swimsuit until you actually go in the water - and then you can put it

on as soon as you get out. I think you should give it a try. We

shouldn't give other people that power over us, that we would stay

away from something we really want to do because of the fear of what

they'll think. If you try, maybe you'll give ME the courage to try!

Good luck, - you're strong and I know you can do it!

in Alabama

> I have been trying to muster up the nerve to join the water arobics

> class for a couple of months now. Well, this morning I put my

> swimsuit in the car. Class is tonight. Maybe I will get brave and

> go, maybe it will take me another month to get the nerve, but at

> least I have done the first step, to put my stuff in the car so I

can

> do if today *IF* I get the nerve. Wow, to put on a swimsuit and

walk

> out in public with PEOPLE, that is like going to the mall naked,

> LOL! My thighs are just a huge ugly mass of cottage cheese, really

> horrific. And my tummy apron, well let's not even GO there! :-

(

> I just think that if I can get the nerve to go, it will help me

with

> my plateaus as well as add some fun to my life. I hate winter and

> this weather is really getting to me right now, I want to be

outside

> planting flowers and cutting grass and enjoying the outdoors

again!

> Anyway, I am kind of venting this morning, looking for support and

> understanding for my intimidation about going to water arobics,

etc.

> I have no support group here in SC, few people know I had the WLS,

> and so YOU are my rock, my support, my friends. Thanks for being

> there! {{{big tight squishy group hug}}}

> Brown, SC

> Switched 10/11/00, 55 lbs. gone and plateauing AGAIN

February 8, 2001

susan, i feel your pain. but i'm here to tell you TO HELL WITH WHAT SOMEONE MAY

THINK OF YOUR BODY!

about four months ago i joined the ymca with the intention of swimming for

exercise. for awhile i pretended that i could find some swim shorts type thing

to hide the lower half of my shame, and a t shirt could hide the upper half. i

didn't find any swim shorts. i found a dark blue suit with a skirt at fashion

bug plus for ten

bucks (because it was october) and put a t shirt over it and went swimming. i

was very self conscious and it was quite awkward the first few times, but i felt

so good about my swimming that i kept going.

about a month later i stopped wearing the t shirt because it was just getting in

my way. it was so heavy when it was wet and a struggle to get off. i've been

going swimming 3 times a week since then and i care much less about others

seeing my in my suit. i can't pretend i don't care at all. i'm still self

conscious, but i fight

it. i get dressed in the locker room with everyone else instead of in a

bathroom stall. two teenage girls laughed at me the other day and it really

hurt my feelings, but i'm not sure if they laughed at me because of my fat or

because of my extensive body modification. both draw stares and attract

attention. but the most important

thing is how great i feel about swimming! i love it and i feel great about

myself for doing it.

put yourself first, and just go do it! being in the water is very therapeutic

and you'll feel great for the exercise. i know how emotional it can be to get

into that suit. it had been about 20 years since i'd worn a bathing suit, but

i'm so glad i didn't let my fear stop me from getting in the water. and i also

see plenty of

other overweight people there, so i'm not alone. and neither are you!

erika

bmi 47?

pre op

ps. by the way, i haven't lost any weight since starting this exercise program

but i have noticed a slight reduction in my pain levels.

> Message: 21

> Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 15:43:55 -0000

> From: sbrown@...

> Subject: Swimsuits, water arobics, and FEAR...Oh NO!!

>

> I have been trying to muster up the nerve to join the water arobics

> class for a couple of months now. Well, this morning I put my

> swimsuit in the car. Class is tonight. Maybe I will get brave and

> go, maybe it will take me another month to get the nerve, but at

> least I have done the first step, to put my stuff in the car so I can

> do if today *IF* I get the nerve. Wow, to put on a swimsuit and walk

> out in public with PEOPLE, that is like going to the mall naked,

> LOL! My thighs are just a huge ugly mass of cottage cheese, really

> horrific. And my tummy apron, well let's not even GO there! :-(

> I just think that if I can get the nerve to go, it will help me with

> my plateaus as well as add some fun to my life. I hate winter and

> this weather is really getting to me right now, I want to be outside

> planting flowers and cutting grass and enjoying the outdoors again!

> Anyway, I am kind of venting this morning, looking for support and

> understanding for my intimidation about going to water arobics, etc.

> I have no support group here in SC, few people know I had the WLS,

> and so YOU are my rock, my support, my friends. Thanks for being

> there! {{{big tight squishy group hug}}}

> Brown, SC

> Switched 10/11/00, 55 lbs. gone and plateauing AGAIN

February 8, 2001

Jackie, , , you really are awesome. I don't know why I am

so emotional this morning, but reading your responses to my post made

me cry. It feels so good to know someone else understands. I

promise to try to go tonight , and I will imagine you are there

with me.

B.

> susan, i feel your pain. but i'm here to tell you TO HELL WITH

WHAT SOMEONE MAY THINK OF YOUR BODY!

>

> about four months ago i joined the ymca with the intention of

swimming for exercise. for awhile i pretended that i could find some

swim shorts type thing to hide the lower half of my shame, and a t

shirt could hide the upper half. i didn't find any swim shorts. i

found a dark blue suit with a skirt at fashion bug plus for ten

> bucks (because it was october) and put a t shirt over it and went

swimming. i was very self conscious and it was quite awkward the

first few times, but i felt so good about my swimming that i kept

going.

>

> about a month later i stopped wearing the t shirt because it was

just getting in my way. it was so heavy when it was wet and a

struggle to get off. i've been going swimming 3 times a week since

then and i care much less about others seeing my in my suit. i can't

pretend i don't care at all. i'm still self conscious, but i fight

> it. i get dressed in the locker room with everyone else instead of

in a bathroom stall. two teenage girls laughed at me the other day

and it really hurt my feelings, but i'm not sure if they laughed at

me because of my fat or because of my extensive body modification.

both draw stares and attract attention. but the most important

> thing is how great i feel about swimming! i love it and i feel

great about myself for doing it.

>

> put yourself first, and just go do it! being in the water is very

therapeutic and you'll feel great for the exercise. i know how

emotional it can be to get into that suit. it had been about 20

years since i'd worn a bathing suit, but i'm so glad i didn't let my

fear stop me from getting in the water. and i also see plenty of

> other overweight people there, so i'm not alone. and neither are

you!

>

> erika

> bmi 47?

> pre op

>

> ps. by the way, i haven't lost any weight since starting this

exercise program but i have noticed a slight reduction in my pain

levels.

>

> > Message: 21

> > Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 15:43:55 -0000

> > From: sbrown@b...

> > Subject: Swimsuits, water arobics, and FEAR...Oh NO!!

> >

> > I have been trying to muster up the nerve to join the water

arobics

> > class for a couple of months now. Well, this morning I put my

> > swimsuit in the car. Class is tonight. Maybe I will get brave

and

> > go, maybe it will take me another month to get the nerve, but at

> > least I have done the first step, to put my stuff in the car so I

can

> > do if today *IF* I get the nerve. Wow, to put on a swimsuit and

walk

> > out in public with PEOPLE, that is like going to the mall naked,

> > LOL! My thighs are just a huge ugly mass of cottage cheese,

really

> > horrific. And my tummy apron, well let's not even GO there! :-(

> > I just think that if I can get the nerve to go, it will help me

with

> > my plateaus as well as add some fun to my life. I hate winter and

> > this weather is really getting to me right now, I want to be

outside

> > planting flowers and cutting grass and enjoying the outdoors

again!

> > Anyway, I am kind of venting this morning, looking for support and

> > understanding for my intimidation about going to water arobics,

etc.

> > I have no support group here in SC, few people know I had the WLS,

> > and so YOU are my rock, my support, my friends. Thanks for being

> > there! {{{big tight squishy group hug}}}

> > Brown, SC

> > Switched 10/11/00, 55 lbs. gone and plateauing AGAIN

February 8, 2001

In a message dated 2/8/2001 5:10:16 PM Eastern Standard Time,

serenn@... writes:

<< Tell you what: I will

if you will... and I don't have a suit yet, >>

Stella......uh...I think you might want to get a suit. LOL

Jackie Ward

jward533@...

February 8, 2001

! I am so glad to see you posting about this. I have joined the Y

down the street and had been going a couple nights a week but lately I

have been sick so haven't gone. I also feel I have not been losing any

weight in weeks, never mind that I haven't gotten on a reliable scale in

that amount of time, either. I feel I might have hit a plateau

already. My surgery was on 12/4/00 and last time I looked I had lost

about 38 pounds. So I like you am trying to step up the loss again, and

what a great way to do it, particularly for me, as I have some back

problems and am WAY out of shape! I am going to start water aerobics at

the Y as soon as I get over this nasty cold, and I encourage you to not

only go tonight but to make a routine out of going and take the space

and time you need to do this for yourself! Let's hold each other up on

this. I'm game for exercising, yet I know how hard it is to get

started. Do your thang, girl!

Robin F

February 8, 2001

I am pre op and there's no amount of cottage cheese in the world that

could keep me away from the pool! Go for it! I think you'll really

enjoy it and you won't even think about how you look in that swim

suit!

Jodie

> I have been trying to muster up the nerve to join the water arobics

> class for a couple of months now. Well, this morning I put my

> swimsuit in the car. Class is tonight. Maybe I will get brave and

> go, maybe it will take me another month to get the nerve, but at

> least I have done the first step, to put my stuff in the car so I

can

> do if today *IF* I get the nerve. Wow, to put on a swimsuit and

walk

> out in public with PEOPLE, that is like going to the mall naked,

> LOL! My thighs are just a huge ugly mass of cottage cheese, really

> horrific. And my tummy apron, well let's not even GO there! :-

(

> I just think that if I can get the nerve to go, it will help me

with

> my plateaus as well as add some fun to my life. I hate winter and

> this weather is really getting to me right now, I want to be

outside

> planting flowers and cutting grass and enjoying the outdoors

again!

> Anyway, I am kind of venting this morning, looking for support and

> understanding for my intimidation about going to water arobics,

etc.

> I have no support group here in SC, few people know I had the WLS,

> and so YOU are my rock, my support, my friends. Thanks for being

> there! {{{big tight squishy group hug}}}

> Brown, SC

> Switched 10/11/00, 55 lbs. gone and plateauing AGAIN

February 8, 2001

,

I KNOW that you will love being in the water once you get there. Here are a

couple of ideas to make it easier mentally and physically!! I have done water

aerobics and walking, mostly on my own (not a class) and I agree that the

getting into the pool past the gauntlet of wide eyes, ( is it ALL in my mind?),

is the hardest part.

This is what I did to make it easier:

1) call and ask what is the least crowded time of day/night to go.

2) go once on a day that you're fully clothed for an inspection of the suiting

up/shower area, including Handicapped facilities (a toilet stall can be a good

place to change if needed), so that I can rehearse how I will handle any

problems, best route to and from the parking etc., also check out if there are

real stairs with a rail into the water as opposed to a ladder (its hard enough

to climb up stairs as I re-enter the gravity pull of earth!)

3) see if there are any senior women groups that meet and either join them

(even if you're NOT a senior they are usually tickled to let you join in and

they are mostly long past the 'checking out the bod' stage of life) or see if

there's room to lurk (with permission) on the edges!

4) find/make the biggest towel known to mankind to wrap in till you're at the

water,LOL.

5) get a cover-up that makes your heart sing!

Once you've done it a time or two no one will be able to keep you away. I've

been to a health club pool with my daughter that was in and outdoors (even in

the winter in W Wash!) and it was fabulous! the Y is do-able they gave me my own

'laps lane' right on the edge of the pool to do my walking in, and a health club

near me was fine too (I even went in the sauna in the quiet part of the day

there).

Just remember that people are most always happily willing to help us succeed if

we ask.

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!

Kathy in Arlington

February 8, 2001

, I've been trying to get up the nerve to join our Y and take

water aerobics ever since we moved here (1997). Tell you what: I will

if you will... and I don't have a suit yet, so I'll have to scramble!

--stella

February 8, 2001

Luckee, fat DOES float!! I did make it to class tonight...we did one exercise where you put your back against the pool, stretch your arms out and hold on the the pool sides, and scissor your legs open and closed in front of you. You are supposed to keep your back against the wall...but I couldn't because I kept floating upwards! I need a butt-hook if they want me to keep my back stuck to the wall! LOL

It was fun, though. Thanks for the support!

B., SC

You are too funny....LOL

AJ glad u went and enjoyed!

February 8, 2001

Luckee, fat DOES float!! I did make it to class tonight...we did one exercise where you put your back against the pool, stretch your arms out and hold on the the pool sides, and scissor your legs open and closed in front of you. You are supposed to keep your back against the wall...but I couldn't because I kept floating upwards! I need a butt-hook if they want me to keep my back stuck to the wall! LOL

It was fun, though. Thanks for the support!

B., SC

You are too funny....LOL

AJ glad u went and enjoyed!

February 8, 2001

, everybody looks better in the water. Fat FLOATS !!! Go have some fun,

nobody is looking. ( and if they are, wink at them)

Luckee In Vegas