Swimsuit Help
 

Hi guys, coming out of lurking mode hoping someone might be able to help me. I love to swim. However, I haven't BEEN swimming in 10 years, not once :( (I'm 27) I'm sure a lot of you can understand my not wanting to go anywhere where a swimsuit is required... But I MISS it, and the only thing that has happened in the last 10 years is my *gaining* 100 lbs. I guess lately I am just tired of saying "Someday when I lose weight..." I want to go this summer, and it's probably good exercise for someone who is a couch potato. But... the suit. *shudder* I know I'll have to cram myself into some spandex nightmare, but my problem is I've been cursed with a large chest-and I'm pretty mortified to even start this topic, but I see so many others posting uncomfortable things and everyone is so supportive. So, does anyone have any ideas where to find a super supportive suit-as in bra-like support? I currently squeeze into a 40G bra (I have never been able to figure the correct size) and *whine* gravity has not been my friend :( I can't afford much, I've seen some suits but all over $100 which is just not feasable. I just hate to let another year go by because I can't wear "normal" suits :(

(I wrote this and didn't submit it earlier-now I am back from Walmart and as suspected there was nothing there for me. I tried on two but there was no support. I don't know if it was the mirror or if I really look that bad, but I was about in tears. I think I have only been looking in chest high mirrors, that full length one have me feeling really down :( )

Walmart is bad for that kind of thing. I don't like the way their "plus sized" stuff is structured. Have you tried fashionbug online? I have paid about $100 for most of my bathing suits, but there's less choice in Canada for plus sized bathing suits. Failing that, I used to have breast problems (too long to explain), but before I had surgery, I used to cut the straps off actual bras and sew them into the bathing suit. You need to get a suit that has a lining to do that though.

Lane Bryant's web site has some nice suits with support to size 24. The Avenue goes to size 28 and has some cute ones too.

I see some cute swim shorts as well. I might get some.

Hugs,
Ratkity

Thank you guys, I'll try looking at fashion bug and lane bryant online :D I guess I am just afraid of paying so much for something, and since you can't try it on when you order online... :P Haha! I have thought of trying to sew a bra in one, but I can't sew! :D

I just got this one and LOVE it! Plus everything on the site is 30% off through tomorrow, so it ends up being less than $30. It looks as cute as it can for someone with my size, and it really flatters my shape (gigantic boobs, fat belly and arms).

Another place I always have good luck is Lands End

Hi Kitsey,
I have the same problem. I wear a cup size 44H. A few years ago I found a swimsuit that allows you to wear your own bra under it. Here is one quite like the one I have, mine was black with floral top. I will be ordering a new suit this year due to me snagging mine on the deck around our pool.
www.swimsuitsjustforus.com/959671.html

Hope this helps!

Learn

Thanks so much everyone! ParadiseFalls-I saw that same suit on eBay a little while ago and put a 'watch' on it, just in case. I was worried that the underwire portion might not be big enough :( (I ENVY flat-chested people!) I do think that one looks nice, and I like that the straps kinda come from the sides.

Learningtoliveagain-YES! THAT is what I think I need! Something I can wear a bra WITH! Honestly, as I type I am wearing a swimsuit with my bra underneath, I was wondering if I could hide it somehow (no go!) :P But that suit you linked seems like the prefect idea! Thank you! I was feeling so down having searched all over and not coming up with anything-I think I might give this one a try! Once again I envy people who don't have to consider things like this!

I just bought 2 suits at JMS.com (just my size)... they have a great selection and all of them are low cost... they also sell a lot of seperates for "tankinis" so you can get a bigger top if need be to accomodate you!

Originally Posted by Kitsey:
! ParadiseFalls-I saw that same suit on eBay a little while ago and put a 'watch' on it, just in case. I was worried that the underwire portion might not be big enough :(

If it helps, I wear a size 22/24 pants and a 42E bra. I got the 2X and it's a little snug but I think it'll fit soon.

I agree with Amy, Just My Size is a great place to find a good, reasonably priced swimsuit. If you are in the water alot, you might go through two over the summer. Just keep that in mind.

I read how you were afraid to get back in the water at your size, this may help get over your fear.

My son is Book Wyrm here in the 300+ community. He's always been a big guy since the minute he entered this life, he couldn't be a wallflower even if he wanted to. He turns 16 in a few weeks, he's 6 foot 2 and weighs 325 pounds.
Last summer, him and his sisters had some friends over and they all went down to swim at the pool here at our apartment complex. A male friend of my daughters had tagged along, he weighed 50 pounds less than my son but was so embarrassed of his size, he wouldn't get in the pool. It was 105 degrees outside and he just sat, roasting like a pig. Now mind you at this time, our pool is full of very attractive, very thin college girls.
I watched my son and could tell he was mulling over his options. Should he get in the water and swim and expose himself to everyone or should he sit and try and blend into the background only enjoying the moment from afar? In some ways, he is wiser than almost every adult I've ever met. He flung off his shirt, ran screaming across the pool deck with his man boobs flapping in the wind, and cannonballed into the deep end.
It wasn't that he was no longer self conscious or that he had instantly fallen in love with the body he had, it was that he understood he was beautiful and he had as much right as anyone else to be there. He had the right to enjoy himself and have happiness and he did.
I asked him later about it and his answer was, "I only get one life and sixty years from now, what I'll regret is not the things I did, but instead the ones I was too afraid to even try because I allowed the opinions of people I don't know and who don't love me dictate my actions."
From the mouth of babes....

I know exactly what you mean. I found the perfect one , i even sent in a testimonial because i loved it so much . im big and its cute and sexy and i feel so comfortable in it . look around at this site . i love it. www.swimsuitsforall.com

Definitely feel for you, I chose a swimsuit last year that would hide my own bra and what an improvement. I will never not use my own bra again unless I find one just as supportive, I'm a 38G now but was a 44H and I know where you're coming from. Another good idea is to go to the store to try on suits based on styles, that way you'll have an idea of what you like and then buy one online in your size, its always hard for me to picture myself in a suit unless I've tried it on and know how it will generally look on me.

Good luck!

Thanks for all those websites, I'm checking them out too!

Oh and if you do order online... check out retailmenot to see if you can find some discount coupon codes to save you a little money. I rarely by anything online without looking there first!

sweetcakes - that is AWESOME!!!!! I hate the way my bdoy looks now, but fortunately I love the water more... so alas, everyone else will have to get over themselves when I go swim :)

I could have written your post only a few weeks ago. We recently took a weeks vacation to the beach and with the weight loss I have had since last summer I was in serious need of a new swimsuit. My old bathing suit just let the girls, ummm, how should I say it.... "lay around". I could not find anything, so when I got to the beach, I went shopping at Dillards (department store),and I found in the womens section these bathing suits by Coco Reef. http://www.dillards.com/webapp/wcs/s...ctId=502177535 It is the best bathing suit I have ever owned. For the top you select your size and then in addition to your size you also select your bra size. Once you click on the link, select the item box and select "Tankini Top", then when you click on size it will list the sizes. This particular one goes up to 46DD. It has a built in bra inside the swimsuit. I don't mean one of those elastic band things in most swimuits, it is a real underwire bra that is a true cup size. I don't think I will ever own another brand swimsuit again. I was able to wear the bathing suit all day long and never feel like the girls had to be "lifted". I haven't been that comfortable in a bathing suit in a long time.

Sorry for the delay in replying, I had to take a COMPASS test tonight and was cramming yesterday and today :P (I needed a 32 on math, and got a 90! Woo!)

Anyway, thanks SO much for all your help you guys!

@Sweetcakes-what a fantastic story! Wow, your son is amazing, I'd love to have a 10th of his positive attitude! He really is wise, I bet many of us spend our whole lives without figuring out how to live! what he said really made me stop and think about the last 10 years of my life-how many things I've missed out on. I don't want to do that any more.

@OrganizedChaos-Ooo! I'm tossing that link into my bookmarks, they don't offer a size large enough for me now, but I desperately hope that I'll lose weight in my chest and maybe be able to order one of those in the future :D I'm very glad to have that link, since so many suits say that have an underwire, but you can't choose the size! :P Ha, that elsstic band in most suits is a joke! >.<

@AmyMW-Neat! I've never heard of retailmenot-but I'm going to try and remember it! Haha-yes, everyone can get over themselves-I LOVE swimming!

@kocean-I'm sorry you have to deal with this too :( I never even considered they might make suits to hide a bra, but now that I know about them I can't wait to get one. I am sad to say that at this weight, I don't even consider liking a style, I'm just happy to find something that fits :( I can't wait until I am smaller and have more options!