Bathing suits...blah...
 

I haven't put a bathing suit on my body in probably about five years. Didn't like how I looked in them. Well, on Saturday we're going to visit a family member with a pool, and do some Fourth of July swimming, cooking out, etc. So a bathing suit was needed, and I was actually fairly excited...I mean, I'm in a size 4 or 6 suit now, so there'd be a TON of options, right?!

Wrong.

ALL the store had were two pieces. I tried on a few "tankini" tops that covered my midsection...but the tops were a no go. They had bra tops built in, but "The girl" are so gross with all the hanging skin that they wouldn't fit right into them, no matter how tight I tied the top and/or back.

So I bought a sleeveless workout top and shorts to wear. Sucks that I lost 80 pounds and still can't wear or find a decent bathing suit.

The only good thing about my trip Saturday? Made a definite decision that I want breast implants now. I'd been going back and forth, but crying in the dressing room over how much that shopping trip sucked simply because of my chest was the last straw. Saving up starting today...

Mindi--I am in the same boat youre in with "the girls." I did manage a suit but after a ton of trying on and trying on. Unlike you, I don't have any boobs. I ended up finding two sets of fake boobies that are sewn inside my suit--yes, two sets.

I am also in North Texas and have located a doctor I feel really great about. A friend of mine just had surgery last week. If you decide you want his name, let me know. He will do a consult for fifty dollars.

The best thing about 3FC is not being alone. I wen through this process last summer. I was so excited to try on bathing suits and so horrified when I did. I settled on swimming shorts and a bikini top with another top with built in bra over it. Between the loose skin on my belly and the sad condition of the girls it's the most workable solution I've found so far.

This is the first year I've felt great in a swimsuit for 20 years! I bought one at Walmart (what a joke) and the bottoms were too big and the top didn't cover the nipples even. I'm a 32G so life is rather interesting. Finally I broke down and got a really nice tankini from LandsEnd. The swimskirt is a size 6 which fits fine and the top is an 8 with a DD shelf bra. I was totally amazed that it fit! I even wear it to mow the lawn, LOL

I haven't looked very hard for one yet (I want to!), but I KNOW it will have to have underwire. All those soft cup swimsuits out there kind of mystify me.

Hmmm...maybe an underwire suit would've worked. But the selection was HORRIBLE!!!

Yeah, and I just don't get that. I don't *think* most women are so perky. Maybe I'm wrong.

Same here...just don't understand. There's no WAY a major retail store could possibly believe that all women want skimpy two pieces or non-supportive cups...

Which store did you go to? Maybe try a few more? I looked for one piece at Khols in the spring but they were UGLY but that is where I got my two other simple, plain one piece suits. What about Dicks? They have speedo brands. They are usually expensive but maybe they will have a sale going on right about now.

We went to Target and Wal-Mart...didn't have a lot of time, and the husband was sick of hanging out while I shopped. I didn't want to spend a ton, because this is literally the first time I've had a desire to swim in 5 years, or had access to a pool. So no telling when I'll be around one again...may look again Thursday at some other places though, since I may be shopping without the husband...

I would definitely go look elsewhere. Walmart and Target really do seem to cater to teenagers who want skimpy bikinis. Especially Target.

I found a nice 2 piece tankini at Kohls. It has underwire support and is not very skimpy. The only thing is that I am not thrilled with the bottom which is like a skirt and flares up the moment I enter the water. Kohls also had shorts that went with the top and I might go and buy that.

I saw a lot of nice suits at Kohl's, I agree that Wal Mart & Target are all two piece or soft cups. You can try JC Penney's also - they had a good selection last time I was in there.

It was trying on lingerie that made me decide on breast implants, not bathing suits, but for similar reasons. I had lost weight but nothing I tried on anywhere fit me right. Not just didn't fit right, looked really terrible on my tiny yet seriously saggy bobbies. I went into the shopping experience looking forward to it, left pretty devastated. Feel free to PM me if you have any breast augmentation questions.

Lands' End should be your friend!

They have a TON of one-piece options. Some have underwire. They even have mastectomy suits that you can put inserts into, if you want to practice what it might be like to have implants that you so desire! ;)

And it isn't like the lighting in the bathing suit shops is flattering!!! OMG, my heart is breaking for you. After all the work, you'd think this one thing wouldn't suck so MUCH...I'm so sorry, hon...
:hug:

Kira

I haven't been in a swimsuit for 4 years but begin to think about one for next summer. What I have been trying to spot is a one piece with a little skirt - tops of legs not ever too good and (tmi alert) rampant fupa problems!

I know high end expensive catalogues sell them but I've been looking without success in the cheaper ranges, as it wouldn't get That much wear, just be good to have.

I have bathing suits, not a problem. The problem has been buying a wet suit. I got one and it has no room for my DD chest in it. I suppose only boys and waifs are suppose to surf :(

I don't understand swimsuit sizing.
I'm usually an 8 or 10 in clothes, but I was trying on size 12 and 14 swimsuits and Kohl's and they didn't fit.
I got disgusted and left--empty handed :(

I recently decided to get just a bikini top (for when i am doing some gardening). I am very white skinned and I don't really get a tan but I hate how my forearms do get a bit of tan and my upper arms are all white if I wear short-sleeved T's. Well I ditched all the short-sleeved T's (because they were all rather tent-like) and I either garden in tank tops or now in the bikini top.

It was quite an ordeal to find something though. I went to Zehrs and yes all the bikini tops have the soft cups - none with underwire. I did buy one but then I went to WalMart and found a similar one, all black (I don't need a big butterfly over one boob, especially not over the BIGGER boob LOL) but it is also soft-cupped. Since it was $13 or so I bought it (and I burned my back in it on Saturday).
But I hate that most stores have the bikini tops and bottoms as sets (i.e. you cannot buy the top in size 10 and the bottom in size 6, for example). I think the stores are seriously limiting their options as to who will shop there (unless they all cater to teenagers who tend to be more uniformly sized although I would bet it must be difficult for some of them as well).

Mindi,
I am surprised that you had such a hard time since we are very similar in size - I am 5'8.5" as well and my starting weight was 209. Although I still have boobs, I guess that's the difference. I never liked tankinis myself.
Often, I think that one piece bathing suit is a nice option as you get everything tucked in and one doesn't have to worry about stretched skin in the midsection etc.

Sorry Mindi,
I didn't realized that you are now 140 lbs. Wow - kudos to you!!!

Thanks...I tried to stop at 160, but the last several months of my weight loss things got weird. I wouldn't lose a POUND all month, then at the end of my TOM I'd drop 5 or 6 pounds at a time that wouldn't come back. So when I tried to start maintaining, I had a heck of a time finding my maintenance calories because I couldn't tell for a month at a time if I was doing ok...hence another 20 pounds over four months of trying to figure it out...

I remember having boobs at 160...crazy how big a difference 20 pounds makes in that area...

Victoria's Secret has tons of options with tons of support. I know two girls who got their tankinis from VS and their boobs look magnificent :)

This has been a really helpful thread. I might brave the stores again and see what I find.

Mindi- It's amazing how often you post things that I could have written. Thanks!

Hmmm, my problem is my LOWER body, (I'm one of the "Pear People.") This year I ended up buying a bikini, but I also got a big, light scarf to tie around my waist, (which hangs down to my knees. Perfect!) :D

I may not break down and BUY a bathing suit this Thursday when I go shopping again, since we may not even end up swimming Saturday after all (and I'm covered for that with the top and shorts I bought) but I'm at least going to try some on. I want to get into a few with an underwire bra top and see how things "hold up." Just for self-esteem purposes....

I didn't even think about VS Mindi, but they do have a lot of suits with underwire support, and some push up padding even. They also sell the tankini tops separate from the bottoms.

Try Fashion Bug (if you have one near you...or you can check out their website). They have one pieces and tankinis with skirt bottoms in both plus and misses sizes and they're around $40-50.

My problem with Victoria's Secret so far has been that I can't get bras the size I need in-store...I need a 32C to hold all the skin, and none of the in-store styles fit. I've gotta order online...wonder if it'd be the same with swimsuits?

Yes, I think you do have to order online, most stores don't carry the swimwear or clothes. I would also check out department stores like Macy's.

Personally, I lucked out and found a tankini top at Target that holds my 34Bs quite well, but I wouldn't go down any water slides in it! ;)

I know that this is one issue that I have already and am quite certain it's one that will get worse as the weight comes off. I'm sorry you got upset.

My new suit is underwire.

I, too, was a little excited to try on suits after losing some weight, and I, too, emerged from the changeroom in tears.

Until I found my Fantasizer suit. It has a built in underwire, soft cup bra. It's super supportive. It is great; I suggest it to everyone before they consider implants (I was considering them too, and won't rule them out entirely, but my new suit works wonders -- it's so supportive you could wear it strapless if you wanted to).

It retails at $120 ish, but I got it for $50 on sale. :)

I'm the opposite -- I wear 14 pants but was trying on 12 suits. Reason? I'm short. Don't forget that "long torso" suits are also an option for taller women. That may be why your size wasn't fitting. Perhaps you have a longer torso or larger chest?

Was wondering ...

It's been years since I've bought a real swimsuit, but years ago you could buy the tops and bottoms separately to size them correctly. Have you all seen this option in any stores lately?