In my opinion your body looks really toned, except for your belly, but that's normal considering you have children. I may be in minority here, but I love how that red color looks an you. I have stretch marks too, and I'm only 25 and never had a baby. Aging is a natural process, there's nothing to be embarrassed about, I would rock a bikini if I were you without any problem. It's your holiday, you should be enjoying the sun and relaxing, don't worry about anything else. You look great! I also liked the Freya bathing suit you linked here, I would get for myself, but unfortunately I don't think it fits my body shape.
I've been looking for foldover bikinis. After 2 kids and 1 c-section, I got loose skin that will never ever go away (short of surgery). I think the foldover bikini bottoms are a great idea for women who may want to show off some skin but also want to conceal a few little things.
When the suits arrive, I'll take photos in better lighting, with a better camera with a better setting period. I still have a couple months to work on more toning and weight loss before the season opens at the pool. And I might wait until vacation for the bikini - bikinis are more common there for women of all ages and sizes than here. Which is part of the reason I wanted to get it. They are much less into the "your body has to be perfect to wear a bikini" there than here - at least on the Croatian coast.
THough, few women are fat - but saggy skin, stretch marks, older women - they all wear bikinis and men of all sizes and ages wear speedos. It's a different culture. Fatness isn't really acceptable, but aging and body flaws are.
Yes, that is a weird cultural thing here in the states. It's all youth and beauty oriented, marketing, marketing, marketing. If you don't look perfect, you should be buying this product so you do and then you can live your life the way you want. That line of thinking has been so bad for our society, sucking the joy and potential out of people's lives. Life wasn't meant to be photoshopped. Besides, sometimes age does the body good and that's a stage I wouldn't want to miss out on.
I have noticed, it's also like that with sports. Why do people in the states think that sports are only for the youth? Why do so many people look up from their coffee and coffee cake to say "it's so great they still play tennis at 50"? Why shouldn't they still be active? I must have missed the memo but I don't intend to retire to my rocking chair until I can't get around anymore. I hope to always be active and participating in life.
Thank you. I do want honesty and I do have the worst skin. I started getting stretch marks with growing. i got them for everything. During my pregnancy, I was still losing weight, but was getting stretch marks. My sister who gained 70 pounds didn't get any stretch marks. Where's the fairness in that?
I do workout - I lift weights 2 times a week (about to up it to 3 times a week) and do cardio 2-3 times a week, but I have stretch marks and loose skin issues. Those are my battle scars, right? If after all is said and done and I live healthily ever after, bad skin is the least of my worries.
I have horrible skin, too. But in another way. Lots of moles and skin tags, plus psoriasis, which is totally unseen and controlled, but still exists. Ugh.
With the attitude you have of Battle scars, and where you're at in Croatia (?) GO FOR IT! Heck, more of us should have your attitude.
So I guess I am formally retracting my original advice to forgo the bikini.
I have horrible skin, too. But in another way. Lots of moles and skin tags, plus psoriasis, which is totally unseen and controlled, but still exists. Ugh.
With the attitude you have of Battle scars, and where you're at in Croatia (?) GO FOR IT! Heck, more of us should have your attitude.
So I guess I am formally retracting my original advice to forgo the bikini.
Rock it out, sister.
I'm in Maryland in the states, but my husband (and mother in law) are from Croatia. We go every few years. This trip we will be going to Dubrovnik, the island Mljet and along the coast near Vodice and Zadar and then end in Zagreb (where my husband is from).
Here's info about Mljet - it's a national park. My husband's family has friends who own one of the few houses on the island. We will stay there for 8 days: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mljet
And see, this old woman is wearing a bikini in Croatia:
Typical beach in Croatia: Rocky and all sorts of people. The young are BEAUTIFUL - some of the most beautiful people in the world, but all ages enjoy the beaches as you can see:
More with Etsy (I just love that site)... Have you thought of something like this? It hides or reveals as much as you want, and you can wear it like a tankini at the pool or bikini at the beach without haveing to buy 2 seperate suits. http://www.etsy.com/listing/85508779...p-bathing-suit
More with Etsy (I just love that site)... Have you thought of something like this? It hides or reveals as much as you want, and you can wear it like a tankini at the pool or bikini at the beach without haveing to buy 2 seperate suits. http://www.etsy.com/listing/85508779...p-bathing-suit
Thanks gals for thinking about me. I actually did a search on Etsy, but I'm hestiant for several reasons. First, is the material right and second, how is the elastic? The move of the fabric. I will be swimming, not just sitting around trying to look cute. And thirdly, I think I would feel more self conscious in a 'different' suit than a standard suit. I would feel like it's obvious I'm trying to hide something with such a high waist bottom.
Ok, so I'm 48 years old, 5ft 3 1/2in and currently 153 - but I've never had children or gotten stretch marks...
Personally, I'm hip for a tankini - they're versatile & cover what I want to cover without looking too dowdy or age-istic. Two major things to consider: with your breast size, a bikini just ain't cool with the support! - YOU NEED THE SUPPORT WOMAN! - A tankini can act more as a support than a simple bikini top could ever hope to. Also, your stomach area will never be "bikini-istic " no matter how much weight you lose. Only surgery can help your problem area there.
Tankinis are better than one-piece suits because you CAN get the stomach coverage and you don't have to get crazy to go to the bathroom. Maybe a minor thought for you, but OMG how I HATE to go to the bathroom when I'm wearing a one-piece! It's **** getting it on/off if it's the tiniest bit damp. ACk!
Also, tankinis are very (what I call) "age appropriate". I can wear a bikini - even at 153 lb. I choose NOT TO. I'm not 25 anymore. I'm not 38 anymore. I'm 48. I'm not ashamed of it, but I see no reason to try to "look younger" when it's clear that I'm not.
You have done AN AMAZING JOB losing the weight. I know you're not at goal yet, but you'll get there!! But I think if you wear a bikini you'll be self-conscious all the while. What's the fun in that? Wouldn't you rather wear something that is totally complementary to your body/age/style than to worry about whatever body part you're unhappy with? I'm not saying that a 42yo (or 50yo or 65yo, whatever) can't wear a bikini. Obviously you can wear whateverthellfire you wanna wear! And if you WANT to wear a bikini, then wear it! - regardless of what anyone thinks or says! -but then, you wouldn't have come here for our opinions, right?
And I did like that tankini you ordered. I think you'll look great in it! Good color, good coverage, good everything!
Last edited by Beach Patrol; 04-04-2012 at 03:51 PM.
with your breast size, a bikini just ain't cool with the support! - YOU NEED THE SUPPORT WOMAN!- A tankini can act more as a support than a simple bikini top could ever hope to.
This I don't agree with. If you order a suit that has the 'girls' in mind, it can be as supportive if not more supportive in a bikini than a tankini. There are just so many cheap suits out there that bigger busted girls force themselves into when they shouldn't. A tankini - to have good support for the large breasted would also need a built in bra - otherwise it's just smashing the boobs in a very unflattering way.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beach Patrol
Also, tankinis are very (what I call) "age appropriate". I can wear a bikini - even at 153 lb. I choose NOT TO. I'm not 25 anymore. I'm not 38 anymore. I'm 48. I'm not ashamed of it, but I see no reason to try to "look younger" when it's clear that I'm not.
And I did like that tankini you ordered. I think you'll look great in it! Good color, good coverage, good everything!
I agree with this to a point. There is age appropriate bikinis and non-age appropriate bikinis IMO. A non age approrpiate bikini would be a piece of triangle over the boobs and a piece of triangle over the pubic area and the butt. An age appropriate bikini is a full coverage bra top and a full coverage bottom - the only thing a tankini or one piece over that is the cloth stretching over the tummy.
I totally agree that only surgery will help my tummy (and underarms) and because of that I think I'll probably mostly wear the tankini. But if I were 50 and had a rocking belly? I would wear a bikini - for sure!
Just for funzies, in 2006, I was 42, this was me (used to be my avatar here)
I was 138 lb there. THREE lb from goal (never made it ... re-injured my shoulder & couldn't exercise for 12 weeks & just gained back everything I'd lost PLUS more... waaahhh)
I'm only 15 lbs from that now. But! ... 6 years later, I have more of a poochy tummy, and quite a bit more cellulite. So ... meh. But I'd still wear that. (in my backyard, at my pool).
Me last summer (on right) at 165 lb:
Not TOO bad, but notice it's only from waist up!
Just for funzies, in 2006, I was 42, this was me (used to be my avatar here)
I was 138 lb there. THREE lb from goal (never made it ... re-injured my shoulder & couldn't exercise for 12 weeks & just gained back everything I'd lost PLUS more... waaahhh)
I'm only 15 lbs from that now. But! ... 6 years later, I have more of a poochy tummy, and quite a bit more cellulite. So ... meh. But I'd still wear that. (in my backyard, at my pool).
Me last summer (on right) at 165 lb:
Not TOO bad, but notice it's only from waist up!
Girl!!!! You have (and had) a rocking body!!! Wear the darn bikini!!! You still look better than 99% of people your age. Heck anyone over 30!!!
Why shouldn't they still be active? I must have missed the memo but I don't intend to retire to my rocking chair until I can't get around anymore. I hope to always be active and participating in life. 
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Maybe a minor thought for you, but OMG how I HATE to go to the bathroom when I'm wearing a one-piece! It's **** getting it on/off if it's the tiniest bit damp. ACk! 
... re-injured my shoulder & couldn't exercise for 12 weeks & just gained back everything I'd lost PLUS more... waaahhh)
