This is my last semester at college, and my big group of friends want to go on Spring Break to this place with an indoor waterpark, beach, etc. I've lost a lot of weight but I'm not where I want to be, and it would NOT be healthy for me to rush my body to its goal in one month.

I don't want to miss out, but I've never been in a bathing suit in my life, and I REFUSE to in front of my naturally skinny girlfriends. I'm extremely modest, but I'll look ridiculous sitting on the side of an indoor waterpark in a coverup.

My stomach is in knots... I know a lot of you will say, "Feel beautiful! Wear a bathing suit!" But PLEASE, I know there's got to be some of you who will completely 100% understand why I'm freaking out.

PLEASE help me

I'm in a similar boat, I'm going to Florida for spring break. Part of me cringes at the thought because I really had hoped to have lost more weight by now and I too agree that it would be really unhealthy to rush my body into it.

I'm going to do it though. Life is too short for me to not live it because I'm disgusted by body. I did that all through high school and now I have almost no pictures and no happy memories because I was too ashamed. I may look lumpy and large next to my flat, toned friends but dammit I'm gonna have fun. I'm not about to sit on the sidelines any more and watch my friends live the life I wish I had.

I'm sorry if this comes across insensitive because that's not at all how I mean it. The way its worded is more for me, it's more a declaration I'm making to myself to change because I'm sick of feeling left out when in fact I had plenty of times to join but I was to ashamed or scared to.

Pick your response - I've got one for every personality.

Supportive: 5'6" and 146? You are SO in bathing suit shape! ROCK IT!

Pyschological: You aren't seeing yourself the way you really are now.

Experienced: Your "naturally skinny" girlfriends have just as many hangups about their body as you do about yours. They probably are thinking " I wish I had enough curves to fill out the damn suit."

Realistic. Your girlfriends dont care what your body looks like and dont see it nearly as harshly as you do.

MammaBear: Life is too damn short to skip fun and friendship for want of a perfect body. You deserve to have fun just as much as anyone else. When you look back on your college years 10 years from now you are going to kick yourself if you miss out on this experience. Friendship is everything.

Cynical: Clearly, you have not been to a waterpark lately. I have. Recently. A more appropriate worry is that clearly the patrons were ignoring the weight limits on the raft rides.

Ennay: Great reply.

GotothegymOKAY: I suggest that you buy a swimdress. Its a swimsuit that looks like a dress. It will make you feel more comfortable, but you'll also look super cute. Which should make you feel better, and then you can enjoy the time you have with your friends.

These are the times you will remember. So make the most of it!

There will be people there in cover-ups for sure. They make some really cute ones that would probably make you feel comfortable with your friends. I get the bathing suit anxiety. I DO. (My sister is a size 2 and she's putting in a POOL as we speak. She's also insisting on throwing a pool party for my birthday in July. My summer is going to be one long stretch of bathing suit anxiety.)

Having said all that, however, if you don't go you'll really regret it. I say find a suit that's cute and makes you feel good about the work you've done so far, then get a matching cover-up or sarong to help you feel comfortable. I bet by the end of the trip you'll be having so much fun you won't even remember why you wanted the cover-up in the first place.

I agree with ennay. At 146, you would be silly not to go. I think your view of reality is a leetle bit skewed!

Jay

Even if I was at my goal weight you will NEVER see me in an actual bathing suit. Never, ever. So I getcha! However, I am totally in love with board shorts now. I'll wear a bikini top (a modest cut, of course) and a pair of black bathing board shorts. There are a ton of people who prefer wearing these regardless of what size they are. And when I am not in the water I will throw a cover up or wrap around me. I think these shorts are more flattering than the skirts.

And besides, if I was going to a water park I wouldn't want to wear a bathing suit that have tendencies to ride up the back when you shooting down slides. Use THAT as a reason to wear shorts!

LOVE this /\ ! LOL.

I agree with all of that. Girl, don't miss out on memories and life. I say this because I can totally relate. I tend to avoid water parks like the PLAGUE, but you know what - people really dont care as much as we think they do. Pick a tasteful, flattering swimsuit and go for it. In 2010, I took my son to Great Wolf Lodge for his Bday, I was at one of my highest weights, but I sucked it up and actually had a great time. This January we went to Orlando and again, I said "eff it" and put my swim suit on.

You can do it!

Ennay nailed it.

It's your last spring break party time in college, hon. You are 5'6" and 145 and 15 lbs from goal. Stop stressing out over it and have some fun while young with friends!

If the swimsuit thing is causing you anxiety -- start shopping. You don't have to wear what everyone else wears.

Go with board shorts over a one piece.

Go with a cute rash guard shirt over a two piece.

Go with an aquatard. Mix and match at will.

I miss the days when I was fitter and could buy from Title9sports... check it out. Their swim stuff is usually cute.

But don't stop living your life and having fun just because you also have a body project going on.

GL!
A.