As I’m aging I’m also realising that I’m somewhat growing to accept myself a little more. I’m happy about that. Of course there are things that I wish I could easily change, but I’m not really willing, nor am I ready to starve myself or be on diets. I do watch what I eat, but if I feel like chocolate I also do indulge. Hee.
Saturday we were invited to some friends for a pool party. I love to swim, but like most women out there, I’m not crazy about the swimsuit part. Saturday was a nice summer day. We were about 12 people and 3 kids. We got there late in the afternoon, but the sun was still warm. I sat with a friend and chitchatted for a while, but the pool kept calling me. So, not long after we arrived, both Hubby and I went in to put our swimsuits on. It’s not at all like I feel confident to walk around in a bathing suit – far from it. But I enjoy the water more than I care for the way I look, especially among friends...
I have the body I do at this time, because I’m too lazy to exercise more or to eat less. I know why. It’s not like I don’t know what I need to do to lose the extra padding. I’m just not willing to work at it. But unlike this chipmunk I still can easily scratch my ass!
I was actually surprised to hear one or two men present commenting on their bodies, on how fat they felt. I guess it’s not really a gender thing. No matter what sex we are, our bodies are always an issue… for something rather.
It’s sad when you think of it. We are here for what? 70, 80 years if were lucky? And we don’t enjoy the biggest part of who we are or what makes us. I think it is REALLY a sad reflection of our times...
I understand that there are days where you just don’t feel like getting your ass in a pool. I get that; especially around “that time of the month”. I do remember those days… But when I hear someone complain about his or her weight when they aren’t really over weight, that does bug me a little. Yes we all feel the way we feel about our bodies, but please!
I see it that way: you learn to accept your “roll” and deal with it, or if you really can’t bear looking at your fat ass, then do something about it! I was the fat chick at the pool and I was the only one in the water – go figure.
... but I had a great time!
12 comments:
I'm a big girl, but am known for being crazy about swimming - I sometimes wonder if the two things go together! (Perhaps the extra fat stops us larger ladies getting cold so quickly!) Nothing keeps me from the water - I just look at no-one on the way in and pray that I somehow become invisible for a few moments!
On Sunday we were on the beach next to an elderly lady blessed with both ample curves and wrinkles. She went down to the sea for a swim in her blue bikini. When she came back though, the top came off for a bit of topless sun-worshipping. Believe me, it was not by any stretch of the imagination a pretty sight! I can assure you though, I will not be following her example! My ample bosom will continue to stay as covered as it possibly can be! You gotta give the lady ten out of ten for daring though!
Getting back to the swimming thing, it always amazes me that - even when we are on holiday in places far hotter than the UK - very few people do much more than place an occasional toe in the water! What is wrong with these people?!!!! I didn't learn to swim until I was 26 though: maybe that's why I appreciate swimming so much. Being able to glide weighlessly through the water still feels like a constant miracle to me!
You go girl! You are so right! I too get sick of skinnies I know CONSTANTLY complaining. grrrr!
Self-acceptance- one of the best gifts you can give yourself. Good for you for swimming and having fun.
Whenever I feel a bit nervous about trying something I remember people are thinking far more about themselves than they are me and what I am doing. This post proves that point.
Great post!
I am so proud of you, girl! Nicely said and nicely done. Right on!!
Good for you! You swim, girl!
I love the water, but I no longer love the sun, so I haven't done much swimming in recent years. If I ever have my own pool, I will swim by moonlight every night.
good for you!
My sister and her best friend are big girls and always so concerned with how they look that they won't even wear shorts in the summer...let alone wear a bathing suit in public. I think it's sad...they're suffering because they care so much about what others think...but when it boils down to it, they care way more than we do.
People in general care way too much about what others think. The trick, I suppose, is becomming comfortable enough with yourself so that you don't care what they think. If only we knew how to do that!
i agree, i think people in general are more worried about their own bodies than they are judging others. it's really attitude and how you present yourself.
i prefer to call myself "fluffy". i've always been about 20 to 30lbs overweight. no big deal but enough to give me self esteem issues in my teens and twenties.
i've talked to guys who said they liked me in high school but were intimidated by me (because i acted like i didn't want a boyfriend because i assumed no one wanted to date me). it was a self fulfilling prophesy.
We tend to make too much of our appearances. You are clearly very comfortable in your body and that is what matters.
We have all heard about the "growing obesity" issue and we are then bombarded with the celebrity pictures and the pressure to look like them.
It's not going to happen? OK, we all just need to be aware of that. But I am still going to get back to going to the gym soon. Really, I promise.
seeker: I assume my body, but I'm not at the point the I'm ready to go topless... maybe by the time I'm old"er" I'll be willing... I also learned to swim a few years ago (late 30s) and it's so true that we do feel weightless - that must be why I love it so much! he! he!
shopper: Thanks! I'm not crazy about complainers in general anyway!
monkey: Thank you! Reminds me of my favorite quote "Don't worry what people think, they don't do it that often!" He!
christina: Thanks!
liz: If we had our own pool, I'd be in it everyday I think! I just love it! And like you I'm not crazy about the sun, I burn too easily!
kim: It is sad! I would have to get pretty big for me to stop wearing shorts! I'm not there yet! And I really don't care much about others and what they think...
princess: Just like me... As a teen I felt bigger than I was and didn't have a boyfriend until my 20s, and like you said, it's all about attitude! Self-esteem is the hardest thing to build and yet so many (parents) forget how important it is/will be for a well balanced adult.
brave astronaut: Go back to the gym because YOU want to, not because of pressures and magazine crap! The worst reason to do it, if you ask me!
I wouldn't be caught dead in a swimsuit, so I just throw a t-shirt over it and swim with that! LOL
Yeah, you go! if you want to swim, then swim! these ppl that daren't cuz they feel to big, just go f'rit.
I didnt used to like swimming cuz i felt enormous, but when you think ''whats the worst that could happen? i very much doubt that someone will come up to me and say ''Jesus, you are just disgustingly obese.'' ''
Its not gonna happen.
I love swimming, i go every week. Its theraputic too. As dory says ''just keep swimming, just keep swimming''
though that momnet when you firt get in and its freezing isnt that theraputic.
atm: As long as you don't refrain from doing things, that's the main thing!
pigeon: I love the way I feel in water, so light and free - I knew you would understand since you do swim regularly. It's good "all around"! ;-)
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