Swimming - loose flab vs. looking like an idiot

[anonyrat39]

I would like to take our baby to swimming classes. But... I'm fat. Not demolish-the-house-to-winch-me-out-and-weigh-me-at-the-zoo fat - I'm still very active, but if I spoke with the right accent I could pass for an American stereotype easily.

If I was female, I would wear one of those old-school one piece swimsuits that covered everything up between my crotch and neck, and that would be that - I could happily bob about the water like an amorphous blob.

But as I'm male, the best on offer only covers up my genitals and the tops of my legs - which are of least concern to me.

The only way I can think to cover up my many mid-body rolls, moobs and stretchmarks would be to go into the water with a t-shirt. Clearly this would make me look utterly stupid.

Are there any other options? I know I can't look non-fat - that's not what I'm trying to achieve. I'm just trying to find a way to keep my middle area looking like a single large amorphous blob, rather than a series of many smaller blobs and folds.

[hornetrider]

Less pies, more activity. It's the only way.

Do not wear a t-shirt. You'll just be that weird fat bloke in a t-shirt, as opposed to a portly guy no-one gives a st about.

[WinstonWolf]

Perhaps this is the wake up call you need to consider a long term fitness programme?

There's lots of fatties where I swim, but at least they're trying to do something about it.

Failing that, comedy Bermuda shorts are your only option

[Hugo a Gogo]

[alorotom]

Don't wear speedos ...

Other than that just wear some kind of board shorts and no one will give you a second glance, I swim regularly and am overweight and there's plenty of us tubsters hitting the lengths and no one ever bats an eye lid

[covmutley]

Just crack on! Shorts only. As you say, you cant hide fat really anyway.

Sure, nobody will look and you and admire your body.

But if anybody does look they will think, fair play, he is getting on with being/keeping active. If they think any differently, you really shouldnt care what they think anyway. Easier said than done Im sure, but the truth of it.

[ascayman]

Ive done these classes with both my kids, bizarrely most of the yummy mummies in with you will be concentrating on not drowning their little darlings! I didn't even get a second glass from any of them and im not even fat! typical.

[GappySmeg]

So you're a new dad, taking your baby to the pool?
Everyone will be too busy "ahhhhhh-ing" to care what you look like.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Thread is useless without pictures...and custard!

jokes aside just board shorts and crack on

[Aidancky]

As someone who's quite slim, I wouldn't look twice at someone on the larger side. Who cares?
Just go and enjoy it.

On a side note, i've been to some of the Florida waterparks and its very bizarre seeing so many people wearing t-shirts to the pools. Strange.

[jamieduff1981]

hornetrider said:

Less pies, more activity. It's the only way.

Do not wear a t-shirt. You'll just be that weird fat bloke in a t-shirt, as opposed to a portly guy no-one gives a st about.

This.

When ever we've been to swimming pools, be they in the UK or outside in somewhere hot, there are people of all shapes and sizes and nobody looks twice. Until that is there's someone in a t-shirt. It draws the attention that you're hoping to avoid. When someone in a t-shirt gets in the pool it's an unusual sight and people wonder how fat the person must be and gawk accordingly.

[schmunk]

Aidancky said:

On a side note, i've been to some of the Florida waterparks and its very bizarre seeing so many people wearing t-shirts to the pools. Strange.

Is that not more an anti-UV precaution?

[jamieduff1981]

schmunk said:

Aidancky said:

On a side note, i've been to some of the Florida waterparks and its very bizarre seeing so many people wearing t-shirts to the pools. Strange.

Is that not more an anti-UV precaution?

Quite possibly. It's a common sight some places but not others. I think the motive is given away when families are wearing T-shirts including slim and active children, versus just the chubby ones wearing the T-shirts.

You see plenty kids wearing T-shirts in the Caribbean for this reason.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

I swim every morning and I'm no Adonis, I can assure you. Definitely need to lose a few stone. But you'll be amazed at the different shapes and sizes on display, and no one gives two hoots.

I find that if I stand out at all, it's because I don't have tattoos, which seems to be a rarity these days.

[anonyrat39]

OK thanks everyone. Solution found. I'll take the baby to swimming lessons in Florida.

[schmunk]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I find that if I stand out at all, it's because I don't have tattoos, which seems to be a rarity these days.

Indeed, when I take my children swimming it doesn't cease to amaze me how seemingly a significant majority of council-types have tattoos. I suppose it helps them to be, you know, individual...

[JB8]

I used to be very self conscious about my belly, love handle, 'moobs' etc., but after the first couple of times swimming, the feeling passed.

I found that only person who gave a toss about what I look like was me. Other people simply don't care.

I was 23 stone this time last year, now down to 19. The hardest part is getting started, then it's just down to discipline keeping it up.

[Du1point8]

jamieduff1981 said:

schmunk said:

Aidancky said:

On a side note, i've been to some of the Florida waterparks and its very bizarre seeing so many people wearing t-shirts to the pools. Strange.

Is that not more an anti-UV precaution?

Quite possibly. It's a common sight some places but not others. I think the motive is given away when families are wearing T-shirts including slim and active children, versus just the chubby ones wearing the T-shirts.

You see plenty kids wearing T-shirts in the Caribbean for this reason.

I happily wear a rash vest when swimming in Sydney (only outdoors) and Im no super thin person, its mainly for the spf 50 it offers so I dont burn.

Its clingy and I dont look particularly hot in it, but if I get burnt its so painful.

[pork911]

Don't be embarrassed about doing something good with your baby.

[sc0tt]

Chances are you won't get harpooned in your local pool so don't worry about it.