Fat Butt Friday - Finding the Right Swimwear

"One of my New Year's wishes was to shed some of the weight I had gained during my pregnancy with Little Monster, and so in my attempt to do so, I felt it was harder to hide late night snacking and lack of motivation if I put myself on the line and in the spotlight. Every Friday, I will be sharing my weight loss journey (including my successes and failures), as well as delicious recipes, meal ideas, and exercise suggestions. Join me if you accept the challenge to lose weight and gain a healthier life! (Don't forget to grab my button in the sidebar)"

I will admit it right now...

I NO LONGER feel comfortable wearing a bikini!

Without saying any names or pointing any fingers, I will say that there comes a point in everyone's life when you SHOULD NOT wear a bikini any more!  I am there!

I will put my little two piece on and waddle out to my secluded backyard and layout during the spring and summer, but that is about it.

And we all know that when we go to the beach and see someone wearing something...just oh-so-wrong for them, we talk!  No, it's not nice (and I certainly don't do it in front of my children) but we do it! Shame on us all, right?  But honestly, if someone is dressed appropriately, we hardly even notice them.  Is that not true? 

I don't want to be part of someone's afternoon laugh fest, so I will happily wear my one piece this Summer, and from here on out.  Besides, swimwear has come a long way and, you don't have to show everything (we're nearly naked anyways) to look sexy.

Check out these tips I got from iVillage:

10 bathing-suit tips from real women

1. Motivate yourself to exercise (by any means necessary)

'I start in January by digging out last season's bathing suit. After six months of not seeing myself in a swimsuit, I use this scary sight as an incentive to start working out again! I also start looking at some catalogues. Whenever I feel like not going to the gym, I take a glance at a catalogue and the swimsuit that I am going to order, and it really keeps me on track. By the time early summer rolls around, I am ready!' --cl-dawnidoll

2. Look your leanest the easy way

'I cut my carbs and sodium intake, and eat more protein and veggies for a few days before I wear or shop for a swimsuit. I am always surprised at how much less puffy I look -- even though it doesn't really change my size.' --momma212

3. Camouflage flaws with self-tanner

'The night before I go bathing suit shopping, I use self-tanning lotion. In the morning, I wake up and have a healthy glow on my legs. Believe it or not, it really hides imperfections and makes it easier to imagine myself at the beach.' --Lisa

4. Visualise your dream suit

'Before I go out of the house, I stand in front of the mirror in my bra and underwear (I know that sounds weird) and visualise what an ideal bathing suit would look like on me. Most of the time, I can pick out what I want to hide and what I want to show off (if anything). Then I know what kind of suit I want and I start with those' --Carrie

5. Focus on your best parts

'When I look at myself in the mirror (even under the department store's fluorescent lighting) I concentrate on what looks good! If my eyes go directly for the flabby stomach -- I remind myself to look at my nice calves and shoulders. I'll never look like a supermodel in a bathing suit -- so I might as well stay positive about body.' --Suely

6. If you can't be thin, buy rich

'Over the years, I've found the best thing I can do to make myself feel 'pretty' is to invest in things that make me feel good. So, if the perfect swimsuit costs a little more -- so be it! Invest in yourself. The suit will last longer and you'll feel better in it. It will be worth it!' --aklabelle

7. Do a thorough evaluation (in the comfort of your own home)

'I decide what I want in a suit (high neck, good bust support, tummy minimizer, for example). Then I go online and shop or look through catalogues. I always check the return policies before I make the purchase to be sure I can get my money back if it doesn't fit. Then I buy and try until I find one I like. This process may be a little slower than scooping up an armful in a store, but I can try them on in the privacy of my own home. This gives me a better impression than I would get in five minutes in a dressing room.' --Shannon

8. Or do it fast -- like ripping off a plaster

'I decide the colour in advance, usually black. Then I head to the nearest rack, find a full-bottomed black one-piece bathing suit, dash to the dressing room and try it on. I don't even look in the mirror! This is just a size check. If it fits, I dash out of the dressing room, grab a full body wrap to cover my bathing suit and my body and go to the nearest register before I change my mind.' --Mere

9. Remember, it's not the size that counts

'I tell myself to not pay attention to sizes. I think we sometimes get so focused on the size of the clothing, that we ignore everything else. So I don't look at the tags and just buy what fits me!' --cl-miss_scarlet

10. Know that you'll be in good company

'I mentally take a walk along all the beaches I've visited and remember what other women looked like when I was there. I concentrate on the women I saw who were large, clad in bathing suits, and wonderfully unselfconscious. They looked like they were having fun and didn't care what they looked like. I remind myself that I can do that, too. I also remind myself that most people on the beach are more worried about how they look than I do!' --cl-msliz1956

I have been having fun putting together lots of fun outfits for the Summer!  If you have never visited Polyvore.com, you should seriously consider heading over there right now and checking it out.  Polyvore lets you put together outfits so you can see them together.  Then if you want to purchase them you can. It gives you the links where you can find the items and the prices, or you can use it as a reference.  

Here is a beach outfit I put together.  I will more than likely use this as a reference. I just had to pick out the most expensive items, didn't I?  Not all prices are like this I promise.  My second choice was a swimsuit for $80, which is a typical swimsuit price. Plus, I don't recommend purchasing a swimsuit online, because it is always good to try it on.  Ask me how I know this?

Beach Worthy by mamacherry featuring GAP accessories

Items in this set:
Plunge-neck frill-trim swimsuit, $230
Omaya Cover-Up in White, 225 GBP
Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent Dinah Sandals in Tobacco, $215
Gap Straw hat, $25

So how did I do this week?  TERRIBLE!  I ate way too much and did almost no exercise!  But rather than beat myself up about it, I will just get back on track this week.  

How about you?

Go check out Polyvore.com and put together a swimsuit outfit.  Then come back and share your link.  

I am not going to put up a Linky Tool for this, just come back and share your link in a comment.

If you would like to be featured on Fat Butt Friday for your weight loss successes, please email me at moore8usa(at)yahoo(dot)com.  I would love to share your inspiring story with other readers.