"Fat Cow" in the pool (help!)

There are special aerobic classes for "fat cows" in areas with certain times.  Groups -big and little people- are there for the same reasons.  Not only does water help with pressures on joints, back, etc, but is great exercise.  There are some people, young and old, who have not been raised with compassion and sometimes you wonder what it would be if the situation was reversed.  I wish none of my past life on anyone.  It was not easy growing up "fat".  Check with your Y;s about arthritic groups and go for it...

i always swam at the Y. I went early in the morning and I didn't have to deal with small
children.

I have to admit that I have not been swimming in a very long time. It is unfortunate that peoples remarks can hurt someone so much that they don't go swimming in public places.  Even since my weight loss I have not been inclined to go swimming in public, instead of fat it's now baggy skin, but I'm proud of my baggy skin.

That's exactly how I feel!

When I was heavy, I would always wear a tshirt or beach coverup over my suit. I suppose, for a woman, that helped me be able to wear a bathing suit in public. Even now, I consider it because of my flabby wrinkled arms and thighs.

I suppose this situation just goes to show once again that there is an accepted prejudice of overweight people. Had those kids been taunting a person in a wheelchair or an African American person or a person with red hair, somebody surely would've stepped in and taught them that this was unacceptable. But, to make fun of a fat person is just totally acceptable to most. It's really sad. So, aside from swimming in our own backyards or the yards of friends, I suppose we must find ways to cope with the ignorance of children and adults.

Back when I was heavy, I would never had said anything to those kids. I would've just been embarrassed. Now, I think I'd walk up and educate them a bit. Let them know that is unacceptable.

Hope you find a better place to swim.... :)

You know I wish I could give you some great advice. But unfortunately I must admit I feel the way you do.  Although I have lost a lot of weight I am battling with the extra skin and A LOT of stretch marks all over my arms, shoulders and legs.  In places that a bathing suit will not cover. 
I haven't even thought of trying to find a place I can swin because I feel very self conscience. 

I am interested in reading all the responses so it can help me overcome my fear of everyone looking at me and making fun of me.

 First of all Mean people suck.
When people (me in particular) get tons of compliments and one derogatory (sp?) comment, we (I) only remember the rude comment.
I lost over 150 pounds and gained back about 30. All I concentrate on is what I have gained back and not the net of 120 lost.
That said, as a child I was a good swimmer. I was told there were leeches in the water at my camp and since we had to swim a certain number of laps each day, I became the fastest swimmer. All I wanted was to get out of the water and away from the leeches. I never did see a leech.
When I got heavy you couldn't get me near a pool but after surgery, I needed exercise and chose the pool as my exercise tank.
I got in fast and stayed in the water so no one could really gauge my size. The more weight I lost the more my skin swam in different directions than my body.

PS. Eric, the new pictures of you make you look 10 years younger.

This is a toughie, because most places are great...until one jacka** shows up.  I did find that the water workout classes were very good - a big variety of sizes, ages and shapes.  Also, our community pool has certain times that they are open that are MUCH quieter than others.  The folks that work the front counter are usually very helpful in helping you figure out those times.

Cathy C.

I think the safest choice is a pool in a medical rehad center or facility. Most people are there for health issues and beauty is not a factor. Unfortunately anywhere there are children there will eventually be negative slurs, especially if the children are unsupervised by adults.

Actually my own 91 year old father in law is notorious for being prejudiced and outspoken against overweight people. I guess we can't pick our relatives as the saying goes.

Who cares what people say or think. Take care of yourself and get out there. I have encouraged many immediate post ops to get in the pool with me at Matheson Hammock Park in Weston FL.. We have a great time year after year. Unfortunately due to the economy they only have classes from Memorial Day to Labor Day. I think someone forgot that this is FLORIDA and it is hot most of the year.

Good Luck and go jump in the pool!

Very uncomfortable with the Fat Cow reference!!!  ...Much more  comfortable with the" beached whale" scene as that was what I was called when attending the beach several years ago!

Safe swim pools?  Is there really such a thing?  Pools like anywhere, unfortunately have stupid, rude people sometimes.  It takes a strong personality to leave the ladies locker room with a BMI in the WLS qualifying #. 

I finally found my "safe" zone at my gym in aqua aerobic classes.  My 1st class,  ME:  "do you guys mind if I watch?"  Instructor:  "Why dont' you get your suit on and join us?"  ME:  "I just want to learn what to do in my own pool"  Instructor:  "Class, we will be really disappointed if this gal doesn't join our class, right?"  CLASS:  "go get your suit, join us, come on...etc."  I put my suit on....then shrunk down 5 suit sizes til I finally left the pool and started training for competitive events in spin class and such. 

Good luck to all!  Sometimes keeping the "eye on the prize" has to be more important than what we think we look like in the mirror.  Easy to say, right?  I LOVE a good water workout!!!