Wearing a bathing suit...ACK!

That's all that matters then. You said earlier that you were thinking of only you and your DJ on the beach... but it's only the 2 of you that matter. 

Yeah you are wearing a bathing suit!

You get to swim in warm water.

Those are my happiest times. Enjoy your freedom. Enjoy the water.

You are fab and going to a great place.

I just wore a bikini at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas last week, a nice conservative bikini, but still a bikini and I was amazed at the fact there were all body shapes and sizes around.  I had my stomach and arms done but not my upper legs and they embarrass me, but with a towel and some careful planning I was able to walk around and not feel too uncomfortable.  The bad feeling about our bodies is really in our own head, even people we think look perfect feel flawed.  Enjoy your holiday and know everyone is feeling awkward.

Listen, I went to a water park over the summer with my son's church group and although I was apprehensive at first, it was effing hot so I wore a bathing suit without a cover up all damn day.  And you know what?  Nobody gave a ****  The reaction I was anticipating never happened so I was able to relax and rock my suit (boy short tankini thing) with confidence.  It felt pretty great just letting all of that fat girl mindset go, even it was just for the day.  So go on with your bad self and wear your bathing suit! 

Kristen,

I love this!

^^^THIS^^^

Exactly!! (Now, I need to read this again next summer!)

I just returned from the Cayman Islands (I highly recommend a Caribbean vacation for completely healing from surgery :))

I was nervous.  It was the first time in my life that I wore a bathing suit with no cover-up, no extra long shirt weighing me down, etc.  It was so freeing.  You've worked so hard, it's time to let go of what other people think.  I felt free.  I hope you feel the same way.

You have done an amazing job and you enjoy yourself. Have fun! You earned it.  Again, our head issue**** us the hardest....  The days of only perfect bodies on the beach are over.  You look into your DH's eyes and those eyes are the only ones I would worry about. We can't wait to hear about how much fun you had!

First I love what Kathy S. says above me.  She is absolutely spot on!

We all (every woman on the planet I would bet) are self conscious of our bodies and swim suits are the worst.  No doubt.  Whatever you have to do  or wear to psyche your self into feeling good is what you need to do.  

I will say that this summer we vactioned in Croatia for the first time and I realised that there wasn't a single woman on the beaches we went to that was wearing a one piece suit.  EVERYONE was in a bikini.  No matter how old she was, how heavy or skinny or lumpy or saggy, it was all hanging out.  Tan, but hanging out.  This made me feel free to walk about in my own two piece and not flinch.  No one gave a rip about me, but more importantly, I was able to not give that first thought to it either.  It is a mind set and it takes a while to adopt it I think.  

Have an awesome trip - you are going to have such a great time if you allow yourself to just enjoy the moment for what it is.  You have done such a great job and look so fabulous and happy.  That will show more than anything else. 

I have one of these to wear over top of my one-piece when I take my son to the pool, and I absolutely LOVE it. If you've got Amazon prime, you could totally have it in hand before you leave on your trip.

https://amzn.com/B00JYCKS4S

Mine is deliberately a size too big, and I bet you could pull it off two sizes too big if you want something with lots of arm room. It's actually really comfortable, even in the water, and does a fabulous job at preventing sunburn!