Wearing a bathing suit...ACK!

 the bad news is if you are over 29 - you are invisible, nobody will be looking at you... the good news is if you are over 29 - you are invisible...let your 'freak flag fly'

Wear one and be proud. I wear a cover up over mine. Most people really don't care about what others wear on the beach. Just focus on the fun. Think about how much more we can do than we could before surgery. 

You know its weird, I have always been a swimmer. ALWAYS. I have lived near the ocean and lakes most of my adult life and for some reason I have felt very confident in the water and in my swim suits. Of course,as I got bigger my style changed to more skirts and more covering but, I have never had the diversion to swim suits that most larger women have had. Maybe it si because I feel so light and athletic in the water.

Just remember that A LOT of people feel uncomfortable in swim suits.Even women who are thin, hate their legs, think their boobs are too small, have vercose veins, you name it.

Just hole you head up high and rock that suit!

I wear a long sleeved swim shirt and board shorts. I'm more comfortable that way. I was never comfortable in a swimsuit even when I was a 115 lb teenager ( I never understood why we were expected to be practically naked in public)

8 months after surgery I was in Florida.  I was walking around in a swimsuit.  My upper thighs looked horrible and jiggled bad.  People starred at my legs.  I just kept my head up.  At one time, they were full of fat and I was "normal".  Now, a year later, the fat has redistributed and they just look like regular flabby thighs.  I wear a lycra skirt when walking around the beach area, but take it off when I want to go swimming.  I see many more fat, fat men and young people on the beach.  One day I may have surgery, but probably not.  Make eye contact with people and force them to look at your face and not your body. Have fun!!!

I don't know about you, but when I go somewhere where swim suits are required, I never particularly notice what anyone else is wearing.  As long as everything that needs to be covered up is covered up, I doubt that anyone will notice what you look like.  If you feel uncomfortable, wear a cover up.  Otherwise, enjoy yourself!

Thanks everyone for your replies! I tried on my suit again last night and while it's a cheap suit I think I really like it. I do have a qauzy cover up I also like. All your posts made me feel better about wearing it in public and I've been looking forward to this trip for so long that I'm going to try just wear it and not caring about anyone else.