Swimming While Fat

How I Got Over Myself to Get in Touch with Myself

I’ve never been athletic. In high school, my goal was to run a mile in under 10 minutes. In college, aerobics and social dancing fulfilled my P.E. requirement. After college, I took a weekly three-hour volleyball class, but it wasn’t a sport I could do on my own.

The only form of exercise I’ve ever truly enjoyed is swimming. But swimming can be intimidating for heavier folks who feel anxious about showing their bodies in public.

Why I Love to Swim

Swimming has some great benefits for a fat girl like me:

• It’s a low-impact, full-body workout, and my fat makes me more buoyant.

• The cooler water tones down my exercise-induced ruddy face and keeps me from overheating.

• I can do it solo.

• It’s meditative—30 minutes of swimming clears my mind and improves my mood.

• Afterwards, I jump in the shower and emerge exercised, clean, and relaxed.

• After swimming twice a week for a few months, I saw positive changes in my body—and cultivated a sun-kissed face.

It’s the only exercise I’ve tried where I consistently feel better afterwards. I finally understand people who say they’re energized by a workout.

Still, swimming caused me some concern:

• I don’t have a private pool, so I have to swim in public.

• UGH! People can see my thighs, big butt, pendulous breasts, and flabby arms?!

• Everyone there will be a fit. They’ll judge me and probably stare.

On paper, six positives outweigh three negatives, right? But those three negatives can feel overwhelming. I knew that if I wanted the benefits, I’d need to deal with my negative self-image.

Getting Over Myself

When I started swimming seriously, I joined a local adults-only gym.

To my surprise, I discovered that the really fit people spent their time on the weight machines, ellipticals, and treadmills. The swimmers were often seniors, some chubby folks like me, and lap swimmers who mostly minded their own business. Some fit people used the pool for a quick warm-up or cool-down and were gone within 15 minutes.

I reminded myself, “I’m not here to meet a husband,” whenever I started feeling self-conscious.

I’d change into my suit in the women’s locker room, wrap myself in a towel, and head to the pool. It takes only a few seconds to hang up the towel and get into the water, where no one can really see my body.

After swimming, climbing out of the ladder feels a little awkward, but it’s easier to ignore people since I wear glasses and have the eyesight of a mole without them. I wrap myself in my towel and head back to the locker room.

Eventually, I moved to an outdoor public pool. During lap swim times, it’s mostly older, regular folks like me. Sometimes high school and college swim classes or water polo teams overlap. By then, I’d been swimming in public long enough to remind myself that my body is no one else’s business and that I’m there to make myself healthier.

No one has ever said anything negative to me. Maybe someone has sneaked a peek—but I haven’t seen it, and I pay it no mind.

In retrospect, I’m more anxious about swimming in front of friends than total strangers.

Making it Easier for Myself

One challenge for fat people who want to exercise is finding proper clothing. Too often, I see fitness brands stop at size 12/14. Over my swimsuit, I wear a zip-up sweatshirt and a short skirt made of sweatshirt material. Flip-flops make it easy to walk around afterwards with damp feet.

My general kit consists of:

• A simple, no-fuss swimsuit that keeps me from popping-out. I own plus-size suits from Lands End, Summersalt, Speedo, and Swimsuits for All.

• A lycra swim cap: I put my hair in a ponytail and tuck it on. I prefer lycra over silicone.

• Swimming goggles: I use blue lenses as they make the pool a cheery blue. SwimOutlet is a great place to get all sorts of swim supplies such as the Arena model I use.

• A long, light microfiber yoga towel. Since most towels are too thick or not long enough to go around my body, I choose yoga towels which are often 68” long. I hang it up when I get home and it’s totally dry the next day. Mine is an older version of this Gaiam towel.

• A zippered wet bag to hold my swimsuit, cap, and goggles until I can rinse them at home. Mine is fabric outside with a rubber coating inside. Check companies that make diaper bags as these are common for parents changing diapers. Check out this one, this one or this one.

• The Turbie Twist is an ultra-absorbent turban that keeps my hair tidy and drip-free. It’s the first thing I do after getting out of the pool.

• I carry my stuff in a dedicated compact yoga bag. It’s more of a totebag with a wide zipper opening and several pockets. I keep all my swim stuff inside it, so all I have to do is grab it and go.

Today, as I write this, it’s 83 degrees and summer starts next week. I broke my foot this month, which has kept me out of the pool, but I’m looking forward to getting back to it.

Are you a swimmer? Has self-esteem ever stopped you?

If you don’t know how to swim, I encourage you to take lessons. Not only is it a great way to exercise—it could save your life.

Come on in. The water’s fine.