fatness

Squintytwinkie - Please, please, please...I beg of you....try to not let your body image get in the way of getting in the water!! We have all different shapes and sizes at our club - and honestly, when see the "heavier folks" donning a suit and working out, my one thought is "right on!!" That being said....on a personal note - I have lost and gained over 200 pounds in my time. I've been...shall we say, in bartender lingo - on both sides of the wood. I've suffered from a horrible body image since I was a teen and my life has gone something like this: skinny kid, overweight teen, anorexic/bulimic 20 something, neurotic 30 something and finally (and I hope it's not too little, too late!), in my 40s, I have settled down with my body rather than bucking against. Thankfully, I am more than likely in better shape than I was in my 20s! I now believe that food is fuel and helps me swim well. I'm not perfect, but I've learned a lot and putting on a suit is not one of life's easy things to do...but I encourage you, from the bottom of my heart, as someone who's kind of been there, to put on that suit and walk out on that pool deck.... Respectfully, Kari (who is cheering for you in my own corner of the swimming world)

Squintytwinkie - Please, please, please...I beg of you....try to not let your body image get in the way of getting in the water!! We have all different shapes and sizes at our club - and honestly, when see the "heavier folks" donning a suit and working out, my one thought is "right on!!" That being said....on a personal note - I have lost and gained over 200 pounds in my time. I've been...shall we say, in bartender lingo - on both sides of the wood. I've suffered from a horrible body image since I was a teen and my life has gone something like this: skinny kid, overweight teen, anorexic/bulimic 20 something, neurotic 30 something and finally (and I hope it's not too little, too late!), in my 40s, I have settled down with my body rather than bucking against. Thankfully, I am more than likely in better shape than I was in my 20s! I now believe that food is fuel and helps me swim well. I'm not perfect, but I've learned a lot and putting on a suit is not one of life's easy things to do...but I encourage you, from the bottom of my heart, as someone who's kind of been there, to put on that suit and walk out on that pool deck.... Respectfully, Kari (who is cheering for you in my own corner of the swimming world)