I went to a water park today and I have seen

eh, maybe that's just what makes them happy.

We were at the beach last week and talking about this same subject.

I think I assign my self-consciousness to other people and assume every one is like me and they just aren't. And you know what? By the end of the weekend, I was really starting to admire the confidence that some of those women (and men) had. They just wore what they wore and the rest of us be damned.

I want to be more like that.

There was a super popular blog post going around Pinterest, Facebook, buzzfeed, etc. about why more people, especially moms, should wear bikinis and like how they look in them even if they don't have perfect bodies.

that just made me laugh!  

Yeah, not a big fan of body shaming. While I may not have the confidence to wear certain things, I'm getting a lot better about it and applaud those that don't give a rip about what other people think they should or should not wear. I was at the beach last week and saw so many different body types and so many different styles of bathing suits and it was refreshing.

ETA: I'm going to *assume* you felt they were too fat/heavy/large to wear them? I used to feel that way about myself but I actually wore a standard bikini to the beach last week (instead of a tankini that covers a lot more) and while maybe someone was commenting about me on a message board somewhere, I felt okay in it and got more confident as time went by.

A trend I did notice though (both on this trip and another beach trip) was the number of mis-matched bikinis that I saw. I don't know if that's a new trend or not, but while it was "weird" at first, I was totally used to it after a couple days.

I think your thread title would be fun for people to fill in the blank, like Mad Libs.

"I went to a water park today and I have seen _______________. "

You know what skeeves me out at a water park (or anywhere, really). Used, abandoned BAND-AIDES. I can handle a random wad of hair, but a bandage skeeves me as much as baby corn does.

Wow...okay, I haven't see than kind of mis-match... yuck.. but now that I think about it.. I was at a woman's conference this weekend and saw a girl who have a Chevron printed top and a floral skirt on... I had to look twice.. it truly didn't go together.. but she was young and I didn't think that much about it.

I agree. I used to think you had to be a perfect 10, skinny mini bod to wear a bikini. But now that I'm older, I say GOOD for them!! Be comfortable in your body. I think other countries are way ahead of this on this matter also. We went on a cruise, and people from Europe could have cared less. I wonder if body image thing is a USA thing?

Yes, the miss matched bikini top and bottom is definitely in!!

I'm so glad to see this thread stall before it even started! We really don't need to do this to each other. Wear what you want, sisters. Just get out there.

I agree with the band-aids but a random wad of hair grosses me out too. Even when I have to clean out my hair brush

I'd rather see someone in a size 24 bikini than a dirty bandaid.

Yeah - I'm with the "can't even look at a band aid" crowd. Don't care about the "too big for bikinis" crowd. Rock on, sisters.

(but can we still be grossed out by men in speedos? I really hate them....)

I've noticed at the jersey shore the last couple of years it's much more "wear whatever you want."

i find it refreshing and relaxed.  I think some of it is the international influence.

Now I guess I'm judgmental too because I thought the same thing last week.
I can admire their confidence, and at the same time realize some of the obesity crisis hype is a reality.

There were way way way too many overweight teens and 20's young women and men. I know how much I've gained since hitting forty, and it's not healthy. If I'd started that heavy it would be even worse now.

So while I appreciate being comfortable in appearance it's also good to have some awareness too. I know it's not popular to say that- and it's healthier to be out and moving instead of shrinking on couch with potato chips... But OP I get what you mean.

ETA I have to agree with chubby suits over band aids. Ick. Male thongs have increased here too- luckily NOT at water parks in action, but at pools and "beaches".

Yeah, everything's relative, isn't it?? (But speedos are still extra yuckky)

And while I applaud fuller-figured ladies for wearing what they want to wear and not basing it on size, I do think that sometimes there is a much more flattering choice, as there is obviously a choice being made here, even more so when bits are hanging out. I could knock off a good 30-40 lbs., I'm a 62 yo, pale-skinned redhead (fading!), and I am soooooo conservative as to what I wear, to the beach (not very often) or anywhere else. Sometimes I wish I had more of that I don't give a flip attitude!