Never wore a bikini in Biloxi, but I’ve still got the blues
Edited below
I’ve worn a bikini both when I was at my heaviest (not including pregnancy) and at my most slender.
When I was 22, I put on several pounds. I’m not sure of the precursor, but I do know that I wasn’t really aware of it until I got some film developed and looked at the prints – including me in a two-piece swimsuit (albeit a sporty style, not a string bikini). It took another six months after this shot before I started hitting the gym regularly, but even now, mumble-teen years later, I can still use it as motivation to get my rear in gear.
(The picture is of me when I was 22…the bad, bad bikini shot. Which makes the compliments even nicer – thank you.)
Ironically enough, when I was 29 and at my most slender, I rarely went to the gym. I was living in New York, working long hours, and subsisting mainly on coffee, wine, pizza, and Chinese food. Even so, I could easily crank out a few dozen push-ups (with good form, not on my knees), and my size 2 clothes from that era have long since been donated.
I bought a bikini – a real bikini – in the spring of 2001, and I took it with me on a business trip to South Beach that July. I wore that bikini one afternoon on the beach, with only the slightest inkling that it would be the last time I wore it. I was two weeks pregnant with Tacy.
No more bikinis for me. Now I wear a Speedo racing suit for swimming and a skirted tankini for lounging. I see other mothers at the pool wearing real bikinis – some of whom look fabulous, and some of whom look like me. Do I wish I could count myself in the “fabulous” group? Of course! Do my imperfections keep me hidden under a towel, or worse, away from the pool entirely? No way.
This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by BOCA.
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The famous punk rock mother herself, Sweetney, has graciously allowed me the use of her place today. Come read and commiserate on the topic of buying jeans…for little girls.
June 20th, 2008 at 10:00 am
[...] Never Wore a Bikini in Biloxi, but I’ve Still Got the Blues [...]
June 20th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Oh my freaking GOD look at YOU SO SEXY IN THAT BIKINI OMG.
I am never wearing a bikini again. I will be wearing a djellaba.
Her Bad Mothers last blog post..Arms And The Mom
June 20th, 2008 at 10:20 am
i was FORCED to wear a bikini when we went to St. Lucia in March. i did it kicking and screaming. i’m a big fan of the tankini..which hides the pooch!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:15 am
My preferred swim gear resembles a Burka so as to not subject the populous and their innocent retinas to the sight of my white, veiny cankles.
Loralees last blog post..Opening night!
June 20th, 2008 at 11:35 am
I can’t believe you posted a pic of yourself in a bikini… if only I had that courage. You look great, tho. And I am now quite the fan of the “tankini.”
Steph
Adventures In Babywearings last blog post..You Just Need To Know
June 20th, 2008 at 6:13 pm
I don’t like bikinis on myself, but I don’t like one-pieces either. So I just wear muumuus on the beach. SEXXX-AY! (um, except not so much)
manager moms last blog post..To My No Longer A First Grader
June 21st, 2008 at 11:41 am
I was at my all-time skinniest after both babies — at which point my stomach was so stretchmarked and just plain stretched out that bikinis became out of the question. So not fair!
mayberrys last blog post..Just suck it up and go to the pool
June 21st, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I still wear a bikini to the pool. The bottoms are ENORMOUS and cover up all my business but the top is spaghetti-strap and padded like a mofo. It looks decent. I think.
Mochas last blog post..Inspire Me And Win A Prize
June 21st, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I just started looking at swimsuits on ebay tonight. I haven’t worn a bikini since I was 22 or 24 or something like that. Then, I was proud to lay on the beach with my head kicked back, one leg bent and the waves crashing into me…as if I was some model bawawawaawawaw. Anyway, when I look at that photo, I almost cry.
The suits I looked at tonight were all tankini’s and they were about size 22. I am big boned, I have a huge waist and it is hard as heck to find suits that fit me because I’m so long. Even in my skinny days I couldn’t wear one piece suits because they weren’t long enough. I would put them on and start pulling them up. When I got to my boobs, that was all of the suit, no way to get my arms in a suit that the neckline was below my boobs. So, in order to wear a one piece even when I was wearing bikini’s, I needed a size 30000 Long. Now…whew, I don’t even wanna think about it. But, hunting a tankini…even if it is a maternity one…me and my boys WILL go to the pull sooner than later!
June 22nd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Oooo… burka, good idea. I should wear one of those.
Amelia Sprouts last blog post..Biki..what? Do they make Spanx for that?
June 24th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I haven’t worn a bikini since I went to the beach 2 months before getting pregnant with my first child. Now? NO WAY.
I wear a tankini and boy shorts, thankyouverymuch.
Kimberlys last blog post..Profile of a girl