Nervous about swimming in a public pool again

[u/Constant_Case_4487]

I was on my schools swim team last year but did not rejoin this year because of bullying. But I really enjoy swimming and it helps me stay in shape, so i signed up for 1 hour swimming 2 days a week at my schools pool. Its only 4 lanes and there are tons if swim equipment to use also. The problem is I am pretty overweigjt, and was self conscious enough about swimming on the team. I dont know who else will be swimming there, or how many people signed up. I dont think there will be many students, it will probably mostly be adults, but i am still nervous to only wear a bathingsuit around strangers, especially since I am overweight and was basically busting out of the team suits last year. How do I overcome my fear?

[u/Alvin_Kebery]

I saw a quote on here when someone asked a similar question previously, and it really stuck with me. It was something to the effect of

“Ma’am or sir , I assure you I am not worried about you or judging you in any way. I’m just over here trying not to drown”

[u/h2oliu → u/Alvin_Kebery]

My only care is do I have to accommodate you as I swim. (As based on pool crowding, I may or may not have to.)

[u/KillerWhaleShark]

You don’t have to wear the team suit, right? So get a fun one that fits, and then go take care of yourself with a good swim. Use your best posture when walking around in the swim suit, it makes you look your best and gives you an air of confidence, even is it’s fake. 

High School can suck for self image. I wouldn’t go back for anything. But it will be done soon enough, and you can forget about the haters.

[u/Mean-Unit-6076]

If you want to gain confidence in any pool, join the aquasize or deep water workout classes. They are full of older people who just don't have any fs left to give. You will see every body type there is. Make some friends. You might see that most of them have struggled with their weight or body image, but have either accepted their bodies up or down in weight or just dgaf anymore. If I could go back in time and tell my school going semi chubby self that I would never be skinnier than I was then, I would have saved a lot of negative thinking. The sooner you can love yourself, the better.

[u/chuzohga]

Join a YMCA and use their pool instead of the school pool. YMCA will be mostly adults and half of them will be overweight too. I have never seen bullying at the Y pool I go to. I'm not overweight but I swim with a shirt anyway. Nobody at the Y is likely to judge you over it, and if they do think ill of it, they'll likely just keep it to themselves. Schools are a completely different thing, because schools encourage bullying, despite their assertions that they don't.

[u/jonquil14 → u/chuzohga]

This!!

[u/Go_le]

It's difficult but you should not care about the others - you want to swim and improve your swim, that's all that matters. Each time you feel like people are looking at you keep telling yourself to focus. Focus on your technique, focus on your respiration, etc... But I have to admit that it's difficult.

[u/Consistent_Midnight2]

Unfortunately the only way to get over the fear is to just do it. Like another commenter said, get a fun suit you want to put on, put on fun music on the way to the pool and just jump in.

The good part about swimming around adults is everyone is pretty focused on themselves and their own workout and no one’s really looking at you.

I’m sorry you dealt with that in high school and are still carrying around the trauma from that. Kids can be awful. Hopefully this experience will be a step in healing.

[u/francenestarr49]

Get a suit that fits and just do it. There are so many body types at a pool! Good luck!

[u/Thin-Disk4003]

I’m a swim capris and rash guard swimmer here with a decent compression swim bra and briefs. On a long term weight loss journey here and the water is a godsend.

[u/chuzohga → u/Thin-Disk4003]

Yay! Another rashguard swimmer! Rashguards are so hard to find outside of scamazon! Where do you find good ones??

[u/Thin-Disk4003 → u/chuzohga]

Sadly, scamazon. But the tradeoff is worth it to my health.

This brand/model is the only one i like so far. Aqua Design Rashguard. I wear these over compression bra.

[u/fabfemsof53 → u/chuzohga]

Lands End is a good source and good half price sales frequently

[u/zephillou]

I'm gonna assume thst you'll be faster than most people in that pool (since you were on swim team) . Assert dominance 😂

And you said there'll be adults.. And you'll have overweight adults swimming too. Just enjoy yourself 😊

[u/Jack_Forge]

My opinion in general is that anyone doing anything (running, gym, pool, etc) is worthy of praise no matter what they look like or how good they are.

My only concerns when I swim general lap swim with others is space in lane (numbers of people not how big they are), how wide someone swims (arms and feet), and how fast / much are they doing (will i run over them or be run over).

I only really care about the first two bc I don't want to hit others or 'swim grope' them (incidental, when I get hit it's in the head, hand, leg, or ass usually). The third one bc I don't want to disrupt others swimming or my own really.

[u/jonquil14]

A public pool might be a better place than your school pool. Public pools at like 10am on a Tuesday. It will be mums and kids doing lessons and older retired folks. If you’re as young as you sound you’ll probably feel quite at ease around all the normal bodies across the age spectrum. Honestly the pool is one of the most accepting places, body wise and fitness-wise, because it’s often recommended as a low impact form of cardio for people recovering from joint replacements or who have other disabilities.

[u/Money-Sun9152]

the first few minutes will feel awful, but most people at the pool are focused on their own laps, not judging your body, so could you just commit to showing up once and see how it feels?

[u/Usual-Chemical-9307]

Had a similar fear and then my therapist asked me to write down every time I judge someone random on the street or by the pool. I went throughout my day and not once did I think to judge or even think of the strangers around me. And that applies to most people. Of course there will be people who judge, but the average stranger literally couldn’t care less of what you do or look like. I still struggle with it but that did help me lots!