Swimsuit for working out in the water. Difficulty: superfat.

May 31, 2021 1:37 PM

My trainer lives on a lake. When it gets to be in the 90s, we're gonna do gym shit in the lake. I have froufy fat lady swimsuits best suited for lazy river levels of activity. I need a bathing suit that a) covers me, b) won't frouf about in the water while moving, c) comes in a 26/28 or larger (preferable), d) is maybe mix 'n' match since my boobs are smaller than my stomach. Less than $200 is probably ideal.

(Because I don't want a side-tracked convo: I do not find "fat" to be a negative term. I'm not harshing on myself by calling myself superfat. It is a fact and it is a thing.)

posted by misanthropicsarah to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (24 answers total)

I've really loved my Torrid swim suits. It looks like they have some really functional one-pieces right now. I think this one looks good for a traditional suit, and this style look great if you want more coverage.
posted by Sweetchrysanthemum at 1:45 PM on May 31, 2021

They make travel dresses with built in bras, out of easy dry material. If I swim this summer, it will be in one of these. They come to mid thigh on me, and that is fine.
posted by Oyéah at 1:57 PM on May 31, 2021

Swimsuitsforall has a good selection of plus-size tankinis. The tankinis run a little froufy, but some of them are more closely fit. I would think about an athletic style like this for land/water combined workouts.

Decent exposures does swimwear and will do custom sizing.

I used to have one of these Krinkle chlorine resistant swimsuits in a larger size, and while you don't care about chlorine resistance if you're swimming in a lake, it was kinda indestructible in a bunch of ways. I am much heavier on the bottom than on the top (though I do have boobs to kinda keep things proportional) and it fit well.
posted by jacquilynne at 1:59 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]

We went to the beach, and got there to find I only had the top bit of my bathing suit. I ran up the Walmart and managed to find a pair of Men's swimshorts in a 4x. They fit, they covered me, and my day wasn't ruined by not being able to swim. BUT I realized they were super comfortable, and I still wear them with a rash guard when I'm at the beach all day. I can sit in the sand with little kids, and body surf with my bigger boys, and lounge around reading book.

So that's my suggestion, Men's swimshorts, and a rash guard.

Something like this Swimshorts

I'm in Canada, so no idea if Walmart down there would have stock in your size, but probably worth a look!
posted by Ftsqg at 2:27 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]

Consider that a swim legging or swim bike short might help prevent the dreaded chub rub over a more traditional swimsuit bottom.
posted by oceano at 2:45 PM on May 31, 2021 [2 favorites]

As someone with a very large butt, I also think swim bike shorts are a great option, for preventing both thigh chafing and wedgies during strenuous activity. YMMV.
posted by Night_owl at 2:57 PM on May 31, 2021

Are you in Facebook? The group "Fit Fatties: Weight Neutral Fitness for All Shapes and Sizes" is the perfect place to ask this question and get suggestions.
posted by BlahLaLa at 3:02 PM on May 31, 2021

As a woman of size I have used the Swimsuits for All bikeshort style bottoms for all of my swimsuits for years, with a mix of tops from them and Land's End. I've worked out in them (although not in the water) and it works pretty well. Depending on my workout, though, I'd also consider using my usual (expensive, because support is key) sports bra with a rash guard. Maybe not as much of an issue for you, you likely have a good what kind of workout you're likely to do and how much support will matter to you.
posted by ldthomps at 3:06 PM on May 31, 2021

I buy a lot of clothing basics from Woman Within, and the couple of swim separates I've bought I've been really happy with, including one "long tankini" and several different lengths of shorts - and I see now they've got even more, including a swim skort and skirted swim capris.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:13 PM on May 31, 2021

I've been very happy with Nettle's Tale, and at least one of their bottoms goes up to a 4X, which they define as a 53-56" waist. (It looks like a 28 is usually like a 50" waist?). I have these bottoms, and like them a lot. They also have models who are not just thin or small fat, which is nice!
posted by kalimac at 3:27 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]

I swim in workout shorts and tankini top.
A couple of years ago, I went to a pool party right after moving. Couldn’t find the bottoms to my bikinis so I just wore workout shorts instead. I was amazed by the additional freedom of movement I was allowed to have. I had no idea that female swimsuits were holding me back as much as they were.
Been have fun swimming in my workout shorts ever since!
posted by Neekee at 3:35 PM on May 31, 2021 [2 favorites]

Beefcake Swimwear and TomboyX both have a variety of cute gender-neutral suits the go up to larger sizes.
posted by matildaben at 4:09 PM on May 31, 2021 [3 favorites]

Oh, I just checked Eloquii -- they top out at size 28* and every gd one of those swimsuits has some kind of frouf to it, but maybe worth a gander? Some are just like a single ruffle which you could cut off, or which may be not-limiting frouf.

*I guess worth checking their size chart too -- I have an Eloquii dress that fits a bit larger than I would expect, so possibly they run large.
posted by kalimac at 5:05 PM on May 31, 2021

Since you'll be doing activities in a lake you can wear whatever you want that is sold as fitness wear. The only concern is opacity and ability for movement. Most fitness wear has a high degree of lycra for stretch and will dry quickly. Swimwear only has the added incentive that it's chlorine resistant. I wear a long-sleeved rash guard for sun protection, a unpadded sports bra and knee length leggings that are mostly poly and lycra.
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 5:16 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]

I can vouch for matildaben's Beefcake Swimwear recommendation!

They're sustainably made, $99 one-piece swimsuits, inspired by the 1920s (the legs are shorts that go about halfway down the thigh), in sizes up to a 5X (chest: 57-60 inches; waist: 52-55 inches; hips: 58-60 inches).

The SPF 50+ fabric is 78% recycled polyester and 22% Xtra Life Lycra (to withstand chlorine). The front of each suit is fully lined.

Plus size fashion blogger Alysse Dalessandro Santiago reviewed the Charmer. She measured 2X in the waist and 3X in the hip, ordered a 3X and was happy with the fit: "The suit formed to my body without feeling uncomfortably snug in the hips or loose in the bust. The fabric has a substantial feel to it." (Santiago and I both appreciate the silicone inside the suit that keeps the legs from rolling up.)

I wear the Original in XL; I feel hugged, but not squeezed. My boobs (36-inch ribcage; 44-inch bust) don't go anywhere in this suit. I can easily move around and I feel great.
posted by virago at 6:26 PM on May 31, 2021 [2 favorites]

I wear a 2X-3X and I love the Lands End swim suits. They come in one-piece or two pieces and I like the way they fit. There's a 50% sale right now through June 1st 11:59 pm with code "courage"
posted by bijou243 at 6:37 PM on May 31, 2021 [1 favorite]

PS Back again, with a photo of sumajanedark rocking Beefcake's Stone Fox in 5X, alongside younger brother whose_majesty in a red version of the Original.
posted by virago at 10:24 PM on May 31, 2021 [2 favorites]

I am very big and I have a couple of two piece suits from TomboyX that I love to pieces. You can get the shorts in various sizes, and get a swim tank-top if you don't want a top that reveals your belly.
posted by hought20 at 6:43 AM on June 1, 2021 [1 favorite]

I have a big fat ass... and absolutely LIVE for swim leggings and rashguards. I had been suffering through the usual tankini/bikini tops for years before just ordering some plus size rashguards on Amazon last year, and I absolutely adore them now. It REALLY cuts down on the inevitable sunburn, can be worn all over, and yeah, no more chub rub.

I got my leggings on the aforementioned Swimsuitsforall and they have lasted years with moderate use. With the rashguard, you can also get a swim bra (basically a bra w/o underwires in swim fabric) if you want the extra support.
posted by daikaisho at 8:00 AM on June 1, 2021

TomboyX! The cuteness! Thank you for asking this; I'm about to finally wear out my beloved black Everlast cotton thing that I've had for 20+ years, and this is an improvement on that because it's racerback so it won't fall off my arms, hooray!
posted by Don Pepino at 8:31 AM on June 1, 2021

Nthing a rashguard-and-swim-shorts recommendation. I go snorkeling on vacation, am large, and have pale skin that burns quickly, and something that covers up more than a regular swim top helps. I also wear a bra-type top underneath (picked one up at Pinup Girl Clothing when they had a swim collection out) to make it more comfortable when walking around onshore and to keep from accidentally flashing anyone swimming nearby when the rashguard inevitably floats up. I am lumpy enough that for one to fit well at some parts, it's inevitably a bit large on other parts, but you may be shaped differently.
posted by telophase at 9:43 AM on June 1, 2021

I'm your size and in a pre-covid world, used to love to go on beach vacations to Mexico. (siiigh.) Lands end is my recommendation: everything is very solid, you can buy tops and bottoms separately, they have a ton of sizes, real built in bras, and have a combination of "cute" things and practical things. Everything washes really well and is quality - which is not what I've found with eloquii or some of the other brands mentioned here. They're also having a 50 percent off sale right now.
posted by tabula rasa at 10:44 AM on June 1, 2021

I really like my "swim bra" from TomboyX - FYI, if you do buy something from them, their sizes tend to run a bit large.
posted by lunasol at 12:18 PM on June 1, 2021

Response by poster: wow! i had no idea i'd get so many responses. thank you! after i try some things out i'll come back and mark best answers.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:03 AM on June 2, 2021 [1 favorite]