This is the first of what will be several writing retreat related posts this year, but I feel like this is the most important one:
That’s right. I fulfilled New Year’s resolution #4. I wore a bikini in public. While being fat. This is me at Hunter’s Point in Copper Harbor, standing in Lake Superior. I should point out that this is as “in the water” as I got for my entire trip; there was still ice in Superior as recently as two weeks ago, and since it was a balmy fifty degrees Fahrenheit outside, swimming was not an option.
This was a really fun resolution, because when I told people about it, it usually went like this:
Me: I’m going to wear a bikini this year!
Person: Oh, good for you! Are you doing Weight Watchers?
Me: No, I said I’m going to be wearing a bikini. I didn’t say I was dieting.
Person: *face melts off like the idea of my fatness in a two-piece is the equivalent of staring into the Arc of The Covenant.*
But you know what? I’m not displeased with the results. I look like a chubby pinup girl. The bathing suit is from Forever 21, if you’re looking for a similar one.
So, anybody out there with a not-so-perfect body wearing something daring this year? Email me your pics at jenny@jennytrout.com if you’re feeling brave, and I’ll put them on the blog!
FABULOUS!!!!! You Rock! Love the bikini too!
Thanks!
Where ever did you find it? I love it!
JENNY~ YOU ARE ONE HELL OF A FANTASTIC WOMAN!!! I’M SO PROUD OF YOU, ALL I CAN SAY IS “YOU GO GIRL” YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE BRILLIANT SOUL THAT’S GOING TO SHOVE THIS “SO CALLED” BEAUTY MYTH, RIGHT DOWN THE THROATS OF THOSE WHO’S IDEALS OF BEAUTY EQUATE TO THAT OF A SKELETON. MORE AND MORE WOMEN ARE GOING TO STEP OUT AND REALIZE THAT BEAUTY COMES IN ALL SHAPES AND SIZES. GOD BLESS YOU PRECIOUS WOMAN. AND BTW, YOU ARE ALSO VERY FUNNY…I SEE A CAREER IN COMEDY AS WELL!
LOVE YA~
ELAINE AL MEQDAD
Jooon
“You Go Girl” As long as you are healthy and you feel good about “U” ! The heck what others think” It’s all about what YOU THINK! I am inspired. Peace
It think it is a very tasteful selection which actually flatters you quite well! Great pics! Enjoy your bikini summer!
Go for it 🙂 We shouldn’t wait until we’re perfect – or, the timing’s perfect – to do fun stuff. Enjoy today and purple hair, too!
I have to say . I am over weight but not obese. I am 50 . At the pool at the Flamingo in las Vegas , in the adult only section, I never forgot a late 20’s couple moving their seats buy the pool when i lied on a empty seat next to them. I guess they though they could catch my fat.. lol I am not making this up. I could have said something but did not. But , time will be the judge with them.
lol
Don’t let the mean couple’s behavior bother you. They are ignorant and insensitive!!! I won’t be surprised that they had already have many Botox injections and Plastic surgeries. Be yourself and be proud!
Bravo to you! Who says only skinny minis can wear bikinis?
I just wanted to tell you, I downloaded your photos because you are just so beautiful.
Maybe there is life after my bulimia. I’m fat now … this is thuh first time I have ever thought that. Literally.
…fuck.
You look adorable! Love the suit. 🙂
Thanks! I was so frustrated trying to find a “fatkini” until I came across that one! I think someone from Twitter might have directed me there.
I say, Bravo, Jenny! I think you look adorable in your bikini! I’m built like a brick, too, and have been all my life. I admired you for working on overcoming our national body image!
Love it and you look great but to me it is a two piece not a bikini, just saying.
Her resolution, her rules.
I bought the “island life” print one from forever 21. I like it better than the one piece I bought! I feel sassy and confident!
I thought I felt something weird with the earths gravitational pull last week…JUST KIDDING! Looks great! Brrr…
The effect on the Earth’s gravitational pull was from my nipples turning to stone while I was standing in that cold fucking water, LOL.
lol! cute bikini.
You are awesome!
Ah hahahahahahaha **Pause for Breath** hahahahahaha. You. Rock!
You’re so freaking adorable.
And also thank you. You inspire me and you’re the reason I’m starting to wear short sleeves.
And by extension, you can spend your life savings at TeeFury.
You look terrific!
Thanks!
You look freakin’ BOMB in that bikini 🙂 I’m glad you made the “I look like a pin up girl” mention because that’s the first thing I thought when I saw the pictures- total pin up vibe! And it’s awesome & super refreshing you realized that on your own. Confidence is sexy, y’all
It’s the cut of the suit. It showed up and I was like, “Hey! Betty Grable!”
Yep. This cut is very flattering to us full moons. It amazes me that Marilyn Monroe, at a full-on size 12 is still an icon of beauty. Ah, where did you buy that lovely suit?
Size 12 in Marilyn Monroe’s day was not the same as now. The woman had a 24-inch waist and 36-inch hips. She would have maybe been a size 2 or 4 in 2014.
I have the same dimensions she has (12-inch difference between bust/waist/hips) and when I was a size 12, my waist was 32 inches.
You look gorgeous! I especially like the 2nd pic, because the happiness just shines out of you.
That’s because my feet are not in the ice cold water anymore!
Omg. You look like the bomb.com. I freakin love your bikini and your hair and YOU JUST LOOK FRICKIN FABULOUS. Rock it, lady
Thanks! My hair was dark purple when we went up there, but some parts faded into pink from all the time in the sun, and I really like the effect. But I’ll probably never be able to achieve it again.
You look fantastic! And the bikini is super cute too. The sexiest part is your confidence. You are simply oozing it, and that is something for everyone to aspire to.
I’ve been saying, “I have nothing to fear in life once there are bikini pictures of me on the internet.”
Ha! Good point. You look great. Love the flattering cut of the top.
HELL YES!! 🙂 You are kicking some serious ass!! 🙂 You are looking awesome! I am sad for the years I spent refusing to wear shorts because I was hiding my legs. However, I’ve been rockin’ the shorts for over two years now and the plague of locusts has yet to arrive.
You rock! But my toes are freezing in sympathy with yours…….. the Great Lakes are waayyyy too chilly still!
Whoa, you look great! Bright colors suit you so well.
It’s a gorgeous suit, and you’re totally rocking it, but I still can’t get over how fucking amazing that hair color is for you 😀
Awesome! Finding a swimsuit you like is never easy, but you choose a great one! Looking good, Ms. Trout. Looking real good.
Wowowowowowoowow cn som ask me y
Lovely as always!!!!
You look adorable!!
Jenny, I totally bought one of their suits after you tweeted about it (I even got the same print, but that was just a coincidence I swear!) and it’s amazing. And you look amazing! Happy and like you’re having fun!
I have been scrolling through tweets and comments- where did y’all did such a cute bikini?
Awesome for you! You look fab 🙂 One day maybe I’ll have your resolve.
You Rock! You look great!!
OMG you are rocking that suit. I love it.
You have inspired me to be daring.
If I can stomach trying on swimsuits. (Ick)
I just hate, hate, hate one piece bathing suits but felt that was my only option since becoming “larger”.
Wouldn’t want anyone’s eyes to scorch from the sight of me in a two piece.
Of course my glow in the dark white skin does that no matter what I wear. 😉
I think you look just fine in the bikini and I agree with the person who talked about confidence. I firmly believe that if a person looks confident and comfortable they’ll look good in whatever they decide to wear. 😉
Nice going.
Cheers
MTM
You look awesome!
You look awesome! And thanks for the heads up for where to find it because I totally want one! Congrats on fulfilling a New Years Resolution!
You are Awesome.
Those are the same people who shudder at the idea of anyone over a size 6 wearing a bathing suit period ( or shorts, or tank tops, or sundresses or jeggings or yoga pants). Yes, I know I need to lose weight, not so I’ll become an acceptable human being in the eyes of judgmental assholes, but because I know it’s better for my health. But, while I am struggling and doing my best to be a healthier me, I’ll wear what I damn well want. I will not hide from the world just because some sizeist asshole doesn’t want to look at me.
Oh, and you look hot, Jenny.
*cough* Weight and health are not related. If you want to be healthier, focus on healthy behaviours, because weight loss is basically impossible, you have better odds of surviving being shot in the head *cough* *steps off soapbox*
*maintaining weight loss after 5 years, I mean. I actually am sick, the coughing isn’t just for show XD #sickbrain
I have PCOS and am pre-diabetic. I weigh around 275 pounds at 5’5″ and have done so for 10 years (my highest was 330, but I’ve maintained that almost 60 pound loss for 10 years). I am morbidly obese. I’m in nursing school and I find it difficult to keep up during clinicals. I am exhausted all of the time. I have no energy. I HAVE to get this weight off or I’m pretty much guaranteeing an early death preceeded by a long, painful decline, which I feel has already begun at 36. My cousin, who also has PCOS, has found a LOT of success eliminating red meat, dairy, gluten, and high GI foods, and sticking to under 1500 calories a day and less than 100 glycemic load points a day. If this doesn’t work, I’m going to have a gastric bypass. This has NOTHING to do with the way I look and EVERYTHING to do with wanting to actually feel like I am living my life.
I have a friend with PCOS who was about your size and she’s at a healthy weight now — looks amazing. She cut calories and exercised. She didn’t cut anything out, including carbs, but I think she concentrated on whole grains and fruit and veggies rather than white grains.
Have fun with that. It’s your body, but if you are going to be a nurse, maybe you should do some more reading because gastic bypass? NOT healthy. The odds of it killing you? Way higher than the odds of you dying of Teh Fatz and you have very good odds of gaining the weight back anyways. Start with this, maybe, from someone who’s actually had it http://fatadditives.wordpress.com/2012/12/12/why-i-will-never-advocate-wls/ Malnutrition and unable to keep most food down. Sounds like a wonderful way to live.
You wanna be fitter or eat more whole grains/vegetables/whatever, great for you!! I hope it makes you feel better! Living400pounds has a whole series of blog posts where they document their increased excercise routine and how it made them feel better after an injury and how they all around increased their fitness levels http://living400lbs.wordpress.com/exercise/
But weight and health? The thing about diets failing? Not something I made up. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2607302/?tool=pubmed http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.ca/2008/02/how-weve-came-to-believe-that.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/454096 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070404162428.htm
You know what doesn’t have a TERRIBLE failure rate though? “Healthy” habits at any size. http://www.jabfm.org/content/25/1/9.full
Seriously, if you’re going to be a nurse, maybe learn some science that isn’t so junky. Here. Start reading http://bigliberty.net/truth-behind-fat-links-science/
By the way, I have PCOS, too. Ain’t caused by weight. I have thin friends with it, too.
I hope people aren’t scared off from Laina’s post. There are thousands of people including myself that have had very successful weight loss surgery. It is a lot of work – not a magic fix but in my case it was the help I needed to be successful. I am obsessive about healthy food and exercise since my surgery. I have heard of folks that try to go back to unhealthy eating and they are get sick, but it has been my experience that the major struggles I have had were my own fault. (Not chewing well, drinking with my meal, etc.) I did the research on the chances of dying from the surgery and they were slim – especially compared to my chances of dying from a heart attack. I know it isn’t the answer for everyone, but don’t be too quick to discount weight loss surgery. It has come a long way!
I also love the bikini and the hair – you look so hip and attractive! You go girl!!!
Promise,
I am a health and weight loss coach that works with people who are obese (not sure if you are) or have a healthy-rated reason to lose weight. I have a program that will help you get the weight off without starvation or excessive (or any) exercise. It works well for people who need their blood sugar stabilized because that’s what the program does. It’s easier than any weight loss program out there, and it works so well. And, you get a free coach. Here’s my website: http://www.imaloser.tsfl.com You can email me from there. I can help you! 🙂
Thanks for all the concern.
I *have* done a lot of investigation into the changes I am making in my life.
This is not a fad diet, but a change to a healthier-eating lifestyle and was developed by a dietitian in Australia specifically for women who have PCOS, have insulin intolerance, and are obese.
Maybe I threw you off by using the word diet. I am using that word in the medical sense, not the popular sense. This is a diet in I am permanently changing the way I eat.
I actually ate a diet very similar to this when I was in high school and I had a lot of success with it and it was only after I stopped eating this way in college that I put back on the weight, plus another 100 lbs.
I am determined to turn my life around and not have to resort to gastric surgery. I’d rather not have to have surgery, but I refuse to continue to live at my current weight and BMI.
I have the full support of my doctors in what I am doing.
I’m not sure why, when someone says they are doing X, so many people immediately assume they are doing it without having researched it or knowing anything about it at all. This is certainly not the case here. I know you all mean well, but it’s actually kinda rude to assume that I’m just leaping onto some fad diet and that I am following junk science. I have researched what I am doing. All the changes I am making are in line with current research and fall within the nutritional guidelines currently recommended by the NIH and FDA (we *just* finished our semester on nutrition in April).
Again, thanks for the concern, but focusing on lean proteins, veggies, fruits, and low-GI/GL grains is absolutely not a unhealthy way of eating. It’s no where near as drastic a change as becoming a vegan, for example. The major difference from the way I already eat is taking out the cheese and ice cream and yogurt and the wheat-based carbs and the french fries. I already cook everything from scratch and don’t eat processed foods. I’m actually really excited about learning to cook with low-GI/GL grains, such as amaranth, millet, and teff as well as nut flours. I’m already a fan of quinoa, buckwheat, and wild rice.
I’m a hobbiest baker, so I’ll still continue to bake stuff for friends and family, while at the same time experimenting with ways to bake healthier alternatives.
Let me be clear, this is all focused on ME. I am not knocking anyone else’s lifestyle choices. Jenny rocks and I am in no way telling her or anyone who reads her blog that they need to change. This is my own personal problem and my own personal struggle.
I’m 5’5″and I weight 240, so you’re not the only brick in the world, m’dear! I admire Jenny for making us rethink our national body image. She’s adorable in that bikini!
–Beth 🙂
Promise,
My mom had gastric bypass surgery in 2011 at the age of 64 after spending decades not able to lose weight by changing her lifestyle. She had many co-morbidities such as insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, and sleep apnea. She could not walk across the room without becoming completely winded. After three years, she weighs 130 pounds lighter, has no co-morbidities of obesity, and enjoys a healthy and active lifestyle. Gastric bypass saved my mom’s life. It is a hard decision and of course everyone has their own opinion, but whatever decision you make, I wish you the best in your nursing career and health.
TJ
Gastric bypass does not have near the weight loss reduction or long term results as Duodenal Switch. This is a MUCH better option and you aren’t given a teeny tiny stomach, so you can actually eat without worrying about throwing up.
While there aren’t a lot of doctors trained to do this surgery, most likely due to not being as profitable as Gastric Bypass, this surgery gives the best long-lasting results. Weight loss surgery is NOT a magic bullet; it is a new lifestyle. Of course, you will always find those who have bad experiences, but there are MANY who have good experiences. There are support forums who have had DS as long ago as 15 years.
Obesity decreases life-span. It is related to many illnesses.
Fat people should have confidence and wear what we wish. But please, make sure your clothes fit. Ill-fitting clothing looks gross on anyone – thin or fat!
Laina, that’s what I tell myself. I work out a lot (four to five days a week) and feel strong and athletic — but all I look like is a plump person with muscles. My weight has stayed within the same 10-pound range for a good ten years; it seems to know what it *wants* to weigh. I can lose some weight by eating less, but then I also have less energy, so I’m not exactly sure what the benefit is. I just tell myself I’m a Teutonic Goddess. 🙂
Very little benefit, probably 😛 You should look up HAES, it would probably be a good thing for you to check out 🙂
You Rock!!! Love this post!!
I think you look wonderful!
Ooh lala Ms Trout! [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/cj3NxI4.jpg[/IMG]
You look great, and it’s a great suit to boot! I need to find some bottoms like that for all the ladies in our family. They look like they aren’t ass-crackers. I hate ass-crackers.
You look totally adorable and amazing! A little thing like size or body shape shouldn’t stop anybody doing anything they damn well want to. Great New Year’s Resolution, and congrats on fulfilling it.
You’re a bombshell, straight up.
You look fabulous Jenny! Serious props, you’re an inspiration to the rest of us.
Pretty sure Forever 21 only goes up to a 3x and that’s really not very big, so a great place to get swimsuits at a decent price is http://www.swimsuitsforall.com/ Some of their stuff goes up to a 34
This rocks. The tattoos make it say “badass pinup girl” to me. If I were a dude, I would want to give you a ride on my motorcycle. (If I were a dude who had a motorcycle, that is.)
I’m a girl who has a motorcycle and I agree totally. \m/
Maybe it is because I was born in Michigan then lived in Southern California for 20 years that I would notice, but it isn’t the fact that you are wearing the two piece I see, but the blindingly white skin. Being the possessor of blindingly white skin myself, I really don’t understand the fuss. It is real, it is me. But others, well, I think you understand.
You go babe! Love it!
You look great!
Jenny–you look fabulous and you look like you are having a great time–especially in the picture against the rocks (when your feet were no longer ice blocks)! You truly are an inspiration!
You look terrific! And the composition of the photo makes me think of Duane Bryers’ adorable Hilda pinups. You can see a bunch of them here http://www.toilgirls.com/hilda/gallery.html
Love the bikini and you look good and happy.
I am considered quite slim myself but still have lots of body issues, especially with my chunky legs and butt, which unfortunately -unlike Beyonce- have cellulite and are flabby and I have a bit of a flabby stomach due to lack of exercise. Not to mention I’m extremely pale because I would never bare skin. But since last year I have decided that I can’t tell others not to be stupid about their weight and looks (you look fine, stop complaining) as I do it too, and I shouldn’t be a hypocrite and practice what I preach. I am proud of my body and confident and show others that I don’t care what they think of it and I’ll damn well wear shorts if it’s boiling hot. Keep confident Jenny, and hopefully inspire others to accept their -and others- bodies. And always remember that most people who have nasty things to say are mostly just projecting their own fears and insecurities and pity them a little.
You have more courage than I do. You definitely have the figure to pull it off. Me on the other hand… my fat hangs in all the wrong places. Kudos to you. You definitely rock the pinup girl look. 🙂
Yay Jenny!
Jenny, this is so awesome! You look great and the bikini is so cute!! You’re rocking my socks girl!
Super, super cute. Also, exactly the body love I needed this week. You are fantastic.
You look AMAZING!!! I live your bikini!! And your skin is so great! My tummy looks like a roadmap due to stretch marks! Might check out a one piece! Brave Brave Jenny!!
You look so happy, which just makes you even sexier!
You look amazing! It is probably because you look very confident and happy.
The bikini are very beautiful, but surely you make them shine!
You totally look like an alt pinup girl (w the hair, tatts, and high-waisted bikini bottoms). LOVE IT. Glad you let your style shine 🙂
You look great! and what is even better is that the bikini actually fits you and your body. Being confident is beautiful, wearing clothes and bathing suits that actually fit you is beautiful. Keep it up! and that is a damn cute bikini too!!
You look mah-vah-lous dahling! Every body is a bikini (or whatever the hell else who want to wear) body. And your swimsuit is super cute! Rock on sister.
You look cute! I wish I had the confidence to do the same!
I love this! You look pretty sexy. It’s inspiring me to dig out my swimsuit. . .
You look really pretty. I am totally jealous of your beach time even if the water was super cold! Keep rocking that swimsuit.
Your legs look like my legs…..and your legs look awesome up there……so by the transitive property…..I’m pulling my motherfucking shorts out of storage!
Same here. On vacation and am going swimsuit shopping tomorrow. Today I watched some big guy with a gigantic gut hanging over his belly swimming an having a blast while the lady behind me criticized the bigger women in their modest suits. Fuck it. I’m tired of worrying if my fat offends; I’m tired of missing out on the fun. My husband thinks I’m sexy, so I should start acting like it! (Although I probably won’t start with a bikini…work my way there.)
You look so cute and happy! I love everything about both of these pictures.
You look amazing! This is really inspirational because I’ve always had body image issues and your confidence is inspiring me to eat that ice cream because dammit I like ice cream.
You look awesome! Very rockabilly pinup. Thank you for this, I’ve been getting nudges from the universe that life is meant to be lived now in the body that I have now. I’m going to buy those yoga shorts I’ve been thinking about and get some sun out on my deck. (I’ll work up to bikini, I haven’t worn shorts in 20 years.)
I bought my first two piece swimsuit ever, but it’s a tankini and actually covers more of me than my one piece did. That said, i’m taking baby steps. This year’s resolution is to wear said bathing suit in public, without a big t-shirt over top.
On a side note, unrelated to most things, I found a doctor who is maybe willing to listen to me and offer a diagnosis instead of a diet. I partly have you to thank for that. I found some courage from your posts to keep looking.
So. Thanks!
Michigander here!
Thank you. By accepting you and love you, you’ve given me the green light to accept me and love me.
Belatedly, you look am-yaaah-zing! I saw your hair in the Samantha post and scrolled the fuck down to see if there were more pictures and LO! Pinuppy awesomeness.
You look adorable! I saw this over on HuffPo and came over to your site, which I love. You are so cute and sweet and hilarious. I myself am a plump middle aged woman, probably old enough to be your mom, and last year we (husband, teenage son, myself) went to Costa Rica and I thought fuck it, I”M WEARING A BIKINI PEOPLE CAN JUST DEAL! and got a cute little polka dot bikini and rocked it, fat be damned, and it was AWESOME!!! and you know what? it didn’t look bad at all, and I look so cute and pleased in the pictures. you look fantastic and so pretty and happy. Go you!
You are honestly amaaaaazing, this was the most honest post I’ve read and I’m extremely greatful to have seen it. Cute bikini 🙂 now that summers here and you’ve givin me some confedence I’ve got to find one too!!
Given **
Why are you wearing it over your belly-button?
Thank you so much, both for doing this and for writing about it. Mentally, I’m not there yet and reading this made me cry, but in a good way. A hopeful way. So thank you.
You’re my hero 🙂 It’s all so ridiculous — Why are people OK with the idea that height, hair color, finger length, shoe size, etc., are genetically determined, but body size is all about willpower? You go.
You look cute girl. #werk
I love your hair! Is that permanent, or a temporary wash?
Hey Jenny, I’ve been reading your blog for ages now and am usually quite happy just to read and not comment because I have internet shyness. But your picture popped up on my Facebook newsfeed today, and I just thought I’d let you know that my mates in NZ and Australia are sharing your article because it’s inspiring and awesome 🙂 and we all think you look effing fabulous in that bikini! You rock xxx
You are awesome! You SO look like a sexy pin-up. I wish I had the courage to go that far. I have for years not worn tank tops and capris outside the door of my home. Then 2 years ago I said “f” this, if people don’t wanna see my my jiggly-ness then they don’t have to look. I have been so much more comfortable and now that my tattoos are on display, I find people are looking at them, not the size of my arms and legs.
You are super cute! I’m a curvy mama & I always wear a swimsuit all summer with my kids. Not a bikini cuz I have a hard enough time trying to keep the kids from pulling down the boob coverage, so I need the bottoms firmly in place!
But someday, I wanna look like a pin up just like you!
You know what concerns me? The hole that the knot on that halter top ous going to put in your neck. As a busty gal myself, I know that hurts! Super cute suit!
I read your article on the Bikini today on AOL, it was fabulous …well written, funny and enjoyable. I must say , you look absolutely great in your Bikini….when I “clicked” to the article I never expected such a wonderful outcome, you are a a great writer…and beautiful inside and out. I myself since chemo (from Breast Cancer )and then menopause had a complete body change..(I was the girl who was always thin)……I need to regain confidence in my ‘new” body, the one that is perhaps unexceptable by everyone’s expectations, leaving me with confidence issues…you are a inspiration.
Swimming is possible in frigid water, I’ve done it, but it’s something you need to build up to. (The year I did it visiting WI after years of not just about did me in). Still, next year you need to go back when the water is warmer, cause girl you totally rock that two piece.
I freaking love you. Saw this on HuffPo as well. I cannot wait to scour your blog and soak up all the awesomeness that is you. You rocked it. Amazingly beautiful!
Saw you over on Huffpost and wanted to tell you that I think *your* bikini is so much less offensive than some of the ones socially-acceptable-bikini-sized-women wear. Just because society says they can let it all hang out doesn’t mean they *should*! You look awesome, but you already knew that.
Thank you. Nothing else but thank you.
Thank you for this. This inspired me to purchase my first bikini. I’ve struggle with being accepted as I am. Oddly though I like my size and body. Now I’m going to say poo poo to others opinions and rock it.
Love your guts, gusto and great humor! My “this year I will wear a bikini” is “this year I will let my beloved red grow out and be the silver-haired foxy lady I truly am.
Way to go Jenny!! In a Photo Shop era where the ideal weight is a 2-4 I am so proud of you for standing up for all women. You look fabulous!!
I want one of those bikinis. It’s so cute and colourful!!! *____*
Jenny, you look sexy as hell and also very happy!
I’m a size 8, but I got stretch marks during puberty all up and down my legs and butt so have spent my teenage years and my twenties being terrified of showing skin in public. Mini skirts freak me out so I never tried a bikini. But you know what? You only live once, so fuck it. Thank you for inspiring me!
Gorgeous: YOU and the post!! Thank you for this!
Read the HuffPost article and clicked through to your blog. You are beautiful and an inspiration. Thank you for being yourself and having fun freezing at the beach.
Jenny! This post is on HuffPo and my friends are all sharing it on FB now. 🙂
Also i love that bikini. LOVE. you look adorable!
Followed a link from Huffpost to tell you what my 13 year old son had to say, but then I saw the second picture, and I had to share this: Holy hannah! Your skin is super white! Okay, so is mine. 🙂
Anyway, a friend linked the Huffpost article on the FB and my 13yo read the title and looked at the picture and said, “Why would anyone say that?” (I wore a bikini and nothing happened.) So, we followed the link and read the post, whereupon he said, “I don’t understand why she wouldn’t wear a bikini. People are who they are.”
Thanks for rocking that bikini, and your hair’s pretty awesome too. Also, I’m thrilled Huffpost featured you, because I’m pretty much loving your blog.
First, Ms. Trout you are absolutely gorgeous and hilarious! You have inspired me as well. I have a lot of scars on my body (self-inflicted) and I’ve just started reframing how I look at them. Now I am going to look at my flabby thighs and other places I have hated with a new lens of growing acceptance. You are awesome! Thank you!
And Bourbongirl, thank you for raising a son who thinks that way! What an amazing thing is this culture!
I love the suit and you are incredible. …Where did you get the suit?
Can I just say that you are brave as hell to go out in that water even ankle deep! I’m from Florida and I don’t do water that cold without a wetsuit, much less in a bikini! You look rockin’ by the way, and love the hair!
Longtime reader, first time poster- love this piece. Made me want to get a bathing suit. Normally, I’m clothes optional in my backyard and fully dressed in public, but you inspire me!
Loved your piece! Thanks for writing it. I’m encouraged to be less harsh in judging myself. You rock!
Thank you SO much for such an amazing and inspiring piece. Jenny, the pride that radiates from our face in your pictures has made me question myself (just because I’m a fat girls, how come I dont wear a bikini). That said, as soon as I finished reading I hopped online and found myself a bikini just right for me and I cant wait til it arrives at my door. Thank you Jenny for taking the plunge for “us.”
You look great Jenny. You deserve to feel good about yourself don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
I am happy you did this. People should be able to wear whatever they want. I do believe anyone who bothers to judge you for wearing standard beach apparel needs to get a life. Good work 🙂
You are an inspiration to all of us fat girls! Great, funny article–I love your snark. Keep up the good work!
And what a CUTE bikini to boot! Excellent choice 🙂
Hi I just came across this post, (sorry I think I might be a bit late to the party) and just wanted to say well done. Without sounding patronising, I mean it shouldn’t be a big deal someone wearing a bikini at the beach right? But I am overweight am I sometimes don’t have the confidence to leave the house for a night out or feel people judging me when I go shopping for clothes. Sometimes I think I just imagine it anyway. So the thought of going to the beach fills me with dread and my automatic response is always, well if I’m going the beach in two weeks I’ll just have to eat celery until then, (which I fail at). I get mad at myself for letting it bother me, so its so wonderful to see someone so confident and happy. You succeed massively at life!!!!! xx Best Wishes
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This is really tacky!
Hey! Your edito is really smart and interesting, it tackles on the right issues in the occidental society with humour! I hope skinny people read this and start thinking a bit…
I have to admit, I’m proud to be fat just because you kind of represent the way I live and think and make the whole world see it!
You look gorgeous in that fatkini. Xo
You look amazing! And that suit rocks, great choice!
Hi!
I just red your story on an online french newspaper ( http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/jenny-trout/bikini-femmes-grosses_b_5563704.html ), and I loved it!
You’re really gorgeous in bikini, and if people aren’t ok with this, they just are stupid, and they should leave the beach instead of telling you that you should lose weight!
I’m sorry for my english, I just hope you’ll understand me.
Have a nice day!
i am proud of you and think you’re beautiful and so cool for this,
in what should be very normal Summer thing….
blessings.
Hi, I am a skinny one who dreads getting into a bikini and then i read your article and I just think wow, bloody good for you, you go girl, get in that water, water is for everyone, fuckem all who dis anyone in a bikini. We’re all different sizes, shapes, colours, ages and we all have something we don’t like about ourselves but embracing summer is fantastic!!.
You are an inspiration!
You are my new inspiration.
You are awesome and an inspiration. Thank you. ^.^
I love your bikini. You look adorable in it. I haven’t worn one since I was 15. You are an amazing women inspiring others. Thank you.
I think you look fabulous. I am with you! I decided about ten years ago (I’m 41 now) that I wasn’t going to let the fact that some people may not be pleased at the sight of my less than perfect body keep me from putting on a swimsuit and enjoying the sun, sand and waves as I have done my whole life. Have not worn a bikini, but I think I will now!!! You are awesome!!!
LOVEEEEE!!!! Fellow Michigander and big girl myself. I would not even wear a bathing suit for a long time and this year wore a one-piece to the beach. I wore shorts with it while walking around but took the shorts off and ran through the sprinklers at the park with my daughters. I am 35 and not caring so much about others opinions like I did but still do feel affected with wanting to look like the thin women. My oldest is a teenager and bigger too. I want her to have confidence as well. She does not at this point and I think a lot has to do with watching me hate over my weight. I lost my weight once and felt amazing and it came back. Guess what, it doesn’t matter, because your life is what you make it, not your body size. If you want to lose weight it should only be for yourself and never anyone’s opinions. You look great in that bikini girl, rock on. I am sending this article to my daughter.
more like a 2-piece suit, not a bikini. Bikinis are below the belly button, doesn’t cover it up, and way way more skimpy……..and personally, if I had your body instead of mine (wish my legs were that thin), I’d not have a problem wearing one either. So you wear what a size 14-16 maybe, I wish. Unfortunately, our society considers a 12-14 obese, which is so not the case
I have to admit.. I would have been one to stare at you.
WHY?
Because you are freaking awesome!! You totally rock the bikini and moreso that amazing hair!
LOVE IT.
So proud of you! I am 196 lbs of beautiful, and last summer I decided I was no longer going to be ashamed of my body…I wore a two piece to the local pool! And guess what? I got a tan on my tummy for the first time in years, tons of compliments on my tattoos, and the world DID in fact stay in orbit. And I hope maybe I gave a few other women the grace and courage to embrace who they are, and not let other people’s expectations define how they carry themselves.
BTW, I am from Texas but I have fam up in Baraga on Keewana Bay….Yoopers for life!
I do not have a problem with bigger women, I have a problem with bigger women who has a problem with being a bigger women.
You sound like that if a big woman has a problem with being big that it is just so easy to just lose the weight. If that was the case, there would be no fat woman in the world! Losing weight is one of the hardest things someone will ever do in their life. It is not just losing the weight, it is a total life style change because you have to maintain that weight you have lost for the rest of your life. A lot of people think the bariatric surgery is easy but that is one of the most difficult things anyone could do. I went through the beginning year process and that is so difficult!
You are seriously gross, and sending young people the wrong message about how to be healthy. Shame on you.
Bryan, you are a dickhead.
OMG this made me bust out laughing (Chet’s reply to Bryan, just to clarify). But it’s true… Bryan, you’re a dickhead. Simple as that. And you know what’s gross? You and your hateful, shitty, unappreciated comment. I just feel bad for you.
Jenny – You look fabulous and I think one of the most beautiful things in these pictures is your confidence and joy! Beauty is definitely not defined by any one specific thing (being thin), and you have proven that.
Shame on you Bryan. Not everyone in this world is perfect. Your cold cruel words reflect your cold cruel heart.
It is not about being gross- it is about being healthy and that means mentally as well. Your attitude is unhealthy and I feel sad for you. She is a strong person and should be recognized for taking on the negative aspects of this world and getting in it’s face and saying, “I am Me and Beautiful!”
When I read comments like Bryan’s, I really wonder how the person saying them looks and feels about themselves. When people are confident, accept themselves and like themselves, they never feel the need to put other people down. Any person who has enough “like” for themselves–foibles and all–can afford to be generous with others.
AGREE!!! Way to go!
Go spread joy somewhere else Bryan! This page doesn’t need you! Sometimes people have reasons why they have the problems they do and I am sure you have your share of problems too. Quit judging until you know the whole story!
Ah, I see Bryan is back with his commentary. Yawn.
You look fantastic in your bikini! It is darling and so are you!
I have been wondering what I would look like in one. There is one I want online and since you and I are about the same size, I WILL be purchasing it as soon as possible. Everyone should feel beautiful in their own skin!!!!
I rather date a chubby girl than a freaking stick.
You are not fat at all. I have another definition of fat. Besito para ti!
You look beautiful 😀
You are a very beautiful young lady, Miss Jenny, and you look wonderful in your bikini!!!
Love your look and your confidence ! Great writting style too.
Jenny, you are absolutely adorable!!! and that bikini suits you to a “T” !
you go girl!! flaunt your body the way you feel comfortable & confident 🙂 #bbwlove #bbwlover #muchlove #bbw #honoryourcurves
Great article, adorable bikini, beautiful girl. Shazam.
What a great post! You are my hero Jenny Trout, this made my summer.
Fabulous! I love that suit! And, I really love your hair! I didn’t read through all the comments, so sorry if repeating – but can you tell me what color you used? so sassy!
My story is much like yours. Young and thin. Pregnant and then fat. It got REALLY difficult when I started getting old and all the fat started following the pull of gravity! My husband insisted I needed a bathing suit and I insisted there wasn’t one made I could wear. He dragged me into the shop and stood at the dressing room door handing bathing suits over and asking specifically what was wrong with them, and going out and finding one that wouldn’t have the same problem. After trying on about 20, I finally found one I could live with. He then dragged me to a pool and insisted I wear it. In public. And just like you, I discovered the world did not come to an end. People did not gawk. Parts of me that hadn’t seen the sun in 20 years got sunburned very quickly, but it was worth it. I have a right to enjoy the sun and the water just like everyone else, and most people seem to agree!
I think you look great in the bikini, but I think your attitude has a lot to do with it too, you ooze confidence in the pictures, not something every fat person can do. I applaud effort and applaud your choice of swimwear as you didn’t try to squeeze into something ridiculously small, and that makes you look sexy and fun! Good for you!
Jenny, as a thin 49 year old (50 in September) who works really, really hard to be thin I honestly couldn’t care, despite what I’ve read you think “society” (i.e. people like me) thinks, about how you look or how you looking fat in your bikini makes me feel. I’m not in any way disgusted by how you look. It’s just skin and fabric. Who cares? My concern is that being overweight means you are also putting stresses on your heart that will inevitably shorten your life. So you very likely will get less time with your kids, their kids, etc. Your kids will get less time with you. And you, in turn, will be teaching by example, to your kids that that’s okay. I read that you can’t exercise because you have fibromyalgia. That’s so difficult. My best friend of 46 years does, also, and she suffers incredibly. But I know from her experience that there are things you can do. And as an example to your sons that you’re choosing to not do them is the more worrisome component to me. How we see ourselves is a complex stew of our upbringing, societal pressure and the stories they create for us that we tell ourselves all day long. The running dialogue of cruelty or love and acceptance we chatter to ourselves incessantly. I’m envious that you’ve found a way to turn your chatter into something loving. There you are way ahead of the game from me. I wasn’t lucky enough to be brought up by a woman who unconditionally loved me and so my running chatter is cruel. But that’s my problem. I could care less how you look, because you obviously feel amazing about yourself. That’s awesome. Except that the message your neglect of the inside (and here I mean the internal organs that keep you alive) is sending to your children doesn’t jive with your self love. Love yourself as much as you say you do and you want to nurture your physical self so you can be here and enjoy the life you’re building for as long as possible. I would think you would also want to teach your children to have that same kind of awesome respect for their beautiful insides, too. Inadvertently glorifying overweightness, whatever. Glorifying abusing your insides, that’s a lot less cool.
Susan. Although I think you mean well, you are still being very judgy. People who struggle with their weight do worry about their health and their “internal organs” and their “longevity” and impending ailments associated with weight. If it was an easy fix, we’d all be as thin as you. But part of a healthy body is a healthy mind. And self-acceptance is a big part of that journey. Not shaming one’s self, not hiding one self, is a big step in the right direction. Jenny isn’t glorifying being overweight, she is celebrating self acceptance and that is beautiful and that is why she has had such an overwhelming response. Getting into a bathing suit is hard if you are not a perfect size. I kind of feel sorry for you. Maybe you should work less hard on being thin and work harder on being an empathetic person.
Susan,
You’re just wrong. Read some real science on health and weight. Being fat– especially mildly fat like Jenny– does not equal being unhealthy, nor does extra weight automatically limit lifespan. Learn about it.
And until you do, stop sharing ill-informed nonsense on the internet. No one needs more of your type of fact-free opinion.
Thanks,
Another perfectly healthy fat woman
I think it’s awesome, Susan, that your friend with fibromyalgia has “things she can do,” or however you put it. There are many of us with chronic pain have tried EVERYTHING that’s been offered to us. Rather than basically tell Jenny she’s full of shit, why not offer up some of these “things” for her – for us – to try?
She is in no way glorifying “overweightness.” It’s obesity, and she NEVER said IT was healthy. It’s much more healthy to be happy and accepting of who you are at this point in time than to sit around, “Whoa is me – I’m a fat girl who can’t do anything.” That shit will kill you quicker than the excess weight.
Well put Tracy! I am tired of reading responses to this article that are stating “glorifying obesity”, “promoting unhealthy lifestyle” etc. Isn’t mental health all a part of being healthy, and in many cases THE FIRST STEP!
FYI to those who may not be aware of this–but Jenny does run on a somewhat regular basis when her ailments permit. I remember a time earlier this year when part of why she was down was because she couldn’t run. It’s so easy for someone to make a judgment based on appearances. But they aren’t always correct.
Susan, I certainly hope that you avoid all processed food, never consume more than one serving of alcohol in a 24-hour period, avoid driving in heavy traffic (or while sleepy) and spend at least an hour a day meditating. If you do not follow an optimally-healthy lifestyle, you are significantly increasing the odds that you will not live to see your children finish college, much less your grandchildren. I am saying this because I am very concerned about you. You are so focused on the health risks associated with obesity (to the point where you are forming conclusions about the life choices of a stranger on insufficient data), that I fear you are likely in denial about the many risky behaviors in which you may be inadvertently engaging. Think of the children.
As a plus size woman, I thank you for your courage. It is great to see people embracing their bodies and not giving in to the standards society has given us. You, lady….ROCK!
Beautiful!
Beautiful being you isn’t it?
Awesome!
Rock on Girl!
You look wonderful and your hair is fantastic! Keep doing what you are doing and feeling great about it. There are a lot of idiots in the world…and a corresponding sideways motion that each should be enacting somewhere in the vicinity of their nether regions. Never believe anyone that tells you you don’t look great when they really should be busy, what with the shoving and all.
Ok, I get it and I have something to say here. Until the passing of my wife in 2010 I use to think fat woman were just simply the worst, BUT! Then I started dating again and met a woman named Peggy and at first I didn’t want to meet her in person but liked her personality, well she backed me against a wall and I said yes to meeting. We had dinner and breakfast a few time and then things picked up, well to make a long story short she proved to me that fat just isn’t fat, yes, it means big but it also means beautiful and now I look at big woman on the same level as thin woman. As for Jenny Trout, YOU GO GIRL!!! You look marvelous!
Congratulations, Larry, on overcoming your previously held misconceptions. Sorry to hear about the loss of your wife, but happy to hear you found love again.
You look gorgeous. I’m going to forward this to my wife so that hopefully she won’t be so shy about wearing a bikini. Like you, my wife is a curvy lady, which I love, but she’s not so enamored of her figure as I am. Sometimes I wish she’d just say “screw it” and strut her stuff with the sort of confidence you demonstrate in your pictures. Thanks for setting an example for other women who might be ashamed of their bodies because some haters out there don’t appreciate a real woman or have deputized themselves as officers in the healthy body figure police force (as if there is just one healthy body type).
Inspirational! Fabulous!
You are beautiful – all of you.
I find it so sad that Huff Post page with your wonderful essay also had the following :
6 Reasons To Lose Weight That Have Nothing To Do With Fitting Into Your Skinny Jeans
That is sad….but not surprising. 🙁
Please replace the first one with this one – (thank you.)
Thank you for being bold!
A number of years back I woke up one day and thought – who cares if I’m fat I’m going to wear shorts because it is hot outside! A few weeks later I attended a convention in which other people had seen me many many times but had never seen me in shorts or a short skirt of any kind – that day I was wearing shorts and I remember the conversation like it was yesterday…
Fellow convention person: Hummm I’ve never seen you in shorts.
Me: Yep…woke up the other day and realized I’m a fat chick and I’m hot…no reason to be even hotter by wearing jeans in the summer just because I’m fat. Thus I put on a pair of shorts and here I am – fat and comfortable.
FCP: LOL you are too funny – I’m glad you are comfortable lets get to the seminar!
Yep – the world didn’t come to an end because I wore shorts in public. I am now 46 – still a fat chick – but now I wear cute short dresses and tank tops and I really don’t care if the skinny people out there have a problem with seeing my round body and thick legs – at least I don’t break when I get hugged and I don’t fall over when the wind blows!
I was recently asked if now that I work in a vineyard if I’ve lost a bunch of weight – quickly I came back with – I do technical writing and web development for the vineyard it isn’t my personal workout station. Look God gave me a BIG body and a BIGGER personality to fit it – you wouldn’t love me the way you do if I were tiny and frail. He laughed and agreed.
Thank you for boldly going where all the rest of us should!
I was a pinup model and this is what I would think if I saw you in your bikini, “Cute suit! Jealous. I’m going to ask her where she bought it!” And then, “She needs more tattoos! I’ll have to remember to give her my business card when I ask her where she got her suit!”
I do think we all think the flaws of our bodies are way more important to other people than they are. For the most part, we’re all too self centered to worry about what other people look like! I can assure you I’m way too concerned about my own flaws in a swimsuit to judge anybody else’s! I’m 125lbs and 5’6″ but I’ve had kids so yeah, not a perfect body anymore either!
Thanks for the funny and thoughtful read!
You look lovely and should not be ashamed of your body.
You are amazing! This story just makes me smile. Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Oh, and I love your bikini!
I LOVE Copper Harbor! We travel from Texas to get there (driving!)- but I CANNOT imagine swimming in that water before September. BURRRRRRRRRR
Cute suit!
You look very sexy! I wish more women could love themselves a little easier. Hell, I’m working on it myself. Everyone is attracted to different things. Stuart Smalley said, “To compare is to dispare”. Accidental comic wisdom.
absolutely u r right,she looks great,natural,much better then others,who are suffering with a lot cosmetic manupilations.
You look like a knockout in your bikini. Just so you know your beautiful and I would marry you.
Good man. 🙂
Saw an article and a picture on Yahoo about you with some quotes from your blog. I loved the picture of you in the bikini. What a cute outfit! You look adorable. Yes. You reminded me exactly of a forties pin-up girl.
As an elderly “normal-weight” person with body issues myself–who was once severely judged as a younger person for being overweight by my family, acquaintances and many strangers–I applaud you.
I once owned a clothing store that catered to professionals and business women and so many of my clients had body image issues. I can never forget the day a tall, stunningly beautiful woman who was trying on a size four dress asked me if it made her look fat. I told her “How can a size four look fat?” She was relieved because she was in recovery from anorexia.
One of my slender and really physically-beautiful employees would constantly make unkind comments about some of my larger-sized clients– to me, totally unnecessary and disturbing. I felt like her comments only betrayed her own fears about herself and her own feelings about her body issues. And the vehemence with which she uttered them was shocking to me.
I still remember from before that, when I worked out at an exercise club, before I owned my store. I was waiting for an aerobics class to begin. There was a tall, very beautiful woman fretting in the back of the room. i could see from her face that she was nearly in tears. I went to her and found out that her husband had criticized her for being “fat”. This was a woman whose abdomen was literally CONCAVE between her hipbones. She pinched something on her hip that was no thicker than the width of a cigarette–if that thick– and cried, “Look at this! Look at how fat I am!” It still hurts my heart as I write it. I told her that she was slim and beautiful like a model, pointed out the extreme flatness of her stomach, and then I told her that her husband was crazy. He was crazy and controlling, but I didn’t tell her that last part. Wish I had.
.
To me, the best line you wrote is this one: “If we can’t avoid those totally unnecessary conversations, then we should at least admit the truth to ourselves: That this has nothing to do with health, and everything to do with the control we believe is our right to exert over others.” SO TRUE. Thank you.
Making a big deal out of and criticizing others’ appearances is really about trying to make ourselves feel comfortable; and, it’s probably an attempt to make ourselves feel superior to someone else simply because we have basic insecurities about ourselves. So why should anyone ELSE have to change the way they look just because WE’RE the ones who are having issues? It’s OUR problem. The problem is with US.
Gurl. You look goooood. Total pin-up. Your hair is really flash as well. Keep on with your bad self.
Wow, you look fantastic! My wife has a similar body shape, but she’d rather go au naturel at Hippie Hollow (nudist park near Austin, TX) than wear a bikini at the beach.
Also, a real live person named Jenny Trout! I had only encountered the name before as a character (an expy of Leslie Fish) in the novel Fallen Angels.
simply: you look beautiful. 🙂
You are my new hero. 🙂
When I first read the headline on Yahoo’s site, I thought….huh? Once I clicked on the link and saw your picture, I didn’t even see your size. I saw your face and attitude and spunk coming through. Beauty is not in what shape or size we are but WHO we are – and you, dear heart, are BEAUTIFUL.
I am a big girl, too. I’m barely 39, 5’6″, 221 pounds. I’m type 2 diabetic, on disability for 10 years due to bipolar disorder, family history of stroke and heart disease/heart attack, traumatic head injury sufferer, pain pretty much everywhere. I know, as we all do know, that I’ve got to get the weight off someday so I can see my kids at least graduate from high school – but loving who we are where we are at this moment in time is so important. I had to have my teeth removed – 24 remaining teeth – a week ago today. With my immediate dentures out, I look at least 50.
You have no idea how much I needed to see your picture. Bless you, oh Brave One!!! 🙂
More power to you Jenny! I am SOOOOO sick of feeling like a non-person because I’m obese!!!!! It’s such a cruel world out there and I admire the HECK out of you for going for it!!!! I hate the way some people won’t look me directly me in the eye when they talk to me, or worse yet, ignore me as those I don’t exist.
And, since I’m fired up now, I also HATE the way the CLOTHING never seems to fit right… the neck is gaping or the sleeve openings hang open down by 8 inches and I have to wear a tank top or sports bra over my regular bra to cover it up. YIPES, don’t get me going…. LOL !!
I would LOVE to design a clothing line for wonderful women. Stylish, classy and not just mumu’s. Clothes that actually were cut and fit to flatter a woman’s shape. One of these days..
Best of Luck,
Teresa 🙂
I agree Teresa!
You wore an outfit that complements your skin color and body shape. All of your important bits are covered and pulled up in the right size bikini… which is needed for swimming. Your size is irrelevant in my opinion. The cute bikinis and swimsuits with great coverage get snapped up quickly.
Now, if you tried this in a triangle string bikini (which I call eye patch bikinis) with a matching low rider bottom, that was two sizes too small, then this could have gone in a whole different direction…. lol.
Minerva – you said exactly what I was thinking!
I love the bikini, and also the fact that there are as many comments about Jenny’s hair (now, THAT’S something that I wish I was brave enough to do!) as there are about the suit!
And, Jenny, as a fellow Michigander, I have got to say… you are incredibly brave to be in Lake Superior in June, especially after the winter we had! I’m surprised your toes didn’t match your hair!
See, this is why I couldn’t live in Michigan. I mean aside from the fact I’m an Ohioan. TBH, I don’t really care about OSU or UM, so that doesn’t actually matter.
The ice in lake Superior in June. That’s why. I know that’s unusual, but it’s nowhere near unusual enough for me.
Love your suit, it’s adorable. Love your pose, it’s strong!
Yay, for you! Your happy in who you are and you inspired me in more than one way… Thanks!
Thanks! It was nice to hear someone (besides my husband) say it’s ok to be a size 22. I now have to work up the nerve to do the same and watch my white belly that has not seen the light of days since I was a child; burn to a crisp.
I hope others will do the same as you have done and speak up against those who tell women that we must be a size 0 to be beautiful and/or sexy.
I’m sure you’ll prescreen these before posting but you’re fucking disgusting looking and NO ONE wants to see your flabbing bits in public. I AM a fatass just like you and you should have some fucking decency.
Well look who tried to hide behind comment moderation like a little bitch.
Some people don’t appreciate beauty. You look bangin. As a man I’d be staring at you but solely to be checking you out. You look amazing
If you are really a “fatass”, I hope you will eventually realize that your comments only reveal how you feel about yourself. Your thoughts have nothing to do with Jenny Trout and everything to do with your feelings about yourself.
You may even look in the mirror and cry at times as I once did when I was heavy as a teenager. If you are really overweight, and honestly feel that hateful toward others like Ms Trout, good counseling can help you find more balance and peace. It sounds like you need it.
Of course, you might just be a troll. In that case. I would be sorry I gave you any attention at all.
We can tell you’re the disgusting one, and no pics are needed to confirm it.
You just proved how beautiful She is as person and how UGLY You are. Please review yourself and understand attitudes like yours is what makes this world so difficult to live in.
To anonymous who calls herself a fatass,
Jenny is beautiful and confident. You are anonymous and self-hating. I am thrilled for Jenny and I am sorry for you. Jenny is no longer a victim while you continue to be victimized by a crippling cultural stereotype. That is if you are real.
I suspect you are trolling and may be neither a woman nor overweight. Your thrill is to see your puerile remarks in print without having to take responsibility for them. If this is as I suspect, grow the fuck up.
Fucking decency would be having the FAT balls to post your name when you’re insulting a person. No one made you look at her picture. Go be miserable elsewhere.
Well…look who has no self confidence what so ever! There is beauty in everyone. Jenny is beautiful whether she is overweight or not plus she has reasons why she is overweight but that does not matter. She has the guts to put herself out there and put her story out there….picture, name, and all and it worked for her! She has a beautiful story! If you want to put derogatory remarks, you could at least put your name on there!…oh, and learn how to spell too! Don’t judge someone until you truly know them…especially since you are overweight too! You never know everything what is going on in their life. They may be smiling on the outside but they may be crying on the inside!
If you hate the way you look do something about it… However it speaks volumes of your self esteem and the way you view yourself, should not be the way she views herself. You have only demonstrated several character flaws as well, by the language you choose, and by hiding in anonymity to make such comments.
I wish you the best, maybe things will improve for you, try being more positive that a start.
One of the best exercises, especially for someone with a lot of pain, is swimming. Should she swim in a burqa?
Jenny, you look great and are brave for taking on our culture’s whacked sense of what is beautiful. I love your style and sense of humor with the title of this. I also like the cut of that 2-piece. “Annonymous” is obviously stupid as they can’t even spell their own name. It’s “Anonymous” you ideeot.
You rock that bikini!
Some of the photos of the people commenting on this make me smile. It’s nice to see skinny girls telling others they look great! I grew up with a mom who was anorexic when I was little and as I got older she started having me try on clothes that were too small for me, basically to make me feel bad about myself. I have never had good self esteem and have worked really hard to make myself happy with my body. I have slowly started accepting it, but am still not 100% confident with my body. I’m tired of seeing stick thin girls on tv, in magazines, etc. It’s time to make the world realize that beauty is not just being skinny. There is waaaay more too it!
Marilyn Monroe, as someone already mentioned, was a size 12 & is still considered beautiful. Some of the actresses & models today look like they were just rescued from a concentration camp. Be happy you have a real shape!
Good for you! I think you’re HOT!
As corny as it sounds, there’s really nothing more beautiful than confidence 🙂
I would like to be you’re friend are if you want it to be more than friend it can be
Good for you! The closest I get in public is a tankini that still covers my belly. I’ve struggled for years with low self-esteem. It does my heart good to see people like you who have embraced their bodies and love how they look! I’m a work in progress but I know I was made perfectly. Now if I could just get me eyes to understand that. God bless you and your family!
You look great! When you are beautiful on the inside it shows on the outside no matter what size you are.
You look marvelous! Good for you!
You look great! Good for you!!! 🙂 Yuki
I commend you on “doing you.” Voluptuous! my BBW! I will definitely be as brave as you. Forever 21 here I come!
I love you. I wish I had the courage to wear even a swimsuit in public! Bless you!
I like you
I must say that you look beautiful. And confident. And beautiful (sorry, but the second one was for emphasis). I hope this movement grows, and that the idea of beauty applies to ALL beautiful people, no matter what size they are. What Hollywood and others are call beautiful does not represent an accurate depiction of beauty to me. You are an accurate depiction of beauty to me. Continue to be you, and the lessors will be slayed!
You Rock!!! I think you look great. You inspire me.
I think you look great and would be proud to have you as my woman. You are very cute and sexy.
You are Hot!! Single?
You look awesome in your flowered bikini, Jenny. You are ready for some summer fun!
When I saw the photo linked to the article on yahoo and discovered where you were “swimming” , I was going to ask(before reading this blog post) how far/long you were actually “in” Lake Superior. Even some of the inland lakes in the Lower Peninsula are too cold to stay in for long even now, 2 weeks later!
You are so freakin cool!!!! I’m going bikini shopping. Thanks alot!
If there are two girls. One 90 lbs and one 200lbs with a smile on her face. I’ll take the smile every time!
We have the same figure, so now I see what I would look like in a bikini and in public.. I can do it now, because You look fabulous!!!!! Now to work on my confidence and be as strong and appreciative of myself as you are..
Way to go! You look great in that suit! I am morbidly obese, but a couple of years ago I decided to lie on the beach as I’ve wanted to do for years. I greatly enjoyed it, and I didn’t notice any adverse affects from anyone – not that I was paying attention for any. I wore a one piece.
Thank you for writing this blog and posting your pictures. I greatly admire you.
I think it’s awesome! You look great. I’m proud of you & don’t even know you. I think we should all be able to do the same as long as we are comfortable. I’m fat too & people judge way too much.
I love your article and your picture by the rocks! Your bikini colors look fabulous with your hair color! I have almost the same body as you and I am always self-conscious about my body. I’ve been aware of it since third grade and now I’m 64 and still head tripping! All my life people, especially men, have put me down because I should be thin. My husband was insulting me just before I turned on the computer and read the piece by you. Love who you are and ignore the ignorant!
Bravo and *applause*. It’s about time women stop bowing to cultural images generated by men of how women should look…and ones obediently accepted by women through the decades because they want approval from men and entre to jobs and other perks. No one shuns a fat and RICH man.
Pierce Brosnan’s wife has gained a lot of weight, but she shows up in bikinis playing in the water with him vs. hiding in shadows. That takes courage with a husband who looks like Pierce.
So, keep on doing what you want to do and LIVE LIFE to the fullest. I admire that.
Wicked sexy pics!! Love the bikini, too! *thumbs up* Society needs more awesome women like you to help it smarten up; thanks for being so inspiring 😀
i need a fay girl to marriage oh i like them to take them out the world
You’re awesome!! Love this post, love you!!!
You’re the best. beautiful & funny.
I think you look great, the colors in the bikini are great with your hair. You aren’t that huge or anything… you are a healthy size with some meat on your bones, but you have a shape and you don’t have rolls and rolls of skin or huge mounds of cellulite… it’s not like you are hard on the eyes, you look really cute. I read the headline on Yahoo news and I expected a 400 woman, and you just aren’t that fat. Not that it matters, a woman should wear whatever she wants at any size. But you look great, you really do!
You look freakin’ fantastic! Keep wearing that bikini all summer long.
You look lovely, Jenny. And Im proud of you- trust me, I’m 15 at a high school mainly consisiting of skinny girls. It’s good to know someone doesn’t care about how strangers perceive her so much it ruins her life. I should like to try that someday
The title of your entry caught my attention (I followed the link from Yahoo news), but I’d like to tell you that when I viewed the photos all I saw was an attractive lady enjoying a day at the beach.
I do, however love your bikini bathing suit, and would love to know where I could find one like it for my wife. She too is a beautiful lady who deserves to be able to enjoy a sunny day at the beach.
Beauty is not defined or limited by a clothing size.
I think what’s really amazing is that you got into that water at all. That water is freaking cold. It’s was cold in Ontonagon but that’s the UP for you. You look beautiful btw.
Girl, your curves are amazing! That bathing suit is so incredibly flattering on your body and you look gorgeous in it. I have super pasty skin and going to the beach in any bathing suit makes me uncomfortable. I feel like I’m the sun but not in flattering “oh my goodness you’re sunshine way” more like “you are blinding go inside you vampire.” I am pumped not only to see real bodies in bikinis but also real skin tones. Not everyone is perfectly tanned with even skin tone and you represent that, thank you so much!
You are drop dead sexy and a perfect vision of the kind of woman I dream about. Not only do you have sexy curves, lovely eyes, and a beautiful smile, but you are very intelligent and have a very positive attitude. Where do I send some flowers? LOL 😉
I have a fatkini too, and i will never go back to a one piece, its made by esther williams, I love it, and is so much more comfortable and flattering. I too decided a few years ago that I didn’t care what anyone thought, and that if I wanted to go to the beach and swim in my two piece I would! I think as fat girls we often think everyone on the beach is judging us, but amongst all the feedback on your site Ive only come across one hater so far amongst an avalanche of positive feedback, and so I take from this that we are often our own worst critics, that most people are not judging us, and that we should get out there and enjoy ourselves and not hide in a closet! thank you for sharing, you look adorable.
You look so happy, it makes us all happy to see you. I’m 71 & trying to get my weight down for health reasons. It really sucks! I love to eat. lol
I love everything about this!
I wish more females would be confident enough to do this.
Throughout my life I watched my sister struggle with her weight. She still is very touchy when it comes down to it. Say we are at a cookout, if everyone else has already finished their food and she hasn’t gotten her plate yet she won’t eat. She doesn’t want to seem like a fat ass and have remarks made even though her weight had a lot to do with her medical problems..
I never struggled with my weight growing up. I was actually trying to gain weight before I got pregnant because I thought I looked too skinny. After baby I have more meat on my bones and this jiggly sack of skin for a belly.
I envy your adventurous way of showing the world that shape has beauty. I hope any girl/woman will one day feel just as sexy and comfortable in her own skin instead of dreaming of being someone else.
Thank you for that little reminder. We are all different.. that’s what makes beauty so remarkable.
Best thing I read all year! Guess what? I wore a bathing suit without shaving!
YES!!!! BIG IS BEAUTIFUL
EMBRACE YOUR CURVES!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!
I just heard you on the radio in Australia. You are awesome! Being free to be happy and ourselves is so important. You are inspiring, thank you for sharing.
I absolutely love your hair!! You are an awesome inspiration to the rest of us!
I love everything about this! And who says bikinis are only for skinny girls?! I hate that so many people think that being overweight is such a bad thing. If it was easy to lose weight, I would be skinny now and a lot people think it is that easy! You are beautiful!
Thank you for this. For being normal. For being a mom in a bathing suit. I am not at the weight I want to be. I will not lie and say I am comfortable with my body. But I am certain I will not let my size dictate how I live my life. I went to the pool with my kids today and had a blast. In a bathing suit. Without a cover-up.
BTW, I think you look great. Confidence is the best accessory. And you are rocking it.
[…] Trout in her bikini. Photo: Bronwyn Green“I wore a bikini in public. While being fat.” So begins a poignant and funny essay on body image, written by blogger and novelist Jenny Trout. It’s […]
You look FABULOUS!! Iʻm a dermatology nurse practitioner & what I see is your beautiful porcelain perfect skin (UN- sunburned) in a bikini, a smile on your face & confidence in the woman you are. Iʻm twice your age and half as wise!!
Since Yahoo said no one came out and directly said it, i will: this is aesthetically unpleasant and i do not appreciate seeing it at the beach. I do not need to elaborate, as it is my opinion. Your circumstance is unfortunate due to your illness, which makes it fine, but for people without a medical condition who are just lazy, there is no excuse. Therefore i do congratulate you on not being ashamed, as no one should let any illness or deformity hold them back. But people who put in no effort to change their obesity issues… Those are the ones who should most definitely never under any circumstances leave the house in tight, skimpy outfits.
Ello, Well I know that wearing a bikini is something I would never do. I am glad you did though. And I was reading something you wrote about people and how their perception of beauty is. Something I have come across Way to Often. Is that men are the Worst when it comes to beauty. What they see is this Image of a woman who has to be Tall, Thin, Sexy, etc. Which I do find to be somewhat as an insult to us women who have more meat on our bones. There are literally Thousands of men who I consider to be shallow for thinking that beauty is what you SEE with your Eyes. NOT with your Heart.
True beauty is what is INSIDE a person NOT Outside. The way they make you Laugh, The way they are there for you when your having a bad day, The Very things that make them who they are, Etc. Those are what really matter.
When I was trying to date a few years ago. There would be Guys who would absolutely love my personality but when it came down to My size, or the fact that I had scars across my abdomen, it was an instant killer for any relationship. Its as though all they could think of was having that supermodel String bean of a woman prancing around with them. As if they could show that woman off like some sort of Trophy.
Today, I am glad to say that I have Found that Ultra Rare Man. Who Looks at me as a person and sees who I really am. And Loves me just the Way I am. A 5 Ft. 2 In. Tall woman who weighs 210 pounds. Who has a Loving heart and To him I am the most beautiful woman in the World. And I couldn’t be more happier.
This image that the world has pushed, Not only toward men, but to women as well. Is what I consider to be an insult to all people.
Every persons body is different. Some have conditions that can not be helped. ( hormone, Thyroid, genetics, Movement impairments, etc. ) And to mock or make fun of a person just because of their size is one of the worst things a person could ever do. There is a saying that goes ” Sticks and Stones may break my bones, But words can never hurt Me ” In fact. Words can be the most hurtful of all. I Know this, I have seen this, And it is an experience that is under gone around the world by nearly every person on this planet in one form or another.
And so I say To you. That I am Glad and proud of what you did. Because it says that you are standing for All the women and even MEN, Who are like Us and saying ” I am not going to take your bullying, your mockery, I don’t care what you think, Because to me I AM BEAUTIFUL and I KNOW IT. And I sure don’t need your Approval ”
Because what someone else thinks at the end of the day Doesn’t really matter. ITs what YOU THINK and How YOU FEEL that Truly matters.
So Congrates and May you keep on Showing your beauty. And hopefully one day people will wisen up, open their eyes, and see the True beauty and what Truly matters in this world.
Thank you for this. I had a gigantic row with my mother over her constantly reminding me I need to lose weight recently. I get she’s doing because she cares, but it’s honestly coming across as concern trolling (a concept she seems to be unwilling/unable to understand) and I’m sick of it and it’s making me feel like crap.
I recently saw a post somewhere that said “How to get a bikini body: 1) get bikini, 2) put it on.” I love that you’re living proof it really is that simple. (This is of course in no way meant to dimin
Whoops commenting on phone, got cut off. Sorry!
This is in no way meant to diminish the importance of this simple thing for you and the rest of us.
Very attractive! Your skin is so beautiful, I wish I could have skin like yours 🙂
I’m so relieved the Earth has continued to spin on its axis. Thank you for writing this post, for your bodacious “bad-assness”, your excellent choice of swim wear (love that suit!), and your courage to put a toe into Lake Superior! I’m a 56 year old plus size momma who has gotten as far as a tankini. Thanks to you I may just give a real two piece a shot next summer. You are beautiful and funny and I’m glad to have found your blog.
Jenny, good for you! And you look adorable. I wish I had your confidence. I am 5’9″ and at my heaviest was 250 lbs. I wasn’t happy with how I looked or felt and knew it was time for a change. I changed my lifestyle, overhauled how we ate as a family and quite with the processed foods and dinners, ate better, and exercised, setting the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon as my goal. I wanted to get fit enough to run in it. I started with walking and worked my way up from there. I managed to take off 100 lbs., gained about 30 back when I started meds for fibromyalgia and have now been at 180 for the most part over the past year.
Even when I had reached my goal weight two summers ago, while I did feel great in my bathing suit that year, I still didn’t have the confidence to wear a two-piece, heck, not even a one piece that didn’t have a skirt to cover some of my thighs. I wore a tankini with a little skirt.
Though I’m ok with my weight for the most part now, I would still like to lose 20 lbs. again. Health-wise, I just feel best around 155 – 160. Knees hurt less, back hurts less and I felt like I had more energy. But when I look at my cellulite riddled legs, I just can’t wear shorts that are too short or a bathing suit without a skirt. I know I’m nowhere near brave enough to wear a bikini, but after seeing how cute you look and reading some of the comments here, I may just be bold enough to buy a bathing suit without the skirted bottom. Maybe I’ll make that my New Year’s resolution for next year.
You rock girl! Thanks for giving people the encouragement and confidence to accept themselves and be happy with who they are. 🙂
Oh, and btw, I did run the Historic Half on my birthday last year. It was amazing! (Sorry for the long post… just had to let you know how you have inspired me.)
You certainly seem happy and that is really all that matters. You look the way you were meant to look, not the way others need you or want you to look, the truth is simple… We make it complicated. You are a beautiful person, and you look good to me personally 🙂
Be well and live well.
You look great! Keep that blinding white skin too, it’s so much healthier! I am 5’5″ and about 215, and Forever 21 is great. I have several pairs of jeans that I bought from Forever 21, and they really know how to make the curves look good. Thanks for leading the way, I am getting rid of my one piece with swimshorts and breaking out the bikini this season. 🙂
You look great! And HAPPY! 🙂 I’m a 35-year-old female. Although I’m not currently overweight, a few years ago I had a cancerous, very large ovarian tumor. It stretched out my abdominal area. I had it removed, of course, but I have stretch marks, loose skin, and scars from the tumor and the surgery (this spans the length of my ab area). Sometimes I feel brave and want to wear a bikini and not care about the scars, while other times I feel the need to cover up. I guess it depends on my mood. Kudos to you for being brave and just being NORMAL in your bathing suit!! 🙂
This article and pictures made my morning. You look absolutely stunning already and your confidence only adds to it. I am going to look for that bathing suit at Forever 21 too…I love it!!!! You are a beautiful woman with great fashion sense. Rock on!
You look great! As a bigger woman myself I have heard comments all my life about covering up. I really don’t care what others say. I am confident in who I am so I feel comfortable in what I wear. I have been wearing a 2 piece for years and I guess if people don’t like it well…they can just look in another direction.
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!!! cute bikini! and you look great. not sure why most people think that we only look great in a swimsuit if we are a size zero. You look happy and like you are having fun and the suit looks darling on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dahling…you look MAHvelous! Seriously, a complete cutie who I enjoyed looking at–Fat? What’s THAT? I’d even be delighted to see you at Haulover Beach (a legal, life-guarded, public nude beach in Miami.)
Jenny,
You are my hero. You have inspired me to possibly consider maybe going to a public swimming pool in the future…. Like, maybe one day… Though please don’t hold your breath for it. Thank you for this.
Warmest Regards,
Eric
I am PROUD to still be wearing a two-piece swimsuit — in a size 14. Some of my girlfriends are horrified. I say, why hide my beautiful golden tanned skin under a hot one-piece? YOU GO, GIRL!
Awesome! I love it. I would to have the courage to go out in a bikini. Good for you!
[…] Trout in her bikini. Photo: Bronwyn Green“I wore a bikini in public. While being fat.” So begins a poignant and funny essay on body image, written by blogger and novelist Jenny Trout. It’s […]
Thank you for sharing this!!! Who says you have to be a size 2 to wear a bikini?!?!? Beauty comes from within. God made each of us just the way he wanted us to be. I’m going to find me a two piece and flaunt my fat sexiness.
Hey absolutely gorgeous love the look the confidence. I love plush sized women with curves always have and always will. Good for you keep on thanks! Another admirer:)
Jenny,
I am happy you are getting such positive attention, and you look BEAUTIFUL. The thing that concerns me is that this is news at all. I think it’s an especially American phenomenon, this shaming of women about their body size. Several years ago, I went on a group trip to Thailand. There were three girls from the UK, who were all more then a little overweight. They all wore bikinis, which I found a bit “shocking” at the time, but I quickly grew to admire them for their comfort in their own skin: it was no big deal!! Nor should it ever be. Also, I’ve traveled to Rio de Janeiro a few times, and am always so happy to see women of ALL shapes, sizes and ages, rocking bikinis.
It shouldn’t be necessary, but I’ll say it anyway: BRAVA to you, girl! You are paving the way for the rest of America to get over the shame game, and accept women as they are!!
Yes Brazilian beaches are great! Lots of overweight or skinny Men wearing speedos too and nobody seems to Cate!
More importantly, how are your feet not killing you standing on those rocks. I mean, my god that looks painful. Oh, and you look GREAT in the suit. I wish I could find one of those. Me and all 248 lbs of me is headed to the beach for a week and I need something that doesn’t resemble a tent while bathing on the beautiful beach.
I think you look great! If I saw you at the beach, I wouldn’t see anything wrong with your wearing a bikini. Yet, I cover my body up, because at age 50, I have “bingo arms,” and cellulite I wish I didn’t have. I think a lot of women tend to be harder on and expect more of themselves than they do of other women. Way to go! What I need more than a diet and exercise regimen if your courage and security about your body. You have every reason in the world to feel good about yourself!
You’re so AWESOME! What a great way to help everyone accept themselves for the “flaws” the world defines. Behhh! Don’t listen to them! We are all gorgeous!
Honestly I think the bikini is very nice and you look good in it. I guess I had expected everything to be hanging out, but your body looks classy. And I am not just a fellow overweight person saying amen to being fat. I am 5′ 2 and 110 and I would not be caught in a bikini after two kids…. but after reading this….maybe I would?
Jenny and everyone,
Jenny you look great for a soft BBW gal! (proportioned)
~ You will down size when you are ready to… Do it for “YOU”…
You look close to me when I started as a professional high class model… I am praised by body builders, certified personal trainers (retired too)… Along with many men who compliment me…
I have PCOS, IR, Metabolic Syndrome, Heart disease(brewing), border Diabetic and started my journey of research… Created a PCOS blog in enlighten, inform and educate all on PCOS and related issues….
The Body Type Quiz
http://www.drberg.com/body-type-quiz
~ Great start to know what hormone is driving your weight and he tells you the exercise and what to eat… Highly enlightening!
~ PCOS ladies need to run from doctors who say diet & exercise! They have no clue cause that only makes us gain weight!
I have dropped 4 full dress sizes recently for my careers and to ward off age related ailments in the future… Then I will be toning up and overhauling my lifestyle from eating, residence and full time job… I do best on combining a body builder’s diet with a Paleo one to stay small… I say i’m married to the body builder’s diet!
IR and Diabetics should change the way they eat to low carb, all proteins, good fats and non-starchy veggies diet… Suzanne Somer’s doctor studied people and found they were healthier fast! Their sugar levels did not spike after meals and lost weight effortlessly… They went off their medications in months as well…
Fact: All hormone imbalances are caused by “BAD” parasites! As well as most medical conditions(IBS, ADD, ADHD, RLS, Rosacea, allergies, etc…) especially most all skin problems… http://www.ParasiteTesting.com is the only lab testing all bad parasites in the world! 250,000 exist… US labs are able to maybe test 40 -50 types only… The two military labs 200 types only! Most US doctors are not trained on them so many people are misdiagnosed, etc… Most US docs treat only symptoms!
~ http://pcoslady.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/parasite-symptoms-extensive/
Then add in the poisons of aspartame, mercury poisoning, free radicals, excitotoxins, etc… and you will get fat and have medical conditions…
Jenny enjoy being “YOU”!
Hello,
I just read the article about you on Yahoo…….and it’s great that you are comfortable enough to wear a bikini – you really don’t look as bad as you made yourself out to be. However, glorifying obesity is not something you should be doing. You’re right, most people don’t want to see an overweight person in a bikini, it’s unappealing. But making a huge ordeal out of it and making fat people think it’s o.k. to be fat is hurting more than helping. It is insanely unhealthy to be obese – I don’t mean a little overweight, I mean down right large. I’m probably 40 lbs overweight, and I wear a bikini all the time – but I also workout 6 days/week and eat an extremely healthy diet so I can shed those excess pounds as I’m on the verge of diabetes, a disease I really don’t want. And that is only one of the many diseases brought on by being obese, not to mention an early death.
While I think it’s great that you’ve got the self-esteem to wear what you want (again I don’t find you to be that large, but you could lose some weight), telling fat people all over the world that they should do the same without considering weight loss won’t help anybody. We are the second fattest country in the world, next to Mexico, and it is only getting worse. Support for being fat is not the solution.
Overeating is brought on by something hidden deep down in our consciousness. And if people took the time to dig for those answers, instead of buying diet pills or getting so fat they need surgery, then they can be successful in getting down to a healthy weight. Nobody needs to eat so much that they weigh 300 lbs., but that is what’s happening, and it’s ridiculous.
And having fibromyalgia is no excuse not to exercise – try yoga.
http://www.yogajournal.com/health/2589
YOU MUST NOT BE OVER WEIGHT AND IF YOU ARE YOUR PROB. ABLE TO CONTROL IT OR HELP YOUR SELF!! I have been trying of and on for 10 years to stay fit, loose weight, tone, or even eat right. Its not easy i have my bad years and my good ones every one is different and how dare you think she is trying to glorify Obesity… Did you even read the article she a big girl and had a new years list and over came it and wore a two piece. Shes human and the first step to anything thing is to love your self!!!! its beautiful
I’m not understanding why you all are even entertaining negative comments. Negativity is one’s on pity cry. STOP replying to them that’s what they want ignore them because every bully has their day.
It’s great to finally see some more normal looking bodies getting lots of attention for once. I’ve known people who were really big boned, and it just wasn’t possible for them to look “skinny,” so it’s encouraging to see a larger person look so elegant.
It appears that you are very desperate for attention as a way to justify your obesity. I hope you are able to get to a healthier weight.
No you don’t. You don’t care what happens to me at all. You just wanted to feel superior for a few seconds. Hope it worked.
BURN!
It appears you are a really unhappy person who attempts to feel better about themself by putting other people down. You might want to work on your self-worth. Unhappy people tend to die younger than happy people.
mean and unneccasary jane. you missed the point that you can feel good about who you are regardless of size!
Cute bikini, looks great on you! “Haters gonna hate” as the kids are sayin’ these days. Some people are just searching to find things wrong with someone else- too fat, too skinny, too nerdy, too short, too tall, bad skin, bad hair. 99% of women do not and cannot fit into this ridiculous ideal that we should supposedly all hope to achieve. What would our society look like if suddenly all bodies were good enough?
First: I love your courage! As a naturally thin person who is “socially allowed” to wear a bikini, show them that such stereotypes are completely unfounded.
Second: Copper Harbor?! I almost fell out of my seat when I read that. I’m a Tech student and know what beach you went to! There really is no going into Superior this time of year. Last year I went to a Midsummer Juhannus bonfire on Agate Beach (part of FinnFest) and was brave enough to put my feet in for two minutes. They were blue when I got out.
Hello Jenny,
It is wonderful to see someone trying to face the sigma of “being too fat” . I am ‘extremely obese’ and I shy away showing my body to anyone, even my girl friend, who is also fat, but not as much as I am. Some times rude people will tell me I am fat. If a mirror is near by I will rush to the mirror look in it, and turn to face the person who said I was fat, I try to have a shock look on my face, and I thank them. I say I didn’t realize I was fat, it must have happen since I last looked in a mirror.
Jenny, don’t let others see it is upsetting when they talk rudely. I think you look very nice, you are very pretty . You have a nice day.
Sincerely,
Robert
As a woman with kids, this made me smile and start shopping. My daughter is always saying I wish I could wear a bikini. I showed her this blog and said why can we not wear them??? Who made the bikini rules? She smiled and said yeah lets shop!!!
[…] Trout in her bikini. Photo: Bronwyn Green“I wore a bikini in public. While being fat.” So begins a poignant and funny essay on body image, written by blogger and novelist Jenny Trout. It’s […]
I Have Two kids and I am 26, 5’7″, 204.8 lbs after i had them i lost all my weight but not the healthy way!!! I was 125 lbs 3 years ago. I wore a bikini all the time with stretch marks and skin hanging all over the place but i inspired a lot of my girlfriends to do the same they all have marks too but it was amazing all of us going to the pool and feeling good about the choice we made to do so. I work out every day in hopes to wear a bikini again but seeing these pictures of you Jenny have opened that possibility for me once again!!!!! Thank you so much for being a beautiful Woman and inspiring me to be me again and to love myself once more!!!!!! YOU ROCK!!
Great article! Cute pics!
I LOVE this saying:
How to get a bikini body: Put a bikini on your body.
How to dress for your shape: Are you human shaped? Play up your self confidence and natural sex appeal by wearing whatever the F*#@ you want.
Seriously, it is this simple. Tolerance is a super power. We need more.
You look great.
I think you are beautiful and brave and that’s what the world needs more of!
Jenny – you look beautiful! Your picture just put a huge smile on my face 🙂
Thank you!
You are awesome and amazing and a great role model for your kids and the world! We need more people with your mindset in this world!
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The round goes to Jenny!
Some guys like real, full figured women…guilty as charged…
You’re fabulous! I love the cute suit and you look great in it. 🙂
Well, I wrote wayyyy too much on the other postscript you had, but wanted to say bravo. The value of a person is in no way related to a scale or a shape. I think you are funny and a bit of a smart-ass, so I’m guessing a perfect friend in my book. Glad you posted this and everyone else, guys and girls, just do what you want. If it offends someone else (but doesn’t hurt them) then who cares? Live for you. Enjoy life, and stop trying to be what you think everyone else wants you to be. You pay your bills, not them. Find your happiness (and that is NOT in others peoples opinions!)
Fabulous swimsuit aside – you get props for even putting a body part in Lake Superior in June! You look great.
Jenny I think you look absolutely amazing. A woman’s worth is not in her body size but her character. You showed souch confidence to do what you did. You look amazing and the whole look you have going on is more then sexy. I’d be a lucky man to call you mine.
UGH! I cannot believe how many people wrote and asked where you got the awesome suit! Did they NOT read your blog? FOREVER 21 people!!!!
By the way, you look simple maaaa-valous! 😉
Jenny, you look adorable and that suit is awesome!
To everyone who claims this is glorifying obesity or telling people it’s okay to be fat… I think you’re missing the point! Nowhere does she encourage having an unhealthy lifestyle, just that everyone has the right to be who they are and ENJOY it.
Besides, what difference does it make if the US is “the second fattest country in the world”? Does that affect your life in any way whatsoever? And does that mean that fat people shouldn’t be allowed to enjoy themselves or wear what they want? NOPE. It might be in some people’s best interest to get healthier (which is frankly none of anyone’s business but their own), but they’re still allowed to be happy and confident either way.
Hey ma you gorgeous do you like black men or nah
hi I am just about your size and just as pale too! I never wear a swimsuit because I feel very ugly and gawked at. but im glad to see a brave soul just doing what all the other gals are doing at the beach. and I must admit when I was a teenager and very thin I was still very self conscious about wearing a swim suit in public. I guess you do what feels comfortable for who you are and challenge yourself to appreciate the parts of your self that you like!
America is so damn obsessed with skinny. I am still waiting for the days that big women are the desired look, as it was in earlier centuries. I won’t judge skinny people or slam them for looking sickly and fragile though because that is just as bad as people that always fat slam… Anyway, you look amazing! not fat … just a lil plump in all the right places 🙂
In earlier centuries, being heavier was an indication that you had the leisure to not do manual labor and the means to eat any and everything you wanted. Being heavy was a sign of wealth and social standing.
Now, being thin means you have the time and money to go to the gym regularly and, again, body type becomes a sign of wealth and social standing.
It pretty much all leads back to the rich and famous among us and whatever trend they decide to set. And that is why America and much of the rest of the West is thin-obsessed.
Personally, I just feel better when I’m thinner. Walking around Disneyworld last week and ending up with red, chafed thighs at the end of each day was not fun and I’m only a size 10! 🙂
The obsession needs to be with health and feeling good about yourself.
You look amazing babe! That suit is actually super flattering, but I barely noticed because your smile is the biggest thing in the picture (and that includes your boobs!).
I have to go bathing suit shopping this weekend, and the very thought of it has put me in a near-tears mood all week. After seeing you, I’m embarrassed by the shame I’ve been feeling. YOU ARE HOT STUFF!!! And now I want to be hot stuff, too. =)
I like your swimsuit print style, super sassy. I love Forever 21.
I think you are sexy and your confidence is also sexy. Glad I came across this page 🙂
What gets me is all these people on here that are offering unsolicited diet and other advice to Jenny Trout. I don’t recall ANYWHERE that Ms Trout has ever asked for a whit of advice in this article in regard to her personal life. If she’s asked for personal advice in the many other things she’s written elsewhere,I apologize for my ignorance. I haven’t read much written by Ms Trout before references to this blog entry began appearing on news outlets.
In case no one here realizes this, unsolicited advice is almost never taken. Giving unsolicited advice is plain RUDE.
The assumptions made here by those with all the “superior” advice seem to be that (1.) Ms Trout is ignorant, (2.)has never thought about such things, (3.)is incapable of conducting her own research or (4.) is stupid. If all the people who are offering advice think any of those things about Ms Trout, why are you even reading her blog? What could you possibly hope to gain for yourself from reading it? Or, are you out there combing the internet for things written by people you consider “lesser” just so you can magnanimously impart your superior knowledge and wisdom to them in personal matters in order to make all their lives better?
I’d personally rather read a book by someone with credentials and a verifiable track record of experience– that’s if I were Jenny. But I’m me.
I started reading this blog just a couple days ago. But already I can see that the comments are not something I am interested in reading. So I’m turning off comment notification.
Thank you for writing your blog Jenny, I’ll look in from time to time. You go!
Gloria, she opened herself up for diet advice by writing a blog that tells people it’s ok be fat.
Michelle, you are making assumptions.
Michele, I see nothing of the sort in her blog. You are choosing to “read into” what she writes about herself. What is it about what she writes that makes you afraid? Even if that WERE what she is writing, how does it possibly affect you? There are myriads of other sources in the world condemning overweight and shaming overweight people. What power does one lone voice have against all that?
Plus she has never said it is OK to be overweight. I’ve never read that in anything she’s said elsewhere about this blog article. Perhaps it would be beneficial to reread what she really wrote–but that’s only if you want to understand.
If you want, you could ask her personally why she wrote what she wrote–since you apparently completely failed to understand her message. That’s of course , something to do only if you are truly wanting to know something about HER. Otherwise, don’t bother, of course.
It’s my impression that Ms Trout’s blog might make you afraid, Michele, but that may be my own false assumption about you. But DOES what she wrote somehow make you afraid? It seems to have done that to a bunch of other people writing here, judging by the kinds of negative blowback this post’s received.
Excuse me–“Michele”, you are making assumptions.
What on earth would i possibly be afraid of? You’re the one who sounds afraid of something. I’m and not assuming anything…..she wrote a blog for the entire world to see, good for her, but expect people come at you from all angles. If she didn’t want the attention…..positive or negative, then she wouldn’t have wrote it. Simple psychology dear Gloria. I fear nothing, it’s a waste of energy.
Though I directed my last comments to you, Michele, they are similar thoughts to what I’ve been having in response to quite a few of both the negative and the “helpful” posts made by other people too. To me, no one “invites” criticisms and advice when simply talking about their own experiences and choices. They are just talking about their own experiences and choices– and often recounting them for the entertainment of others–as far as I can tell.
Healthy people will let you know when they want advice. It’s the people who are out of balance, and who are afraid to ask for what they need, that expect others to read their minds. That never works out well in my life’s experiences with myself and others.
So, Michele, if I made a mistake in thinking you are afraid, please excuse me. But I reiterate what I wrote. I see no requests or cries for advice anywhere in what she wrote. To me, the blog is to read for entertainment. It is entertaining.
Michele, it’s also people who are out of balance that like to offer unsolicited advice to those who they deem “lesser” than themselves or “deficient” somehow. It’s a way of making the advisors momentarily feel good about themselves. And I wrote earlier elsewhere that it is a reflection of their own issues if they are driven to “advise” or criticize others.
It’s tiresome for me to read. It’s also irritating– and saying that is a reflection of myself and my own values of course.
So to the rest of the responders who are offering unsolicited advice and criticism, please go ahead and entertain yourselves. As I said, I have disabled receiving comments.
Has anyone here ASKED Jenny Trout if the reason she writes her blog is to get advice and criticism? I have have been assuming that’s not why. I could be wrong about why she blogs of course, but I myself have no interest in asking that question.
She’s a published writer in two genres. I’ve figured the blog–besides providing free entertainment–is way of self-marketing. I could be wrong of course.
But I don’t care to know why she writes the blog. I’d run across it once years before and enjoyed what she wrote. I did the same again with this post and also with some other writing of hers related to this post. I enjoyed her writings.
I left out another reason why Ms Trout may write this blog. Some people just enjoy writing. It is a creative outlet.
Jenny, I used to be bulimic and this is about the first time I have ever thought it might be okay to be. .. happy at the weight I am.
I like to read knitting blogs too. As far as comments about wanting positive and negative attention and expecting people to come at you from all angles:
Well, let me say… I have never seen comments coming from others to knitting bloggers that carry the kinds of intentions that I have seen here. Lots of people write blogs and include details about the difficulties they have had with knitting a project. And they show their finished projects off. Yet, the comments I’ve seen are always positive, unless a commenter is having trouble with a project, at their wits end, and asking the blogger for their advice. Yes, occasionally a blogger is unsure about a project and asks for advice. Even then, the comments are still always positive–at least in all the blogs I have seen.
So what makes this topic so different that it garners unasked-for advice and negativity from others ?
The question above is only rhetorical. I don’t actually want a response. I already know a good answer.
Not to take anything away from Jenny at all but honestly, I see hundreds and hundreds of women the same size as Jenny or larger wearing much less at any public beach. Heck, now days you can visit any walmart (especially in the south) and see less clothing on larger women. Again, Kudo’s to Jenny but honestly, she is not the only large woman in a bikini. It happens Everyday .
It’s true, Jason. It does happen every day. But women are pressured to be perfect and not to show their supposed “flaws” in ways that men never are. There are a great many women who will not even show their legs in shorts because they have cellulite. “fat knees” or some other “problem”.
Look at any women’s magazine rack and notice the diet articles advertised cheek-by -jowl with the “most sinfully delicious ever” dessert recipes. Notice the “women-empowering” articles right next to those dealing with facial “flaws”. Strange juxtapositions abound. Now look at the pictures of women inside the magazines advertising the products. Heck, look at men’s magazines too. Do you see any women there that look like those you usually see in that very store or even in your home? (And we know that even beautiful women are airbrushed to glossy perfection and thin models are photoshopped in ads to look even thinner.) If you are looking at something like an automobile magazine, just who is pictured with the product and what does that person look like? What connection does the person pictured with the product have with that product other than as window-dressing? Now go onto any news site that allows comments and begin reading the comments under articles written about prominent women. Notice how often people like First Lady Michelle Obama are called fat (fat!?) and how often people like Nancy Pelosi are put down for their looks. Look at the criticisms of even beautiful celebrities’ looks. That’s a lot of cultural pressure for normal-sized and normal-looking women to deal with.
That kind of pressure just does not happen for men. Rush Limbaugh and Rob Ford look-alikes feel free to assess and criticize in detail the looks and body parts of beautiful women who would not look twice at them.
If you haven’t yet read it, read Jenny Trout’s piece on her blog entitled, “Why are today’s disgusting bullies so unashamed of themselves?” Then go over to the Guardian and read the article Jenny is writing about. The fact is, women are held to an impossible standard.
So Jenny wore a two piece/bikini in public. It was a big deal for HER. It’s hard to do that for many women because all of the judging of women’s looks that goes on in the world. Good for her! And I hope you understand this better now.
Gloria, I agree! I think there is too much pressure on women to look perfect or even different. If your hair is curly, straighten it! If you hair is straight, curl it! If you’re thin, you need to eat and have some “curves”. If you’re fat, you need to lose weight! These are the messages we receive from the media/advertising. We need to stop this nonsense and embrace real beauty, and real beauty is natural. No makeup, no push-up bras, etc. I believe beauty can be found almost everywhere you look (in nature)- the beauty of a flower, the beauty of the trees and branches (even the beauty of the bare branches of a tree during winter, contrasted against the sky), the beauty of a woman’s face as she holds her newborn baby and smiles, etc. We’re all different (different shapes, different sizes, different ethnicities). Contrary what the media states, there is no one brand of beauty (a popular “brand’ is blonde, tanned, and implants and/or push-up bra). We all have our own unique beauty. We also all have our own special accomplishments, big or small. Why can’t we all celebrate our uniqueness, and be positive about things? Negativity only breeds unhappiness.
Thank you, Bonnie. 🙂
Gloria, I didn’t need 5 paragraphs to illustrate a single point about women feeling pressured to be skinny. You definitely covered that. To which, I agree. Over sexualization has been around for decades and it’s not getting better.
I also see what you mean when you say “for her” it was a big deal to be shot in a bikini. I neglected to factor that in and I can see how that might be deemed insensitive so Jenny, I’m sorry for that. I guess I didn’t see it as a major triumph for her in my mind because she looks amazing. Very sexy, and her body is perfect (to me) so that is probably why I felt that way.
Men are hit with the same advertisements. Look at any ad targeting men and you will see the 6 pack abs and full head of hair etc etc… I think the difference with men and women is that Men don’t seem to be affected like women. Us guys see the ads, we (typically) don’t feel pressured to look like the Baywatch guys. Why are women so pressured? Even though there are more examples of women being told to live up to some body standard, both genders are targeted but only one of us absorbs it and makes a big deal out of it? Those women that see the ads and feel they have to live up to some societal expectation are very insecure. Overcoming insecuring comes from within. Therein lies the triumph for Jenny on this issue.
The last thing I will say is: Just because hollywood paints an image of what women are suppose to look like does NOT mean that the average man feels that way. Women likely get more pressure to look “skinny” from other women. Most guys dont’ care. We dont need all kinds of face paint and tummy tuckers and elastic this and padded that. It’s all fake. Women are unfortunately a product of their own insecurity and the media only perpetuates the issue. Women have to “allow” themselves to be pressured. You can tell me all day that I have to have 6 pack abs and I will just laugh because the reality is, I don’t… I need to be healthy and that is the goal. Anything more is “look at me”. I look at this issue as being 1 part insecurity and 1 part immaturity. In grade school and even high school you feel “peer pressure” and it’s a real thing. I get that. I used to feel pressure too at that age. However, at some point in your life your suppose to grow up. Mature, rationalize, and realize that this is not high school. The cool girls “clik” is not part of your adult life. Or at least it shouldn’t be. It’s juvenile to allow such pressure to look skinny because the “cool girls” are still going strong (in your mind) ok, ok, stepping off the soap box. I saught not to offenc anyone and I hope I succeeded.
So, I came for the body positivity… but looking at your pics, I was struck by how awesome that lake is! I want to go to that lake!
And that made me think, that’s what really matters here – human beings feeling uninhibited by society’s nonsense about what bodies should look like, and enjoying nice things like swimming in beautiful lakes.
Nothing should get between a woman and her lake. Nope.
You look awesome! This is making me rethink my personal avoidance of bikinis.
But on this day it happened for Jenny and she wanted to share. We all have different hurdles we want to clear and goals we want to meet. Jenny’s goal was to gain the confidence, as a larger woman, to go in public in a bikini and she met that goal and she shared her success.
Rock it girl. I am working up the courage. But Damn girl you have gorgeous skin, dont burn it haha. Health at every size, ie as long as you feel good rock it.
I have the same bikini and I rocked mine too!!!! I wish I could post the pic at the end of this comment but I’m not that tech savvy
No wonder America gets laughed at..
Totally made of awesome.
You have lovely curves and look very cute in a bikini. And that’s a really cute bikini (but I still hate bikinis. It’s too much like going out in your bra and drawers.)
I think being this fat and wearing a bikini is nothing to be proud of. The fat appreciation comments in modern society is a bad thing. Usually made by other fatties. Being fat is unhealthy and ugly and nothing to be proud of. And chubby is a first stage of fat. Voluptuous comes before chubby. That is the correct order.
Great work Jenny!!! 😀
[…] read this a few days ago and this thread reminds me of it Fat Woman Wears Bikini in Public, Earth’s Orbit Unaffected | Trout Nation The follow up post is here So, at least 100,000 people have seen me in my bathing suit. | Trout […]
So very pretty and super sexy in that bikini. No even a fraction of a reason why you should not feel great about wearing it because you look absolutely fantastic. Get a few more of them because you are totally rocking that beach sexy look!
You have totally given me the courage to wear a bikini! My husband and I are going away for our wedding anniversary and I have been having this battle with myself about wearing a bikini in public as I haven’t shown my middle in public since I was 12. As I was brought up being told that fat isn’t pretty and showing it was just not acceptable ( great parenting eh…). I had originally gone to the store to buy bikini that would a goal to reach, but found one that would fit now on clearance that I loved.
Bravo! You have just overcome one of your self-imposed limitations/
where is the LOVE button???
you look gorgeous!
the print! your hair! your smile!!!
awesome! Awesome! AWESOME!
self-confidence = sexy
you are hot! Hot! HOT! 😀
You look gorgeous !!!!!!!!! Your beautiful in every way. Just saw you on steve harvey, so proud of you. way to be comfortable in your own skin.
You’re really cute . Have you ever considered dressing like a pinup girl? I think you’d really rock that.
CUTE bikini and you look FANTASTIC in it! Go you!
[…] fit even more harshly than they would judge someone who is less fit. The same woman who applauded this awesome lady for wearing a two piece swimsuit might write that blog post asking that we not post pictures of […]
[…] exactly what Jenny Trout’s fascinating essay covers. A self-described “fat” woman, Jenny decided to wear a two-piece floral bikini to the […]
[…] not ready to take the plunge? Recently a plus size woman put on a bikini and got into Lake Superior. She blogged about how nothing happened. People didn’t stop and […]
OMG YOU’RE GORGEOUS
[…] I could move forward and show her that bodies are beautiful and that I LOVE MINE. Around that time, I read this article and was […]
[…] her New Year’s resolution to wear a bikini in public. She did. It’s awesome. Read the very short blog post. But while I put this in here, because the headline is funny, it makes me a little sad that this […]
When will a male-written counterpart of this article (“fat Man goes to beach in a speedo and nobody gets blinded”) will be published? ‘Cause body-shaming is maybe hugher for men
When you write it? Jenny isn’t a man.
Speedos are not my thing I’m more into tight swimming trunks, but maybe if I solve my body hair problems, I’ll publish some pictures and write about the experience (actually I put some in badoo, excessive body hair and everything, and got some positive ratings). But don’t expect to get so much positive feedback, ’cause the state of things is like this:
Fat lady on a bikini: “you go girl! You may wear anything lou want” “looking gorgeous, I want that suit!”
Overweight male in tight swimwear “yuk!”
Hi everybody, I’m a short, balding, not too muscular,40-plus, fat guy who actually went to the pool wearing a speedo-cut swimsuit this week. And of course, just like in Jenny’s story, nothing happened: no one blinded himself, or covered his/her kids’ eyes, or looked at me in anger, or asked me to cover myself. And it was the more confortable swim I’ve ever took, not even feeling my swimwear, unlike with shorts or swimming trunks. So for all those articles about not daring to put on that kind of garment if you’re over-25 or over-30, or not beefed up, or don’t have a flat tummy or have too much body hair, I’ll just say F**K OFF, your prejudices won’t stop me from wearing something that make me feel comfy at the water. End of story.
There’s no rule that says you cannot wear a two piece when your size is big. No matter what type of clothes you’re wearing, if you aren’t comfortable with what you wear, it won’t look good on you. You carried yourself well and you felt comfortable with you two piece, that’s why it turned out fantastic! Consider taking your photos in a beach tent too. A photo of you in a tent overlooking the ocean would be a great shot
Va Va Voom definitely a pin-up
[…] Fat Woman Wears Bikini in Public, Earth’s Orbit Unaffected. […]