I'm scared to go to the beach!

It's beach season! All my friends are going today and they are all calling me. They are all getting mad at me cause I don't want to go. There will be 4 jet skies, and 14 people total going. I have lost 37 pounds and I should want to go show it off but i'm not comfortable in my body yet. plus I had a few sunspots show up after last summer and i'm scared of the sun now. I am fair skinned and I never listened to all the people that tried to warn me. Now I am all about sunscreen and stuff like that even if I don't go in the sun directly. These two things together are preventing me from having a good time. Am I over reacting?

well...as far as the body thing goes...wear a one piece with a cute wrap skirt...as far as the sun thing..wear a hat and TONS of high SPF sunscreen?

I bet once you get out there and start having fun, youll forget about the body thing..as long as you remember to reapply the SS :D

You have lost a lot of weight. Congrats!

Go out to the beach and have fun.  I like what Skyebudge said, wear a swimsuit that makes you look your best.  Your friends are not going to care if you still have some weight to lose.  If they do, who cares.  You should be proud of the weight you have lost.  They want you to come out and have fun.

I'm in a similar situation to you! I wear surf shorts over my bathing suit, they match perfectly and look really cute. It makes me feel a lot more confident. I also have very fair skin, and because of a serious burn I got a few years ago I have to be very careful. I used canned spray on sunscreen, it makes it easier to apply, so I can quickly reapply my sunscreen every 20 minutes or so without feeling like a huge dork.

I agree with the posts above. If you don't feel like wearing a string bikini that shows everything, then DON'T. Personally, I would prefer if more people decided to cover up more. Just wear what you feel comfortable in. I'm sure you'll look awesome :)

As for sunscreen, use some good stuff and be sure to reapply it. For sunscreen on your face, use the highest you can get. Once it's applied, take a cotton ball and smooth some face powder on. Not only will your face not look greasy, it'll help the lotion stay on better.

Get out there and have fun. If you really feel uncomfortable, you can call home. But you could end up regretting it if you don't go. Love yourself like your friends do! :D

Just go ! The beach w/ friends is so much fun !   You have alredy lost 37 pounds and thats amazing ! Something to be really proud of ! There are tons of bathin suits for every figure and you can always wear cute shorts underneath. As far as the sun, I wear sunscreen almost every day that I leave the house. I apply it on my arms, neck, hands, face, and even ears. Legs on days I go running. I get a high SPF so it lasts longer. Just do that, wear big sunglasses, and a hat, and maybe wear some dark colors to block the sun more and u should be good to go ! Thats my secret, and I get compliments on my skin all the time !

Go, and remember that everyone else is self-conscious, so nobody is looking at you.

Go, and remember that - if getting ample nutrition is a priority - the best way to get your daily requirement of vitamin D is to get out in the sun.

Tell your friends you burn like crazy and wear a long, thin-material tee over your suit.  Bring a high SPF sunscreen and constantly reapply.  (Or you can sit in the shade and look mysterious. =} ) 

low confidence, if that's what you feel, isn't overreacting.  If you're letting poor body image get in your way, then you're missing out on a lot of fun.

Thanks for the tips everyone. Unfortunetly, I didn't go yesterday. But We live 10 min. away from the beach and I will have plenty more chances to go with everyone. I'm focussing on getting a bathing suit I feel comfortable in this week cause I know everyone will go again next week. I don't fit in my old suits any more so I didn't want to go and look silly. I'm sure I won't be scared anymore when I find a new cute bathing suit. If I can get through the suit searching process:/ I have some good sunscreen already though.

I'm very fair-skinned and always wear t-shirts :) They hide the flab as well as protect you from the sun ;)

hey sarah

i can definately identify with your situation.  we've even lost around the same amount of weight.  i'm also kinda apprehensive about the fast approaching swimsuit season.  i don't even have a suit yet!  that surf short idea is a good one though. 

i think feeling comfortable in one's skin just takes time.  i was so disillusioned when i thought i would be super confident when i finally lost a bunch of weight.  i think it's pretty important to work on developing a positive mindset about one's self image and body image during the whole weight loss/maintainance process. 

you should be proud of your weight loss accomplishments sarah!  several times i was so worried about how my friends would react to me after i lost some weight.  i felt like such a fool when they welcomed the "fitter" me with such compassion and kindness.  i'm betting you have a great group of friends, and they'll just be grateful to spend a day of fun with you. 

i guess another way to put it is: which will you regret more?  going to the beach with your friends or staying home?

i also think putting things into perspective helps.  everyone feels self-conscious in a swim suit.  everyone.  just wear something that you feel comfortable in.  you don't have to justify it to anybody. 

if you decide to go, wear lots of sunscreen and cover up when you can!