Confidence for the Traveling Plus Size Woman
Do you ever have a moment where your insecurities get the best of you? You get that one little guy talking in the back of your head making you question yourself. That is exactly what has been happening to me lately. I know that I am beautiful, smart, hard-working, strong, independent, etc. and people constantly reassure that every day, but there are just days when that little devil over your shoulder just tries to get the best of you. This is why I am writing this post today to provide confidence for the traveling plus size woman.
Confidence for the Traveling Plus Size Woman
Lately, I have been having a bit of an identity crisis in figuring out where I am on this spectrum of average and plus size (I have had some identity crises beyond just my size which I will save for another time since that isn’t what I want to focus on at the moment). I have identified myself as being plus size, fat, curvy, all of the above. Growing up, I was always teased about my weight and unsure of where I fit in.
After some years, my body started proportioning out and I learned how to dress my body type. (let’s just say the 90’s was not good to my body type) When I shop I typically find clothes in plus size stores and yet many of my friends will tell me I am not plus size. Sometimes I still get body shamed through social media, looked at differently when traveling in other countries and so much more. So what better way to squash what people think, because this blog isn’t for those people who want to bash me, this is for those people who want to be inspired. My goals in this post are to inspire more plus size women or any woman for that matter, to go out there and experience what the world has to offer, after all, you only have one life right?
Get rid of the excuses
Hopefully, this doesn’t seem too harsh or feel as if I am shaming plus size individuals because I am sick and tired of people using their weight (money, time to travel, etc.) as an excuse to not try or do new things. There is always that one person that wants to say it’s because you are x, y or z. Honestly, why do people always feel need to compare themselves to other people? Not only are these excuses not beneficial to you, they are also not beneficial to the people around you and can be seen as negativity. Who wants to hang out with a negative person? I surely don’t. Excuses only hold you back, own up to admitting you are scared or don’t know where to begin because guess what there are plenty of people out there willing to help you, guide you and even show you the way even when you feel most vulnerable.
Be adventurous, go outside of your comfort zone
This may go along with excuses because I know many people are afraid to try new things. But honestly, who are you holding back except yourself? If you are embarrassed because, for example, you don’t know how to snowboard, how do you think other people felt when they first started? They didn’t know how to snowboard right away. Practice makes perfect. The more adventurous things you do the better you will get at being outside of your comfort zone. Your memories will thank you for this one.
Accept you for who you are
You are beautiful, smart, talented and you are curvy, thick, chubby or whatever term you love to describe yourself. People love confidence and traveling with a confident attitude well is definitely something to reckon with ?!
Don’t let people think you can’t do it!
You can do anything you set your mind to. As a plus size traveler, I have never been afraid to try new things. I have been able to swim with whale sharks, hike up a tall mountain to see an entire island, zip lined along the longest zip line in Asia, been on 30+ international flights and counting, swam in the middle of the ocean, hiked down to cold springs and waterfalls, visited Thailand during their Songkran Festival, spent Christmas in the tropics and so much more! If I can do it, you definitely can!
Ignore the negativity
Being a plus size woman, I sometimes get looks from people around me. I have learned to ignore ignorant comments (don’t get me wrong they still hurt) but I have learned to not care about what people think about me, especially people that don’t matter to me. Be yourself. If someone does not like you for you or wants to judge you, just let go of that negativity and walk away. You deserve better than to listen to all that noise. Fight hate with confidence!
Do it for you!
Remember why you stumbled across this post, why you wanted to travel, why you are reaching out. This experience is for you and no one else. This is your chance to do exactly what you want and don’t be afraid to fall. Do this for you and only you.
Take your time
This is the time for you to move at a pace that is comfortable for you. There isn’t a need to rush and be the first to any destination, just enjoy the moment. Get out there and travel. However, if you aren’t ready to try new things or need to take a break that is perfectly fine, just remember to get back on that horse when you are ready. It is all about being comfortable in your skin.
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What are some of your tips for being a confident traveling curvy girl? Leave your comments below!
I love this article NieNie. Both my partner and I are thicker women, and we both have confronted some of these issues. I find myself overcompensating in certain places, being extra polite. I get that creeping thought that they already view me as the fat American, so I certainly don’t want to be the fat, rude American. I have to catch myself, and let it go. I love traveling, and the life I am experiencing. Glad you shared this!
This cheered me up today, YOU cheered me up today! Thank you! And also where on Earth did you get that bikini set from?! It’s total awesomeness and you look so cool in it!!
Awe I am glad I was able to do that for you! Bikini set was from Hot Topic ?
You will never be as young or beautiful as you are today, so shouldn’t we all be seizing the moment? No excuses, just action!
I love this post, and I hope it’s seen as widely as possible to inspire other people to achieve their travel dreams, and not be deterred by their size! Your adventures sound amazing! (and girl, you’re beautiful :))
Awe thank you! I hope so too! Women need more positive encouragement! I am glad you love it!
Yes! This post says it all! It’s hard sometimes not to let your insecurities hold you back… So we need little reminders like this not to let things stand in our way. Mine is pain from a chronic illness, and I’m constantly afraid I’ll have a flare up when I’m somewhere far away, traveling solo. But I’m even more afraid of letting it hold me back and steal experiences from me. So thanks for this post!
Exactly! I bet it must be tough for you, but those obstacles are what makes you stronger! You only have one life, live it to the fullest ?
It’s especially hard in some countries, like France, to be plus sized. Thanks for the article, I hope others will read it and feel empowered! Do it for you and enjoy the adventure 🙂
Theses are such great reminders for everyone with some form of insecurity while travelling! You look so confident in your travel pics, love it! And that bikini is just so fun! Keep being a mermaid!
As long as you are comfortable in your own skin and feel happy and healthy, who cares! the trick is to keep on exploring and not listening to haters.
Inspiring post! I love the message. Don’t let your figure stop you from doing ANYTHING! <3
NieNie, you are a BEAUTIFUL woman, inside and out. You make it clear in your writing. It was a pure joy to come across this article and I look forward to following you on your adventures. I, too, suffer from strong insecurity at times and I think you’ve faced this in a beautiful way. <3
Awe, thank you! You are beautiful too! I am happy to be able to help women acknowledge these insecurities and help conquer them! We got this!
I definitely had my moments of insecurities and it took me several years to feel confident about myself (though I can’t really say I’m 100% confident, but it’s way better now). Thank you for this post and for reminding other women not to feel bad about themselves and embrace their uniqueness! Cheers! <3
Some beautiful words and so true.
YOU. GO. GIRL! I am loving this body positivity movement. And I have to say, growing up I always wanted to buy a size small like my friends and it always made me look so. much. worse! Knowing how to dress for your body is everything. But NOTHING compared to having the confidence to be yourself, try new things and keep pushing forward! Thanks for a great post <3
Exactly!! I had a very ugly childhood from teasing, lack of friends and just dressing like a tomboy cus I seriously had no clue how to dress my puberty growing body. But because of that, I have learned to love my body at every stage it is in. Loving yourself for who you are is more important than anything else in the world, but being able to celebrate that with others makes it that much more powerful.
This is such an important and important post. I too had my moments of insecurities, but with time I got over them. Thanks for emphasizing that there are many definitions of beauty!
Great read. Confidence is so important. I’ve grown to accept myself so much more over the last couple years. In August 2016 I put on my big-girl pants and went to Amsterdam solo. It was incredibly empowering!
Fuck. Yes. This! This is something that is so often overlooked or discussed in hushed tones in our community, and I commend you SO MUCH for being so open with it. Acknowledging that, yes, there are some ways in which travelling is different for plus-sized women is so important, BUT I think you’ve hit the nail on the head with your philosophy of “that shouldn’t stop you”. Hats off to you, awesome lady! (And that bikini is AWESOME, I dig it so much!)
Sometimes I forget I’m plus sized! But there’s always someone there to remind me, make no mistake! I think you’re absolutely right, it’s time we stopped judging and loved people for who they are, not what they look like. I started travelling full time three years ago, and I’d put it off for so long, because I though I couldn’t do it with fat. Guess what? I could, and I am! Thanks for sharing this, and yes, you rock that bikini set!
I’m so glad someone said it out and loud!! I’m not really plus size, but my body is not fit and I’m fat in odd portions of body (don’t wanna say that here) But I understand your points completely as it’s the negativity in ourselves which holds us back!!
I think plus size women are normal – it is the skinny who are not & you would not believe the tortures they go through to look that way. Just chill and enjoy & let those who do not appreciate you feel the heat.
We are perfect the way we are.
Excellent words of advice as a plus size woman of over 50 I spent far too many years ashamed of myself and my size. No more, I am traveling late in life and loving every moment of it to hell with the sizism, sexism and any other damned ism that keeps you confined to your room.
This is an awesome post!
I think your advice to be adventurous and to go outside your comfort zone is good for everyone. 😀
I am really glad I found your blog today.
Awe thanks! I am so happy to hear that!