Do get some bike shorts. Wear them under your regular clothes if you want to. Team Estrogen has a section just for larger bike clothes. They're not cheap (even the smaller ones aren't), but it will make your riding more comfortable.

Pretty soon, you will not identify yourself as a Fat Lady. You will start to see yourself as someone who loves to be active, is strong, and controls her own destiny (if even you decide where and how far to ride!)

As for the naysayers (family and others), just remember that you cannot control what other people say or do. But you CAN control your reaction to them--you can choose to be embarassed and stop riding, or you can choose to smile at them and pedal away.

Best of luck and do keep us posted. We're here for you!