Summertime and Body Image

If you read the title and you are now here, welcome to the 95% of people who have difficulty during the summer with their body image. This is a safe space.

Why is heading into the summer so hard for a lot of people? My guess is less clothing, propaganda about getting that “summer body”, confronting the fact that your old jean shorts don’t fit anymore, sweat in places you’d rather not have sweat…

It goes on and on.

Now, i’m certainly not going to suggest that this post is going to cure anybody of insecurity, but I hope to give you some things to think about. Here are a few of my summer body image tips:

Shop for clothes when you are in a good headspace.

Not only do I recommend getting enough clothes that feel comfortable in so you aren’t hyperaware of how your clothes are cutting into you, but that you do that shopping when you have the capacity to be nice to yourself. If you are able to see yourself more objectively that day, go for it. If you’re already upset about the size change, save it for another day, friend.

Get familiar with your body.

Again, only if you’re in a good headspace. When our bodies change, we don’t often look at ourselves in the mirror or place our hands on certain parts of our body. Yoga can be a good place to start to develop and understanding of how your body looks, feels, and moves.

Talk to yourself or a good friend (with consent) about it.

Sometimes it can be helpful to say things out loud so that you can challenge them, or be able to reframe your own thoughts about your body. Friends can be a good “oh my gosh you think that about yourself?!” reality check. It can be helpful to tell yourself that nobody really thinks about your body as much as you do. At the pool, everybody else is thinking about how they look. They’re most likely in their own heads, not staring at you.

Eat. You need to eat.

Please don’t go on a fad diet or deny yourself food or calories. Sudden changes in intake can do more harm than good for your body. It needs to be nourished. Losing a significant amount of weight very quickly then gaining it all back will be worse for your metabolic health in the long run.

Remember you aren’t your body. You are so loved! :)

-Stevie