overcoming body image struggles during the spring and summer months
The weather is changing, and with that comes pressure to change our bodies. Advertisements, influencers, or your internalized beliefs may be telling you that you need to lose weight for summer. You may also note the toxic phrase ‘summer body’ that is widely circulated.
A ‘summer body’ is an arbitrary phrase used by people, diet, and exercise programs that encourages us to lose weight, so we look attractive in the summertime wearing summer clothes. However, you should not feel pressured to manipulate your body for a particular season, event, or as a prerequisite to wear certain clothes.
Here are some body image tips to consider as we go from winter to warmer weather:
Dress in Clothes That Make You Feel Comfortable and Confident
It can be very daunting to go shopping or try on clothes when you struggle with body image. Remember that clothes are made in different sizes to fit you. You do not need to change your body to look good in certain clothes or sizes.
Work On Your Relationship With the Mirror
Looking in the mirror may be a source of anxiety for you. You may criticize parts of your body when you look in the mirror. Perhaps you even avoid looking in the mirror because you are afraid of how you will feel about what you look like. You could try practicing positive self-talk when you look in the mirror. Positive self-talk is linked to less stress and greater satisfaction with life too.
Remember That Body Acceptance Is A Journey
Some days we may feel good with our body, and some days we might struggle. For example, you may feel slightly more uncomfortable going to the beach than the grocery store. As your activities vary, the way you may feel can differ too. This is normal. If you struggle more on some days, this does not mean your progress to acceptance is gone. There may be setbacks, like any other endeavor you take in life.
Challenge Conventions on How To Dress or Look For Certain Events
As the warmer weather approaches, you may plan more social events. Why do we feel pressure to dress or look a certain way when we go clubbing, to the beach or pool, to attend a party? You should enjoy these events or occasions for the entertainment they bring you and not feel obligated to dress or look a certain way for them.
Broaden Your Idea of Beauty
Even if a couple of body types are celebrated more in society, you can try your best to resist these ideas. If you sometimes think, “I look nothing like this beautiful person, I must not be attractive,” then correct yourself. They can look beautiful looking one way, and you can look beautiful looking another way. Our differences add to our beauty.
Remember to be kind to yourself. You do not need to change your body because the weather is getting warmer. By keeping some of these tips in mind when you face pressure to look a certain way for summer, you can work on having a healthy, accepting image of your body.
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This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Elizabeth Low.
Elizabeth is currently finishing her sociology degree with a concentration in social interaction and a minor in psychology at San Jose State University. During her undergraduate studies she has volunteered and worked in childcare, and in the food industry. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Nutrition or Counseling. She hopes to actively counteract social messaging that is linked to disordered eating, overexercise, and body dissatisfaction. Her interests include cooking, childcare, education, research, and writing. She plans to help individuals have a healthy relationship with food and their body image through counseling in the future.
