Why Your Body Is Already Summer Ready

Why Your Body Is Already Summer Ready

The terms ‘beach-body’ and ‘summer-body’ have been thrown around for many decades, but the consequence of such phrases has a lasting impact. They imply that our bodies must fit some sort of criteria to be deemed ‘ready’ for summer. This is restrictive and imposing - you might internalise these terms and begin to change your diet or exercise routine out of shame, not because you genuinely want to. The lead up to summer can therefore begin to feel anything but exciting. Instead you might feel dread or fear at the thought of a beach trip or wearing summer clothes.

In the run-up to summer, articles are pumped out promising to provide the ‘secret’ to achieving a beach-body in a few weeks; or a new fad diet is promoted online which will make your body ‘summer-ready’. Many of these articles provide unsafe information, such as calorie intakes that are far below recommended quantities or over-exercising. There is a huge difference between healthy-living and some of the short-term tips that these articles promote.

The idea that our bodies must change for the summer period is absurd. It is an idea that has been engrained in marketing campaigns and social media platforms for so many years, and it is one that we need to move away from rapidly.

As someone who still deals with moments of body insecurity, summer can be a challenging time during which it is easy to slip into a negative mindset about physical appearances. I am at a point in my life where I am much more confident than my younger teenage self, yet I still feel worried about the way my body looks in a swimsuit, or if a certain dress looks okay.

But I’m here to say that regardless of these feelings of doubt you might have, your body is worthy to enjoy summer. You deserve to feel the sunshine on your back; you deserve to wear a bikini or a swimming costume without worrying about how you look.

The name of this magazine epitomises what you need to tell yourself: “I Am BeYoutiful”. You are beautiful, amazing and worthy of all experiences in life. Don’t pass up an opportunity to go to the beach because you feel self-conscious. Don’t hide away in baggy clothes because you feel too embarrassed to wear a swimming costume or bikini. Your body is already summer ready. You do not need to change anything about it in order to enjoy summer, and you should certainly feel comfortable in your own skin.

As cliché as it sounds, life is far too short to limit your experiences because of how you perceive yourself. A lot of the negativity that you might feel about your body comes from within - it is not a true reflection of how others see you. People do not think of you and begin to point out your minute ‘flaws’ (whatever you believe they may be). They speak of your character, your kindness, your generosity or your warmth - you are so much more than the hurtful, superficial comments you might speak to yourself. Enjoy summer, and love the body that you are in - even if at times it may feel like the hardest thing to do.