Moving into the summer months it seems that the question on everyone's mind is: "How do I get summer body ready?"
But what if we were to tell you that you are summer body ready. Right now. Just by existing in your current form. You may be feeling some uncomfortable emotions right now, maybe even wanting to click off this page, but we encourage you to keep reading.
Why we feel pressure to be summer body ready
Diet culture and the beauty industry does its best to convince us that our body is not good enough. Typically this is then followed by a product (meal plan, exercise plan, beauty product, etc) that you must purchase and is marketed as the solution to all of your problems.
Most of the time, the desire to want to change your body is so intense that these products seem like a life saver. We immediately hit "add to cart" and patiently await their arrival. However, what normally happens is that we feel excited about this new *life changing* product, we maybe stick with it for a set amount of time, but then life happens. The newness of the product fades and we typically end up back in old habits or patterns with a newfound sense of shame or guilt that we were unable to follow through *yet again*.
Does this sound familiar? Unfortunately, this is not a unique pattern. We want you to know that we hear you. And that it is truly not your fault. Or your body's fault. It's the culture's fault.
The truth is that it’s OK (and totally normal!) to not feel amazing in your body every second of every day. However, only focusing on how the external ways to potentially change your body to become "summer body ready" normally is not doing much to repair the deeper relationship you have with your body.
The road to body neutrality, respect or positivity is a long one. Filled with some difficult conversations and emotions. However, if cultivating a more peaceful relationship with your body sounds intriguing for you, without the inclusion of restrictive diets, not fun exercise plans or incredibly expensive supplements, the good news is that it is possible. And we can start right now.
Don’t know where to start? Keep reading for six ways we want you to "get summer body ready" this year.
how to get summer body ready
wear comfortable clothes that fit
Clothes are meant to fit your body, not the other way around! Feeling comfortable in your clothes is a way to honor your body and show your body love. Dressing yourself in a way that you do not feel tightly squeezed allows us to listen to our bodies with less distraction and discomfort.
Throughout life, our bodies will change, and that is something to be celebrated, not demonized! We understand how hard it can be to undergo body changes and we encourage you to remember that you are so, so much more than a body. Trialing at home services like Stitch Fix, Nuuly, Wantable, Gwynnie Bee, Fabletics.
honor your body's hunger and cravings
When we are feeling unhappy about our body, it can feel like our best option is to play that old tape in our brain that tells us some type of restriction is best. The goal typically is to ultimately change our bodies. But what would it be like to focus on feeding our body what it truly needs in that moment? What would it be like to focus on nourishing our body, rather than punishing it?
Learning to identify and honor your hunger is an essential part of feeling energized, focused, and positive. It also happens to be an essential part of reconnecting with your body and healing your relationship with food. There are steps you can take to move toward a compassionate and successful understanding of your hunger. One way is by observing your hunger and truly paying attention to when you begin to feel hungry and start feeling full. Eating balanced and consistent meals and snacks throughout the day also allows us to be more in touch with our body’s cravings.
cleanse your social media account
The only cleanse we will ever recommend is on social media! It is undeniable the impact that the virtual world can have on our day-to-day lives. While there are benefits to social media there also come some significant cons. With many of our clients we hear how a social media scroll can make or break their day, oftentimes leading down a rabbit hole of disordered thoughts around body image. This comparison trap is a slippery slope and can lead to intense feelings of body insecurity and shame or guilt around your own food intake.
Remember that social media should be bringing you up, not tearing you down! An act of self care is going through your feed and hitting unfollow on any accounts that make you feel bad about yourself, or less worthy.
Additionally, seek out social media accounts that DO give you confidence, motivation, are uplifting, and inspire you to love yourself and your body.
exercise in a way that makes you feel good
So often the idea of getting "summer body ready" has nutrition and movement attached to it. And, honestly, we think that this is a great time for you to start to reflect on your relationship with exercise. What does movement mean for you? If there was no chance that movement would/could change your body - what type of exercise would you engage in? These questions can be helpful to spark a conversation for yourself on where you stand with exercise.
Often when we exercise we find ourselves only focusing on external cues such as calories burned, heart rate, pace, and distance. Overly focusing on these cues may interfere with our ability to connect with our working muscles before, during, and after exercise. Ask yourself: How is your mood? Your energy level? Do you feel physically different?
Discovering joyful movement can lead to a healthier relationship with exercise and our bodies. With practice and a helpful shift in mindset, you can learn to engage in exercise that is enjoyable and good for your mind and body. Looking for resources on where you start? We've got you.
practice gratitude for your body
The idea of self compassion requires a shifting of intention (hello mindfulness!) to help build a foundation of wanting to take care of ourselves. Self compassion is so helpful because it offers an alternative response to our noticing of experience by encouraging us to turn towards ourselves in moments of pain or discomfort through both words and actions.
Instead of succumbing the the old tape of "I need to get summer body ready", what would it be like to practice compassion for what your body is currently doing for you?
Some ways to start with self compassion are brain-storming some statements that feel good for you such as: “I am doing the best I can right now”. If this type of internal lingo is unfamiliar to you, try role modeling and ask yourself if your dear friend or family member was feeling the same way, what words would you use for them? Journaling these thoughts can be a powerful way to express yourself.
work with a professional
At the end of the day, asking for help is a form of self love. We are not meant to have everything figured out on our own! Working to dismantle diet culture, the beauty standard and all of the driving forces behind the thoughts of "I need to get summer body ready" can feel like a full time job. Having a support system to help walk through your thoughts while providing facts and validating can be extremely beneficial. Feel like you are ready to start having these conversations? Let's chat!
ready for more?
NourishRX is a team of experts who typically serve clients located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Virginia. We proudly treat our clients virtually and would love to see if we’d be the right fit for you for 1:1 counseling or our companion services that include an online exercise library and Intuitive Eating course.
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