Summer is nearly here and with it comes the inevitable rush of headlines about becoming ’bikini or beachwear ready’. Can we just stop for a moment and talk about why this whole concept is just … wrong!
Firstly, everyone already has a bikini or beachwear body. If you have a body and you put swimwear on it, there you go, sorted!
The real problem with the beachwear-ready mindset is that it encourages quick fixes and crash diets, neither of which do us any good in the long term. These quick solutions promise immediate results but rarely work on changing our habits and making it a sustainable way of eating and training for life!
So, we need to focus on creating simple, sustainable habits all year. Being consistent in what we do is so important. When we need to make a change, we need it to be manageable choices that fit in with our daily lives.
Move your body because it feels good, not as punishment or to become a certain size. We need to walk regularly, lift weights, and nourish ourselves with nutritious and balanced food. We do not want to deprive ourselves of everything that is ‘bad’, we just need to ensure it is balanced and eating badly is not a daily habit.
Most importantly, remember that your worth isn’t determined by how you look in swimwear. Developing a positive relationship with yourself means appreciating your body for all the amazing things it can do rather than punishing it for not fitting a shape we think it should be.
So let’s ditch the quick fixes and unrealistic pressures this summer. Put on that bikini or beachwear with pride, embrace your body, and remember that true health and happiness come from everyday habits, creating a way to be ‘fit to love your life’.
Ann de Jongh is a health and wellbeing coach
