Every spring diet ads start taking over your social media or TV screens. They start advertising the latest ~fad diet~ luring you to believe you need to change your body before summer. There’s this sense of urgency they use to make you buy into their new diet or diet product, but you don’t have to change your body just because it’s summertime!

Every body is a summer body. Every body is a swimsuit body. This may not be the “How To Get A Summer Body” blog you thought you would be reading, but I promise you after reading this you may actually feel more encouraged and positive than you would if you continued to read a blog post about how to change your body for summer. 

So here are 4 ways to get a summer body, ~Intuitive Eating Style~:

Be present

There are so many different aspects that play into how our physical body looks, and within those many aspects majority of them are out of our control. Our bodies change over time and that’s natural and normal! So focus on being present. If you look back at pictures of yourself from last summer or two summers ago, don’t focus on the size of your body as it can take you down a negative body image hole. 

Live in the moment. Treat your body with respect now! Wear a swimsuit that is comfortable. Treat yourself to fun summer sunglasses or a cute cover-up. You don’t have to love every aspect of your body but as you shift your mindset from the past you have the mental capacity to be present, show yourself some self-care, and create memories. 

Eat *fun* summer foods

I have a whole list of foods that make me think of summertime. So, instead of restricting what you eat so you can fit into that swimsuit, focus on foods that make you happy and remind you of sweet summertime. Memories are connected to food. So what makes you think of growing up and being on summer break? I’ll go first… 

• Bomb pops from the ice cream man

• Chicken and vegetable skewers on the grill

• Ice cream from Dairy Queen

• Watermelon

• Fish or seafood

• Corn on the grill

Not only do these foods bring me joy thinking back on my childhood, but they also nourish me, and they provide me with calories and energy. You don’t have to feel guilty for enjoying summer foods. You don’t have to stay on your keto diet and only eat buffalo chicken dip. Summer makes me feel alive with all of the fun, food, warmth, and time outdoors, so let it do the same for you!

Detox

Yeah, I don’t mean your social media “expert” inspiring detox. Instead, I recommend detoxing from social media. Do you find yourself comparing yourself to other people and their lives on social media? Do you feel inadequate because you don’t look like someone? I HIGHLY recommend unfollowing people, celebrities, or influencers that make you feel that way. Don’t let them take up real estate in your mind. Your time, your mental health, and your money are precious. Follow people that are body positive, fat inclusive, or are speaking out against diet culture. Follow people that make you feel good!

Or, better yet, give up social media for summer. Free yourself of the negativity! There have been several research studies that have found social media to be damaging to our mental health and increase our dissatisfaction with our bodies leading to eating disorders. 

Move your body in ways that you enjoy

I always feel like there is more time in the summertime for me to get outside and do things I love. Maybe that’s because there is literally more daylight, but even so, I love being outside! There are various ways you can get out and move your body, not because your punishing yourself or making yourself work out to be a certain size, but because there are a ton of benefits to moving our bodies. Check out my last blog if you want to find out why movement is important! 

If you do like to be outside you could start walking with a friend, go for a hike, go kayaking, do garden/yard work, or go on a bike ride. 

If you don’t like to be outside too much there are plenty of other ways you can move your body. You could go walk around at your local mall. You could try out different gyms and classes. You could do home workouts. 

Remember, all movement counts! Cleaning your house, playing with your dog, or even painting your house. Everyone enjoys different things so finding what you love is important!

So get out there and enjoy your summer body! Let’s normalize normal bodies. Let’s normalize belly rolls, cellulite, big thighs, stretch marks, and more. It’s 2022, and no one is perfect so let’s stop acting like it.