What is it about the prospect of sunshine and exposing more flesh than usual that get’s us all in a tizz? Magazines and websites go into over drive all telling us how to achieve that perfect bikini body. Well I’m calling bull shit on it all, sorry but apart from a handful of good features most of them are just offensive!
However, I do totally get why a lot of us want to focus on our bodies and feel more confident at this time of year, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to feel your best. I just don’t believe you have to do that in a negative way that involves depravation and hating on yourself in the process.
Many years ago I set myself a Summer Confidence Challenge and looking back on that now I’m quite impressed with how I approached it! Many of my tips today are along the same lines and I believe the key to feeling truly confident in yourself and your body at this time year requires a much more holistic approach and an understanding that you aren’t going to drop 3 stone in two weeks, sorry. If you did I am telling you now you’d feel crap at the end of it anyway!
Here are some ideas for helping your feel more confident going into the summer time…
Focus on simple solid healthy habits without extremes
I’m taking starting the day with warm water and a squeeze of lemon, staying hydrated during the day with lots of water and eating plenty of raw green veggies. These things can work wonders, not only for your skin, but also your body. Remember you might not see a difference on the scales, but just increasing light raw vegetables in your diet can debloat you. If you find that too many veggies do the opposite for your body, try juicing them to remove the fibre, blending them to make them more digestible or lightly cooking them. My beat the bloat tea could also be worth a try. Focus on good proteins and fats like salmon, mackerel, chicken and turkey and try having a tablespoon of coconut oil each day for it’s wide range of health benefits.
And yes, green smoothies are ace! Try having a green smoothie, green juice (if that suits your digestive system better) or a big salad once a day.
Dry skin brush or exfoliate and moisturise
Dry skin brushing will improve circulation, help the body to remove toxins and leave the skin looking smoother and brighter as will exfoliation, check out my ‘recipe’ for a lemon olive oil body scrub. Using a good moisturiser, maybe even a good oil like coconut oil, will help your skin to feel supple and look more luminous!
Fake tan
I know they may be packed with chemicals (although I have my eye on this one from Green People) but a bit of fake tan can make a huge difference to how you feel! I’ve kind of got used to white leg syndrome,and generally I don’t mind embracing the pale, but some light (not dark, you aren’t a member of a reality TV show!) fake tan can give you a bit of a glow.
Get a manicure and pedicure or do a one for yourself at home
I instantly feel better and more confident with my nails done! Go for a nice bright colour like coral, hot pink or turquoise.
Start working those muscles
Starting some strength training using either body weight movements or weights can make a big difference in a fairly short period of time. Again, this is less about weight loss and more about body shape. Make sure you eat something containing protein after your strength training to maximise muscle building and therefore tone and shape.
Buy a new swim suit that really works for your shape
I have been stood in many a dressing room wearing some bloody string bikini that barely covered my nipples looking like a strung up joint of beef too many times to count, and let me tell you it’s depressing as hell. There are some absolutely gorgeous swim suits out there and you should be able to find something you feel good in without having to resort to a tent like cover up. Personally for my shape I love vintage style swim suits with low cut legs and a halter neck fastening, as well as high waisted bikini bottoms and fuller cupped bikini tops.
Give your head a talking too
This is the hardest thing of all, but we are really our own worst enemies when it comes to feeling good about ourselves. There’s no magic wand you can wave that will a) give you a ‘dream’ body or b) make you love the one you have instantly, so something has to shift. Life is too short! I think we can start by giving ourselves some perspective, I always try and avoid comparison, even if that means being more careful about the images I’m exposed to. Try creating a positive inspiration board full of images that make you feel good about yourself for the summer ahead. Remind yourself that celebs and models are airbrushed anyway, and most people that see you are more bothered about how they look to make any judgement on your body. Even if they did, why does their opinion count? Why give a shit? Life is too precious to be wasted away feeling crap about yourself when the sun is shining!
Life is here to be lived and enjoyed, so get down to the beach, eat the ice cream, but also eat the watermelon and fresh fruit too ;-)
How do you feel heading into the summer? Are you off on holiday anywhere nice this year? Go on make me jealous! Do you change your healthy living habits at this time of year?
Absolutely totally agree with you on this
Thanks Judith! xx
really really good advice.
Thanks Sharon!
Great Advice, Its winter here at the moment but I am ready for Summer! Bring it on!
Haha I bet! Enjoy it when it comes :-)
Fabulous advice Laura. I think really loving what you have is so important. When my sister was in South America she said there are very curvacious woman rocking tiny bikinis – she said what stands out is their confidence. I think regardless of a shape or size, if you carry yourself and your head held high, you look fantastic! I am off sailing at the end of this month in Croatia – CANNOT wait. And then off to the land of OZ in September where it will be Summer pretty much all the time….It is mad that people think it is cold at 16 degrees! I will love it ha!
Thanks Lauren! Your sister is so right, confidence can make all the difference :-) Hope you enjoy Croatia, very jealous!
Yes to all of this!
Thanks Lauren :-) x
great advice girl!! Life is to be lived… YES!
Thanks Brittany!
Getting a hot swim suit that suits your own beautiful shape is a great plan – I will never be a string bikini person and that is ok. Also getting your head out of criticism of yourself and others bodies, and into celebration them – the human body rocks! love this x
Thanks Kezia, remembering that the human body rocks whatever shape and size it is, is so important :-)
Great tips! I agree, buying the right swim suit for your body shape is important. I am off to Slovenia in 6 days time and I am planning to wear my bikini so I’ve been trying to be extra good, doing more toning exercises in the gym, having slightly smaller meal portions and dry brushing every day. I do have lemon in warm tea every day anyway, but my healthy living habits definitely change before going on holiday. I managed to lose couple of pounds already and hoping to lose a little bit more.. Although if I wasn’t going on holiday where I have to wear a bikini I wouldn’t bother that much. Last year we went for a 5-day cycling trip and I was very active training for it before going and I didn’t worry about my body at all.
Hope you have a great time in Slovenia! You certainly have had a good approach to getting ready for it, enjoy!
Thanks Laura! I will!
I love how I can always count on you for fabulous advice :) This is such a great approach to feeling good this summer, and I can especially attest to how important it is to buy clothes that fit your body instead of trying to make your body fit certain clothes. Buying a size bigger in something can definitely be a bit of a mental battle, but it really does feel great o have clothes that fit instead of trying to squeeze into something that doesn’t.
Thanks Amanda! Completely agree, I always remind myself no one else can see the label but me anyway, plus you always look better in clothing that actually fits you well!
This is great Laura – especially the last part as we can often be so cruel to ourselves! Though I utterly agree that small things e.g. a green smoothie a day, or dry skin brushing makes a difference too. PS looking forward to the chocolate maca mylk recipe on Friday!
Whoever coined that phrase “bikini body” needs to be shot. OK not shot, but severely reprimanded. Women all over the world develop complexes because of this stupid idea that everyone must look gorgeous on a beach in a teeny tiny bikini. What happened to just enjoying the beach??
I think the only time I really think about my eating habits seriously in terms of trying to clean things up or cutting back on anything is about November (and just for November) because I know December is going to be full of so many tasty, delicious and seasonal foods. So I try and balance the two months hehe. Sort of works…but Christmas seems to creep earlier and earlier every year.
Great advice Laura- I agree be kind to yourself, and be confident in yourself too. I was always told to not tell people what I was self conscious about because chances are they won’t notice unless you tell them.
Brilliant advice Laura – love it!
Thanks Claire!