Suns out, Guns out…
… 10 ways to look & feel your best this summer, WITHOUT going on a crazy crash diet!
July is here, the weather is (hopefully!) on the turn and chances are, you might be feeling more than a little apprehensive about getting your body out this summer. I promise you – you aren’t alone. More than a few of my followers have expressed unease about baring more now the summer season is upon us, which is why in this blog you’ll find 10 ways to look & feel your best all summer long! The most refreshing part? Not one of them is to do with restricting your food, going on any sort of ‘crash’ diet or crazy workout plan!
The notion of being ‘bikini ready’ has been outed in previous years – thanks in part largely to Protein World’s controversial ‘Are you Beach Body Ready’ campaign in 2015. The ad was slammed by criticism that it objectified women, perpetuated the myth that certain swimwear is only acceptable on a particular type of slim female body; thereby excluding the vast majority of women and contributing to the ideology that in order to be on the beach, you have to lose weight and conform to stereotypical standards of beauty (hello diet culture, thanks patriarchy 🙄).
The advert was reclaimed in 2018 by plus-sized clothing brand Navabi who used similar fonts, colours and styling of the original advert but this time featured three plus-sized models rocking their bikinis and I am here for it – I think it’s a wonderful reminder that we shouldn’t feel pressure to look the way we’ve been conditioned to believe is ‘perfect’. Every woman, every body is different and we should celebrate that.
That being said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to look and feel our best – the problem is; google ‘how to look and feel my best this summer’ and you’ll be met with thousands of links to crash diets, weight loss programs and excessive exercise routines which might work short term but long term will likely leave you at an increased risk of bingeing, with a slower metabolism making it harder to maintain your new lower weight and most significantly, a sense of shame, guilt and anxiety when you inevitably fail (which, FYI – is the diet failing YOU – you have not failed the diet – that’s a whole other topic for another post!).
So what’s the solution?
I’ve got it right here for you – my top 10 tips to have you looking and feeling your best this summer WITHOUT going on a crazy crash diet. In fact – I don’t even mention food at all. There is, after all, far more to life than what’s on your plate!
Buy swimwear you LOVE and feel comfortable in
If you want to go in a pool or in the sea this summer, you’re going to need a bathing suit of some kind. Thankfully, bikinis have come a long way since just a triangle tie-side two piece and there’s now loads of options for styles to suit all sorts of shapes and sizes. Buy online and try it on in the comfort of your own home – those teeny tiny changing room cubicles, bad lighting and awful mirrors do nothing to make what can be a traumatic shopping experience any better.
Buy a few different options and a few different sizes – remembering that a size is literally just a number on a label and it means absolutely nothing. Once you’ve made your decision you can even cut out the label so you never have to look at it again.
How you feel is what counts – you want swimwear that feels comfortable, supportive and – if you’re feeling it – fun! There’s no better clothing style to embrace your inner child than with swimwear. Try ASOS for a huge selection of sizes and styles, or if ethical swimwear is more your thing check out this guide by Moral Fibres.
2. Same goes for underwear and outwear
I’m not suggesting you need a full wardrobe re-do – who has the budget for that – but it is worth spending a couple of hours sorting through your clothes and underwear and getting rid of anything which doesn’t fit, you don’t love and crucially – anything you are holding on to for ‘when I lose weight’.
Send the clothes some love, give them gratitude for the joy the brought you if that’s your vibe (hello Marie Kondo!) and then send them on their way – either to a charity shop or a charity donation bin or you can always sell pieces on. You may need to do this little by little, in which case I’d suggest starting with underwear and working your way out. Saggy old granny pants have a time and a place occasionally, but when you are wanting to look and feel your best is not it.
3. Hair / nails / toes
Yes, it might seem vain but IMO there’s nothing wrong with this. Nothing brightens my mood faster than a fresh pedi, and if you don’t have the cash for a salon job you can always DIY it at home. (Nails I mean… please PLEASE don’t try and cut your own hair… that’s a recipe for disaster!).
4. Snooze-fest that we’ve all heard before – remember your sunscreen
Daily on your face, at least SPF 30 and ideally SPF 50 – even on cloudy days. I’m currently loving Eucerin Photoaging Control SPF 50 for my face – it’s quick drying, non-greasy and works as a primer for makeup too. Plus it’s coral reef friendly, perfect if you are going in the sea this summer.
Those hazy, windy days that make up most of summer in the UK are notorious for sunburn, so it’s worth having a little bottle of suncream in your handbag for exposed arms/legs/shoulders/cleavage when you’re out and about.
5. Focus on sleep
Yes I know, bo-ring – but hear me out. I know that it’s tempting to make loads of plans and fill your diary now that we are actually allowed to again, but save a little of that time back for you. Sleep is vital for so many reasons and nothing will flatten your glow quicker than too many days burning the candle at both ends.
Unfortunately, it can’t be banked – a Sunday morning lie in won’t make up for only getting a few hours during the week. It’s the most boring of boring tips I know but the notion of trying to stick to the same bed time and wake-up time every day (yes, even at weekends) is there for a reason.
6. Hydrate!
Another snooze-fest I realise – and trust me, no one wants to be sipping gins in tins in the park with friends more than me RN, but there’s not a part of your body that won’t thank you for chugging the water too. Sitting in a park for 8 hours drinking alcohol and eating crisps sounds lovely in theory, but learn from my mistake when I say you will feel awful and be home and in bed by about 6pm if you aren’t staying hydrated.
7. Move in a way that feels joyful to you
I’m not suggesting that that needs to be some sort of crazy hardcore, 7 days a week sweat fest in the gym but movement is good for the soul. Perhaps for you that’s walking, swimming, running, gardening, housework to 90s pop (no? just me?!) – whatever it is, find a way to move your body that feels good to you.
8. Chose your ‘yes’s’ wisely
If covid taught us anything, it was that we were all doing way too much and were burned out the majority of the time pre – pandemic. You can’t deny it wasn’t lovely (to begin with) to have some enforced downtime, no where to go and no one to see.
Carry a little bit of this with you as the world starts to open up again and save a little time just for you – see point 4. If it isn’t a ‘hell yes’ then it’s a no – and you are perfectly within your rights to say no to invitations which don’t spark joy in you life. Set boundaries around your work and personal life and you’ll feel all the better for it. Struggling with this? I can’t recommend the book The life changing magic of not giving a f**k by Sarah Knight more highly.
9. Manage stress in a way that works for you
Perhaps that’s movement, yoga, meditation, journaling – it looks different for different people but it’s important to have some sort of outlet and way of letting go. I personally love swimming – I physically can’t look at my phone when I’m underwater and nothing clears my head quicker.
You might be starting to notice a theme by now – setting boundaries and prioritising your own needs above others will serve you well when it comes to feeling your best, and when you feel your best, you look your best – simples.
10. Last but not least – create yourself some sort of routine
Life may be slowly starting to get back to normal but I don’t think there’s any denying that for most of us it’s always going to look a little different from now on. Whether you’re now only in the office part-time, perhaps you are now looking for a job or working on your own business – routine and consistency is key. Again this will look different for everybody, but I’m yet to meet someone who didn’t thrive off consistency in some way or other. Perhaps for you it’s a well crafted morning or evening routine, maybe it’s just about having a boundary between work and play – whatever it is though, keep it consistent and stable in a world that for at least a while yet feels a little unsure. This will only aid to support the points above – so don’t feel tempted to skip it!
So there you have it – my top 10 tips to look and feel your best this summer WITHOUT embarking on a crazy crash diet. You ALREADY have a beach-ready body – mindset and self care really do go a long way and require very little investment – a great swimsuit perhaps, but sleep and staying focused on your priorities cost nothing and will keep you glowing!
I really hope you find this useful – pop over to my Facebook group and let me know which one resonates the most for you – or perhaps you’ve got your own tip to share, in which case I’m all ears!