Swimsuit season just rolled up on us like…
It's the unofficial start to summer and everyone is flaunting their pecs and midsection. You're ready to flex as well.
But there's one slight hang-up. You left our old body with last summer.
Those late night binge sessions have caught up to you. It didn't occur to you that you had a summer beach trip planned, or that maybe your friends would invite you to a pool party in the next 12 months. Now you're stuck with excess baggage around your waistline.
How did you get here?
Logic and reason aren't helpful. You're full of excuses.
The only thing left to do is get to work preparing to unveil your summertime fine.
Here are 11 familiar phases of body shaming we're guilty of during the summer months.
1. How You Look In The Mirror Trying On Your Old Swimsuit
You've lived so much life since you last put on your bathing suit, and didn't account for the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthday—and any other reason to stuff your face—feasts.
How you thought you'd look:
How you really look:
Okay, so there's a little more effort to put forward.
2. Less Than A Week Into Your New Diet
Nothing seems to add up anymore, even the calories. You just want to eat what you want, when you want, without having to compromise your fitness goals. You're ready to quit, however, deep down you know the reward will outweigh the mental defeat.
3. You Inside The Gym
You leaving the gym.
4. How Your Friends Responded When You Told Them You Considered Tummy Tea
You got desperate to shed some pounds, yet and still, they're not going to let you go out like that.
5. You Vs. Your Will-Power
You tried to stick to a strict nutrition routine and solid workout plan, but somewhere along the line, the inner gluttony refuses to let you be great.
6. Time Hop Photos And Facebook Memories
You're starting to notice some progress. Three pounds down here and there, an inch or two faded in the wind.You're celebrating every small win. That is until you come across #tbt photos when you once thought you were fat, but you were actually super snatched, and now you're questioning your overall body image and wish you could've appreciated your old body when you lived in it.
7. Your Confidence Is Slowly Improving
Every day you give yourself a pep talk to fill your space with body positivity.
8.The Workouts And Dieting Are Becoming ALifestyle
Suddenly, the stress of having the perfect beach body is diminishing. You just want to feel good about yourself.
9. But Your Old Habits Keep Trying To Catch Up With You
10. The Moment of Truth: The Final Swimsuit Test
How you look in the mirror when you see your weeks of hard work culminate in the dressing room.
11. The end result?
You've stressed 50 percent of the year about how you'll look in your swimsuit, and now you're adding incredulous amounts of pressure to really impress everyone else. At this point, you don't give a damn and will give the middle finger to anyone who thinks they have a right to shame your body type.
How you plan to walk past the haters at the beach.
The only acceptance that matters is yours.