As soon as the weather starts warming up, something shifts.
The conversations start. The advertisements ramp up. Social media fills with messages about getting “summer ready,” and suddenly there’s an urgency to change our bodies before beach days, vacations, pool parties, and warm-weather clothes become part of everyday life.
As a registered dietitian, I see this pattern every year.
People who have been making progress toward food freedom often find themselves feeling pulled back toward dieting. Body image thoughts get louder. Food becomes more stressful. The pressure to look a certain way before summer can feel overwhelming.
If that sounds familiar, I want you to know there is another option.
What if this summer wasn’t about changing your body?
What if it was about actually experiencing your life?
Before you think about bathing suits, vacations, beach days, or pool parties, ask yourself one simple question:
What do I want to feel and experience this summer?
Maybe your answer is joy.
Maybe it’s freedom.
Maybe it’s peace, playfulness, connection, or simply being present.
When body image struggles show up, it’s easy to become consumed by what your body looks like. Setting an intention helps redirect your focus toward what actually matters to you.
You can even ask yourself the same question before a specific beach or pool day:
What do I want this day to feel like?
That answer becomes your anchor.
Prioritize Comfort
One of the most underrated body image tools is comfort.
Not changing your body.
Not fixing your body.
Not shrinking your body.
Comfort.
If your bathing suit is digging into your skin, constantly riding up, or making you feel physically uncomfortable, it’s going to be much harder to stay present and enjoy your day.
You deserve clothes that fit the body you have right now.
That includes bathing suits.
When shopping for a swimsuit, focus on two things: does it pass the comfort test, and does it pass the style test?
First, make sure it feels good on your body. Can you sit, move, bend, and breathe comfortably? Then ask whether it feels like you. Does it fit your personality and style?
You do not need to earn a bathing suit you love.
You deserve clothing that fits and supports your body today.
And while we’re talking about comfort, let’s talk about nourishment too.
A lot of people unintentionally stop taking care of themselves when body image feels difficult. They skip lunch at the beach. Avoid snacks by the pool. Wait until they get home to eat.
But hunger doesn’t make body image easier.
In fact, being hungry, irritable, dehydrated, and uncomfortable often makes negative thoughts feel louder.
Pack the snacks.
Pack the lunch.
Bring the water bottle.
Bring the fun drinks.
Bring whatever helps you feel nourished and energized.
Your body needs consistent nourishment whether you’re sitting in an office, spending the day at the beach, or chasing your kiddos around the pool.
The more comfortable and cared for your body feels, the easier it becomes to stay connected to the present moment.
Remember What Actually Matters
Summer comes with some unavoidable realities.
You’ll probably get hot.
You’ll probably sweat.
Your thighs might rub together.
Your clothes might stick to your skin.
Your hair may frizz.
Welcome to being a human during summer.
Instead of treating these experiences as evidence that something is wrong with your body, can we normalize them?
Can we plan for them instead?
Maybe that means bringing a portable fan. Maybe it’s finding comfortable dresses. Maybe it’s using anti-chafing products. The goal isn’t to eliminate every discomfort. The goal is to support yourself in ways that help you stay present and enjoy your life.
And that brings me to the part I come back to over and over again.
The people who love you are not analyzing your body the way you think they are.
Your children aren’t paying attention to how your stomach looks sitting in a beach chair.
Your friends aren’t keeping score of cellulite.
Your partner isn’t making a mental list of your perceived flaws.
The people who care about you want your presence.
They want you in the pool.
They want you at the beach.
They want you laughing, playing, relaxing, and making memories alongside them.
Years from now, your loved ones are not going to remember what your body looked like in a bathing suit. They’re going to remember whether you showed up.
One of the hardest parts of body image healing is recognizing how often we postpone our lives.
We tell ourselves we’ll enjoy the vacation after we lose weight.
We’ll wear the bathing suit after we change our body.
We’ll take the photo after we feel more confident.
But summer doesn’t wait. Life doesn’t wait.
The memories are happening right now.
You don’t need a different body to enjoy this season.
You don’t need to earn a beach day.
You don’t need permission to participate in your own life.
You deserve to experience joy, connection, fun, and rest exactly as you are.
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If body image struggles are making it difficult to enjoy your life, our team of weight-inclusive registered dietitians and certified intuitive eating counselors is here to help.
If you’d like support building a more peaceful relationship with food, movement, and your body, you can check your health insurance benefits to see whether counseling sessions with our team may be covered. We would be honored to support you.
