Beyond the Beach Body
Embrace a Healthy Body Image This Summer
As summer approaches, so does the onslaught of beach body messaging, diet ads, and comparison traps. It’s easy to feel like you need to “fix” your body before the season begins—but what if this summer, you focused on embracing your body instead?
At its core, a healthy body image isn’t about how your body looks. It’s about how you feel in your body. It’s about respect, care, and connection—with yourself. And yes, that’s possible even in the summer, when body talk can feel louder than ever.
Here are a few gentle reminders to help you protect and nurture a healthy body image this season:
1. Your Body Is Not a Before-and-After Project
Your body doesn’t need to be toned, tanned, or transformed to be summer-ready. It’s already ready. Bodies change—through seasons of life, age, stress, joy, grief, growth. This is normal. Your worth never depends on your weight, shape, or size.
Instead of focusing on changing your body, ask:
How can I take care of my body today?
2. Challenge the “Bikini Body” Narrative
“Bikini body” messaging is often rooted in diet culture—a system that profits from making us feel not good enough. But bodies don’t have a season. You don’t need to earn your way into shorts, swimsuits, or self-worth.
This summer, unfollow accounts that make you feel like your body needs to shrink. Instead, surround yourself with voices that support body respect, inclusivity, and joy.
3. Choose JOY Over Judgment
Wear the clothes that feel good. Eat the foods that nourish you and bring you satisfaction. Move in ways that help you feel strong or grounded, not punished. Your body is your home, not your enemy.
Remember: confidence isn’t about looking perfect—it’s about showing up for your life, fully present and unapologetically you.
4. Be Compassionate with Yourself
If you’re struggling with body image, know you’re not alone. These feelings are valid,
and healing is possible. Offer yourself the same kindness you would give a friend. You don’t have to love your body every day to treat it with care.
Practice body neutrality if body love feels too far away. Say:
My body allows me to laugh, hug, swim, dance, breathe.
That’s worth honouring.
5. Focus on What Summer Is Really About
The best summer memories rarely revolve around appearance. They’re about connection, nature, new experiences, freedom. Don’t let self-criticism steal those moments from you.
Reclaim your summer with this mindset:
My body is not an ornament—it’s an instrument.
It allows you to live, love, explore, and enjoy. That’s the gift of embodiment.
So this summer we invite you to shift the focus away from fixing your bodies and toward caring for them. Let’s choose presence over perfection, nourishment over numbers, and joy over judgment. Your body is worthy of respect and kindness—always.
You are enough, just as you are.
Further Support
If you or someone you know struggles with an eating disorder or disordered eating,
the below organisations provide valuable support and advice.
blog entry written by Florence Rigbybell (registered nutritionist)