Body Confidence
July 20th, 2010
In less than two weeks, I’ll be heading to the beach again! I’m so excited! Family, sand, bathing suits…
Oh, bathing suits.
Sometimes with an upcoming beach vacation I can get self conscious about the thought of spending all day in a bathing suit. Plus, people take pictures! There are times whenever I start to go into panic mode and think of all that I should do to "look good" in my bathing suit.
I have been fighting that urge the past few times I’ve gone to the beach. It’s instinct for ladies, and maybe men, but I have to remind myself that my goal is not to look like some model for Victoria’s Secret. My goal is to be healthy. It’s not really weight loss that I want, because I know that I don’t need to lose weight, but what I’m looking for is confidence when I don on my suit.
After years and years of various weights and various swim suits, I have discovered where body confidence comes from:
treating my body right.
There have been times in the past when I have wanted to lose weight by date X and I push my body to achieve my unrealistic goal. I run too much and I eat too little, and it’s funny because it’s those moments when I have been the least happy with my appearance. And I am a slender person, so it proves to me that "thin" doesn’t equal "happy".
- Be happy with yourself! This is the most important of my tips, and really the only one that matters in the long run. If you’re not happy with who you are and the body you have before your vacation, date, whatever, then you won’t be happy with it when you’re there. Learn to love yourself first. Don’t love what you will be…love what you are. The rest of these points will not help one bit if you’re unhappy.
- Make a practical exercise schedule. Don’t overwork yourself, it’s so bad for your body. Workout enough to keep you energized and happy with the amount of exercise you’re doing. Also push yourself enough so that you don’t look back and say, "wow, I really *should* have exercised more."
- Eat enough… and make sure you eat enough to fuel your exercise schedule! If you don’t, you’ll spend your vacation exhausted and crabby. Also, the only thing you’ll really be successful at doing is shutting off your metabolism. So while you’re enjoying your lunches and dinners out, your body is just going to store all of it for energy because you’ve emptied out its gas tank. How nice of you.
- Hydrate! Water is amazing. It is necessary for every function that your body performs. You won’t be doing anything for you if you’re dehydrated. Be kind to yourself and drink lots and lots of it. Especially in the summer, you want to make up for sweat…sorry, girls don’t sweat (except for me)…*perspiration*. I carry 2 liters of water with my everyday and try to drink them before I leave work. Especially on days when I’m running! Katie, my friend from high school, at Healthy Heddleston has a great hydration tip. Check it out!
- Get the right bathing suit. Myth: trashy is hot. Fact: Confidence is hot. Be confident and comfortable in your suit. It bothers me when I see girls in skimpy bathing suits always adjusting them and appearing very self conscious. If you love to play in the waves, or battle people in a game of beach volley ball, that little stringy number that looks awesome on Gisele probably isn’t your best bet for beach apparel. Just sayin’.
- Have fun! Let your vacation be a vacation. If you’re treating your body with dignity and being healthy then a week of resonable indulgences won’t kill you dead. Nor will it make you swell up like a balloon.
Looking back on all of my vacations, I remember them for the fun times and memories that were made, not how I felt or looked in my swimsuit.
Actually some of my favorite memories are being tortured by my brothers. Like getting grapes shoved in my ears, or waking up on the beach to find a sun-screen Homestar Runner drawn on my back (thanks for both, Adam…).
Thankfully, my sister-in-law came along and got him back with the dead crab.
And David and Jonathan were a little bit more hesitant to let him play with them. They didn’t trust his shenanigans, no matter how innocent he looked.
I’m anxious to see what drama will ensue this year!
What are your tips for being confident in your body? Do you struggle with the pressure to “look good in your bathing suit”?
***Don’t forget to ask your questions about barefoot running and Vibram FiveFingers. I’ll compile a FAQ page (complete with answers, insight and experience) to help others who are curious about barefoot and minimalist running! Ask them here***
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Lovely post. Not much else to say
Why thank you, friend!
A sunscreen Homestar Runner? That I would love to see!
Good for you for being more concerned with your health. You have such a great attitude!
Thanks! My family and I are obsessed with Homestar! It’s where my mom gets her nickname “Bwew”!
Love all the things you pointed out that are more important than looking like VS models… we *know* they are true but sometimes it’s hard to believe it. I am probably 90% confident about my body up until a bathing suit. I don’t know what it is, but it just starts me instantly picking on myself. The couple of times I’ve been in a bathing suit this year, instead of focusing on me, I admire other strong and curvy and healthy looking women. I don’t sit there thinking bad thoughts about them at all, so I just hope others are thinking positive too!
PS- plus you look great
Ah I know! It’s the moment I put on the suit too! But you’re right, our bodies our strong! We need to focus on that!
oh how I missed your blog! Glad I am back in TX and can read it regularly! Great advice. I love just trhowing cute swim shorts on top. I feel more comfortable just because I can run around and not be afraid of the bikini wedgy! hehe!
Eww bikini wedgies!! Target has some cute shorts this season. I should invest!
It’s all relative isn’t it. There’s people I would kill to look like, but it’s crazy to think that they have to work on the confidence thing too. And that’s just it. Realizing who God made you to be. And be the best at that. Not about a perfect weight but being healthy. I feel like I have a pretty weird shape, so bathing suits are hard to find. I just searched high and low to find the one that made me feel awesome. And I wear shorts with it, so I can run around and play in the water. I’m not much of a sunbather. I want to be doing something. Plus I think when you’re confident… it’s contagious.
Exactly! It’s hard to realize what God made you to be! But we don’t have the power to change our bodies, but we do have the power to be healthy. And when you’re using that power–you’re confident!
Great post! Honestly, I still feel uncomfortable in a bathing suit. But ever since I’ve started eating healthy and appreciating my body more I’ve taken on a new attitude. I just don’t acknowledge that I feel a little pudgy when I wear a suit. I don’t talk about it, I try not to think about it. I know that no one is staring at me thinking I’m a huge beast, and by just leaving it alone I don’t draw attention or make myself feel bad. It works for me.
I think I’ll always feel somewhat uncomfortable in a bathin suit–but it’s because I’m half naked. Not because I dont like how I look (or.. not usually). And you’re right, no one else is thinking the same thoughts as you!
I think most people feel self concious to a degree in their suit. I try to just remind myself that no one is as hard on me as I am and focus on having a great time.
Great advice!!!
I think a lot of people struggle with being confident in a bathing suit! There is always some trepidation and fear when I put one on but I realize that I am not perfect – nor never will be. I am not a full time athlete nor do I have a personal trainer and someone who can cook all my meals for me.
My body has helped me run two half marathons – something I never thought I would do. That is good enough for me!
I WISH I had a trainer and someone to cook for me!! That would be AWESOME!
Homestar runner! I think it’s so important to find the right bathing suit for your body. You’ll feel so much more comfortable and therefore look so much hotter.
Agweed! (said like Homestar Runner!)
You are so right! I use to be super self conscious about my body. I was working out but always thought about those last 5 pounds. Then I started focusing on how I felt and not how I looked. I was lifting more and actually eating more and I realized how much stronger I was. I stopped looking in the mirror (I was obsessed with the mirror) and now I feel great about myself – and I know I look good/healthy!
That is great that you were able to get past the mirror! And we have such distorted perceptions of ourselves! You ARE strong!!
LOVE this post abby!! you are so right- we just have to LIVE and stop obsessing.. just eat enough , exercise , and be confident. confidence is SEXY. i think it makes the body look even better!!
Preach it sista!!! Live life to the fullest, right?!
Oh man you’re so lucky that you get to head back to the beach again!!!
Teeheheheh I know!
They always say we are our harshest critics and it is definitely true when it comes to bathing suits. I never look at people on the beach and think “Man they are fat they should have hundreds of layers of clothes on so I can’t see how fat they are.” But man do I obsess over that bit of chub that becomes a big ol’ roll when you lean over.
It also amazes me that often body confidence and weight seem to have no correlation. One of the most confident girls I know is well overweight, but struts around in a bathing suit at beauty pageants to prove that she can do it too.
Fantastic post though. It’s always nice to know that we all deal with the same issues.
I squealed a little when I saw your comment! HI! It’s been too long!
Confidence is so under rated! NO ONE knows your pants size but EVERYONE can see your confidence (or lack of)!
Thanks for stopping by, friend!
Loved your post and your tips! (Thanks for the link too!) I think sometimes I put pressure on myself when it comes to a bikini body and I do tend to have a lower weight in the summer. However, I think it’s because I’m much more active in the summer and not because I have to wear a bikini sometimes — although having a lower weight definitely makes me more confident when the bikini times do come!
I totally agree with picking a bathing suit that suits your body properly aids in confidence! If you are fidgeting with your suit people can totally sense you might not be the confident in that suit. So not only does picking the suit, but finding a cute dress or skirt cover up help to enhance body confidence!
Yeaaa Good idea about the cover up. I have the best little dress that I wear over my suits. I LOVE it more than my suits, so I tend to wear it more. And then I’m never uncomfortable!
the irony in this?
i’ve totally looked at your pictures and said that girl is hott! she rocks her bod!
it’s all in perspective, isn’t it?
Awww Thanks Rebekah! I didn’t always rock it, that’s for sure! But I love it now! Thanks for the kind comment!
Just so we do beach portraits before you get a huge abrasion on your leg from skimming…or a sunburn the shape of the state of California on your back!!!!!!!!!! …I’m just sayin’!
This year I will NOT be skim boarding. And I will not let Adam apply any of my sunscreen!
You’re so right, Abby!
I’m heading to the beach for the weekend and thanks to your post, I’ve got all the right tips to feel confident while I’m there and enjoy myself rather than focusing on what I look like in my bathing suit….this came at the perfect time!
Thanks, girl 
Glad I could help, Sami! Have an EXCELLENT trip to the beach!
it’s amazing what bathing suit season can do to a girls confidence! i just wrote a guest post on this…but I dont let anyone see me being insecure. I have fun and dress my body sensibly and dont let others think for a moment that not being a stick figure get’s in my way of having a good time!
Amen!!!!
I was definitely struggling with bathing suit confidence issues before the honeymoon. Fitting into and looking good in my wedding dress was enough pressure then add on having to wear a bathing suit for a week afterward (not to mention the whole honeymoon thing…) Anyway, I realized while in Bermuda that the more confidence you have out there the better you look and feel no matter what. Does that make sense? I mean, I see these European women and men that clearly love their bodies, curves and all and it makes them look beautiful. American women need to take just a little of that and feel good about what makes us ladies.
Totally makes sense! You looked great in the wedding pic and honeymoon pics that I saw! You rock it, girl!