Swimsuit Confidence: Being Beach Body Positive

I recently wrote about embracing my own beach body, and turns out it was a pretty timely post! In the Manchester, the thermometer continues to hesitate between cold, rainy, Mancunian weather and now suddenly, scorching summer day! We’ve just had one proper summery weekend, and it’s been such an event that the newspapers immediately describe the only hot weekend as the hottest weekend in 2019. However, we’ve all marked the day on the calendar; summer has officially begun. All we need now to make it work is more hot days or, if British weather continues to let us down, then a good old beach holiday in Majorca! Whether you’re dreaming of a cosy picnic along the Welsh coastline or a cocktail on a sandy European beach, you’re probably mentally packing your travel bag. Sandals: tick. Hat: tick. Sunscreen protection: tick. Now, how do you pick a bathing suit that makes you feel confident? 

We all have a beach body

First of all, it’s time to give the phrase “beach body” a good kick in the backside. You don’t owe anybody to look like a top model on the beach. But you owe it to yourself to enjoy your summer vacation without feeling ashamed of your body. The truth is that everybody has a beach body. As long as you go to the beach, you’ll have a beach body, regardless of shape, fitness levels, or even self-confidence. Like we say: how do you get a beach body? 1. Have a body. 2. Go to the beach!

Admittedly, it’s easier said than done to have the “who cares” attitude when you’re wearing next to nothing on the sand. I know that for one, as much as I preach body positivity and flaunting what yo’ momma gave you, I still have days where I struggle. My first day on holiday is often the worst! So, if you’re like me and can be susceptible to a crisis of body confidence, there are a few things you could do to feel happier in your skin, such as choosing swimwear that works for you and minimises your body worries. 

The question is: what are your biggest concerns and how can we reduce your time worrying about them, so you can get on and enjoy your holiday?

You’re feeling insecure about your lovely tum

This is my biggest bug bare: my stomach. Even when I was at my slimmest, I always felt insecure about my stomach ‘pooch’, even though looking back I was at my slimmest and had absolutely nothing to worry about! Now, I am older and a few dress sizes bigger, and although I am actively trying to change my lifestyle with diet and strength training, ultimately I still struggle with a rounded tum.

As much as I try and follow body positive curve icons on Instagram, that tell me how lovely it is to have a ‘soft’ tummy, it’s the one part of my body I think I will always struggle with. Speaking from experience, I know I struggle with it whether I’m wearing a size 8 or a size 14. That doesn’t change. My body weight does little to improve my self confidence, instead, its all about my frame of mind.

If, like me, you are uncomfortable about your tummy, one piece swimwear and high waisted bikinis are your best friends to keep your tum away. However, here’s the thing: you don’t need a flat stomach to go to the beach. Like my personal trainer always says whenever I feel too embarrassed to wear just a crop top and leggings to the beach: the more you do it the easier it will get. And what’s more, most people are too busy with their own stuff to look anyway

Remember, a rounded stomach is just as beautiful as a flat one. We have just been conditioned by the media, Barbie dolls and photoshop to think that only one singular image of a flat stomach is beautiful. But it simply isn’t true. As Body Posi advocate Megan Jayne Crabbe puts it (way better than I could ever articulate…

“The narrative that a flat stomach is a pre-requisite for beauty, and that beauty is a pre-requisite for happiness makes money, honey. Just think of all the core-targeting exercise plans we’ve bought and all the magical fat burning pieces of fabric we’ve paid to strap round our middles. A flat stomach has been part of our cultural beauty ideal for so long because it’s one of the most unattainable physiques for most of us, which means we’ll spend endless money striving for it. Do the math.

Our obsession with blasting our bellies has been created for profit, maintained by a fatphobic cultural narrative, and keeps us in a perpetual state of never feeling worthy of happiness as we were. In other words, it’s fucked up. And you need to be remembering that every day.”

You can’t hide those gorgeous hips 

And you shouldn’t have to feel like you should! As a lady with big hips myself, I’ve spent years complaining about them. Ultimately, I am pretty bottom heavy and whilst I can use flared trousers and wrap dresses to balance out my hips during the day and make me look more of an hourglass shape, on the beach it’s tricky to do that.

But you know, what? Embrace it and don’t try to hide your hips! On the contrary, make them part of your whole look by picking a high cut bathing suit that elongates your legs. When your legs go forever, you might just find yourself not worrying about your hips anymore.

And so you shouldn’t. Our hips are a key part of body and as I am learning from my personal training, they play a key part in building strength across the whole body. If we are lucky enough to have strong, working hips that carry us to and from work every day, let us dance on the bar on a Friday night and let us move without pain, then we should be appreciative of them and thankful of them, no matter what the size. You’re measurements don’t define you.

Plus, I like to think I have a big heart – with big hips to match!

You are envious of the curvy girls

Last but not least, if you’re naturally slim – or you’ve recently lost a lot of weight – you might feel uncomfortable about your chest area. Indeed, your breasts are mainly composed of fat; so ladies with a tiny fat percentage may feel self-aware of their small boobs. It’s that good old saying, you always want what you can’t have right?

Although some ladies might opt for plastic surgery – in which case, you do you! – there’s many other solutions to boosting your bust before making such a big decision. Padded bras, heart shaped necklaces, contouring makeup on your chest, there’s lots to consider if you find yourself longing after a curvier shape.

Luckily, there seems to be no shortage of cleavage enhancing swimwear to give your body some curves. Padded neck bikinis are especially popular for enhancing your shape and I always find a halterneck tie works really well to keep my chest in place!

Body positivity is a journey, not a destination! There is no quick fix to body confidence, and similarly, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to choosing your swimwear. But you can be strategic about cuts and models to boost your self-confidence and find your best beach body. As Nirvana sings, come as you are – you don’t owe anything to other beach goers!