The ‘Perfect’ Summer Body
By: Amelia Cheng
Edited by: Kei Sipani
Summer has always signaled the arrival of fun beach days, staying up late, eating ice cream, and drinking chilled smoothies. Even in tropical countries, June signals a holiday, a respite from the grueling school hours. However, with each year’s passing, this excitement is replaced with growing apprehension.
The season for relaxation and fun has been overtaken by the notion of a ‘summer body.’
What exactly is a ‘summer body’?
The Michigan Daily defines a ‘summer body’ as one deemed attractive enough to be displayed in swimwear during the summer. It is an ideal, a goal, and a dream that many bear as they frequent the gym, religiously follow a new nutrition plan, and obsessively scroll through social media posts advising on accomplishing this. The desire to present yourself as ‘fit’ or ‘shredded’ is due to the pressure of being considered attractive during the season.
This short phrase carries an immense negative connotation - that our bodies are simply not ‘presentable’ enough as they are. This can lead to severe body issues, where people may believe they need to restrict food or push themselves too hard to achieve a perfect body, leading to disordered eating habits and body dysmorphia.
Writers Shammara Lawrence and Gianluca Russo, creators of ‘The Power of Plus’, an online body-acceptance forum that addresses weight discrimination and body shaming, had spoken about the harmful phrase ‘summer body’ during their relaunch in 2021. “All the brands and magazines who push this summer body ideal – flat stomach, curves in the ‘right’ places, toned legs, flawless skin – are essentially saying (that) anyone who doesn’t fit in the aforementioned mold isn’t worthy of being seen once the temperatures start rising, so we need to alter ourselves to live up to this narrow standard,” said Shammara Lawrence. Gianluca Russo highlighted how the concept of a seasonal body would encourage unhealthy eating patterns and exercise routines.
Although promoting the ‘summer body’ diet and exercise might encourage people to start working out and eating more nutritious food, they do not encourage sustainability in one’s health. Additionally, the repeated short-term plans to exercise and ‘eat clean’ may result in extreme body fluctuations that can also be harmful. With looking attractive in a certain way being at the forefront of these behaviors, the focus is diverted from what exercising and eating nutritious meals should be for– one’s health.
To care for one’s health, it takes more than just intentions, meal plans, and exercise regimes. It begins with the right mindset and the right environment. Research suggests that self-compassion increases the likelihood that you will succeed in any endeavor. Therefore, self-care starts with self-love and a desire to benefit your body and mind in the long run. It also comes with support from your loved ones and the right headspace when interacting with different bodies on social media.
Instead of an unhealthy fixation and obsession with training to get a ‘summer body’, spend your upcoming summer taking a well-deserved break, spending time with loved ones, and having fun. After all, every person’s body is a summer body. It is simply the one you have throughout the season.