Say no to a ‘summer body’

“Alexa play my summer body workout playlist”

Ever wondered where the term ‘summer body’ came from? and why we hear it year in and year out when it gets to that awkward time between spring and summer? If you have, or have felt the pressure from society to get in shape as the clothes get smaller each summer… Read this

The term summer body refers to the slim, toned physique society craves each year and perpetuated by the ‘oh so positive’ social media. According to the Urban Dictionary, the term means “The fucked up thing that society created and expect everybody to have each summer and if they don’t, well then your suddenly are “fat, chubby, obese”. They certainly didn’t hide their feelings in their definition added back In 2014. This means we’ve welcomed this term into our vocabulary for over 8 years. And were tired. Women and men, women especially, deal with marginally definite and specific body standards every day, which is miserable to say the least, and these body standards are subject to change with the micro trends which come in and out of fashion. Currently the big bum and small waist trend is in which is tough to achieve without religiously hitting the gym or the surgeon’s office.

The Front Climbing Club says “A ‘summer body’ is a made-up phrase to indicate that the human body should look a certain way during a specific time year. And generally, this phrase is associated with health practices that aren’t always in a body’s best interest – such as losing unnecessary weight or prioritizing diet over nutrition.” This is an interesting take on the phrase which actually focuses on the impacts this fad can have on the actual health of the body, and not just the turmoil which this unique pressure can have on the mind. To achieve The ‘Summer Body’ were neglecting our actual needs over the surface level appearance of ourselves, refusing to acknowledge the nutrition our bodies need to carry us through the intense workouts needed to trim down on our weight, and not getting the protein and fats needed to fuel our muscles, and instead eating less and doing more, leaves us with not a lot to work with.

Every year, as the weather gets hotter, and clothes get smaller, the media we consume is swarmed with ‘protein shake’ this, and ‘calorie deficit meal plan’ that, its time for influencers and advertisers and even our own loved ones, to take the narrative into their own hands and strive towards acceptance of ALL. We are told if we want to look and feel good this summer we need to trim down, and stay that way all summer long, to be desired and even just accepted. What type of life is it when you can’t enjoy what we have of summer in England, or if you’re lucky enough, to enjoy a holiday. because its 2022, and we know that there is not just one standard of beauty and the conversation of mental health becomes more transparent and verbalised, we know how heavy these things can weigh on individuals.

The power of plus, an online body-acceptance platform created by writers Shammara Lawrence and Gianluca Russo, uses their Instagram to address these standards and the apparent fat-phobia in society. Speaking to Allure Russo told “In the coming months, we’ll be providing resources to help with mental health, size-inclusive practitioners, weight discrimination lawyers, and more, Additionally, we’ll be launching a networking program within the plus-size community to connect several industry leaders in fashion and beauty with the next generation.” Mobilising ourselves against the toxicity in society in regards to appearance acceptance is something we can all get involved in, no matter who we are, or what we look like.

We asked you what a ‘summer body’ means to you...

I think summer bodies can be good and bad as it its a great way to motivate people to become healthier with what they eat and going to the gym but its also something that can really play on peoples mental health. - Leah, 19, Surrey

As a registered dietitian, I pay close attention to the conversations that others in my field are having about dieting, weight loss, and healthy eating. I started hearing more and more about intuitive eating, and seeing more concerning evidence that dieting for weight loss wasn’t an effective solution for many people. I learned about how, as SELF has reported, it’s common for people who embark on weight loss diets to gain weight back (and sometimes even more than they lost in the first place). I also noticed that my patients who wanted to lose weight were locked into ways of thinking about food that were punishing and exhausting—to be good was to rigidly follow a set of norms, and to be bad was to cheat or fail at following those impossibly high standards. - Jessica Jones, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

Very overrated, just a fad that people think is expected of them - Rosie , Somerset I like the idea, it motivates people to do excersize and try to get fit- Callum , 20, America