Spring break has come and gone, and many of us are sporting new tan lines, sun kissed highlights and neon T-shirts from coast to coast. There is no denying that spring break is a time for us to de-stress and enjoy the warm weather. But there is something about spring break that isn’t always a lot of fun: bad body image. No matter where you go, there is a noticeable rise in the number of ads urging you to get a fake tan, waxed eyebrows and a slimmer waist before you have to show off your “bikini body.” For some of us, spring break is stressful. It’s a time when we feel like we aren’t pretty enough to be out on the beach in an itty-bitty swimsuit, so we shell out tons of cash to darken our skin, whiten our teeth and pinch in our tummies. And guess what? The exact same pressure will be hitting us again in about two months for summer vacation! If you suffer from sun-induced body bashing, you are not alone, and these things can help you look forward to summer at the beach, instead of dreading it.
If bikinis bum you out, DON’T BUY ONE!
If wearing a bikini truly makes you uncomfortable, and you spend more time focusing on how your stomach or legs look than having fun with your friends, make another swimsuit choice! If you prefer a one piece, you don’t have to sacrifice style for peace of mind: Vintage inspired swimsuits are a huge trend this summer! The great thing about vintage suits is that they were originally designed for women with curves (think Marilyn Monroe) making them great choices for full-figured women. If you like bikinis but want more coverage in order to avoid “accidents,” high-waisted bikinis are in this summer, too!
Dieting doesn’t work!
You’re happy with your body all year long, and then wham, a dieting frenzy hits you as soon as the thought of baring extra skin pops into your head. If you suddenly feel the urge to go on a crazy diet a week, two weeks or a month before summer or spring break, it’s probably because you feel extra pressure to be unrealistically thin due to a high volume of media images and ads. Media has a strong psychological effect on how we view ourselves (what a shocker, right?) and the volume of commercials and ads targeted at women’s bodies drastically increases around summer and spring break. Even if you do crash diet and lose a couple of pounds, you’re going to be grumpy, irritable, on the warpath for food and likely to gain it back again the moment you stop following the ridiculously restrictive diet plan. So save yourself the stress, and don’t drastically change your eating/working out habits for the wrong reasons.
For the love of sunscreen, DON’T FAKE BAKE!
You will never meet a tanning bed who has your best interests in mind. Sure, you might emerge looking a little browner, but the damage to your skin isn’t worth it! Swimsuit models might be super tan, but beauty comes in all shades, whether you are super light or extra dark. And just because most tanning ads are targeted at white women doesn’t mean that women of color don’t have a responsibility to their skin. Even if you don’t get noticeably or severely sunburned, the sun still damages your skin, and sunscreen is vital no matter what shade your skin. You were born with a certain amount of pigment in your skin: learn to love it, and don’t risk skin cancer trying to fake bake.
If you consistently feel self conscious about your body and it affects your daily life and confidence, contact the Counseling and Mental Health Center in the Student Services Building! Located on the 5th floor, the CMHC offers free body image workshops, free meditation in the Mind/Body Lab and one on one counseling for a low cost. There is also a library on the first floor that is chock full of great books on body image, healthy eating and building self confidence. Summer is about having fun and relaxing, so don’t beat yourself up about your body. Take your mind off your looks and take a second to feel the sand between your toes.