I feel like we can all agree that the culture on social media surrounding weight loss and “skinny culture” is really prominent right now, and I’m honestly so sick of it. Seeing so many ads for random weight loss products or drinks that make you “feel full” has been flooding my feed. And it doesn’t just stop there. These ads are using phrases like “this drink made my body ready for a bikini” or “I don’t have cravings anymore because of this product,” which, honestly, are just really toxic ways to try to bring back the romanticization of extreme thinness, which can really negatively affect people when they’re just scrolling on social media. So if you’re like me and you’re sick of these ads and this culture, here are some tips to help you focus on feeling confident and strong this summer!
Tip 1: Everyone has a different version of what being “healthy” looks like
I feel like so many people post their workout routines online with captions like “weekly workouts to lose fat” or “the best workout split,” but in reality, the “best” workout routine for you isn’t gonna always gonna work for someone else. For some people, their weekly workout routine might be a few long walks a week with some weightlifting every once in a while, whereas someone else might run every day, but that doesn’t mean one person is necessarily “healthier”. Moral of the story, moving your body doesn’t mean sticking to an intense workout routine you saw on TikTok, it should be what makes your body feel good!
Tip 2: Eat the ice cream, Queen, you deserve it
This goes for all sweet treats. All the ads we see are so focused on “getting rid of cravings,” and basically avoiding all the fun foods we all love. And I’m not saying you should eat ice cream all day, every day (even though that would lowkey be great), but I am saying that it’s ok to have a fun treat! And it’s okay to crave some ice cream in the summer (or year-round)!
Tip 3: Fuel your body!
A lot of the TikToks I see are “what I eat in a day” videos where people show the meals they eat throughout the day. And in theory, this could be a good idea, but usually these videos list off enough food to maybe sustain a young child, not an adult woman. Also, everyone’s bodies have different needs, and these videos are far from realistic and sustainable, so keep that in mind when you find yourself comparing your eating habits to unrealistic representations online. Fuel your body!
It’s hard to avoid these ads and videos when scrolling on social media, but I hope these tips can help you switch your focus to simply feeling like your best and strongest self this summer!