Enjoy The Summer As A Plus Size Girl
It’s true what they say, your threshold for
shame and negativity increases as you age. I believe it to be a good thing. As
each year passes, I find myself more confident in my body, knowing what it can
do for me, and how I can embrace and own it more as I evolve in my womanhood.
The occasional fat jokes and body shaming seem to sting less and less as these
words fade when I remind myself of who I am, what I can do, and what I have so
far offered the world. I’m not saying my body love journey has been smooth
sailing, all I’m saying is, it’s gotten a lot simpler, maybe even easier. Life
is full of seasons, and as I near into my 30s, I can honestly say there’s a
creeping sense of deeper self-awareness and confidence in me.
Speaking of seasons, I’m well-aware that
summer is one of the most dreaded times for some of us girls. There’s just so
much pressure to have the “summer bod” or the “beach ready body” that should
perfectly sport a bikini. I used to torture my body with crash diets because of
this annual weight (pun intended) we put on ourselves, but not anymore.
Acknowledging the fact that my body is more than to be looked at helps me put
things into perspective. It is an instrument, not an ornament (as stated by beautyredefined.org).
Here are some of my top personal principles
when it comes to enjoying the summertime with your family and friends, and more
importantly, yourself.
1. Move. Do an activity that sparks joy. It
can be as simple as dancing in your undies in your bedroom for 15 minutes a
day, or jogging with your bestie for cardio thrice a week, just make sure your
workout regimen is sustainable and enjoyable for you. It doesn’t have to be
rigid, at least not for me. What matters is you move with your body and acquaint
yourself with its limitations and strengths, and progress from that.
2. Check on your internal dialogue. How do
you talk to yourself? How do you address yourself when you stumble or make a
mistake? You’re with you 24/7. How you speak to yourself matters, because your
biggest critic is you, and that can either make you or break you. Have
reminders ready for the occasional dark days. Mine would be:
- You are loved.
- You are enough.
- You have the capacity to empower and give.
3. Look good for you. It’s 2019, women are
now taking ownership of their beauty and presenting themselves powerfully
through makeup and fashion. The idea that you have to look beautiful to snag a
guy is so passé. Put on that red lipstick even if you’re just heading out for errands.
Dress up and have dinner on a regular weeknight. It’s not about who sees you,
it’s about how you feel about you. Look cute, girl! Do it for you.
4.
Sunbathe with your bestie! Nothing beats getting some good ol’ vitamin D with
your favorite person to raise those endorphin levels. Sunshine has natural
powers to make those happy hormones spike, and there’s no better person to
share the happy juju with than your bestie! Get those tanning oils and fix
yourself a drink, it’s so relaxing and fun. Also, you know you take
the best angles of each other, so ready those poolside poses!
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(taken by my bestie, @imloubutt)
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5. Invest in good summer clothes that
you’re comfortable in. Don’t force it if you aren’t comfy, it’ll show. You want
to be cool as a cucumber in this hot weather! Fortunately, more and more brands
are now coming out with fashionable plus size clothes (locally, I’m so glad
that SM Woman now carries plus size, being the biggest local brand to cater to
curvy girls like me)! This Women’s Month, The SM Store is offering 10% discount
for every P 3,000 worth of purchase on all Wednesdays of March. Sounds exciting, yes? Look
for styles that best suit and flatter your body shape to make sure you’re extra
on fleek for the summer.
Remember, body love and confidence flows
from the inside out. Own that body and enjoy living in it all year round!
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