And as a chubby kid, I did not want to be seen simply for being chubby. (Say what?). Instead of pressuring myself to fit into last year’s bikini, I’m shopping for one that fits me now. See Butch at the Beach: But What to Wear? Manage my subscription Activate my subscription Log in Log out. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Maybe you noticed that swimsuit bottoms are receding. And friends, even reasonable feminist friends, are skittish about shopping for bathing suits, putting them on, and appearing in public in them. Bathing suit anxiety to be exact. (guest post), Fuck Fat Loss, but like, actually (Guest post), not my resolution; thoughts on January weight loss from a cheerful chubster (guest post), It’s not “just” yoga or “just” a walk: it’s a workout, How to get out of bed for a 6 a.m. workout, Hit any milestones lately? If you find yourself with people who are constantly judging themselves and others due to looks and appearance, this may be your cue to seek out more positive people to spend your time with. For everyone. (Guest post), The most cerebral sport I’ve ever tried (Guest post), So Many Reasons to Hike with Friends this Winter (Guest Post), A WayBetter way to exercise? A proper, secure fit can go a long way in easing beach nerves. Fit is a Feminist Issue has a brand new look! It’s just funny coming from people who are comfortable in sexy lingerie and in nothing, but a bikini! What are appropriate measures for the goal? The women we mostly see in bathing suits are incredibly gorgeous models with other worldly figures. And before we know it, we’ve become more resilient, developed more self-compassion, and feel even more free. Nope, not at all. But the material of a swimsuit is such and the nature of the activities for it (swimming) requires that it be tighter on your body. With constant reminders to have the perfect bikini body, it can be a challenge for even confidant women not to become critical of themselves this time of year. So if you find yourself worrying about how you’ll look on the beach, I recommend using this time to set an important goal: to cultivate self-compassion and move in the direction of your healthiest body, no matter what the number is on the scale. Yikes. You’ll find posts about our personal approaches to fitness/health, and posts that are more reflective, critical and meant to challenge common assumptions. But bathing suits? I think it’s the stranger factor along with the super model stuff. (Lauren Glutz/Lilly & Lime via AP) NEW YORK (AP) — Farewell spring and hello bathing suit season, for some an anxious time that sucks the fun out of summer. You need visible abs and now thigh gap too. And then, just like that, I did a handstand! Let this be a time when you tune into your feminine energy, and know that just like anything else in life, you are a beautiful work in progress. Our book, Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, is published by Greystone Books. It was that impromptu family getaway that made me aware of my size, and foreshadowed years of body anxiety around, simply, having to find a bathing suit whenever a … Failing that, the barley-therest bikini (and yes, I feel a bit self-conscious at the beginning but usually get over it shortly into the season or the vacation). And this is just another opportunity to embrace exactly where you are—right now—without needing to fix it or make it better. Can’t Keep Track: Christine asks for wellness-tracking ideas, Have I Just Replaced One Addiction With Another? (Guest post), Playing games is more fun than structured exercise (Guest post), Grapes of Wrath – What did I do?!? If losing 5 pounds feels doable, totally motivating, and would make you feel a lot healthier, go for it. In the fall of 2012, two years before our 50th birthdays we set ourselves a goal: to be the fittest we’ve ever been in our lives by the time we hit 50 (on August 31 (Sam) and September 24 (Tracy) in 2014). As summer beach season unfolds, bathing suit anxiety rises among some wearers. You are always becoming a more enlightened, loving, resilient version of yourself. Rock some cute ass shorts and a tank if you want. Compared to them, I’ll stay in the dressing room, thank you very much. A proper, secure fit can go a long way in easing beach nerves. Men believe all sorts of things that are not true about themselves, and hence do not have a “comparison class” in the same way as women. (Guest post), Why I’m not inspired by female warriors – despite loving martial arts (Guest Post), A morning with Mara Yamauchi – Part Two – Ways to engage more women in sport (Guest post), A morning with Mara Yamauchi – Part One (Guest post), Mommy and Me: Childcare as an Access Issue (Guest Post), 30 x 30: A Challenge of a Different Nature (Guest Post), Last Flight of the Murder – a Roller Derby Love Story (Guest Post), Guest Post: Feminist Biking in Italy (or, Feminism 101 in Lecce), Why Athletic Challenges are Not Like Childbirth (Guest Post), Taking the Lane: Gender and Cycling in Toronto (A Panel Discussion), Survey on sexual harassment in climbing (Guest post), Lyndsey feels excitement, pride and just a bit wistful about Women’s Aussie Rules Football (Guest post), The Latest Nonsense from the Gender Police (Guest Post), How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Barbell (Guest Post), Mallory Goes Thanksgiving Canoeing (Guest Post), Using “Carrot” to Earn Fitness Rewards (Guest Post), Six Things I Learned on my Six-Week Bike Tour (Guest Post), Trying, failing, and succeeding at running after a brain injury, The Long Slow Walk (a.k.a. Because as we work on one thing, we work on everything. Kicking off 221 workouts in 2021 with 30 days of Yoga with Adriene. I’m swimming, get out of my way! Whether we feel older, less sexy, or have gained a few pounds over the past year, exposing the skin we’re in can be a challenge. Not everybody frets over their beach bodies, celebrating instead. I dont know what i should do, stick to one pices or try something new. Bathing suit anxiety: some guesses about why it’s so bad, Why the “Thigh Gap” Makes Me Sad « Fit, Feminist, and (almost) Fifty, A Tale of Two Locker Rooms | Fit, Feminist, and (almost) Fifty, Bikini Body the “Easy Way” | Fit, Feminist, and (almost) Fifty, Starting to swim again and the first trauma is bathing suit shopping | Fit Is a Feminist Issue, Doctorates, Down-Dogs and the Challenge of Self Talk (Guest Post). Help! Tracy’s 8th running anniversary, Getting Naked with Toronto’s NOW Magazine, Why I’m Trying to Break Free of the Uniformity of Activewear. But, as my brilliant colleague. It was easier to hide behind layers of clothes in the autumn and winter but summer -- summer dragged me down. Panties are the same: they don’t usually hug you so tight as to create bulging. As summer beach season unfolds, bathing suit anxiety rises among some wearers. Feminist reflections on fitness, sport, and health. For … These suits control perceived imperfections with an elegant and upscale flair. Or a gorgeous dress that makes you feel amazing. And I think with my shoulders and leg muscles, the message they send is ‘I’m here to swim.’ Think athletic over aesthetic values, something I’ve blogged about here. A proper, secure fit can go a long way in easing beach nerves. 2) You are buying a suit to dress the glorious body you have at this very moment. This year in particular I’ve been carrying around a few extra pounds and for the first time in my life, I’ve gained weight that I haven’t been able to lose quickly. And skip the kool-aid. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Guest Post: A Compatible Movement Practice (part 2 of 3), Guest Post: A Compatible Movement Practice (part 1 of 3), Guest Post: A Compatible Movement Practice (part 3 of 3), “Failure” in lifting, and life (Guest post), How I Accidentally Ran My Happiest Race (Guest Post), First Marathon: Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon Race Recap, Training for my first marathon (Guest post), Ghosts and Cakes and Weights in the Dining Room, A Canoe on My Head and a Smile on My Face, Being a Habitat for Humanity Team Leader (Guest Post), Eat Better, Move More, Sleep Well (Guest Post), (Deaf) Woman Alone on the Trail (Guest post), Pregnancy, Postpartum and the (Somewhat) Fit Feminist (Guest Post), all bodies are good bodies, my body is a good body: affirmation as a path to better health. It’s World Kindness Day and Christine H is HERE for it. Second, the mental comparison class is different. Celebrate that. As Sarah smartly suggests, don’t wait until you’ve lost that 5, 15, or 20 pounds to join friends at the beach, take a road trip upstate, or wear a bathing suit. And, from a feminist perspective, in what way(s) does women’s quest for fitness and health contribute to empowerment and/or oppression? Repeat after me: Athleticism is beauty. (Guest Post), I Chose Not to Have Children and I Belong Here, Too, Inching My Way Back to Canada On A Spin Bike, Where the Wild Girls Are (Canoeing in Killarney! Weight loss can be a great thing. As summer beach season unfolds, bathing-suit anxiety … That is, when I’m wearing just a bra and panties, it’s generally with people I’m relatively close to anyway. Stumptuous: Women's weightlifting resources and some amazing rants. As for what men look at when on the beach when it comes to women – well, the same things we look at when not at the beach; at the beach, our imaginations simply don’t have to work as hard – oh, and yes, we are mesmerized by supermodels. I would think also the purpose of the attire plays a role, and the audience. And for almost all of us, we don’t compare well to super models in swim suits. Are we surprised that Liam Hemsworth has zero bathing suit anxiety? I am just suggesting that you also consciously seek the company of those that aren’t stuck on appearance. The Rabbit Hole A socio-cultural commentary on anything related to sport, physical activity and health. If losing 5 pounds feels doable, totally motivating, and would make you feel a lot healthier, go for it. It’s hard not to put one on and think of oneself as in that context. If I was alone, I would focus on the beach. Because this is the season where our bodies are on full display and, well, that can be super uncomfortable. We like to have fun with the whole thing and hope you do, too. If we can honor and nurture our physicality with love and attention, that will translate across the board in our lives. The internal bodysuit, complete with tummy control, has leg openings with a folded edge that allow a smooth transition from the suit to the upper leg. To the girl who feels way too self conscious to let your friends see you in a bathing suit, this is for you. Their welcome posts add to the diversity of voices about feminist approaches to fitness. Lift heavy things. Not sure. They have swim suit competitions. So I’ve been thinking about bathing suit anxiety ever since writing my recent post on body positivity. But in general, by the time someone sees me hanging around in my bra and underwear, they’re already someone who knows me quite well — flaws and all — and who like and accept me regardless. 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