Confessions of a Fitness Trainer…
For many of us, the recent heat wave brings out thoughts of sun, sand, and frozen treats.
However, it also seems to bring out the worst in the health & fitness industry. ‘Get bikini ready’ ‘Suns out Guns out’, and ‘Shape up for Summer’ programs are unveiled, all preying on our insecurities of having to uncover due to the heat.
Whether it’s the simple act of baring our arms or legs in tank tops and shorts or the thought of being seen and judged in a bathing suit at the pool or beach, these sneaky marketing tactics can contribute to many people feeling ashamed and inadequate.
The marketing efforts target each gender differently but with the same message: before you go to the beach or pool daring to wear a bathing suit or leave the house in shorts and a tank top, that you should first do everything you can to ‘improve’ how you look so you can feel comfortable and worthy of enjoying summer and the multitude of activities the hot weather has to offer.
This marketing strategy has nothing to do with your well-being and is purely designed to profit the companies that sell the products and services promising to get you one step closer to the fairy tale beach body.
The more we buy into the messaging that one must look a certain way before they can enjoy summer, the worse it will be. Most people know that diets don’t work and yet the diet industry makes billions of dollars every year. Rather than continuing to trust these schemes, the solution is actually quite simple. Stop buying ‘firming lotion’ and ‘skinny water’ or the 21 day summer slim-down program and whatever other gimmicky item that targets your supposed imperfections. Focus instead on sustainable fitness and nutrition habits.
Furthermore, it’s important to remember that there are a multitude of factors that contribute to the shape of a person’s body such as activity habits, sleep habits, nutrition, gender, access to health and wellness services, age, chronic illness or injuries, and genetics (of which we have zero control).
In essence, every body is a beach body and everyone should be able to enjoy summer without shame.
Tips of the day
- Accept that bodies are all built differently
- Ignore any messaging that suggests only certain bodies are worthy of enjoying summer
- Strive to be the best version of yourself
Kathryn McKenzie – B.H.Kin, B.Ed
Certified Kinesiologist, Sport Conditioning Specialist & Personal Trainer
Author, Pizza Lover & Owner of Surefire Fitness
