Spring and Releasing Dieting Mentalities: Letting Go of the 'Summer Body' Pressure

Disclaimer: For medical purposes, any dietary changes should be followed if recommended by a qualified practitioner.

Spring. The season when the sun finally makes a comeback, flowers start bursting onto the scene, and *cue dramatic music* the pressure to achieve a “summer body” cranks up to full blast. You know the drill: "Get in shape for the summer!" “Time to shed those winter pounds!” Suddenly, diet culture has us chasing a version of ourselves that feels more like a stranger than the person we actually are. 

But what if, instead of running headfirst into yet another diet or fitness routine that promises us a “perfect” summer body, we gave ourselves permission to just be? Gasp, I know….radical.

Recognizing the Pressure to Conform

It's important to acknowledge that the pressure to conform to a "summer body" ideal isn't just external, it's also internal. We often carry these expectations with us, having been conditioned for years to associate leaner physiques, and specific body shapes with beauty and worthiness. Let’s get real, diet culture has us convinced that we should be eternally chasing a mythical “summer body,” as if our bodies are just projects we need to fix or “improve” based on the calendar. Spoiler alert: Your body isn’t a problem to be solved. It’s already enough, already worthy, and it’s been carrying you through life every step of the way.

As the weather warms up, so does the tired narrative that our bodies need to be “summer-ready.” But let’s try to acknowledge that your body isn’t a fashion trend that goes out of style when the seasons change. It’s already sunshine-approved, no alterations are needed.

The Fallacy of Dieting: Why It Doesn’t Work

Now, let’s talk about weight loss diets. The thing that promises to solve all your problems... until they don’t. Newsflash: weight loss diets suck. They set us up for failure by focusing on external outcomes, like the number on the scale or the size of our jeans, instead of our actual health or well-being.

In fact, research shows that 95% of people who lose weight on diets regain it. If diets worked, we’d all be living in some sort of utopian, calorie-counting paradise by now. But spoiler alert: we’re not. Because diets don’t work for long-term happiness, health, or sanity.

This isn’t to say that we have to be stuck in the way we feel forever. Embrace lifestyle changes that are sustainable and enjoyable, ones that not only help keep weight off but also support our overall health and well-being. After all, lasting change comes from habits we can maintain, not from temporary fixes that leave us feeling deprived.

What Does It Mean to Honor Your Body’s Natural Rhythms?

This is where we get into the heart of a truly embodied approach to health. Honoring your body’s natural rhythms means recognizing that your body has its own wisdom, its own needs, and its own flow. Just like the seasons shift, so do our bodies. Here's how you can understand and respect your body’s rhythms:

1. Tuning into Hunger and Fullness Cues
   Remember when your body would naturally signal when you were hungry or full? That ability is still present. This concept is known as "intuitive eating," and it simply means listening to your body instead of adhering to the latest diet trends. Spring is a great time to focus less on food rules and allow yourself to eat what feels right. Whether you choose an apple or a slice of pizza, both are perfectly acceptable. It’s not about fitting into a certain size; it’s about respecting your body’s needs and cravings.

2. Embracing the Need for Rest and Energy Balance
   I understand that many people are outside running marathons or sharing their morning yoga routines, celebrating their active lifestyles. However, it's important to remember that your body also needs rest. It’s perfectly okay if you’re not getting up at dawn to do intense workouts. Some days, your body will crave rest, and that’s just as vital as the days when you feel energized to exercise. So, if today you choose to stretch and practice deep breathing instead of going for a run, that’s completely fine. Your body will appreciate it.

3. Shifting from “Achievement” to “Experience”
   Diet culture is obsessed with achievement: how much weight you’ve lost, how many calories you’ve burned, how “shrinkable” your body is. But guess what? Life isn’t a competition to see who can shrink themselves the most. It’s about experiencing it. Movement is about feeling good, not checking off a to-do list. Do you feel like stretching in the sunshine? Do that. Do you feel like dancing in your living room like no one’s watching? Even better. Spring’s warmth is a perfect reminder that life is about enjoying the moments, not reaching an imaginary finish line where your body looks “perfect.”

4. Releasing Shame Around Our Bodies Spring is a time of growth, of flowers blossoming and trees coming back to life- and your body is no different. The seasons change, and your body changes, too. That’s the beauty of it. So, why are we still hanging on to all the shame and guilt diet culture has draped over us like some suffocating blanket? In spring, we celebrate growth, not the constant, exhausting battle against ourselves.

Reclaim Movement for Joy, Not Punishment:
Let’s throw out the idea that we have to punish ourselves with exercise to “earn” food or shrink our bodies. This spring, reclaim movement for the pure joy of it. Whether you’re walking your dog, stretching under a tree, or dancing like nobody’s watching (because, honestly, nobody is), make it about enjoying your body, not correcting it.

Conclusion: The True "Spring Body" is One of Acceptance

This spring, let’s break up with diet culture once and for all. Instead of obsessing over how our bodies should look, let’s celebrate them for how they are right now. Because the true “spring body” isn’t about fitting into a size or meeting some external ideal. It’s about embracing your body in all its glory, letting go of shame, and enjoying this season of growth and renewal, just as you are.

This spring, the only thing that needs to be “perfect” is your ability to enjoy it.

See ya next time! xoxo Kristin