I love to swim, and I tend to feel negative about my body. Even after all these years of focusing on my body image and intuitive eating, shopping for bathing suits can bring up some negative thoughts.
I have decided the good feeling I get from swimming is more important than any negative feeling about trying on a bathing suit.
I read an article about a study of women’s perception about themselves in bathing suits, the researcher, Marika Tiggemann (a psychologist at Flinders University in Australia) found that women feel more negative about their bodies when they are in the store trying on bathing suits as compared when they are wearing their bathing suit in public. She concluded that the negative thoughts were triggered by the bright lights, the intense look at the body and the large mirrors.
Isn’t that interesting, the place we go to try on bathing suits is the worst place for us to feel good in our bodies. 
Here are some ideas to survive the trip to the store to try on bathing suits:
- Don’t spend too much time in the mirror.
- Counteract the negative voices that might be telling yourself that your body is not OK.
- Remember the fun you will have swimming or laying in the sun.
- Don’t focus on the size of the suit (it is just a number).
Many women feel self-conscious about their bodies, and being in a bathing suit can really magnify those negative thoughts.
I guess the option is to not go swimming, which I am sad to say many choose to avoid being seen in a bathing suit.
My desire to swim is much greater than any self-conscious feelings I have.
Maybe you are like me:
- I am a work in progress.
- Trying to improve feelings about my body.
- Knowing that swimming is a great outdoor activity that leads to increased mental health, physical health, and self-esteem.
Come on and join me at the pool, the water is great!
Kim McLaughlin, MA is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in helping people with eating issues and eating disorders. If you are concerned about overeating, weight or your use of food in general please contact Kim: Contact Us.
Listen to the Feed Your Soul with Kim Podcast where we have many episodes focused on positive body image.
Sign up for her FREE Am I an Emotional Eater here.
Check out her website at FeedYourSoulTherapy.com.
