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The myth of the ‘summer body’: why your fitness journey deserves better

Larena Tannert is a journalism sophomore and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group. Every year like clockwork, as soon as the weather starts warming up, my social media feeds explode with “get beach body ready” workouts and “slim for summer” meal […]

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Larena Tannert is a journalism sophomore and opinion columnist for Mustang News. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.

Every year like clockwork, as soon as the weather starts warming up, my social media feeds explode with “get beach body ready” workouts and “slim for summer” meal plans. And every year, I feel that familiar knot in my stomach tightening. Will I be “beach ready” this year? Will my body be “good enough” for summer?

Let me tell you a secret: I’m so over needing my perfect summer body. And you should be too.

For years, I’ve ridden the seasonal fitness rollercoaster. Desperate exercising in April, crash-dieting in May, feeling guilty about ice cream in June, then abandoning all efforts by September because “what’s the point now?” 

Does any of this sound familiar? This cycle left me with nothing but a complicated relationship with my body and the gym that I’m still working to repair.

Here’s what I’ve learned through my journey: your body isn’t seasonal merchandise. It doesn’t need to be “summer ready” or “bikini approved.” It is an incredible and important thing that deserves to be taken care of, healthy, and happy all year long.

The “summer body” mentality is deeply problematic for so many reasons:

First, it treats fitness as punishment rather than self-care. When we exercise with the goal of changing our appearance by a certain date, we are telling ourselves our bodies are problems that need to be fixed, rather than something that deserves to be maintained and celebrated.

Second, it sets us up for failure. Crash diets and intense workout regimens aren’t sustainable or reasonable. When we inevitably can’t maintain them, we feel like failures instead of recognizing that our approach was the problem.

Third, it completely misses the point of what health is actually about: feeling good, having energy, managing stress, sleeping better, and enjoying life in your body.

Instead of seasonal desperation, I’ve switched to year-round consistency, and honestly, it’s changed everything. Here’s what I’ve learned works better:

Find movement you actually enjoy. For me, it’s playing beach volleyball and going for walks. I no longer force myself to do workouts I hate. Movement should be fun, not a chore.

Focus on how you feel, not how you look. When exercise becomes about stress relief and energy rather than appearance, it becomes a form of self-care, not punishment.

Treat nutrition as nourishment, not restriction. I eat foods that make me feel both good and energized. Sometimes that’s a banana or a salad, but other times it’s ice cream with my friends. It is crucial to have a balance.

Set goals based on performance, not appearance. Celebrating what your body can do, rather than how it looks, is incredibly liberating. Rather than focusing on cellulite or belly fat, working toward being able to run a mile in under 8 minutes or do 20 pushups will change your whole perspective on fitness.

Turns out, when I stopped obsessing about looking perfect for summer, I actually started feeling better in my body year-round. Without the pressure of a deadline, fitness became something sustainable rather than a two-month panic session.

But what about people who enjoy seeing their body change as they get fitter? Yes, watching your muscles grow and your abs begin to show can be rewarding. These visible changes show your hard work is paying off. But here’s the thing, when looking good becomes your only goal, you set yourself up for failure. 

You risk quitting when results come too slowly or miss out on all the other amazing benefits of staying active. So go ahead and enjoy those physical changes, but connect them to how they make you feel – stronger, happier, and more energetic – not just how they make you look.

I’ve discovered that my body is capable of amazing things when I treat it with respect rather than criticism. I’ve learned that confidence doesn’t come from reaching some physical standard that society sets, but from making peace with who you are right now.

This summer, I’m adopting a new mantra: Every body is a summer body. Your body deserves care, movement, and nourishment every month of the year—not just when swimsuit season approaches.

So the next time you see those “Get Beach Ready!” headlines, remember that your body already deserves the best care you can give it, regardless of the season. Consistently treat it with kindness and by the time summer rolls around, you won’t need to frantically prepare. You will already be living your best life in the body you have.



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