Sports

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 […]

Published

1 month ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

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.

Link

Sports

Five Teesside stories you might have missed this week

Image source, Walter CrinnionImage caption, Walter Crinnion was a keen amateur photographer From a lost cache of photographs of a folklore festival to the A66 dualling plan being approved – here are some of the stories from Teesside you might have missed this week. Stray puppy recruited by police force Image source, Durham PoliceImage caption, […]

Published

21 minutes ago

July 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Walter Crinnion

Walter Crinnion was a keen amateur photographer

From a lost cache of photographs of a folklore festival to the A66 dualling plan being approved – here are some of the stories from Teesside you might have missed this week.

Stray puppy recruited by police force

Durham Police

Eight-week-old Jager was found running around the streets of Hartlepool before he was rescued

A police force has gained a new four-legged recruit after it adopted a stray puppy.

Jager, an eight-week-old Belgian Malinois, was found running around the streets of Hartlepool last week before he was taken in by animal charity Stray Aid, Durham Police said.

After seeing the young pup’s potential, the organisation contacted the force’s Dog Support Unit to see if there was a job for him.

Hundreds of dead fish in lake after hot weather

Alec Brown

The fish fatalities have been explained by hot weather and a drop in dissolved oxygen levels

Hundreds of fish have died in a park lake after a significant drop in oxygen levels due to increased water temperatures.

Residents spotted the fish floating on the surface of the lake at Locke Park, Redcar, Teesside.

The Environment Agency (EA) investigated and determined it had been caused by “natural factors”.

A66 dualling approved again after review delay

Google

The government said the work would reduce journey times on the route across northern England by up to 12 minutes

A plan to dual the A66 has been approved again, a year after the government put the scheme on hold.

The project to widen the road, which runs from Penrith to Scotch Corner, was approved by the previous Conservative government, but when Labour won the election last July it put the plan on hold to review a “black hole” in the public purse.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has now confirmed the work in a £92bn national package announced on Tuesday.

Water polo team ‘dreaming’ of winning top division

Sedgefield Water Polo Club

Sedgefield Water Polo team have been promoted to Division One of the British Water Polo League

A men’s water polo team will be entering Division One and competing for a place in European competitions after four back to back promotions.

The Sedgefield Water Polo Club will represent their County Durham town and nearby Newton Aycliffe in the top flight of the British Water Polo League, external from September.

The men’s team was created in 2021 and started playing at the bottom of the pyramid in Division Five.

Photos showcase early days of folklore festival

Walter Crinnion

This year is Billingham International Folklore Festival’s 60th anniversary

A treasure trove of previously unseen photographs that showcase the early years of a folklore festival have been revealed.

The images capture the spectacle of the Billingham International Folklore Festival (BIFF) from 1968 to the early 1970s.

The shots were all taken by keen amateur photographer Walter Crinnion before his death in 1974.

Get in touch

Do you have a story suggestion for BBC Tees?

Link

Sports

Ask the AD with Russo & Rizzo on ESPN 106.3 – July 9, 2025

Story Links Keiser Director of Athletics Kris Swogger visited Russo & Rizzo on ESPN West Palm 106.3 on Wednesday, July 9, for his recurring “Ask the AD” segment. During this time, Swogger discussed the world of college sports, all things in Keiser Athletics, and more. Russo & Rizzo airs Monday through […]

Published

47 minutes ago

July 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Keiser Director of Athletics Kris Swogger visited Russo & Rizzo on ESPN West Palm 106.3 on Wednesday, July 9, for his recurring “Ask the AD” segment. During this time, Swogger discussed the world of college sports, all things in Keiser Athletics, and more.

Russo & Rizzo airs Monday through Friday on 106.3 on your FM dial. Fans can also listen live by clicking HERE.

ESPN West Palm is Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast’s home for sports, featuring entertaining and engaging sports talk, the best coverage of the local-area stories, and a presence at the biggest sports marketing events in the community.

General athletic news can be found at KUSeahawks on Facebook, kuseahawks on Instagram, and kuseahawks on X.

Link

Sports

Celebration of life held for Merv Lopes at Chaminade

The family of Merv Lopes didn’t plan for the coincidence, but the sports world was given yet another reminder of the mark he left just days prior to his celebration of life on Saturday. As part of its “50 States in 50 Days” tour, ESPN’s SportsCenter highlighted Chaminade University of Honolulu’s historic 1982 victory over […]

Published

52 minutes ago

July 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The family of Merv Lopes didn’t plan for the coincidence, but the sports world was given yet another reminder of the mark he left just days prior to his celebration of life on Saturday.

As part of its “50 States in 50 Days” tour, ESPN’s SportsCenter highlighted Chaminade University of Honolulu’s historic 1982 victory over Virginia in its Tuesday episode. Chaminade, coached by Lopes, was an NAIA school at the time, but somehow managed to defeat the Cavaliers, the top-ranked team in the country.

Virginia, led by three-time national player of the year and eventual top NBA Draft pick Ralph Sampson, fell to Chaminade 77-72 at the Honolulu International Center, now known as the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. The game is considered by many as the greatest upset in collegiate sports history. The game gave Chaminade and Lopes such national exposure that plans to change Chaminade’s name to the University of Honolulu were canceled.

Lopes died on May 8 in Waikōloa. He was 92. Chaminade’s McCabe Gym hosted his celebration of life on Saturday, which had approximately 150 attendees. The impact he left on players, coaches, family and friends was evident throughout the celebration, which lasted three-and-a-half hours.

With his nephew, former NBA agent Jarinn Akana, emceeing the event, over a dozen speakers shared their fond memories of Lopes.

A Nānākuli native, Lopes excelled in football as a youth and also enjoyed hunting and fishing. After graduating high school from ‘Iolani, he played football collegiately for Compton College and San Jose State. He was drafted into the Army before returning home and earning a master’s in education at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.

Lopes coached basketball locally at the high school level at Kailua and Kalaheo before eventually making his way to Chaminade. He remains the school’s all-time winningest coach at 238-118, helming the Silverswords from 1977 to 1989. In addition to his signature win over Virginia, he also led the Silverswords to victories over NCAA Division I schools such as Louisville and SMU. He was inducted into the Chaminade Hall of Fame in 2009.

Chaminade’s victory over Virginia inspired the creation of the Maui Invitational, considered for decades as the country’s top early season collegiate basketball tournament. Beginning with the tournament’s inception in 1984, the Silverswords were part of the tournament every year until it was decided by organizers that Chaminade would only play in the tournament every other year, starting in 2017, due to the blue-blooded nature of the tournament. Chaminade, which made the jump to NCAA Division II status in 1989, has gone 8-97 in Maui Invitational games, which routinely feature multiple ranked teams.

Former players who spoke at Lopes’ celebration of life on Saturday noted how his demanding practices would get the team adequately prepared to play. A common sentiment shared was how Lopes and his staff cared for their players, who came from various backgrounds across the country.

Merv Lopes 2 071225 — Family and friends, as well as former players and coaches gathered to honor the late Merv Lopes at his celebration of life on Saturday afternoon. (Aloha State Daily Staff)

Keith Whitney, who played for Lopes from 1983 to 1985, recalled how the scholarship offer he received from Lopes allowed him to leave the projects of Orlando after junior college. Whitney, now a substance abuse counselor, told a story about how he drove with Lopes through Nānākuli, and how his coach was often stopped by those who recognized him from his upbringing, leading to long conversations. Whitney realized that even though he and Lopes grew far from each other geographically, they both came from humble beginnings.

In his speech on Saturday, Merv Lopes Jr. recalled his father’s kindness and the way he got his players to believe in themselves, even as they readied to play the top college basketball team in the country.

“People put people on pedestals,” Merv Jr. recalled his father telling the Silverswords before the Virginia game. “Get them off them.”

Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.

Link

Sports

Big Sky State Games volleyball at Lockwood High School

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Country United States of […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

State

Zip Code

Country

Link

Sports

Intuit Dome in Los Angeles filled with sand for AVP beach volleyball matches

The AVP held matches at the Intuit Dome this weekend, with 300 tons of sand “poured into” the arena, turning it “into a pop-up beach.” Beach volleyball player Chaim Schalk said, “Playing in such an amazing place, brand-new building, with everything going on, with the new building around here, it’s really cool. To get to […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The AVP held matches at the Intuit Dome this weekend, with 300 tons of sand “poured into” the arena, turning it “into a pop-up beach.” Beach volleyball player Chaim Schalk said, “Playing in such an amazing place, brand-new building, with everything going on, with the new building around here, it’s really cool. To get to play at such an iconic arena is an honor.” Beach volleyball player Chase Budinger said, “This will get more people in the stands because it’s so new and so different.” The sport “welcomed a combination of newcomers hunting for Friday night entertainment and AVP devotees.” Silver Medal-winning beach volleyball player Brandie Wilkerson said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if other sports follow and start expanding their ideas of where they could play” (L.A. TIMES, 7/12).

Link

Sports

Serbia-born Jovana Sekulic shining on the world stage with United States water polo team

SINGAPORE – Jovana Sekulic may not have the most typical American-sounding name. And while her journey to the United States women’s water polo team started in waters far away from the US, she has made the most out of an opportunity. The only player on the US roster born outside the country, the Serbia-born 22-year-old […]

Published

1 hour ago

July 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The only player on the US roster born outside the country, the Serbia-born 22-year-old grew up playing water polo in Belgrade. Today, she is one of the Americans’ key players, as she seeks to help them clinch their sixth world title in seven editions at the ongoing World Aquatics Championships (WCH) in Singapore.

Sekulic picked up the sport from a very early age in Belgrade where, despite the popularity of the sport in Eastern Europe and the success of the men’s national team – who have won three consecutive Olympic gold medals – the women’s team have yet to notch their first Olympic appearance.

But before she could even aspire to grow in the sport and represent the Serbian women on the biggest stage, the American dream took precedence for her family when she was just 12.

Sekulic said: “Water polo is huge for men in Serbia, but for women, it’s not so popular. But I remember going to the Serbian national team games and I always dreamed of being a big player and competing on the international stage for Serbia. But then my family moved to the United States, and I never really thought that I could be good enough to play for the US team.”

Jovana’s father, Goran, moved the Sekulic family to the US in 2014, in search of a better life for Jovana and her two brothers.

They set up base in Pennsylvania, where Sekulic enrolled at Springton Lake Middle School. But the school did not even have a pool, and so water polo took a backseat for a while before her parents, who wanted Sekulic and her brothers to stay active while adjusting to American life, found a local club.

She later joined the Episcopal Academy and there, her water polo career took off. She starred for the team, winning the Eastern Prep Championship three times and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award twice and her prowess in the pool eventually gained her an admission into Princeton University.

In her freshman season in 2022, she earned Rookie of the Year honours from the Collegiate Water Polo Association. In 2023, she helped Princeton advance to the National Collegiate Athletic Association semi-finals for the first time in the school’s history.

Those performances led to a tryout for the women’s national team, and she has since gone on to establish herself as a regular and represented the US at the Paris Olympics last August.

In Paris, one of her highlights came from meeting the Serbian men’s national team.

“I stopped them in the (Olympic village) cafeteria, and I was like ‘Hi guys, I just want to tell you that I’m a big fan’ and then I just started sobbing,” said Sekulic, who hopes that the women’s programme in Serbia can grow to a point where she can face the Serbian women at the Olympics.

On July 13, in the final match of the day at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, Sekulic and the world No. 3 US women clinched an 11-9 win over Group B opponents and world No. 2 Netherlands, which almost certainly secured a quarter-final spot. It was sweet revenge for the US, who had lost to the Dutch at the bronze-medal play-off in the Paris Olympics and finished outside the medals for the first time.

The US have now recorded two wins out of two and their superior head-to-head record over China and the Netherlands means they are set to qualify for the quarter-finals as group winners. Both US and Netherlands had started the competition with a win on the first day of competition on July 11.

While the match was an end-to-end, high-quality affair in the pool, the attendance at the venue was once again in the low hundreds. Sekulic played her part as the centre, showing her aggression in defence by being a menace all night to limit the Dutch attackers and was also effective at the other end as she orchestrated play from the middle. She also got on the scoresheet, scoring her team’s ninth goal in the third quarter and provided an assist in the win.

Despite her status in the team, Sekulic said she tries not to think about whether she “belongs”.

“I just show up every day and try my best. All I can do is just show up every day and compete for my spot,” she said. “I’m really happy to be here with this team and to see every single teammate of mine shine. And that was a really good team win today against the Netherlands.”

In Group B’s other match earlier in the day, China recorded a comprehensive 29-9 win over Argentina.

Meanwhile, in Group A, Singapore were defeated 22-7 by New Zealand. While it was their second loss in these championships, following a 34-2 defeat by Olympic silver medallists and world No. 6 Australia in their first match, there were still some positives.

In their WCH debut in Doha in 2024, they had been thumped 30-4 by the same opponents.

Singapore captain Abielle Yeo said: “Seeing the scoreline, we’ve also improved from the last time we played New Zealand in the last world championships. So definitely, while there are things to improve on, we’re very happy with today’s results.”

In the other Group A game, Australia made it two wins out of two with a 19-15 victory over Italy.

Silver medallists at the last edition, Hungary, also made it two wins out of two with a 33-13 victory over Japan in Group C, while Greece secured their first win with a 31-7 hammering of Croatia.

In Group D, 11th-ranked Britain recorded a 12-3 victory over world No. 18 South Africa, while Olympic champions Spain followed suit with a 23-6 win over France.