How to glow up the right way

The days are getting longer, evenings are getting brighter and the timer is officially ticking for you to start feeling pressured into getting in shape to achieve your #summerbody.

The fitness industry does not take a day off from pushing the narrative that our bodies aren't good enough and we need to make changes.

Whether it was the October winter arc, January ‘new year new me’ or the 75 hard, each season has its own marketing tactic to make you question whether you’ve finally reached your health goals. The answer is always no.

Diet culture persists despite body positivity efforts, promoting ever-changing beauty standards that aren't realistic. Bodies fluctuate, skin isn’t always perfect, and waking up at 5 am everyday isn’t sustainable.

This summer, the best thing you can do for yourself is create healthy, attainable and manageable goals.

It’s not a crime to want to look good. But, if you are putting pressure on yourself to achieve your goals in three months, it will lead to unhealthy habits which will make you miserable in the future.

Practical summer glow up goals:

• Be kind to yourself - Don’t plan to change yourself out of self hate, do it out of self love. If you want to start walking 10K steps a day, it should be because you want to benefit your health, not because you want to look like someone else. This is easier said than done but if you only want to change the way you look because you're insecure, maybe a physical transformation isn't what you need. Instead, work on developing a healthier mindset.

• Be conscious of your diet - This doesn't mean start counting calories and only eating vegetables. Don’t restrict your eating, just eat more of the healthy meals that you enjoy.

• Make a routine - Having good habits will set you up to achieve your fitness goals. Even though the results may not come in time for summer, you’ll be creating a better lifestyle for yourself which will last forever. 

There is no pressure to look any different from how you do right now. Regardless of what social media might portray, you don’t need to earn the right to be happy in your skin.

Be kind to yourself this summer. 

Edited by Sasha Spencer