How to Feel Confident in a Bathing Suit
With the summer season in full swing, if you’ve been dreaming of more pool days, long beach days, lakeside fun, and anything involving water, then you already know it’s bathing suit season.
Every year, I hear the same saying online: “I need to get my summer body ready.” And honestly, that can be a great motivator. It can push us to put in the work, eat cleaner, and stay consistent with exercise, so that we can feel our best when summer rolls around. However, whenever I hear that phrase, one thing always comes to mind… bathing suit confidence.
With so many standards online about what the “perfect” body looks like, plus walking into stores and seeing all the different bikini and swimsuit styles, it’s easy to feel like we have to look a certain way or fit into a certain size to feel confident. Like we need a specific kind of body to feel good in a bathing suit.
That’s exactly why I want to share some advice on how to feel more confident in a bathing suit, especially if this is something you struggle with. A lot of these tips come from my own personal experience, because I used to struggle with bathing suit confidence and feeling comfortable in my body too. My hope is that these tips help you grow and maintain your confidence while rocking your bathing suit this summer.
Bathing Suit Confidence
Address Body Image
When it comes to wearing a bathing suit, we have to address the elephant in the room: body image. With everything that we see online, the picture perfect bodies and the ideas of what a “good” body should look like, it can be easy to view our own bodies in a negative light.
It’s often much easier to focus on what we think is “wrong” or the little “imperfections” we notice; instead of appreciating the beauty of our bodies and all the amazing things they do for us.
Personally, I’m quick to notice things like stretch marks, scars, my stomach, body hair, and my overall shape. And in doing that, I sometimes overlook something much more important. The fact that my body allows me to walk, move freely, and live without limitations. What a privilege it is to have a healthy and able body.
One way we can improve our body image, not just in a bathing suit, but overall, is by shifting our perspective. That means choosing to see the truth: that we are created in the image of God, and that He made us beautifully, intentionally, and with purpose.
When we start to see ourselves through that lens, it becomes easier to move away from our own limited perspective and instead view our bodies the way our Creator does. God doesn’t make mistakes, and everything He creates is good, including you and I.
So pray over your body. Ask God to help you see yourself in a positive light. Speak life over yourself with affirmations rooted in truth. And when negative thoughts start to creep in, don’t entertain them. SHUT THEM DOWN. Replace them with God’s truth and remind yourself that you are beautiful and worthy.
Be a Good Manager of Your Body
On the topic of body image, it’s important to know that it’s okay to want to lose weight or gain a little weight in order to feel your best. Taking care of your body is part of being a good manager of it.
Think of your body like a gift that’s been entrusted to you. If someone gave you something valuable and asked you to look after it, you’d want to take great care of it. Right? In the same way, we should care for our bodies with intention. That means nourishing your body with good foods and moving it through exercise, so you’re honoring and taking care of what you’ve been given.
This is the idea of stewardship. God has given us our bodies to manage, and it’s up to us to take care of them well. That doesn’t mean you have to follow a strict, boring diet or live in a constant calorie deficit. Instead, find what works best for your lifestyle and what feels sustainable for you. For example, some people follow an 80/20 approach. Eating nutritious foods 80% of the time while still allowing room to enjoy other foods 20% of the time.
When you’re consistently taking care of your body and fueling it well, it naturally reflects in how you feel. And even in how you show up in your clothes, including something like a bathing suit.
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Understand That Your Body is Constantly Changing
Our bodies are living and ever changing things. And every single day, it goes through changes. Such as shedding dead skin cells, aging, growing hair, and getting taller. Because our bodies are always changing, it’s completely normal for our weight to fluctuate throughout the year: across months, weeks, or even days.
The size you were five years ago, is likely not the size you are today. Even the size you were last summer or a few months ago might be different now. And that’s okay!
What matters most is learning to care for the body you have right now. Not the one you had years ago, but the one you’re living in today. Whether you’re in your 20s or in a different season of life, or whether your body has changed due to things like having children, the question becomes: how can you best nurture and take care of your current body?
When we constantly compare our present body to our past, we often end up self-sabotaging. We hold ourselves to a version of ourselves that no longer exists. Instead, choosing to accept where you are today, allows you to be more gentle, patient, and intentional with how you care for your body now.
Wear a Bathing Suit That Fits Your Style
When you’re shopping for bathing suits, whether in-store or online, you’re probably seeing a ton of different styles. One of the best things that you can do for your confidence, is to choose a bathing suit that matches your personal style and comfort.
Don’t feel pressured to wear something just because it’s trending or because everyone else is wearing it. If you’re not a fan of two piece swimsuits, go for a one piece instead. If you prefer more coverage, you can choose swim shorts, a skirt, or even a swim dress.
One thing I really love about swimwear today, is how many options there are. There are so many different styles, fits, and designs to choose from. Which means, you can find something that makes you feel comfortable and confident.
At the end of the day, the goal is to feel your best. So that you can actually enjoy your time in the water, without constantly worrying about how you look.
