kids sleeping bags camouflage

It’s your Vacation – Just Jiggle it a little!

Well we are smack in the middle of summer, and next week it’s my turn to go off on a vacation with my family and close friends.  Every summer, it doesn’t matter where you are in the process of weight loss, you have to think about that bathing suit! The day is inevitably going to come when the protective clothing must be shed so you can strut your stuff. Your stuff?  Oh no! Strut the same stuff you’ve been working so very hard to conceal and camouflage? Must it always come to this? Doesn’t it feel like some horrible cosmic joke that even the most modest among us, those who are always properly covered up even in the privacy of their own homes, will eventually have to peel off the very artfully selected layers of clothing and lie half naked, like beached whales, upon dazzling white sand for all to see?

Today I want try to help you think about this whole “exposure” issue in a different way because when I think about all of the time we spend trying to conceal ourselves, it makes me very sad. Let’s start with the makeup and hair. Who doesn’t feel naked without the creams, powders, gels and some gloss?  Who can feel on top of her game without the help of the flat iron, curling iron, product and a blow dryer? Then we have the wardrobe purchased with the sole intent of hiding our less-than-perfect bodies. Yes, our fashion decisions are ultimately based on the slimming effect of the color (black, or course), the concealing effect of the cut and the illusory effects of the length and pattern: all of which are supposed to disguise the “baby weight.”

And now, it summertime and we’re off to the beach and the ultimate indignity, forced to forgo our usual protective gear.  There must be a way, we think. Then undeterred, we simply amp up our strategic planning! How to conceal our most sensitive areas? Perhaps a wrap?  Maybe a carefully draped towel? How about shorts? Your mother’s cover up? Your husband’s tee shirt? A wet suit? Yes, all of these are options, but there is always that moment, that first moment, whether at the beach or your neighborhood pool, when you have to let the horror begin…Is anyone watching? Oh, geez, I can’t believe it! I’ve been sweating all the way here, and now these shorts are glued to my thighs. Okay, just casually wriggle out of them. Oh no! The bathing suit is coming off with them! Oh God! Everyone’s looking at my butt. Try to look casual. Smile like it’s your job. Okay, finally, they’re off. Quick, set up the chair. Sit. Quickly! Whew, safe. Okay breathe. Now, casually take out the book and look relaxed. And you are safe…until you realize you’ve left the book in the bag 10 feet away. Oh, yes, it’s going to be a very long day!

After all of these years, and no matter what my weight, these thoughts still go through my mind.  We are all so self-conscious about our bodies, constantly looking at other people to see how we measure up, and possibly asking our loved ones this very casual, but extremely dangerous question:  “Hey, honey? Do you see that woman over there, the one standing by the ocean? The one in the polka dot bathing suit? Do I look like her? My butt…does my butt look bigger than hers? Guys, please, no matter what, say, “Honestly baby, your butt is way smaller.” Don’t try to hide behind silence, because that will only get you another question!

So, I am writing this for all of you who look at a day on the beach as one of life’s ultimate cover-up challenges. I’m writing to those of you who peel off your clothes while seated in your beach chair, who maneuver into your cover up before standing. I’m writing to those who, having no choice but to go into the water with the kids, bolt from the blanket and hightail it into the water in hopes that all anyone will see will be a beach blur of your amazing race. I’m writing to all of you who hide behind the fascinating book-you know the summer blockbuster, the spellbinding tome, the one that goes into mind-numbing detail about the economic crisis, the one you just can’t put down despite his entreaties that the two of you take a romantic stroll along the beach. Not as long as daylight persists, you insist! I’m writing to you. Ready or not, this is my advice:  don’t do it.  Just stop the cover up! It never does any good; everyone knows what you look like because you look like most of them!

Writing about the beach brings to mind another ultimate cover-up challenge: the “What do I grab to walk to the bathroom when sleeping with my newly initiated significant other?” I get this question often enough that I guess it’s a concern for many out there. My advice?  Don’t grab anything! Don’t tell him that you’re ashamed of your body. I say, get up slowly, stand up straight, and walk with pride. No matter what stage your body is, like it or not, that is where you are, and no amount of covering up will change the facts.  So instead of grabbing for the entire sheet and wrapping yourself up mummy-like, stand up and walk your walk!

This goes for the beach, as well.  Wear your favorite bathing suit, and if you have a sad old suit from the year one, get yourself a new one-the prettiest you can find.  Make sure it fits securely and be absolutely sure that it’s comfortable.  When you get to the beach, drop your bags and your clothes! Do it with confidence and a smile, knowing that a self-assured you is an attractive you. Play in the sand, make a castle, and take a walk. In other words, leave your inhibitions and your cover-ups behind!  Enjoy your body, however it looks; it’s yours and there’s nothing more beautiful than a woman being true to herself, accepting and moving with confidence in her beautiful new suit.  When someone pays you a compliment, smile and thank them. No excuses; you deserve it! Why not decide to really enjoy this summer?

About the Author

Berta is a respected weight loss counselor who has educated and empowered hundreds of women JUST LIKE YOU to lose the excess weight that prevents them from living their dream and becoming the woman they were meant to be.  Her gift, and the reason her program is SO SUCCESSFUL, is her ability to break down every detail of your weight loss journey so you can be prepared for the challenges and understand the emotional components behind them.    If you liked this article, you’ll LOVE her blog and FREE e-zine sign up at http://www.justloseit.com/blog.

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