Sometime in April, like clockwork, the messaging starts. Articles, ads, and influencers begin reminding us that summer is coming and that we should probably start preparing our bodies immediately. Apparently summer cannot officially begin until we have all attempted at least one “get beach ready” program.

This is the time of year when Diet Culture quietly turns up the pressure. The language is rarely blunt anymore.

Instead of “lose weight,” we hear phrases like “tone up,” “tighten,” or “feel confident in your swimsuit.” It sounds supportive on the surface, but the message underneath is the same. Certain bodies are treated as summer-ready, while others are expected to fix themselves first.

But here is the thing. Summer is not a school that requires you to pass an entrance exam. Beaches do not check your waistline before letting you sit in the sand. The ocean does not care about your stomach, your thighs, or whether you completed a plank challenge in April!

The problem with this messaging is that it quietly convinces people they need to earn experiences that should belong to everyone!

Swimming, wearing shorts, taking photos with friends, sitting on a beach towel eating chips - none of these things should require body approval first. When we’re told our bodies are “not ready,” or "not good enough" many people simply opt out. Skip the pool party. Avoid the beach. Sit on the sidelines of their own lives waiting for a body that Diet Culture promised but rarely delivers.

Don't get me wrong, if you want to move your body more because the weather is nicer, great. If you want to lounge outside with snacks and a good book, also great. April can simply be about longer days, warmer air, and being outside again. Your body does not need to change to belong there.

Stay vigilant,

L x

P.s. Please excuse any typos, it is me that writes these and I've been tweaking my website to allow for some newness coming soon 👀🤫