Spring and summer are such fantastic times of year. The days are longer, brighter and warmer and moods are instantly lifted by the mere sight of the sunshine peering through the curtains in the morning.

This year, spring and summer may be spent a little differently than we might have thought, with less time outside than usual, but still, for some of us, the thought of warmer weather can fill us with dread and anxiety.

Smaller clothes, or even thinking about heading out for a while in the sun could risk embarrassment and these are very real fears for some, resulting in putting your life on hold, or missing out on things, due to your weight and health.

At The Slimming Clinic, we don’t believe that anyone should feel like they need to shy away from the things they really want to do, simply through embarrassment or not looking the way you want to, even if you’re just starting on a weight loss journey.

No matter where you are with your weight loss, you should be able to live your life, doing the things that bring you joy and happiness.

Body confidence and acceptance won’t happen overnight, but we’ve put together some tips that, practised over time, should help you find your body confidence.

Wear whatever you want!

Those feelings and thoughts of being ‘too fat’ to wear something are old news. Don’t think about the size on your label, think about what makes you comfortable and happy.

You can be happy no matter what size you are or if you’re on a weight loss diet or not – use your clothing as an extension of your personality and wear something you really feel amazing in.

Stop focusing on the negative

We can all easily pick out our least favourite parts of our bodies. But have you ever stopped to focus on the parts that you don’t mind, or even, *like*?

Maybe you have beautiful eyes, or long limbs, or a nice bottom (!) – whatever you like, focus on that. It’s all too easy to criticise and sometimes, just looking a few things you don’t mind, can break the cycle of negative thoughts you might have about yourself.

Move more

We’re not saying you need to be a fitness fanatic (although some of us may be coming out of quarantine as Mr Motivators!) but weight loss activity and movement can do wonders for your body confidence and mental health.

Whether you choose to play garden games, or take yourself off for a walk or jog, or do a home YouTube workout, anything is great for you and getting your feel-good endorphins pumping!

Take a break from social media

If you’re feeling the stress of looking at hundreds of model-like women on social media as you scroll through, it’s simple, turn it off!

We are bombarded by images of slim, beautiful and seemingly perfect specimens constantly and it does nothing for our own self-esteem to compare ourselves to them.

And, chances are, those women have body hang-ups too. The best thing you can do is give yourself a break and not compare yourself to them!

Talk to someone

Sometimes, a really simple way to get our worries off our chest is to talk to someone about it.

When was the last time you spoke to a friend about body confidence? Speaking to others will help you see you’re not alone, or the only one who focuses on their imperfections!

Knowing you’re not on your own is a great mental boost. Why not start a support group, send each other pictures of what you’re wearing and offer compliments to each other!

Remember, there is no such thing as a ‘summer body’, ‘winter body’ or any other season body! You don’t have to be a certain size or shape to enjoy any activity. Your body is unique and wonderful and has navigated you through to where you are in life now.

You have about 80 springs and summers to enjoy in life – make the most of them, however you can, make wonderful, lasting memories and be kind to yourself!

If you want to improve your mindset and feel better about yourself, contact The Slimming Clinic today and find out how our weight loss programmes can help you lose weight, but also improve your mental health too.