Since childhood I’ve had a fondness for the ‘ber months, autumn, winter and all that it brings. I love the change in colours, the cooler evenings, the cosy clothes, and everything feels a little bit more magical.
Summer is a hard season for me. The hot weather and extroverted energy that the longer days bring with them can be overwhelming. I don’t sunbathe – SPF is non-negotiable – and I don’t like getting hot and sweaty, but of course it happens every year.
That first summer as I began divesting from diet culture was tough, as I tried to make peace with my body, needed to stay cool and felt the push from society to cover up my fat body. It was uncomfortable, and I felt like I missed out on creating memories during summer break because my anxiety got the best of me.
So I made the decision to do some research and reclaim the summer from fatphobia. I spent time looking for clothing, anti chafe products, and personal hygiene products designed for larger bodies. I scoured the internet for better menstrual products that fit my body and needs, body deodorants and practical tips that I could easily follow.
By the summer of 2023 I had a personal hygiene routine that didn’t break the bank, AND kept me feeling dry and fresh even in the heat. Last summer I started curating a closet of clothes that *feel* like ME whilst helping me stay cool and safe during warmer days.
It wasn’t the act of choosing myself, it was deciding that my fat body was also deserving of comfort in hot weather. Acknowledging that I don’t have to cover up just because other people think fat folks should hide their bodies, that’s actually not my problem.
And of course realising that there are lots of products that fat bodies can benefit from, but they’re rarely marketed to us because society doesn’t want us to be comfortable.
My discomfort used to be self punishment, the belief that I deserved to be uncomfortable in hot weather because I’d not lost weight. Fuck that, and fuck the society that makes us feel this way.
Over the next couple weeks I’m taking some time to focus on a few creative projects, and will be replaying some of my most popular episodes, which also happen to be from last year's summer series ☀️
This week I’m resharing episode 05, From Pursuing Thinness to Prioritising Body Peace. I listened back through this episode, and it’s a great introduction to the summer months. We’ll explore the barriers for fat bodies in summer, the way body positivity can bypass our lived experiences, and take a look at the body appreciation spectrum.
Chapters
00:00 Reclaiming Summer: A Journey of Body Acceptance
00:00 Introduction and Summer Series
01:44 The Manifestation of Negative Body Image
05:59 Body Image & Weight Loss Negotiations
10:08 The Body Appreciation Spectrum
25:02 Prioritising Self-Advocacy and Seeking Comfortable Products and Spaces
29:06 From Pursuing Thinness to Prioritising Joy and Inner Peace
BONUS: Simple Summer Self Care Routine for Folks in Larger Bodies
I’m getting ready to start our summer series on the podcast. I’ll be sharing everything, from my body acceptance and self advocacy journey to my favourite products and routines.
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