I Gained Weight and Now It’s Bathing Suit Season: 5 Strategies

Gaining weight in recovery from binge eating disorder (or any version of an eating disorder/disordered eating) is arguable the hardest part of this healing process.

Recovering in the winter months feels easier because we can cover up in baggy sweats and don’t have to show much skin.

But what do you do when it’s summer and time to put on a bathing suit?

Here are five strategies to get you through. Also remember that my body image coaching, workshops, and self-study programs are available for more intensive support.

1. Put confidence on sabbatical.

   The first summer of my recovery weight gain was the hardest. I kept comparing myself to my former self, and was hyper-aware of my insecurities. Give yourself permission to use this summer to get used to being in your current body instead of forcing yourself to feel confident. This might be the first time you try to stop seeing yourself as an object. Give it time.

2. Use posturing.

   Studies show that the way we carry ourselves not only has an impact on how others perceive us, but on how we feel about ourselves. Think: upright, expansive, head high. A confident posture will send signals to your brain that you are, in fact, confident. Use this feedback loop to your advantage.

3. Practice at Home.

   Walk around your home in your bathing suit privately first. Get used to how your body feels , how your clothes move against your skin. I had to get used to how my legs brushed together or how my stomach felt at its new size; and doing this ahead of time was helpful. If you notice discomfort coming up, keep thoughts factual instead of judgmental (ie. I feel my body more than I used to; I notice more cellulite; I feel tempted to self-abandon.)

4. Experiment with fashion.

   Create a new template of fashion for yourself this year, where possible. Experiment with different styles of shoes, bathing suits, cover-ups, sandals, and/or accessories (borrowed, bought, or repurposed). Trying to fit into your old body's identity might make you feel "less than." Give yourself room to feel updated.

5. Eff It.

   If you feel overwhelmed with emotion, zoom out. Remember that life is short and we have better things to do than judge ourselves all day. We are what we are in this moment. Eff it.

Start here and see how it feels. Body image healing is a complex process that may require more time and energy than it first appears, but you do have more agency than you think.

Understanding Body Image: Independent Webinar + Workbook

$47.00