Swimsuits Are Not The Enemy

Swimsuit. It's the one word that sends chills down your spine. It's bad enough that most of us never fully get past the adolescent torture of self-doubt when it comes to accepting our bodies, but the fact is that 23 percent of Canadians and about 30 percent of Americans are obese. Which makes the swimsuit their enemy.

Generally speaking, swimsuits in and of themselves are not bad. They are small pieces of fabric which fulfill their purpose: they cover up and get wet. So why is it that they instill such dread in anyone who even thinks about them? In an overt way, they expose parts of ourselves that don't exactly make us happy. On a more subconscious level, they make us face the ugly truth, whether it be genetic predisposition for extra weight, bad food choices, lack of control over food intake, or simply lack of motivation and will to exercise.

We need to recognize that the swimsuit is not the enemy, or the cause to the problem, but rather a reflection, or outward manifestation of it. We need to understand that displacing blame on clothes manufacturers or fast food corporations does zip for us. We need to take responsibility for our actions. Only by taking responsibility can we move forward, change our behaviour patterns and lose weight.

So embrace the swimsuit. Let it be your instrument for change. Look at yourself in the mirror and say:

• I can and will make healthier food choices.

• I can and will control the type and amount of food I eat.

• I can and will exercise.

The process is long and arduous, but what's a little hard work compared to good health, improved outlook and a healthy lifestyle?

Here's the not-so-good news. You are the one who has to make the shift in attitude. You are the one who has to work hard on not only getting healthy but staying healthy. You are the one who has to make a life-long commitment to this goal. It's a tough job, but well worth the effort.

By Dijana Visnjevac