How to get the summer body you've always dreamed of!

I have written and rewritten this blog a thousand times since I began writing blogs at all, but from looking around me recently I am just sick of hearing people not doing what they want to do because they are self concious about the way they look. With summer coming up, the body poitivity movement needs to be stronger than ever. You deserve to not feel like you have to worry about your tummy rolls or untone arms when you're just trying to have a good day.

These are all photos I have take in the past 2 years, and in looking at each of them I saw only flaws but presented a positive and honestly fake body positive outlook of them online. I’d fallen into an incredibly unhealthy relationship with food and it showed in how I saw myself. My weight went up and down and I never saw anything but how awful I looked.

 And girl, in most of these I looked DAMN FINE!! I wish I still looked like that now but I am also glad that I can see the value of my body over how much I weigh or a little bit (or a lot a bit) of jiggle.

I'm the first person every day to notice my body's flaws, probably not the last, but first place is reserved for me. My whole life, I have never been confident about the way I look. Through high school, I was a round, large breasted, awkward teen who never really mastered makeup and not much has changed to this day.

I have spent too long breathing in and strategically standing in photos, when I could just enjoy myself. Losing such amazing moments to thoughts about losing weight is so pointless and so depressing. I by no mean like the way my body looks, my weight goes up and down like a yo-yo and yet I am forever squishy, but that doesn't mean I don't deserve to enjoy myself.

The main difference between me then and me now? Now, I am the person who controls how I feel about my body and me alone. And whilst I'm never going to stop trying to be the best version of me, I'm also very adamant to be in love with me as I am at present. I mean just look at these photos from the past year or so.

Every single person I have ever met at some point in their life has had at least some form of body confidence issues, male, female, young, old, big or small it is something we really struggle with, it can also lead down a much more difficult road. Body dysmorphia is very real in many forms, and from this stems eating disorders (of all types), depression and in some cases even suicidal thoughts. In a world where looks are deemed so important it is too easy to become obsessed with how your flaws. With every reality TV star trying to flog you "skinny teas" and "appetite suppressant lollipops" makes you think to be hungry is a bad thing. You know what tastes AND feels better than going hungry. EATING!

There is absolutely nothing wrong with feeling good about your body, whatever it looks like. As long as you're physically healthy and happy. Not one other thing matters. And before all the health scare worriers start saying I am promoting obesity, first of all, go fuck yourself. Secondly, there is such thing as eating well and fully without cutting out meals and detoxing all of the fun out of your diet.

Diets are never going to solve your problems, by all means, change your eating habits to engage with a healthier lifestyle. But fad diets and constantly looking for a quick fix will only promote an unhealthy attitude towards yourself that you really don't deserve. And as summer comes along, and you want to pop on that bikini and tan? Or jump in the pool with your pals? Or even just to take your kids swimming? DO IT. Take control of the fact that your body IS a bikini body. Guys, worried about taking your top off at the beach? Not sure about your arms? You do you boy, get your belly out and forget about it, you'll regret not getting involved more than you would regret someone having to see you with your shirt off.

ALL people deserve to feel positive about their body. Nobody should feel ashamed of the way they look. And if people are trying to change, as long as their doing it for themselves in a safe and healthy way, hell yeah I support it.



Be kind to each other this summer, respect each other's insecurities. Treat each other with love and absolutely make all the plans you can. Summer comes to an end, and this is England, it's gonna be proper naff when it starts to go grey again.

Don't ask people about or point out their scars, their bumps, their loose skin, cellulite, dark underarms or body hair etc. Let's make this the summer where people make memories, not give up on them because their too self-conscious to do the things they want to.

So yeah, forget what all the women's mags and snapchat ads tell you, the best way to get a summer body in less than a week is to let go of what others think. The only person who can judge you is you, so be kind to yourself and remember what's important. I know this is all much more easily said than done, but believe me, another day forcing yourself to diet is another day you're not living your best life. You are beautiful if your butt is huge or non-existent. You are beautiful if you have toned, muscular arms or bingo wings You are beautiful if you are a small, tall, skinny, fat, lanky, G cup, A cup, single, taken, gay, straight, bi, asexual, trans, any shape, size, age, gender or sexuality. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL if you let yourself be.

Wear that dress you love, be bold with your colours, treat yourself to some cute new sunglasses. Oh and don't forget sun cream.

Eat well, dress cute and make memories.

Much love,

~ Chloe x

Summer, Growing Up and Other Thoughts

If you've ever had the unfortunate experience of meeting me, finding my social media or even coming within 100m of my existence, you'll know how much I love to talk about my friends. I always have been and always will be their ultimate hype squad. I have been lucky to have been surrounded by the most amazing people my whole life, pretty much a street away or short walk at most. Because of this, it is safe to say that I spent the first 18 years of my life barely apart from them. At twenty, spread across the world and incredibly busy, this is no longer so much a possibility. Most of the year I can come to terms with this, summer is not one of those times.

As long as I can remember, the second the sun came out, it was a sign that we should definitely be doing something together. One of my earliest memories of being with my friends was being in the paddling pool with Jamie and Emma, or when we'd roast marshmallows over a burning log in Emma's garden. As we grew up, this never changed.

Every single summer, I can remember spending most of it with my favourite losers by my side. 

 

I probably couldn't even begin to explain how many hours we sat in or under a tree in our local park. Most of my high school age years, any chance we got we were there or costa, without much of a plan, usually just some sweets and some crazy scheme about how our future would end up. This all sounds a little rose-tinted as I write it down, but I swear, every word of it is true.

And when it got dark, or cold or it rained... Kate's bedroom was always ready for us to all snuggle up together in. We all hold her bed in the highest and fondest light, I've never been comfier in my life. Facemasks, fruit and REALLY good brews (even if she did put a ladle of sugar in once when I asked for "one big spoon of sugar"), bad weather never stopped our stupid antics. Not with Kate's beautiful DVD collection. 

I put a post up on facebook a few years back that came up in my memories recently that quoted Josh saying "I was gonna throw your dad in the pool Chlo, but he is too much of a hench so I threw his shoes in instead." My friends became my family and my family loved them like they were too, every year we had results day parties, with us lot and some years had parents, grandparents and siblings too. It was still just as hilarious and fun. We'd spent so long revising together (and very much not revising together), that it was really the biggest relief and blow off of steam, it was amazing.

Leaving high school only made this more fun, we travelled and we did more and more. Leeds Fest was wet, cold and insane but I loved (almost) every second of it because I spent all my time with the greatest people in the world. That same year, and warning again if you know me you're probably sick of hearing about this, my pals and I decided to book a little holiday together. We looked at everything, Amsterdam, Paris, Spain... And ended up in Penmaenmawr, Wales... Population about 4, but I have never had more fun. We just relished in doing what we wanted, which was going to the beach, making roast dinners, eating chinese and watching the scream films. Nothing more sums us up than that trip away and I wouldn't want anything to.

That was our last summer before we all went off into the real world, into to university, into jobs, all over the country, and in some cases, all over the world. And it got hard. Don't get me wrong, you won't a group chat more active than ours, nor will you find people more determined to make plans work. But sometimes they just... don't. 

Growing up in a close group of friends is amazing. You become completely different people but would not change a thing. Watching all my pals do amazing things is what makes me happier than anything else, and being there for them when they're struggling is my main priority. The latter is much harder when you can't put your shoes on over your bed socks and head on over for a cuddle and that was something I was thoroughly unprepared for. 

I know, I know that it's just a part of growing up. You see it all the time in stupid BuzzFeed comics. But it doesn't make it any easier. Tonight, my pals that are back at home phoned me and asked if I was working Sunday (of course, I was) and if not to come have a "girls" night tomorrow. Trying to schedule plans is something we were always awful at because we never had to do it. Trying to organise something now, when people work all the time and live all over the place and have a hundred other commitments is near impossible. And while we all understand why it's not always possible for us all to be there, it doesn't make it any easier. 

I guess what I'm trying to say is, things are gonna change. But don't ever lose sight of how amazing and wonderful those friendships can be. It's easy to see the drifting trend that has occurred with other friends earlier in life. But honestly one night back together and you'll know that's not true. Nobody makes you smile like they do, and there is a reason for that. 

This summer might be different. The summer holidays might be a thing of the past. But summer memories don't have to be. Ring your pal, tell them you love them. Just kidding, text them, calling them might worry them. 

The proof really is in the pudding. These losers are my world. Even if it is for one night only, make sure you live your best life with your best people. 

Sorry for the soppy rant guys, I needed it. I have another blog coming this weekend that is more targeted at everyone. I hope you enjoyed it anyway and think about calling your pal.

Much love,

Chloe x