Thank the fashion trend gods who brought high-waisted swimsuits back into the mainstream, right? Because it’s getting to be that time – spring break season – and that means the dreaded swimsuit season is upon us.

If you don’t want to dread it though, you don’t have to! A James Clear quote I refer to constantly is that “habits are not a finish line to be crossed, they’re a lifestyle to be lived.”

With James’s quote in mind, we can CHOOSE to wear the high-waisted bikinis instead of feeling like we HAVE to wear the high-waisted bikinis. By living a healthy lifestyle, we can live in a state of readiness for swimsuit season or LBDs (that’s little black dress) or whatever else life throws at us. And who doesn’t like to be prepared!?!

Let Me Get This Off My Chest

Before I go any further, I’d like to put my stake in the ground that no matter your body size, shape, appearance, etc. if you want to go to the beach and rock a bikini, DO IT!! When you find a dress that you think slays, then by all means, strut it!!

I’m against mainstream media shaming women into hiding their bodies at the beach (or anywhere else) if it doesn’t measure up to an unattainable standard. 

One of the pillars of Running with Bacon is the B for Beliefs, which includes the beliefs about ourselves and our bodies. None of us are perfect, but we’re all worthy of self-love and body positivity.

However, we also owe it to ourselves to be the owners (the O in the B.A.C.O.N. framework) of our health, which means getting to a point where we’re not only proud of our appearance, but also in control of our physical health. I realize it’s a fine line for some, but it’s one I’ll walk with you to find what works best for you.

Staying Ready

Now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Being that spring break season is already upon us, you don’t have time to crash diet or do anything drastic that will have you ‘bikini ready’ in 1-3 weeks. Anything that you could get results from is sure to be unhealthy at best, and detrimental at worst.

There are however 10 weeks until Memorial Day weekend which is plenty of time to instill some healthier habits to have you on your way to that high-waisted (or not) bikini. The summer will come whether or not you’ve switched out one habit for another, so go ahead and make the change! Even if you’re not yet at your goal by the time the American Flags come out, you’ll be 10 weeks closer to it!

Remember, this summer isn’t the finish line. The real reward is the next 20, 30, 40, or 50 summers of not stressing about how you’ll look in your bikini. It’s the confidence you’ll gain knowing you’re healthy all year round because you chose to implement these healthier habits starting NOW.

It’s A Marathon, Not A Sprint

If you’re reading that last section and doubt is already starting to creep in – like how change takes SO long, or I’ve tried in the past and failed, or how I have WAY more weight to lose than can be done in 10 weeks.

Another James Clear-ism that I’m quite fond of is, “every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”

So yes, while it may take a while, or you may have failed before, or you’ve got a lot of weight you want to lose, the changes you do now will begin to add up. They will begin reshaping your lifestyle. Not all at once, no, definitely not. You won’t instantly be eating better AND working out AND switching your mindset AND drinking more water AND, AND, AND. 

But each time you drink a glass of water before allowing yourself the soda; each time you pass on the bread basket so you can savor a shared dessert; each time you park in the farthest spot from the door; each time you add the word ‘yet’ to the end of your self-defeating sentence, YOU’RE VOTING for the type of person you want to become.

Eventually you’ll be that person you want to become and it’ll be so ingrained in who you are that you’ll wonder why you ever wasted energy dreading swimsuit season. And you’ll giggle to yourself just a little when you choose that high-waisted bikini because you know it’s because you’re going for the vintage glam look and not because you’re ashamed to show your tummy.