For the most part, I am comfortable with my body image. I enjoy the way I look year-round. Yet, when summer rolls around, it's hard not to get caught up in the media hype. It's hard to ignore the "Get Fit in Time for Summer!" articles that start popping up everywhere from Pinterest to magazines. I don't think I need to lose any weight, but with all those constant reminders, it is hard not to think that yes, my stomach could be a little flatter or my legs could be a little more toned. Then, when the dreaded time for swimsuit shopping comes -- because when I got lazy last summer and didn't wash my swimsuit by hand, the washing machine ruined the fabric -- all of the little flaws somehow become so much more noticeable. My boobs don't fill out the top as well as it does on the model. My butt looks flat in these bikini briefs. The list can go on and on.

But the truth is, it doesn't have to be this way. I don't have to listen to, look at, or even read all of the media about how you're supposed to look during the summer. For me, the easiest way to do so is to remove myself from the media just a little bit. With warm weather all around me, it is easier to unplug from the computer and the internet and just spend some time outside, looking at flowers or reading a good book instead. Even just skipping the articles in magazines about how to look great this summer makes me feel a little better.

Of course, it isn't always possible to disconnect. I have found, however, that I don't pay as much attention to the media around me, even when it's all over store advertisements or the internet when I already feel good about myself. Now, this seems a bit like backward logic that I need to already feel good in order to ignore the things that make me feel worse. However, I have noticed that what I need to do is not to make myself happy with how I look, but to make myself feel healthy. In turn, the healthier I feel, the better I like the way I look. It's a positive feed-forward loop.

So when spring is starting to turn to summer, instead of trying to find the clothes that cover up my flaws best, I try to make myself healthier. I spend more time outside. I go for longer walks. I drink more water. I take advantage of the fruits and vegetables that are in season. In short, I make myself healthier by taking care of my body and in return, I'm much more satisfied with how I look even though these actions didn't result in a physical change. When I'm healthy, I'm happy and when I'm happy, it's a lot easier to see through the stereotypical media images and realize they don't really mean much at all. In the end, I know I'm doing myself good and I feel sexy and ready to take on the warm weather.