You can still have a hot girl summer without losing any weight
Yesterday, Boris Johnson announced his roadmap out of lockdown, of which the main highlights are we can probably legally have sex again from May 17th, and nightclubs may be reopening from June 21st. Of course, the whole country is buzzing and there have been so many memes about the end of lockdown and finally being able to go clubbing again. But amongst the tweets about how messy that first night out is going to be, and how we’ll all have no stamina and probably be in bed by 1am, are some far more sinister ‘jokes’.
People are talking about how they now have four months to lose X amount of weight, ready for a summer of fun. They’re making memes out of how much they’re going to exercise, how little they plan on eating, and making fun of how ‘bad’ they look right now.
We already had influencers like Zara McDermott posting “transformation” pics on Instagram and Amber Gill trying to get us to buy her workout plan, but now there’s an end to lockdown in sight this kind of content is only going to ramp up.
There is going to be an influx of people drastically trying to lose weight between now and June. Let me tell you know, based off experience, that you DO NOT want to be doing that. Fucking stop.
— Siobhan Cecilia (@siobhanliadoyle) February 23, 2021
I dealt with disordered eating on and off for the best part of a decade. If there’s a disordered pattern or behaviour around food you can imagine, I’ve probably done it. I’ve spent time in the depths of pro-anorexia content, and let me tell you: These memes about losing weight for June 21st are pretty much exactly the same as ones posted by pro-eating disorder accounts.
TW: WEIGHT
Already seeing people making jokes about eating nothing but plates of ice between now and the 21st of June in order to lose their quarantine weight gain, so here is a little reminder that it’s okay if you leave lockdown weighing more than when you went in ❤️🥰
— kirstyleannetravels ❤️✈️ (@kirstyleanneuk) February 22, 2021
Whether they’re purely jokes or not, people are talking about going to extreme measures to get “hot girl” ready for the 21st of June, and it’s downright dangerous. We have to stop comparing ourselves to what we looked like pre-corona, because it can lead to dark places.
Look, I’m not saying being healthy is a bad thing – it’s obviously not, but this isn’t linked to our weight in any way, shape or form. These memes act like losing weight is the only way you can be happy and successful, but it’s damaging and incredibly fatphobic.
If you’re reading this and you’re feeling pressured into losing weight before June, please know that you are BEAUTIFUL and WORTHY as you are right now. Getting thinner isn’t the answer to everything.
— Mollie Munro Quirk (@missmolliequirk) February 22, 2021
Honestly, if you’ve gained weight during the pandemic – who cares? You’ve been legally trapped indoors for months, unable to see those you love and it’s been a stressful time for us all.
Going through all this has saved countless lives, possibly even your own, and that’s all that matters.
4 months to plan the sexiest outfit I’ve ever worn let’s do this x
— Alice (@alicebrigs) February 22, 2021
Hot girl summer is a mindset, not a weight. It’s about having fun and all around living your best life – which should be easy, as come June we’ll finally be unleashed from our houses properly for the first time in over a year.
I personally can’t wait to become besties with drunk girls in queues for the toilets, wear nice tops and dance in grotty clubs, go on dates and drink too many cocktails, make stupid mistakes with my best mates, go to Pride.
Not a single one of those things depends on the weight of myself, or anyone I do it with. Be thankful you’re finally allowed to do it, no matter what you look like.
gays pleeease let’s not put pressure on ourselves/others to look ripped for june! the community is body dysmorphic enough, so let’s focus on all the fun we’re are gonna have, regardless of how we look this summer!💕❤️✨
— Josh Willacy (@joshywillacy) February 22, 2021
You don’t need to try and “glow up”, change your weight, or any other part of your appearance, by June.
I promise you: When you hug, dance and laugh with your mates for the first time in over a year, they are not going to be thinking about whether you’ve lost or gained weight over lockdown.
If you or someone you know has been affected by issues discussed in this article, Beat Eating Disorders is a charity who offer support services including a helpline and web-chat service. You can access these services here, or call their helpline on 0808 801 0677. You matter.
Related stories recommended by this writer:
• Body shaming slim celebs makes girls like me feel like we can never post bikini pictures
• It’s time for influencers to stop posting transformation posts on Instagram
• Zara McDermott has responded to the huge backlash over her weight loss post
