by Karen Chamchuk

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: August 14, 2011

Swimsuit season is here and what should be a time of fun and relaxation is often just the opposite. Most of us would do anything to avoid shopping for a swimsuit because we're not happy with one or more parts of our body. The good news is that body image can be changed. People who like their bodies tend to carry themselves with a confidence that is attractive to others. Follow these five steps and you'll find that at the next summer get together you attend, you are actually able to focus on the people around you instead of your own percieved flaws.

STEP ONE
Figure out exactly where in your past your body image issues might be coming from. Maybe your sister or friend told you that you were fat. Challenge these childhood messages because someone else's opinion is not necessarily fact.

STEP TWO
Stop comparing yourself with others. There will always be someone who is thinner, taller or more buff than you so decide right now that you are going to accept and work with the basic body type you were born with.

STEP THREE
Start dressing to flatter your own unique body type. This may mean opting out of the latest clothing fads if they aren't going to flatter your basic shape. Always try to emphasize your best body features and minimize your least favorite areas.

For starters, ask yourself if your body is shaped more like an apple or a pear. Apples look better in one-piece bathing suits. These women should usually avoid dresses and tops made with spandex or lycra since this fabric tends to cling to every extra roll. Free-flowing fabrics like rayon, linen and cotton are much more flattering to apples. Dresses and tops that are fitted just below the bust-line and drape loosely around the waist look fantastic on apples. Men who carry some extra weight around the belly look good in short-sleeved button-down shirts that are loose fitting and left untucked.

Pear-shaped women tend to carry their weight in the hips and thighs and are smaller in the waist and bust. Two-piece swimsuits have the added benefit for pears of allowing women to choose a bottom that is one size larger than the top. Pears should stick to a darker color on their bottom half whether they are choosing swimwear, pants or skirts. Pears look great in dresses and skirts that put the emphasis on the waist-line and should invest in a few stylish belts and sashes to help show off their waist.

Fabrics with closely spaced repeating patterns such as plaids will tend to make anyone look bigger than they actually are. Other the other hand, fabrics with patterns that are small and widely spaced such as tiny polka-dots are a better choice for the plus-sized individual.

STEP FOUR
Find an exercise routine that doesn't feel like punishment. If you enjoy the activity, you'll do it more often and feel better about yourself and your body.

STEP FIVE
Remember to do things like shave and moisurize. Even the shapeliest legs in the work don't look good when they're hairy and dry.

It's human nature to want what you don't have. You may feel that your sturdy thighs are unattractive while the person beside you at the grocery store is wishing she were born with shapely legs like yours. So stop comparing yourself with others and focus on the things that you like about yourself. If your pretty feet are your favorite body part then treat yourself to a pedicure and show them off in sexy sandals. Summer only comes once a year so take a deep breath and have the courage to accept yourself as you are and others will too.

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