Last year, women in the UK spent nearly a billion dollars on swimwear. That's not surprising -- what is, however, more than a bit shocking, is the fact that 45 percent of those purchases have yet to see the light of day.

That's right -- according to recent research, about 250 billion pounds (nearly $500 billion) was spent on bikinis that have never and possibly will never be worn because the people who bought them don't feel comfortable enough with their bodies to don the merchandise in public.

What gives, ladies? Are we buying these swimsuits with the hopes of being inspired to slim down by their presence in our closets? Or are we just hoping we'll work up the courage to bare all once the inevitable trip to the beach becomes a reality?

Wait -- that's not all. Here are some other startling bikini facts:

No one can make a would-be singer cry quite like Simon Cowell -- he's more of a self-esteem buster than a booster. But one wannabe songstress on the hit British show X-Factor claims that subjecting herself to Cowell's harsh scrutiny --and on-screen flirtations-- has actually been really good for her self-confidence.

"I was so flattered that he thought I was beautiful," says recent contestant Ruth Lorenzo. "I've always thought I was fat and been very self-conscious about my appearance ... I never thought I was attractive." OK, I can see that. Having one of the world's meanest men say something nice about you has got to feel pretty good.

However, she's not too attached to her curves -- she happily adds that the rigorous schedule of the show has helped her trim down a clothing size: "I call it the X Factor diet, all I did was rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. My clothes are baggy on me now, it's great!"

Source

It's hard to imagine Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger feeling awkward or self-conscious about her body. But behind many sexy, voluptuous women, there's a shy youth with low self-esteem -- and that certainly rings true in Scherzinger's case. She was recently quoted saying, "We always say that inside every woman there is a Pussycat Doll, but I don't always know that about myself. I always grew up feeling awkward because I came from a town where not everybody looked like me."

What helped her feel good about herself? The very thing that catapulted her to fame: Performing. "I found myself in something that I was passionate about, which was singing, and dancing. I focused on that. I put my heart, and soul into it," she said.

Addressing the other awkward-feeling girls of the world, she adds, "You are beautiful. Just find it from within, and so you can then shine your beauty on to other people."

Source

Over at Fit Celeb, they're talking about Hills star Heidi Montag. Apparently, Ms. Montag feels a lot more confident about her figure since having a boob job a few years ago. If that's what she needed to feel good about herself, then good for her, I guess. What about you?

Source

Overweight women are having more sex than women of a normal weight. Are you surprised?

Researchers who conducted the study are surprised. "These results were unexpected and we don't really know why this is the case," said one of the study's authors.

What's really unexpected here, I think, is their reaction. Have those persuasive media images that tell us what's "beautiful" influenced even people who should be above such things?

Source

Whether hitting the gym every day or once in a blue moon, there's one thing we all need to do -- love our bodies! You don't have to be completely content with the size of your waist, and maybe you wish your arms were a little more toned, but today, for Love Your Body Day, I want you to take a minute and appreciate what your body does for you.

Your legs and feet take you where you need to go. Do they run? Do they walk well in heels? Can they kick a soccer ball? Your arms lift all kinds of important things -- food and drink to nourish your body, books so you can read, and your children when they need to be held. And, don't forget -- your arms can give great hugs!

To celebrate Love Your Body Day, I have a couple of suggestions. First, do something good for your body -- take a long walk, do some strength training, complete 20 push-ups, whatever works for you. And second, keep reading here at That's Fit, because we'll be telling you all day long what we love about our bodies because we want to inspire you!

Source

Glued to We Love To Gawk At Fit Celebs and TMZ? Count US Weekly and People among your guilty pleasures? Don't feel ashamed -- whether you're following the lives of pop stars, athletes or politicians, I think everyone has had their own case of 'celebrity worship.'

And believe it or not, there's nothing wrong with that. A recent study in Time Magazine showed that celebrity crushes can be good for your mental health, and can even boost your own self-esteem. Still, that's provided the crush doesn't go too far (stalking is so not cool,) or replace real relationships in one's life (hello, creepy!)

So go ahead and worship someone -- bonus points if you take inspiration from a fit celeb like Michael Phelps or Jennifer Lopez.

(via Crabby)

Source

Today's young girls are constantly barraged by images of "perfect" women. I don't know if you've gone shopping for a young girl lately, but the trends are a bit disturbing. It's hard to find trendy and cute clothes that are age-appropriate. Frankly it's hard to find clothes that are appropriate for anyone, much less for their age. With Bratz dolls and other questionable toys, it's no wonder some young girls want to dress provocatively. Heck, even Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobbie have received somewhat questionable makeovers; they look more like teens than innocent little girls now-a-days.

If you're the parent of an impressionable young girl, have her take a peek at this image manipulation quiz. Being able to spot the fact from the fiction in photos can help young girls maintain a positive self-image.

Source

I read a news story the other day that bothered me. A Texas teenager had a custom "dress" made for prom (I use quotes because I'm not sure it had enough fabric to qualify as a dress). When she arrived at her prom, she was denied entrance because her dress was deemed inappropriate. An argument ensued, and the young girl ended up being escorted out of her prom -- in handcuffs -- by police.

Whether you agree with the school or with the young girl, I think the issue at the root of this is that many young girls feel a pressure to be sexy. From rail-thin models to red carpet actresses wearing super-sexy gowns, young girls are bombarded with unrealistic images. If you've shopped for young girls' clothing lately, you've probably noticed how it's difficult to find cute, but appropriate, clothing. A good friend of mine has a 10-year-old daughter, and finding clothes that her daughter doesn't deem "nerdy" and yet still cover everything that should be covered is more difficult than you might think.

From a young age, girls need to be reminded that beauty isn't just what's on the surface. Kindness, intelligence, empathy, a sense of humor ... these are all traits that contribute to real beauty. And, while it's important to stay fit and take good care of yourself, there's no need to wear jeans that ride halfway down your hips with the strings of a thong hanging out. Girls can be beautiful without inappropriately exposing themselves. Girl Power is a great site with self-esteem advice for young girls.

Source

We're our own worst enemies. I think most of us are harder on ourselves and our appearances than anyone else is. I know that's how I am. With the exception of my mother (who would prefer I never wear another sweatshirt again), I know I'm more judgmental of my appearance than anyone else.

With a constant stream of media telling us how we should look and a culture fixated on looks over health, it's no wonder we stand in front of our mirrors and criticize. Having confidence in your own abilities is accepted -- even expected -- in today's culture. If you're interviewing for a job, confidence is a quality your interviewer is likely to look for. But confidence in your appearance isn't as widely accepted. In fact, some people think confidence in their appearance will be misconstrued as arrogance -- but that's not the case. Feeling good about yourself, having a positive body image, and being confident in your appearance can elevate your mood and benefit you in many ways.

AOL Body has an article that can help us all feel more comfortable in our own skin. It's high time we stop looking at ourselves with such a critical eye and start being a little more forgiving. Some tips:

Source

Last Wednesday, French fashion houses, advertising firms, and media houses banded together to declare super-skinny models out of style. With the support of the Minister of Health, they signed an agreement to stop using models whose appearance could contribute to an unhealthy body image for girls. The agreement doesn't exactly restrict the use of too-thin models, but it's a show of good faith.

France's National Assembly is also reviewing a project that could make the promotion of unhealthy body images punishable by law.

Young girls in particular are susceptible to low self-esteem and a flawed body image. The number of pro-anorexia web sites on the Internet is proof that body image is an ever increasing concern. It's high time we all learn to love ourselves a little more -- bumps and flaws included. Fitness and nutrition is for health and wellness -- super-skinny may look good in pair of size 0 jeans but it's far from healthy.

Source

Spring is here and that means flowers, nature in bloom everywhere, and as I just recently learned while working on an article for AOL Body (11 Reasons to Love Spring): the potential for improved health. While doing research for the article, I had the opportunity to discover a new reason to love spring, which is -- at the risking of sounding touchy-feely -- the healing powers of gardening.

"Watching something grow and even smelling flowers can have an impact on someone's health," says Mary Beth Miller, a horticultural therapist with Gardening for Good. A horticultural what? No, not a therapist for plants, but someone who helps her (human) patients address mental or physical health problems through gardening and connecting with nature.

What are the health benefits? The Horticultural Therapy Institute says this unique brand of therapy:

I have just come across the coolest thing I've seen all day -- Girls on the Run. It's a program designed to encourage "preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running."

Girls on the Run holds 5K events and pairs up a girl with a running buddy -- that could be you! According to the Girls on the Run Northeast Florida Chapter's website, "a running buddy chaperones and mentors one or two girls through her two 5K experiences: the Practice 5K and the RITA CASH 5K. That means keeping pace with the girl, ensuring her safety, and cheering her on!" Each location might be slightly different, but you get the point.

You'll be running slightly over three miles, encouraging a young girl to get involved in fitness, and building her self esteem. Just try to find something that's not to like! If you're interested (and I hope you are), check out the website for locations near you.

via FitSugar

Source

When the Today Show asked women on the street whether they'd rather be forty pounds overweight or "skinny and dumb," women -- at least those who made it past the edit room -- answered nearly unanimously. They'd rather be overweight and smart. (Many made the conclusion that if you're overweight, you can always lose it, but IQ points are forever.)

One woman was brave enough to stand alone with the...interesting...insight that if you "look good," people will give you the benefit of the doubt anyway, even if you have nothing intelligent to say. (Sure, maybe for the first five minutes!)

There's so much that's offensive about this game that I can't even start, but the purpose of it was to promote a new book called The Locker Room Diaries which focuses on women and body image. View the clip in its entirety here.

Source

If you do a search for body image online, most of the results you see are geared towards females. It's necessary; positive body image is such an issue for girls these days. But males aren't immune from having a negative body image. And just like rail-thin models can set an impossible standard for impressionable girls, men's magazines can influence men in the same way.

Researchers surveyed 161 men between the ages of 18 and 36. Those who regularly read men's magazines were more likely to be influenced by the images and were more likely to use unhealthy measures (including anabolic steroids) to duplicate the overly-muscular physiques they saw on the glossy pages. Research also found that men who were single were more likely to have a negative body image.

Source