After all the recent storms, it may seem hard to believe that spring is just around the corner. But with the days getting lighter and the March blooms soon to be seen sprouting everywhere, one of the most enjoyable seasons of the year is nearly here.
Of course, while the sunshine and warmth of the next few months may be welcome after the chilly days of winter, for some ladies the prospect of putting away the thick coat and woolly jumper may be a double-edged sword.
For those who have struggles with body confidence, it can be very comforting to be able to wrap up in lots of concealing layers during winter. By contrast, showing off a bit of flesh in summer is somewhat intimidating and the idea of walking on the beach in a bikini can be positively terrifying for some.
Those with such issues will not just feel them outdoors on sunny days, but also in the bedroom. The idea of wearing full body lingerie is to get the heart beating a bit faster in the bedroom and inflame a bit of desire. But it’s hard for a woman to do this with confidence if she doesn’t look on her own body as a wonderful thing.
This is why body confidence is about more than just what you wear in public on a sunny day and makes it all the more important that you do something about it - and that doesn’t just mean changing your diet or going to the gym.
Quite simply, body confidence issues are an issue for most of us, especially those in the 35-44 age range. A OnePoll survey found this age group suffers the most with body image, as the onset of middle age and the diminishing of youthful appearances is a major challenge.
This is hardly helped by the fact that the ideals about how we should look are reinforced by those who are able to maintain much of their youthful figures and looks past the age of 35. This conveys the idea that not to do so is to no longer be able to look or feel sexy and attractive.
However, you can be any age and have worries about body image. Some may have suffered since childhood and that can make you more than a bit reluctant to reveal it, especially if that means showing everything to your partner in the bedroom or adding some sexy gear to raise the temperature.
Yet, as Cosmopolitan puts it: “Every body is totally different, and every body is worth appreciating.” That means you need to tell yourself your body is wonderful, rejecting unrealistic stereotypes and the lies of others - especially those who have merely been projecting their own insecurities onto you.
Above all, what matters is that you can appreciate the fact that what your partner thinks about your body matters more than anyone else. While a show of bare skin in public might be seen by all and sundry, it’s worth remembering who will be seriously delighted to see you in something lacy and sexy when you are alone together.