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Every spring, as sure as cherry blossoms and April showers, the notion that women should diet, exercise and scrub their way to bikini-ready bodies shrouds magazines and advertising. And according to this survey, 82per cent of women say the feel overly pressured to slim down before summer.
Over 50per cent of women say they hate their abs, while 29per cent revealed they are most insecure about their thighs. When it comes to working out, 47per cent admit to working on their abs more than any other muscle group.
Thanks to the ubiquity of cameras, wearing a bikini is now scary even for gorgeous celebrities, and women who feel pressured to slim down cite Facebook as a large contributor.
Ninety per cent of readers said that they would never 'like' a photo of themselves tagged wearing a bikini, and 44per cent would remove the tag or ask their friend to take down the photo.
In contrast, 50per cent of women are most at ease in a swimsuit around their friends or significant others, with 18per cent most comfortable around their friends, and 10 percent most comfortable around complete strangers.
Shedding the 'last stubborn pounds' before hitting the beach was also a big concern, with 79per cent of respondents saying they want to lose at least five pounds this summer.
Sixty per cent of women admitted to dieting in anticipation of bikini season, with 53per cent cutting calories, 22per cent forgoing carbs, and 15per cent trying other strategies.
Most women however are embarking on their diets using healthy meals and exercise - with only one per cent using juice fasts, and three per cent relying on detox diets to meet their weight-loss goals.
As our culture increasingly enshrines physical perfection, the bikini has come to inspire both dread and awe.
Today it is assumed that only the lean, muscular, hairless and ab-defined will feel comfortable in a bikini, scaring women into irrational insecurities.
Women's magazines, advertising and marketing reinforce the idea that summer preparation is essential.
With months-long bikini body countdowns, readers are prodded to slim down with stories that insist no matter what age you are, you better make sure your 'bikini body' is ready for summer.
P.S. Do you do anything to prepare your body for the beach season?
