Tan: the new 'Thin'?

OK, so I'll probably burn in some kind of body image expert hell for this - as well as discover an oddly-shaped mole in the middle of my forehead when I wake up tomorrow morning - but I have to ask: Is it just me, or does being tan make you feel more svelte? Or just simply better about the way you look? I've been lying out (wearing SPF 45, I swear) and have gotten pretty bronzed and I. Just. Feel. Good. Like, walk-around-the-pool-in-a-bikini-and-flip-flops, not-worry-about-my-cellulite-or-mosquito-bite-covered-butt, period-zits-not-so-prominent good. What's up with that?

Is it really the camouflage effect of the tan that makes me feel better about my bod? Or the old-school mentality that a suntan represents health and outdoorsiness? As a medical writer, I clearly know being tan is pretty much the opposite of health, as it increases one's risk for skin cancer and wrinkles. Still, I have to admit, when I step out of the shower and see myself in the mirror, with that naked white bikini still on, limbs all brown and dewy, I feel sexier and more confident. I even turnbed around today and shook my butt, pretending for a second I was that cute bare-bottomed-baby in the Coppertone commercials being tugged at by her pooch.

Too much information? Understood.

My good mood could also be a result of being happy, relaxed and on vaycay, or even the serotonin boost of warm sun in the winter. But really, I've never been a S.A.D. kind of girl. Weigh in with me, please - long-term skin effects aside, does being tan make you feel better about your body?

Bare all in the comments section.

Comments

I can't tan -- I always have been pale, so I can't really relate as far as the whole tan thing goes, but I will say this: if I was on vacation right now (or hell, anywhere that the temp stays above freezing on a regular basis) I'd probably be dancing around too.

You are completely right. I went tanning for a month before prom (I'm 18.. and yes, I know it's bad for me.. I mentally battled myself the entire time). Anyways, it was June and I felt much hotter and slimmer with my tanned legs and stomach than I did a year before when I was pasty and ten pounds lighter (I'm 5'11" 160lbs..I must say my legs looked great). Honestly, I felt everything about me looked better and others definitely agreed.

Yep, everyone looks better with a tan. i watch people on the beach ( I am ghostly pale but try my best with self tanners) and a lot of girls who are a lot heavier than me come across as looking better because of the tan. i think its the golden skin how the light reflects etc.

There is a reason that all the "before" shots in diet supplement ads feature a pasty white fat person and in the "after" shots, every last one of them is sporting a mystic tan (not to mention turned at a three-quarter angle with a stomach sucked in so hard their knuckles are white). It TOTALLY makes you look slimmer. It also brings out muscle definition (hence the lovely but weird Jan-Tana glow of body builders). Seriously - check out one of those two- page spreads for nutrisystem and you'll see exactly what I mean:)

So work it while you got it, girl!! And when you get back to the Midwest (where we have been having NONSTOP snow - agggh!) then you might have to invest in a Mystic Tan. And write about it because I've always wanted to try one of those

PS> Tori - I'm with ya, girl. Dita Von Teese and I could be twins, at least in the complexion area.

You couldn't be more right, Leslie. In fact I was in Mexico earlier this month and I felt so good with my new tan that I actually did the whole bare top on the beach thing my last day there!

I'll try to pull up the study at some point, because I don't expect everyone to just take my word for it, but the newest research says that 10-15 minutes of sun exposure a day doesn't increase your risk of skin cancer, but it is good for your health and overall sense of wellness. So as with all things, take the sun in moderation. :)

I think it's the vitamin D.

We were in Hawaii in the summer, and even with spf 70, we got tan. Then, of course, there was the day when I forgot to put sunscreen on my back and went SNORKELING. That was lobster red. I swear, sometimes I walk around with a giant "Duh?" hanging over my head!

Yes, yes, and yes. I agree with everyone. Being tan makes you look thinner, and just feel hotter in general. Def gives me more self confidence. So don't beat yourself up Leslie, just always put some sunscreen on and try not to make yourself look black (since we all know your not!) Just a nice healthy glow is all you need to feel like you look better, but still save your skin a little bit. Besides, you'll go back to Chicago and nobody besides your husband will even know your tan under all your winter clothes!

well, lets also get one thing straight, theres a difference between a natural sun tan and that orange tint you tend to get from beds and sprays. I dont care how advanced the technology is, i DO think you can tell a tan if fake (being la based has helped). I think i look healthier with a sun glow on me, but i never go out of my way to get a tan. I've never seen Kate Moss or even Madonna that tan. I dont even think it ALWAYS makes you look thinner either, i mean it didn't do wonders for britney spears at her vma performance (but i am not bashing her, i think shes got problems but i give her credit for having a baby and still have the guts to wear, whatever it is that was, in front of so many people). But in the winter its like how i feel about shaving, i can hold off on it because its too cold to be scantily clad anyhow.

I have heard that tanning gives off endorphins. so yeah, it makes sense that it makes you feel better. it does me too.

Its crazy that I run across this post now... A couple days ago I was just talking to a good friend of mine and the subject of SAD came up... One of my Dr.'s says I have it another just thinks I am depressed. But as a person who has been dealing with this battle in person, I feel that the sun does amazing things! As soon as the sun came out this last spring I got so happy and then once the sun went away again in the fall bring on the depression.

I know it may sound crazy to some of you, but I don't know why this is the way it is. I grew up in Arizona SUN 24/7 basically! Now IU live in dreary Indiana... PS: I hate it! During college I managed a tanning salon and reaped the benefits... The artificial light was so uplifting. It made me forget it was even winter. Once I quit that job I noticed a huge mood change.

So all in all being a huge wrinkle worrier I still think in moderation visiting the tanning salon isn't going to kill you enjoy it if it makes you happy!

YES, it totally does make you feel better, and look better in my opinion. Here's the good news, someone told me today that the sun provides great benefits to the heart. That's the first I've heard of that but I'm willing to further examine that. FYI, I wore SPF 30 on my face and a 4 oil on my body. I know, I'm asking for trouble. I didn't burn though. :)

YES, it totally does make you feel better, and look better in my opinion. Here's the good news, someone told me today that the sun provides great benefits to the heart. That's the first I've heard of that but I'm willing to further examine that. FYI, I wore SPF 30 on my face and a 4 oil on my body. I know, I'm asking for trouble. I didn't burn though. :)

YES, it totally does make you feel better, and look better in my opinion. Here's the good news, someone told me today that the sun provides great benefits to the heart. That's the first I've heard of that but I'm willing to further examine that. FYI, I wore SPF 30 on my face and a 4 oil on my body. I know, I'm asking for trouble. I didn't burn though. :)

Sorry about the multiple posts. My mouse got a little happy, I guess.