As summer arrives, the notion of a "summer body" often conjures images of tanning and fitness routines, but for many, it represents a complex regimen of health management. For Kristie De Garis, 42, maintaining her summer body means navigating a daily routine involving numerous medications and treatments to manage multiple chronic health conditions.
De Garis’s regimen includes taking 17 pills spread throughout the day, applying hormone sprays, and using vaginal hormone capsules. She manages autoimmune disease, inflammatory conditions, a hormone disorder, food intolerances, perimenopause, and skeeter syndrome—an intense allergic reaction to mosquito bites. This health management demands meticulous planning and preparation, especially when traveling.
During a recent trip to Glen Etive in rural Scotland—an area known for its scenic views and remoteness—De Garis encountered several challenges that exemplify the realities faced by many with chronic conditions. The lack of nearby amenities meant relying on limited local shops for food, and maintaining her gluten-free and dairy-free diet proved difficult. She brought along specialized foods but often had to settle for whatever was available, knowing the consequences for her digestive health.
In addition to dietary concerns, De Garis must contend with a severe allergy to midges, common biting insects found in the Scottish Highlands. Before her outings, she consults the local midge forecast, takes preventive steps including multiple insect repellents, and wears a full-body mosquito suit with a zipped face covering. Antihistamines are kept close at hand to manage any bites that penetrate her defenses.
Physical discomfort and fatigue are ongoing concerns, yet De Garis remains committed to outdoor activities despite the toll on her body. She acknowledges the difficulty of balancing her love of nature with the limitations imposed by her health conditions.
De Garis also highlights the wider experience shared by many women managing chronic illnesses, who face complicated logistics when traveling, including securing necessary medications, adjusting supplement intake, and navigating dietary restrictions in foreign settings. These challenges often involve overcoming stigmatization and misunderstanding from others.
The impact of perimenopause has introduced additional complications such as pustular rosacea, necessitating further precautions like sun protection. As she describes, protecting herself from sun exposure with a baseball cap and wearing protective clothing sometimes attracts curious or puzzled glances from fellow hikers.
De Garis’s reflections shed light on a less visible aspect of health and wellness—one marked by continuous vigilance and adaptation rather than conventional ideals of summer fitness. For many, maintaining a summer body is less about appearance and more about managing complex health needs to continue engaging with life’s experiences.