"Thinspo" Whats your view?

Destinie589

If looking at pictures of thin women/men motivates you to work harder is that an acceptable form of motivation or would you consider it to be a negative form of motivation?

I am on on the fence, although I will admit that it does motivate me when I see images of thin women.

onehotgirl

I don't like looking at sticks but a fit womens body is my inspiration and sometimes I do have to imagine it when I'm working out or I would probably just quit lol

ajbeans

Generally "thinspiration" is thought of as an anorexic term -- super-thin models that inspire people to continue down the path of not eating. So as a term, and when used in that context, I don't like it.

But I see nothing wrong with being inspired to reach toward the goal of getting that woman's abs, or that woman's arms, or whatever. It's only a bad thing if you use it unhealthily -- either to inspire unhealthy behaviors such as not eating enough or exercising too much, or if it causes you to have a negative body image because you're not "perfect" like your inspiration picture.

kylexii

I find it negative. I think it leads to unrealistic expectations. It's not always possible to look like your "thinspiration" because of differing body types and heights. Also, in my past I've used "thinspiration" to motivate me in an unhealthy way. Now that I'm past that, I hate the concept of staring at thin woman to motivate yourself.

Destinie589

I don't like looking at sticks but a fit womens body is my inspiration and sometimes I do have to imagine it when I'm working out or I would probably just quit lol

Fit women: arms, legs, abs... whoa! I agree. If I can imagine I look like one then I feel like I push myself harder. Or if I see a fit female next to me or in front of me on the treadmill or something that will do it too.

Bentley2718

I'm not big on that sort of thing, in part because I know my body will never look like those women. I'm not putting myself down here, I'm just being realistic. I used to be morbidly obese, so I have extra skin, that doesn't seem to be going away even after years. My body puts fat in my hips, not my rear or boobs, so yeah... I'm not going to look like a fitness model, or a runway model, or an actress, at least not without some serious plastic surgery.

What I do find inspiring though are pictures of fit women doing things I want to be able to do. Really strong pole dancers, women who lift weights, run marathons, etc.. Images of women doing things is inspiring to me because, while I might never look like a female fitness model, I know I can work hard and get stronger. Also, I feel like its a healthier way to think about my body. My body isn't just there to look pretty/tight/sexy/whatever, it's there to do things. It's there to help me do the things I want to do. If I take care of it, and push it, it will learn to do more. That is what my body is for.

Bentley2718

*grumble* repost.

firedragon064

Depend on individual.
See someone who is about my age or older with beautiful muscle and strong, athlete body does motivate me because that's who I want to look like.

UpEarly

To be honest...none of my motivation comes from external sources. I really only 'compete' with myself. I want to be the best version of myself that I can possibly be.

♥Lexi♥

I look at healthy and toned women and get motivated.

kylexii

I'm not big on that sort of thing, in part because I know my body will never look like those women. I'm not putting myself down here, I'm just being realistic. I used to be morbidly obese, so I have extra skin, that doesn't seem to be going away even after years. My body puts fat in my hips, not my rear or boobs, so yeah... I'm not going to look like a fitness model, or a runway model, or an actress, at least not without some serious plastic surgery.

What I do find inspiring though are pictures of fit women doing things I want to be able to do. Really strong pole dancers, women who lift weights, run marathons, etc.. Images of women doing things is inspiring to me because, while I might never look like a female fitness model, I know I can work hard and get stronger. Also, I feel like its a healthier way to think about my body. My body isn't just there to look pretty/tight/sexy/whatever, it's there to do things. It's there to help me do the things I want to do. If I take care of it, and push it, it will learn to do more. That is what my body is for.

^^ I absolutely love all of this ♥

Destinie589

I meet with a group once a week and the question was asked "in all honesty would you be happy if you could be underweight" every person said yes. so I feel like maybe there is something about thin women that we all secretly wish we could possess.
*Note*: the group is now going to be working on body image.

LorinaLynn

Transformations, before & afters, inspire me more than just seeing fit or thin women.

I do have a handful of celebrity "role models" with bodies I admire, but I try to pick ones with somewhat similar physiques to mine. I'm never, ever going to look like a VS Angel with out massive surgery and some prolonged torture sessions on a medieval rack. But I might be able to have a build similar to Anna Paquin, since she's my height, has a bum and isn't terribly busty.

alapoint89

i think that its good because you can see what they have done and what you want to do and the photos of them will help you get farther

Nikki582

I prefer googling and what-not 'Fitspo' Much more healthy and inspiring

livinginwoods

I think it could lead to disappointment. I look at pictures of me in high school. I was 225 my Senior Year. I am now 380 and 225 is my goal, for now. Pictures of thin women don't motivate me because that is not someone I was made to be.

Also, the success page on here really had helped me see what could be. They are real people.

KayteeBear

I'm not much for thin chicks...rather them be fit. I would rather be fit than thin. I usually don't pay much attention to those pictures all over Pinterest with fit/muscular women. Looking at them does sometimes make me wanna workout harder but I know that I'll never look like that just because it's me...and that's them...we're two different people.

I don't know. They don't really motivate me much...I don't put a lot in them but it's sometimes nice to see just as a reminder that I may not be able to look like that but if I work I'll be able to look a bit like that hopefully.

RainbootsToBikinis

I prefer googling and what-not 'Fitspo' Much more healthy and inspiring

Agree! I've looked at the fitspo youtube videos, I find them more inspiring and realistic than thinspo.

Destinie589

I think some fitspo is just as unattainable as thinspo. But if looking at a thin/fit person helped a person who is obese get down to a healthy weight is it still negative even though it had a positive result.
I guess my real question is: what is worse... being overweight or using negative motivtion?

CMmrsfloyd

I am not motivated to be anorexic, I am motivated to be healthy and get more fit. So I'm not into 'thinspo'. I've been in that mental place where I just wanted to be skinny even if it meant not eating and it's not a mental place I wish to return to. I need my health, for myself and for my family. I am motivated by stories of people who have come from being overweight and out of shape and transformed to being healthy and active. That's my inspiration.

SarahMorganP

Oops, double post!

SarahMorganP

I meet with a group once a week and the question was asked "in all honesty would you be happy if you could be underweight" every person said yes. so I feel like maybe there is something about thin women that we all secretly wish we could possess.
*Note*: the group is now going to be working on body image.

I would MUCH rather be overweight than underweight.

plzlbsbegone

I think it can be good or bad. I have images of my fav contestants from the biggest loser, Before and afters on my desktop. Its a reminder to myself that this can be done. :happy:

holly_v

i never look towards famous people for thinspo because they have all the money to hire the best trainers, cooks etc and its just not a realistic goal for me. i like fitspo of real people who you can tell have taken pictures in their bed room or bathroom. http://pinterest.com/ is the best for this.

SarabellPlus3

Generally "thinspiration" is thought of as an anorexic term -- super-thin models that inspire people to continue down the path of not eating. So as a term, and when used in that context, I don't like it.

But I see nothing wrong with being inspired to reach toward the goal of getting that woman's abs, or that woman's arms, or whatever. It's only a bad thing if you use it unhealthily -- either to inspire unhealthy behaviors such as not eating enough or exercising too much, or if it causes you to have a negative body image because you're not "perfect" like your inspiration picture.

Yep! Just like most anything, if you use that as a tool in a good way, then it's good. If you use it as a tool in a bad way (bad being my judgement on unhealthy, and things of that nature), then that's bad. M'Kay?

I agree that it's really a term that's kind of owned by pro-ana, and that kind of environment. When I see, say, Michelle Obama's arms, I think/say "inspiration!!" not "thinspiration." Of course "thin" doesn't appeal much to me. My ideal is strong muscles, with a bit of healthy fat on them.

Nikki582

My kinda fitspo - it's not always skinny and unattainable..

SarabellPlus3

I meet with a group once a week and the question was asked "in all honesty would you be happy if you could be underweight" every person said yes. so I feel like maybe there is something about thin women that we all secretly wish we could possess.
*Note*: the group is now going to be working on body image.

Are you comfortable saying what the group is? I only ask because while I guess I'd rather be underweight than overweight (in any extreme), and in a trick-question sort of way, I feel like I'm a happy person, and would be happy no matter what the weight said, I wouldn't want to be underweight personally. No way. So I'm wondering if the group was a good cross-reference of society, or if that was only a specified group of people who said they'd be happy to be underweight.

Destinie589

My kinda fitspo - it's not always skinny and unattainable..

Oh yes I love seeing this quote!! love love love it!

eksb

This topic made me curious so I googled "thinspo". This came up:

"Tips and Advice

1. Drink one glass of water every hour. It will make you feel full.
2. Drink ice cold water. Your body will burn calories just getting the water to a normal temperature to digest. Also it is great for your complexion.
3. Drink 3 cups of green tea daily. It will help boost your metabolism, plus its anti-oxidants make your skin look great.
4. Take vitamins daily. Do not take vitamins on an empty stomache, otherwise they have nothing to catalyze with.
5. Eat ice or gum when hungry. This will make your body think it had food without the calories.
6. Do aerobics until you want to faint.
7. Eat spicy foods. They raise your metabolism.
8. Take cold showers because your body will burn calories to heat you back up.
9. DON'T take laxatives. They don't help you to lose weight.
10. DON'T use diruretics. They only dehydrate you.
11. Brush your teeth constantly so you won't be tempted to eat afterwards.
12. Weat a rubberband around your wrist. Snap it when you want to eat.
13. Clean something gross (toilet, litter box, boyfriend's closet) when you want to eat. You will not want to eat after cleaning a litter box.
14. Keep your hair in good condition so no one will suspect anything.
15. Get a job so you'll have to work through meal times.
16. Exercise twice the amount of calories eaten. 17. Use smaller plates and utensils so it seems like you ate more.
18. Chew eat bite of food thoroughly and then take a sip of water between bites. You will feel full quicker and will not eat as much.
19. Say you are going to eat at a friend's house and instead go for a walk. You will be burning calories instead of taking them in.
20. Buy clothes that you can't fit into and hang them wear you can see them. This will motivate you to lose weight to fit into them.
21. Sleep at least six hours a day. If you get less than six this can lower your metabolism by 15%.
22. If you start to feel hungry do situps or punch yourself in the stomach. You will not feel hungry anymore.
23. Pamper yourself! Give yourself a facial, paint your nails, anything to make you feel pretty.
24. Make yourself a snack, but instead of eating it throw it away. Leave the dirty dishes where your parents can find them. They will think you ate.
25. Prepare a list of excuses as to why you can't eat - You're sick, you're a vegetarian, allergic, etc. You'd be amazed at how many good excuses there are.
26. Get out of your house! If you're not sitting around then people can't start **** with you about not eating.
27. Join a pro-ana group or start your own website. Anything that will keep you motivated.
28. Make an ANA scrapbook with pics of skinny models. Right down all the reasons you want to lose weight. Keep track of everything you eat. Look at it daily for thinsperation.
29. Keep good posture, burns 10% more calories when you sit up straight.
30. Instead of food, buy something else, a new shirt, flowers, jewelrey etc.
31. Make a list of all the "bad" foods that you crave and tend to binge on. Each day, pick one to take out of your diet that you absolutely, no matter what, cannot eat again. Take one off the list each day until there are no more bad foods you can have.
32. Avoid alcohol! A shot of liquor has 100-120 calories, a glass of wine has 80 calories, a lite beer has 110-120 calories, and a regular beer has 140-170 calories.
33. Never eat anything bigger than about a cup, your stomach will expand and then you'll get hungry more.
34. Eat in front of a mirror naked. See how much you can eat then!
35. The smell of coffee is suppose to supress appetite.
36. Wear perfectly applied lip gloss. It makes you more aware of what's going in your mouth. Also, flavored ones help with cravings.
37. Have 6 small meals a day. Take 2 apples, and split them so you can make 6 meals out of them. That way your body will be tricked into thinking it's eating more.
38. Low calorie hot chocolate curbs chocolate cravings, and makes you feel full.
39. Take anti-heartburn pills if you're really hungry. They nuetralize the acid that builds and makes you hungry.
40. Take a picture of yourself wearing a bathing suit or something equally revealing, look at it when you want to eat.
41. It takes 20 minutes for the brain to realize the stomach is full.
42. When you get hunger pains curl into a ball, it makes them go away.
43. If you're a smoker and hungry, light up a cigarette. It curbs your appetite.
44. Eat lots of fiber. It makes you feel full and takes fat with it out of your body. The natural cleansing helps improve both your energy level and overall feeling of wellness.
45. Before you dig into that cake, bag of chips, candy, or whatever, take a deep breath and count to 100. Usually by the time you get to 100 you will have convinced yourself that you don't really want it.
46. When you're hungry chug 2 glasses (or how many you need) of straight water. It'll make you so full and nauseous you will have completely lost your appetite.
47. Celery actually burns calories. Every hour eat a stalk of it. Not only will it fill you up, but it will also get your metabolism kickin'.
48. Weigh yourslef before and after every time you eat. Not only will it eliminate unnecessary eating, but it will make you want to eat less when you see the numbers creep up.
49. Read the nutritional information. Remember, fat-free does not mean calorie-free. Also keep an eye on fiber content. Get as much fiber into your diet as you can, while cutting fat and calories.
50. Don't eat a lot at once. Spread your food throughout the day. This will help to avoid binging and keep your metabolism going.
51. If you like to drink alcohol, you'll like this. Make a rule: You can only drink every time you lose 2lbs. So, if you lose 4lbs a week, you can drink Friday and Saturday night. However, if you only lose 2lbs a week, you only get to drink one night.
52. Do not eat in front of the computer or TV. This distracts you from recognizing you're full. 53. Save the money you would have spent on that meal in a jar. Save it in a bottle instead and watch it grow.
54. Stay away from Slim-fast and other so-called "healthy" candy bars and shakes... one look at the nutition facts will tell you why. With all the carbs and excess calories you may as well go eat a freakin pie or something. Not to mention the rediculous prices... save yourself the money, and the calories.
55. Instead of buying food, buy yourself flowers. Food is depressing, but flowers make you happy.
56. When having cravings drink a couple glasses of water with slices of lemons and count to 100 and it should go away.
57. Eating 100 cals 4 times a day is better than eating a 400 cal meal.
58. An occasional binge doesn't hurt, in fact it's quite beneficial if you have reached a plateau (stopped losing weight). Your body will think you have stopped starving yourself, and you will drop at least a pound overnight! Just don't binge too regularly!
59. Someone told me that if you take a pure cold bath for 15-30 min and lower your body temp, your body burns around 200 cals for every degree it has to raise itself to reach a normal body temperture. This person tried it, a 30 min bath lowered their temp about 3-4 degrees"

Destinie589

I meet with a group once a week and the question was asked "in all honesty would you be happy if you could be underweight" every person said yes. so I feel like maybe there is something about thin women that we all secretly wish we could possess.
*Note*: the group is now going to be working on body image.

Are you comfortable saying what the group is? I only ask because while I guess I'd rather be underweight than overweight (in any extreme), and in a trick-question sort of way, I feel like I'm a happy person, and would be happy no matter what the weight said, I wouldn't want to be underweight personally. No way. So I'm wondering if the group was a good cross-reference of society, or if that was only a specified group of people who said they'd be happy to be underweight.

Its a womens group that meets at a local gym to help support healthy weight and eating habits. It gets very personal some days and people are very honest, whether they are "politically correct" or not most people still say how the truly feel. Someone brought up that they would rather be underweight than heavy because of the varying stigmas attached. Thats how it all came about.
In reality, in the media, fat people are seen as lazy etc while the thin people are glamourous.

Destinie589

This topic made me curious so I googled "thinspo". This came up:

"Tips and Advice

There is no doubt that I would consider this type to be negative. It (to me) seems more extreme than what I meant in the original post. I think this would/could be very triggering. I meant thinspo as in VS models etc..