UN-Realistic Body Image

While I'm aware in the back of my mind how prevalent photoshopping is in magazines and the media it's still a shock to the system to see just how MUCH they will alter a person's appearance for the sake of "beauty." The model in that video was already beautiful the way she was before they augmented her appearance!

Bump for later... Can't view at work.

I just never imagined!!!

And/or people should just realize that what they are looking at in a magazine or television is basically a cartoon. If you want to see "real" bodies just look around you...

Thank you so much for sharing this!!

Ladies, it's impossible to look like all the magazine ads out there. IMPOSSIBLE. So please, I'm begging you, let's stop beating ourselves and each other up!! IT IS NOT REAL!

I have to say, last week I had the chance to talk to four wonderfully beautiful women in their early 20's. They all had such a healthy outlook on body image, something I know my generation did not have. It gave me such hope that we are headed in the right direction. We're not there yet, by a long shot, there are still so many insecure young women out there (who don't need to be!) but talking to these girls and seeing this video has made me see that we are most certainly making positive progress

Have a good day everyone, Happy Halloween!!!!!

We know in the back of our heads that Magazine covers are fake. I buy it anyway for advice on different workout routines.

I don't really care about the cover because I know it's not me.

We know in the back of our heads that Magazine covers are fake. I buy it anyway for advice on different workout routines.

You'd be surprised how many people have no idea the extremes to which these images are manipulated. My sister, 37 years old, fantastic figure, VERY fit, pretty, amazing hair, great sense of style, smart, a doctor! I told her she looked like a fitness model...she argued with me and pointed out all the ways shes not perfect, compared to a magazine cover...then i showed her that Dove Evolution video....she was SHOCKED! She had NO idea it was taken to that extreme, and she sent the link to all her friends, because they didn't have a clue how much those images are manipulated.

So, if my super smart, 37 year old sister didn't realize it...imagine the impact it has on the majority of young women (and men) who see these images and think they just been "touched up a little." Not only does it create body image issues for women...it also creates false expectations in young men. (and yes, I realize photos of men are manipulated to hell as well)

That was an extreme example. BUT you can obviously achieve something very similar. You won't get taller/ lengthen your limbs but you can get in great shape.

Just look at the success stories here on mfp.

People are too negative and don't want to work for their results IMO.

I've never met anyone that was not positive that didn't achieve their results. Sure it won't happen over night, days, week or months in some cases but YOU CAN DO IT over years.

Koing

If it was possible for people to do it just through hard work...why are photos of the worlds most amazingly beautiful fit people still modified like crazy for public consumption? Even the worlds most beautiful people aren't beautiful enough.

I think the entire point is that this "extreme example" is the norm, and no, most people, no matter how hard they work, can never ever ever ever ever achieve those types of results no matter how much they work on eating right and exercising. It doesn't mean I shouldn't work hard to be the best me I can be...but it does mean I should have a reasonable, realistic goal...not a goal set by these extreme unnatural manipulations. The very idea that most people can achieve similar results just sets us up for failure...the photos are not even close to real...why should I expect my body will ever look anything like them?

Not too be mean but I think you lady's are crazy for even picking up some of the mags on the shelf. I see my wife with her head buried into a woman's style mag and I just shake my head. Everything is fake and unacheievable by the average person.

This is me too. Additionally, and not to be mean, but I'm always shocked at the naivety.

Wow!!

what did they do before photo shopping?

Not too be mean but I think you lady's are crazy for even picking up some of the mags on the shelf. I see my wife with her head buried into a woman's style mag and I just shake my head. Everything is fake and unacheievable by the average person.

This is me too. Additionally, and not to be mean, but I'm always shocked at the naivety.

You guys are right many woman fall for it hook line and sinker. Now I suspect there is a male equivalent now when you look at some of the new men's magazines, but it is quite sad when you see a woman sucked into something that isnt truthful.

My goodness. I hadn't seen that before. Thanks for posting!

The unrealistic body image is the goal of the industry.

That is what moves billions of dollars worth of beauty products. Look at your drugstore isles - what percentage of it is "beauty"? That should tell you where most of the profit is.

The goal is to make every woman feel that they fall short and should buy something to look better, closer to the that image seen by men and women constantly throughout their day.

Imagine what landscape of our economy looked like if every woman woke up tomorrow and felt she is just fine the way she is.

And even totally artificial trends like painted nails or waxing salons -- look at the huge chunks of employment and economy they comprise.