InstaHell
BigAnnieG
Posts: 89 Member
Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest... these are places to AVOID if you want to feel good about yourself! I've found my Tumblr feed invaded by a lot of fit young ladies and sure, they look amazing and it's good to have some fitspo every now and then but...
well, maybe it's just me but does anyone else feel the vacuousness of those posts? Especially if they're blatantly advertising some 'health' product. It also reminds me that anyone can look good with filters and photoshop.
Now, definitely do not get me wrong: there are people out there on these social media pages who have worked their behinds off (literally) and they look incredible for it. You can tell these people because they shine even without 'sunshine filter' or whatever.
I don't want to sound like a bitter old fat lady, because I'm all for the empowerment of people and 'fitspo' has its time and place even for me.
I just... when I see these super fit ladies holding HUGE bowls of smoothies topped with chocolate etc and they're tagged with things like #cleaneating etc I just can't help but thinking 'Sure you made that, but did you eat it?'. It puts an unrealistic image and pressure on people trying to follow a healthy lifestyle. Just thinking about the amount of sugar in some of those things makes me shudder, even if it is mostly fruit sugar, it's a massive portion.
Or is that just me? Have I become an old fat and bitter lady? Maybe. What do you feel about all these 'fitspo' type things?
well, maybe it's just me but does anyone else feel the vacuousness of those posts? Especially if they're blatantly advertising some 'health' product. It also reminds me that anyone can look good with filters and photoshop.
Now, definitely do not get me wrong: there are people out there on these social media pages who have worked their behinds off (literally) and they look incredible for it. You can tell these people because they shine even without 'sunshine filter' or whatever.
I don't want to sound like a bitter old fat lady, because I'm all for the empowerment of people and 'fitspo' has its time and place even for me.
I just... when I see these super fit ladies holding HUGE bowls of smoothies topped with chocolate etc and they're tagged with things like #cleaneating etc I just can't help but thinking 'Sure you made that, but did you eat it?'. It puts an unrealistic image and pressure on people trying to follow a healthy lifestyle. Just thinking about the amount of sugar in some of those things makes me shudder, even if it is mostly fruit sugar, it's a massive portion.
Or is that just me? Have I become an old fat and bitter lady? Maybe. What do you feel about all these 'fitspo' type things?
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Replies
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Honestly, I think you are being overly sensitive if you are upset about a fit girl holding food, whether it's healthy or not. Get off the internet for awhile if that is enough to drive paragraphs worth of venting over the matter.
Or just don't look at it? Just my two cents.18 -
It's not about fit girls holding food. It's the unrealistic attitude of it. If it comes up in my feed I scroll past it, doesn't mean I don't see it.1
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It's not about fit girls holding food. It's the unrealistic attitude of it. If it comes up in my feed I scroll past it, doesn't mean I don't see it.
How is it unrealistic? You do not know these people personally. They could be eating those things while keeping their physique. Otherwise that sure is a waste of food.. My point still stands.
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You sound bitter. Stay off of social media.11
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I understand both perspectives. Instagram tells only a fraction of the story. Someone might eat healthy and bland food 99% of the time, but the dessert looks so much prettier, so that is what is posted.
Or they are sponsored by a supplement company so they show themselves eating "what they want" because they are marketing fat burners.
Or maybe they manage their calories really well, exercise a lot and frequently have dessert fitting into their macros.
The problem is, when you only see one part of the story it easily leads people to false expectations. I do think the overuse of filters, photo shop, and false marketing can send the wrong message to people. As someone who struggled with her weight a lot of her life, I hate how "easy" many of these posts lead people to think looking like that is.9 -
I'm not on any of those sites so I don't know how they work. Do you have to add these people in order for them to show up in your feed? If so, can't you just delete them?
But in the end, active people really can eat quite a lot more than many people realize. There's a misconception that "healthy" women eat 1500 calories a day and that's it. Well, some healthy women eat that amount, sure. But many eat more, possibly even way more.4 -
I'm not on any of those sites so I don't know how they work. Do you have to add these people in order for them to show up in your feed? If so, can't you just delete them?Chef_Barbell wrote: »You sound bitter. Stay off of social media.
I use these accounts for work (I literally have to be on social media) so I see a lot of things I don't want to!
Or they are sponsored by a supplement company so they show themselves eating "what they want" because they are marketing fat burners.
....
The problem is, when you only see one part of the story it easily leads people to false expectations. I do think the overuse of filters, photo shop, and false marketing can send the wrong message to people. As someone who struggled with her weight a lot of her life, I hate how "easy" many of these posts lead people to think looking like that is.
This, and this. You're making the point I was trying to make, only far more eloquently!
I'm not fit-bashing. I want to be fit myself. I think what I was just trying to put out was that selected lifestyle social media puts out. You only see what people want you to see, and if you're on the start of a very long weight loss journey it can become the opposite of inspiring. Which is what you said, only you definitely covered it more clearly!
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I actually quite like some fitspo/fitness models instagrams. I know damn well that doing a burpee challenge and eating a bowl full of honey drizzled berries (always with the honey drizzled berries - topped with flaked almonds) isn't going to make me a 6ft tall, tanned blonde, but I enjoy the positivity of it anyway.3
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I just... when I see these super fit ladies holding HUGE bowls of smoothies topped with chocolate etc and they're tagged with things like #cleaneating etc I just can't help but thinking 'Sure you made that, but did you eat it?'. It puts an unrealistic image and pressure on people trying to follow a healthy lifestyle. Just thinking about the amount of sugar in some of those things makes me shudder, even if it is mostly fruit sugar, it's a massive portion.
Pasting such images on the internet with advertising is everywhere. The way companies sell their bogus products is to create a perfect image, if you will, to prey on people who are looking for quick fixes. I gave up on paying attention to this advertising long ago because I choose to not allow it to apply to me. I know what it takes to gain, lose and maintain weight, and I know there are no quick fixes.
As for the amount of sugar in things-some people do well with more sugar, some do better with less. Sugar does not make us gain weight, or stop us from losing it, it's our overeating of calories that does this. Also, healthy lifestyle is in the eye of the beholder.
These types of images are indeed unrealistic, but they have been around forever and will continue on. I have found it best to focus on my own weight management journey.5 -
smotheredincheese wrote: »I actually quite like some fitspo/fitness models instagrams. I know damn well that doing a burpee challenge and eating a bowl full of honey drizzled berries (always with the honey drizzled berries - topped with flaked almonds) isn't going to make me a 6ft tall, tanned blonde, but I enjoy the positivity of it anyway.
I know what you mean! As I said in the first post, I do actually enjoy some fitspo now and then. I think because my feeds get flooded with advertising posing as real people posts that's what bothers me about it. Like aub6689 said, it's that they make it look easy and it sure as hell ain't! 0 -
As for the amount of sugar in things-some people do well with more sugar, some do better with less. Sugar does not make us gain weight, or stop us from losing it, it's our overeating of calories that does this. Also, healthy lifestyle is in the eye of the beholder.
These types of images are indeed unrealistic, but they have been around forever and will continue on. I have found it best to focus on my own weight management journey.
Yes! This! I shudder at the thought of sugar because I'm one of those who it definitely does zero favours for, but see your point. And yes, I think that's why I'm so frustrated with these posts, because I know so many people will have been like me starting out, thinking it was easily possible (and not seeing the blood sweat and tears it actually takes) - but now I've wised up I've become far more cynical about what I see!
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your responses - I think I've confirmed that I am bitter, but at least I understand why!
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You know there's ways to block those things, right? You can make it so certain things don't show up in your feed ... probably in a way that won't affect the work you do.
It also isn't really that hard to ignore them. I have friends who are always posting about their slim down/get healthy items (they are in some of those Direct Sale companies). I don't buy into all of that, but I don't want to remove the friend, so I just keep scrolling. It's not that hard to do without becoming bitter.0 -
smotheredincheese wrote: »I actually quite like some fitspo/fitness models instagrams. I know damn well that doing a burpee challenge and eating a bowl full of honey drizzled berries (always with the honey drizzled berries - topped with flaked almonds) isn't going to make me a 6ft tall, tanned blonde, but I enjoy the positivity of it anyway.
I know what you mean! As I said in the first post, I do actually enjoy some fitspo now and then. I think because my feeds get flooded with advertising posing as real people posts that's what bothers me about it. Like aub6689 said, it's that they make it look easy and it sure as hell ain't!
So if you are aware that it isn't easy, and know them to be advertising, then why do you let it bother you?3 -
I follow many fitness and healthy eating pages on instagram! I love it. Great inspiration and motivation.2
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Alluminati wrote: »
So if you are aware that it isn't easy, and know them to be advertising, then why do you let it bother you?
I think because I'm tired of peddlars selling snake oil everywhere you look. I'm a cynic and it bothers me that advertisers not only get away with this stuff but actually make shed loads of money from it.1 -
I don't even look at Tumblr or Instagram. In general it just bores me.2
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You sound exactly like a bitter old fat lady. your words. think about that. focus on yourself and your journey. draw inspiration from wherever you find it. stop pointing fingers and worrying about or wishing you could change others outside yourself. its likely coming from some insecurity or jealousy you have within yourself. most fit people have worked for it, whether you see or know their story from whatever posts you see. marketing and advertising are what they are. if you have to be on social media for work, get over it and adjust your Attitude. Attitude 101 by John C. Maxwelll is a good read on the topic. and if you aren't happy with your own progress, get a good trainer, apply yourself, work harder and overcome your circumstances and excuses.5
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I understand your irritation in that oftentimes, the image they're selling of weight loss and healthy living isn't always accurate. You're correct in that we DON'T know the full story, and on social media, it's impossible. Most people don't want to share the dark, ugly details of their lives, or the mundane realities of staying fit and healthy. It's far more attractive to show smoothies and tight little bodies.
That being said... you know it's unrealistic, so why let it bother you? All of us are confronted with the false front of fitness and weight loss, and most of us come to realize on our own, or with reality checks, that not everything is as it appears. This will sound heartless, but after a certain point people can't expect to have their hand held and all the critical thinking done for them. You can only help up to a certain point - but there are people who are more content to believe in easy snake oil treatments than use their brains and do their own research. Ultimately, it's their own fault for failing to do the hard work necessary to be successful in their goals. I know it sounds heartless, again, but I say this as someone who used to always want the easy, quick solutions to things. I was forced to realize that, skinny chicks with smoothies aside, it requires a concerted effort to stay fit and skinny. Most people have to work for it, constantly. Most people can't get away with eating endless, careless portions and stay skinny. And I had to realize that underneath the veneer of effortless weight loss and #cleaneating trends was the basics. I was fat because I ate too much. To lose weight, I needed to eat less. To become fitter and stronger, I needed to stop sitting on my *kitten*. I can't blame social media for my unwillingness to accept this - I can only blame my own flawed mentality.1 -
Alluminati wrote: »
So if you are aware that it isn't easy, and know them to be advertising, then why do you let it bother you?
I think because I'm tired of peddlars selling snake oil everywhere you look. I'm a cynic and it bothers me that advertisers not only get away with this stuff but actually make shed loads of money from it.
Third party indignation. Got it.3 -
I don't bother following fitness blogs (SideSteel excepted), so I don't see fitspo and MLM scams on my feeds. I stick with food porn, sexy men, and cute animals.5
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I just... when I see these super fit ladies holding HUGE bowls of smoothies topped with chocolate etc and they're tagged with things like #cleaneating etc I just can't help but thinking 'Sure you made that, but did you eat it?'. It puts an unrealistic image and pressure on people trying to follow a healthy lifestyle. Just thinking about the amount of sugar in some of those things makes me shudder, even if it is mostly fruit sugar, it's a massive portion.
Or is that just me? Have I become an old fat and bitter lady? Maybe. What do you feel about all these 'fitspo' type things?
I feel your pain on some of your statements. Certain things about "fitness profiles" on these sites can be annoying. No, the wraps you're trying to sell did not give you that six pack.
I do take a bit of issue with the bolded part of your statement though. I personally have a instagram I really only use for fitness type posts. Sometimes I post pictures of healthy meal preps. Sometimes I post pictures of my abs and glutes. Sometimes I post pictures of "HUGE bowls of smoothies topped with chocolate etc." (well not really chocolate since I hate it but you get the picture). I think your automatic assumption that these girls wouldn't be able to eat these sweet treats is part of the problem with weight loss and maintenance. People get so stuck on the idea that super fit people don't eat that kind of stuff. When I lost weight in the past I thought this too and it set me up for failure. Finding a way to eat delicious foods ("healthy" or not) is what makes weight loss and a healthy lifestyle in general sustainable. It's all about balance and I frequently balance my three hours a day in the gym out with a massive ice cream sundae that I both take a picture of and consume....it's not unrealistic.
Before I lost my weight I looked to these sites for inspiration. I was aware that people post their best pictures and that generally people aren't walking around unflexed with bulging biceps and six pack abs. I was aware that their diets would generally consist of 90% healthy foods. I would assume that most reasonable people would also be aware of these things.I hate how "easy" many of these posts lead people to think looking like that is.
I think your post rings very true @aub6689 but I find it interesting how differently people react to things. Part of what inspired me when I weighed over 200lbs and couldn't do a push up was how "easy" these women's posts made a healthy lifestyle look. As someone who has also struggled all of their life with weight it gave me hope that someday I could live a life where I didn't struggle so hard or think about my weight and body all of the time. After 30 years of struggle much to my surprise and pleasant disbelief i've learned personally that it is possible for it to become easy.5 -
Co-incidentally I read a blog post about this during lunch - http://www.healthylivingheavylifting.com/does-social-media-help-or-hinder-your-fitness-efforts/
I guess it summarizes my thoughts that social media in general (and especially in the health and fitness area) can be both positive and negative and that I (we) must be careful about what I choose to view/consume and monitor how I respond to the media.
I'd say on balance I've learnt more and gained more from social media (MFP forums included) than I've suffered but I accept that I'm not totally impervious to the overwhelming tsunami of "peak perfection posts" - To the point that I dropped a few accounts that I was following* in favor of those that I perceive as being a little more honest and representative of reality.
I used Instagram to try to show a realistic picture of what food I ate during a 12 week cut - I posted pictures (with calories, macro breakdowns and occasionally recipes) of everything I ate for the entire period, meals, snacks, drinks the lot - Even with artistic photography and gratuitous use of filters it was dull. LOL.
* Those that only posted epic cheat meals and didn't show anything of the mundane day-to-day foods or those that only showed the hyper ripped results of 12 week cuts but never posted anything when bulking for example.
EDITED TO ADD: One very important thing that social media has taught me was that "fitness" people can and do eat foods which people may label as "Junk Food" and that this behavior does not appear to have a negative impact upon their aesthetics or performance.1 -
No, I don't ever feel that way I really don't care how other people look. Also I like girls so my first thought is usually, damn, shes hot, not jealousy really lol.2
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Am I the only person who drinks smoothies through a straw from a cup? "Bowls of smoothies" is throwing me off and seems messy.
OP, why waste mental energy being upset about this? That's a real question. I don't have the mental and emotional bandwidth that it would take me to get upset about this stuff. It seems like such a waste of time and energy.5 -
Ultimately it is about being confidant with ourselves and trying not to judge others. I am very guilty of comparing myself to others but try to remind myself I am 5'7" with a size 10 shoe; I am not a small person. When I see these celebrities or fit people online it is hard not be envious. But the Jillian Michaels, Mila Kunis, Carmen Electra and Kim Kardashians of the world are 5'3"-5'4"... of course I am not shaped like them! Also, I don't workout and eat right and therefore should not be surprised that I am not size 2. But I do have hips and a butt I am proud of and tower over most of the woman in my family which I like. Try to find things about yourself that you are proud of, things that set you apart from these people. I do agree there is something wrong with someone needing a ton of attention from strangers on the internet via scantly clad photos but to each their own right.1
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »
Alas yes. It follows my line of work, which is probably why I get so frustrated by sneaky black hat marketers rather than the ones trying to actually help people!0 -
Keladelphia wrote: »I hate how "easy" many of these posts lead people to think looking like that is.
I think your post rings very true @aub6689 but I find it interesting how differently people react to things. Part of what inspired me when I weighed over 200lbs and couldn't do a push up was how "easy" these women's posts made a healthy lifestyle look. As someone who has also struggled all of their life with weight it gave me hope that someday I could life a life where I didn't struggle so hard or think about my weight and body all of the time. After 30 years of struggle much to my surprise and pleasant disbelief i've learned personally that it is possible for it to become easy.
I found some posts inspiring and some the opposite. I followed and still follow a lot of fit people that sometimes make it look easy, but they also show the harder side.
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CrossfitOCRunner wrote: »You sound exactly like a bitter old fat lady. your words. think about that. focus on yourself and your journey. draw inspiration from wherever you find it. stop pointing fingers and worrying about or wishing you could change others outside yourself. its likely coming from some insecurity or jealousy you have within yourself . most fit people have worked for it, whether you see or know their story from whatever posts you see. marketing and advertising are what they are. if you have to be on social media for work, get over it and adjust your Attitude. Attitude 101 by John C. Maxwelll is a good read on the topic. and if you aren't happy with your own progress, get a good trainer, apply yourself, work harder and overcome your circumstances and excuses.
I hear what you're saying and thank you for your honesty, but feel conflicted by your post. Yes, of course I'm insecure, I'm 250lbs. But saying I don't know someone's story and then telling me to stop my excuses - where were my excuses here? I'm fat. I also have severe rheumatoid arthritis aged only 29 but I still get my backside to the gym and suffer in pain for it because I know what I want to achieve. My jealousy comes of frustration. I think it's perfectly OK to assess and accept the mental challenges faced by weight loss just as much as the physical ones, and I probably do need an attitude adjustment. Frustration is and always has been my biggest enemy, though I don't know why things get to me so.
I'll take a look at the reading recommendation, thanks.0
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