InstaHell

heathershaw4785 wrote: »

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.

Something that struck me when I went to the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland was just how small so many artists/singers are. They have a bunch of stage costumes on display and even the women who you don't think of as super slim are pretty petite. Tina Turner, for instance, is a woman who I think of as being fit and healthy (which she is) but based on her costume she's way smaller than I would have guessed. A lot of them are much shorter than I realized as well, even the men.

BigAnnieG wrote: »

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.

I think the issue here that we are all trying to advise is that you are hurting no one but yourself by getting upset by this. As a cynic myself, I do understand your point of view. But I'm realistic in the sense that these things will not change, at least in the near future. Accept these fitness blogs at face value and move on with your life. To spend time upset enough to create a multi paragraph post is just allowing that negativity to fester. You obviously have the determination it takes, so you need to let your mind have the peace it deserves by not reading too much into these things.

Like @aub6689 stated earlier, I can see both sides to this. It's partially due to social media sites that people come here and post about things like waist trainers, detox teas, wraps, supplements, and other snake oil products that actually do nothing to aid in weight loss. However, the OP seems to be griping more about the fact that fit women are eating food rather than the unrealistic aspects of the sales tactics.

I took issue with the exact part that @Keladelphia did. I'm 5'3" and I weigh 109 pounds, yet I'm willing to bet I eat more than you do OP. I'm eating 1800 to 1900 calories per day and still losing weight when I don't want to because I'm so active. I'm tweaking my calories to find my maintenance point and Fitbit keeps saying it's 2000 to 2200, so I'm working my way up to that point. I don't even have social media accounts but my figure is still scrutinized by people around me. It gets annoying to hear my coworkers talk about how I don't/must not eat and act shocked if I take a piece of cake, cookies, or anything else during special events. "Oh, you're taking that? You must never eat stuff like that! How can you stay so skinny if you eat that? You must workout a lot." It gets frustrating to hear how I "need to stop losing weight" because I should "still have curves like a real woman". Sadly, do you know what all of these coworkers have in common? They are all older, heavier, and they're all women. I'm in the camp that feels women should be supportive of each other, not spend time tearing each other down so that sucks.

It's assumed that if a woman is thin, her life is so awesome and she shouldn't have any complaints, worries, or problems at all and it's so far from the truth. These fitness models are human beings. Some of them are snake oil pushing human beings, yes, but they still have feelings. If you don't like seeing fit women or get intimidated or discouraged, just don't look. Aside from those who have had surgery, these women put time and effort into their bodies. Why should they be judged harshly for that? Why does it affect you so much?

Hornsby wrote: »

jemhh wrote: »

Hornsby wrote: »

I posted this. I ate it all.

https://instagram.com/p/BE3dW5AKqMV/embed/

What is that? It looks like waffles with chocolate sauce and ravioli on top.

That there is a S'Mores waffle

That makes way more sense. Looks good!

synacious wrote: »

It's assumed that if a woman is thin, her life is so awesome and she shouldn't have any complaints, worries, or problems at all and it's so far from the truth. These fitness models are human beings. Some of them are snake oil pushing human beings, yes, but they still have feelings. If you don't like seeing fit women or get intimidated or discouraged, just don't look. Aside from those who have had surgery, these women put time and effort into their bodies. Why should they be judged harshly for that? Why does it affect you so much?

So much this!

I actually love IG personally. I follow quite a few weight loss people on there and get a lot of motivation from them.

BigAnnieG wrote: »

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.

Don't let people push your buttons like that.

BigAnnieG wrote: »

synacious wrote: »

I took issue with the exact part that @Keladelphia did. I'm 5'3" and I weigh 109 pounds, yet I'm willing to bet I eat more than you do OP.

It's assumed that if a woman is thin, her life is so awesome and she shouldn't have any complaints, worries, or problems at all and it's so far from the truth. These fitness models are human beings. Some of them are snake oil pushing human beings, yes, but they still have feelings. If you don't like seeing fit women or get intimidated or discouraged, just don't look. Aside from those who have had surgery, these women put time and effort into their bodies. Why should they be judged harshly for that? Why does it affect you so much?

I'm 6'2 and weigh over 250lbs I have a hefty calorie allowance even on loss!

I'm not fit bashing, nor assuming these people don't have problems - that's my point - it's about false representation.

As I've said earlier, it affects me so much because I get frustrated by it all. It shouldn't frustrate me, but it does, and I don't really know why, except for the things already mentioned.

I hear your pain on the whole 'people assume thin people have everything', that must be just as frustrating as feeling like you can't eat in public when you're fat. If that makes sense?

See, I'm actually jealous of YOU! I'm short and whenever I close my eyes and picture what I wished I looked like, it's always me being over 6 feet tall. Amazing!

I also agree with you about not being able to eat out in public when you're fat. When I weighed 190 pounds in high school, my food allergies were dismissed because I was fat. The doctor said "You could do without eating much food. Just eat vegetables and fruit and that should take care of your *issues*" as he looked me up and down. I'd get made fun of a lot. My best friend is between 390 and 430 pounds; she's tall, strong, but she knows she should lose a bit of weight for her health and she's working on it. People snickered at her when she joined the gym. They look at her in public and assume all she does is eat all day, some even making rude comments as she eats, and it can get to her at times. However, she's also got a lot going for her like a wonderful job she loves, she's getting married to the love of her life later this year, and her self-esteem has skyrocketed in recent years despite rude and tactless people we have in society.

I think social media in general is a place where many people, no matter their size, project the "best" of their lives. It's akin to that one person on your Facebook friends list who has such a picture perfect relationship that every status update is a declaration of love to their significant other. For many of these fitspo women, it's more of a job than anything. With all the sponsorships some of them have, it's their job to look happy and unaffected. Social media celebrity nonsense. I guess it just seemed kind of messed up as your post seemed to focus on thin fitspo women in general when there are muscular women and men who are just as bad with the charade.

I definitely get what your underlying message is though. Live and let live, I suppose.

I take them as inspiration only. Will I ever look like them? No, not likely. It does make me want to be and look the best I can. I look at their meals like I do any food- would I eat that? Yes then I look for the recipe no scroll past. All the boo tea and waist trainers I ignore because I know that they are just trying to sell me something that essentially will not help me in my goals.

OP, i hear what you are saying and when i look at those pictures, i just feel sorry for them. If that is the ONLY way that a person can feel self-worth, then they have worse problems me.

heathershaw4785 wrote: »

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.

And some of these ladies have actually been where we were/are...overweight and struggling at some point in time.

I agree, instead of looking at other peoples qualities and what they advertise to eat (let's face it, smoothies make a better picture to show off with), find qualities about YOU that you admire. Screw the social media, and unfollow/block what bothers you. Oh, just because someone is fit, it doesn't mean chocolate is off the menu. After all, food is food is food, and by calorie counting, you can fit the foods that you like within your calorie goal. This is how I lost close to 90lbs. Chose a reasonable calorie goal where you're not hungry and go with the flow. DO what YOU can do for now.

Good heavens, put down the pitchforks already.

What @BigAnnieG pointed out is exactly why people who work with teens recommend parental eyes on social media accounts. Is just that the stuff doesn't just affect teens

I don't see her recommending that social media shut anyone down or that people can't post what they want.

No, @BigAnnieG, you are not a bitter old woman. Much of what is in social media really is vacuous. Put that garbage in "ignore" and fill your feed with things you draw positive energy from.