The Online Fitness Community Doesn’t Promote Fitness

Fitness means the same to me as it did before the internet was invented.

You are making a false assumption about how people (in all their diverse ways including those doing massive amounts of cardio) use IIFYM.

My cat thinks I'm wonderful and that's good enough for me.

Says the young man taking a selfie, in front of a mirror, with his top off flexing his abs.

I think people are becoming more aware of how pictures can be posed/lit/shopped to enhance how people look. I hope this continues to be highlighted so young people understand that there are all kinds of fit and healthy.

I'm thinking your heart is in the right place, but you're mistaken about online communities. The one here is great - my friends here have accompanied me from morbid obesity to healthy weight, given me a place to brag about PRs in weight lifting and racing, helped me find new ways to challenge myself, and supported me when I was injured and unable to run or lift heavy, so I needed to cut back on my calories and find new, healthy mental habits to carry me through a challenging time.

Incidentally, not everyone is able to lift or do cardio - we have at least one poster here who is quadriplegic, and many who deal with serious physical issues. On the other hand there are posters here who run ultra marathons and win powerlifting contests. But all of us have one thing in common - we are human beings in human bodies, who have to manage those bodies so that they will function as well as they are able to. It can be difficult and confusing, but it's a little easier knowing we're all in it together!

You realize you posted your rant in an on-line fitness community, right?

Strong first post.