The past few weeks have had me thinking a lot about my health and fitness. As I struggle with emotional eating, I have also been thinking about how I view my body, why I exercise, and what constitutes my definition of healthy.
I largely credit blogs with teaching me how to live a healthy lifestyle that didn’t include restriction, binges, or “diet” foods. I first started reading blogs in the period after I had recovered from Anorexia, but was overweight and didn’t understand my hunger cues. The first blogs I read weren’t quite as “fitness” focused, but rather just “health” focused. Sure there were runners and lots of work outs, but there were also creative meals, treats, social events, and general living.
Kath, Tina, Caitlin, Meghann and more — the big ones y’all know about — were my role models. They were fit and healthy, but not to any extreme.
I still love these blogs, and now there are dozens more that I adore and read often. One of the great, but tricky, things about blogging getting more popular is that I’ve been exposed to a lot of different types of health and fitness. Some I get fun ideas from, and others aren’t really my thing. FitFluential is a newly popular, and includes a mix of hard core fitness competitors, runners, yogis, crossfitters, and more. It’s a wonderful group of people, but can also be dangerous.
It’s somewhat natural that the people with fantastic, lean bodies are showing off their hard work. And good for them! There is nothing wrong with wanting to be very muscular and lean – it’s actually quite trendy right now – but it’s not necessarily what’s I want to be seeing when I scroll through my Instagram.
To me, seeing all this so-called “fitspiration” is far from inspiring.
Not my thing.
I will tell you now, with 100% certainty, that part of me is jealous of those women with crazy fit bodies! They are what society views as ideal, look fantastic in a bikini, are work their butts off to get that way. Lots of my favorite bloggers (and friends!) fall into that category, and I respect them very much.
However, that was never my goal. As far as I remember, growing up, a girl with a six pack was some genetic anomaly, not a normal body I should strive for. But these days pictures like that are flooding my brain through social media and twisting my concept of healthy.
When I step back and think about it, I know that healthy is not synonymous with lean. Sure we don’t want to be overweight, but we don’t have to have 15% body fat. I know that there is a wide range of healthy body types and weights, and that each person is going to look different. Some people’s bodies function best at a higher BMI, having a six pack isn’t realistic for many women, and focusing on nutrition and movement are what’s important.
These “fitspiration” pictures were making me feel bad about myself. I love working out and want to be in great shape, don’t get me wrong, but when my body doesn’t look like that I start to think I’m a failure. Why don’t I have that much dedication? Why can’t I just work harder? Do I need to stop enjoying meals out with friends or maybe just start working out even more?
That’s all crazy. I know what a healthy, balanced diet looks like for me and I know what type of workouts make me happy. I shouldn’t compare myself to other people.
It’s tough. There is a desire to be skinny and fit, which is largely the media’s influence and I definitely fall prey to, but we also have to recognize that we can each have our own version of fit and healthy.
We can’t necessarily argue “Fitspiration” images need to stop, we just need to acknowledge how these images are affecting us personally. They might be truly inspiring for some people, so who am I to say they are all bad? Heck, there are some tough love fitness quotes that I really like! But we should be confident no matter what our body size, and not let other people’s choices affect our happiness.
It’s okay to do fitness competitions. It’s okay to work really hard, have an amazingly ripped body, and eat foods that help you get there. Everyone has that choice, and as long as they are happy and healthy then that’s great! It’s not what I want right now, but never say never.
I had to perform a little “reader responsibility” and limit my exposure to some of the “fitspiration” I’m bombarded with every day. It was having an opposite affect on me, making me self conscious and possibly even adding to my struggle with emotional eating.
I’d really encourage you to think hard about the things you are reading every day and how they are affecting you. Maybe my own blog isn’t good for you and your current goals! Just make sure you’re taking care of yourself.
Other Fitspiration Articles:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lexie-kite/fitspiration-isnt-inspirational_b_1524706.html
http://www.beautyredefined.net/why-fitspiration-isnt-so-inspirational/
LOVE this post! I was just thinking about this the last time I was scrolling through my instagram feed. Thanks for addressing it.
Great Post! We are all individuals and I always tell my clients and class members that you cannot get a body like your friend, we each can work on our fitness and tone up a BUT don’t aim for someone elses body! Love your own body and aim to be HEALTHY!
Great post Clare! I was just talking about this yesterday actually. I definitely find blogs to be the number 1 factor to make me exercise. But, I also love fitspiration – of a certain type. I’m a fan of the more motto driven images. While the mantras often come with images of women with ultra lean bodies and six packs, I just try to ignore the images and seek out the mantras that will get me off the couch!
Many of the fitspirational images are really not what I aim to look like so I’m able to separate the mantras and the imagery without it affecting my body image but I can understand if you are susceptible to imagery how hard it must be to simply ignore the image and focus on the words.
I’ll definitely reconsider posting fitspo on my blog now. You’ve made me realise that if people want to see it then they can seek it out themselves. It’s not worth putting my readers off by potentially being a trigger for them.
Clare,
I can totally relate to everything that you said. I understand that for many people it isn’t a big deal or that they find it inspiring. But for me, it “inspires” me to be super critical of my own hard work and to think that I’m not good enough, that I need to do more and more. I think the most important thing is for everyone to be honest with themselves about how certain images affect them. If they truly don’t bother you then look and be inspired. But if you’re like me and it does bring out self-judgment then respect yourself and avoid these images. Comparing ourselves to others is a slippery slope. It best to strive to be the best versions of ourselves.
I completely agree with this post. A lot of what is out there in the blog world can be triggering and it isn’t always healthy or motivating. It just makes you down on yourself and that’s not the point of fitspiration. I personally fall into the comparison trap far too often and it’s difficult not to in the environment we live in. The easiest thing to do is remove ourselves from those potentially unhealthy relationships with blogs, people, or images that cause the behaviors that are damaging. The important part is that YOU realize that for yourself.
Love this post Clare. So true and it definitely needs to be said. I think the more common these fitspiration images are becoming the more we expect it to just be the norm when in fact it takes a ton of hard work and dedication and just isn’t the right path for everyone.
I’m glad that you wrote this. Personally, it bugs me when people post picture after picture of their abs. Is it really necessary? I don’t care how fit or not fit you are, I don’t really want to see that :/.
Totally agree.
I can 100% relate to this! I’m not a fan of fitspiration” pictures like that, but at the same time get jealous when I scroll through Pinterest and see pictures of those women. But ultimately I know that body type is unrealistic for me. I know looking that like requires a ridiculously strict diet, which is not my cup of tea. I’d much rather live a less rigid life and have the extra body fat that comes with it.
Thank you so much for this post – I know exactly what you mean. I’ve stopped reading certain blogs and Twitter feeds because they were making me feel bad about my body and dedication to exercise. I love to work out but it is not my entire life. I’d really like to be toned like those models but not at the expense of my social lives, relationships and eating ‘dirty’ sometimes. You put it so well!
Thank you SO much for writing this post Clare! It’s exactly what we need to read. I, especially, need a reality check every once in a while to stop comparing myself to others. I’m doing what’s best for ME and living MY life and that’s far more important than anything else. GREAT post girl! Xoxo
Thank you for posting this!
I 100% agree with you…these sort of pictures have been flooding my reader/pinterest/instagram lately, and I’ve suddenly felt myself striving for a six-pack, which has never been the goal before. And really, I don’t need it…I enjoy lifting weights, but a broccoli/chicken breast diet is not appealing to me in the slightest. I’ll take eating chocolate when I want to over having 12% body fat.
i. love. this.
you.rock.:)
Awesome post! I definitely agree in the sense that people seem to strive to look like those girls in the “fitspiration” pictures. However, they don’t realize that even those girls don’t really look like that year round! It’s unattainable to be super lean all the time. It really is, and many people lose sight of that. I think people need to start focusing on being the best THEM they can be, instead of only striving to look like someone else.
Another good point – those are always taken on the BEST day!
Reader responsibility is important. At the end of the day no one but you can control what you read. But I’d like some author responsibility too. A lot of “fitspiration” is not only unrealistic for most, but flat-out fake. Photoshop, misleading angles and lighting… lying (or lying by omission) about foods consumed and workouts completed… I think the people who put that stuff out there should think long and hard about their own culpability (and motivation).
I agree. If you know what your posting is hurting more people than it’s helping- then keep it to yourself!
I totally agree…I look at pictures sometimes for motivation but it can get to me. It’s not worth it! As long as I’m eating healthy and working out, that’s really all I can do
This is a very good post and goes along with the post I wrote today! I wanted to remind my readers that I am not perfect, and neither are those perfect looking models, actresses, popular girls from high school, and even other bloggers! We all struggle and have issues, even those ladies who are the fittest of them all! We are all just human!
I agree with you on this. It’s a lot of pressure to not only be super skinny but have ripped abs too. I like to put in perspective though. If I had money and way more time on my hands then I could probably look like that but most people don’t, you know? Those fitspiration models do that for a LIVING and get paid to look that good. I do not….haha.
Thanks for positing this! I am so tired of people sugarcoating unhealthy restricting and unusual muscle definition as “being fit.” Every body’s definition of “healthy” and “fit” are different, and there is only a small group of people in the world who are at their healthiest when they have 6-pack abs and bulging quadriceps! The amount of caloric restriction it takes most people to get to that low percentage of body fat is unhealthy for most, in my (unprofessional) opinion. Also important to remember is that most of those professionally taken photographs are retouched to appear more muscular and lean…
HC – true! To some it may not be a big deal to eat so clean and perfectly, but to many it seems like way too much and we shouldn’t have to think that is normal.
I couldn’t agree more with you on this. Like a few others that have commented, I find the mantras and word of encouragement much more inspirational than pictures of (in my opinion) too-skinny women. I realized that it was getting to me a few months ago and cleaned out my Google Reader. Now I only read the blogs that truly inspire me, not the ones that make me rethink the way I exercise and eat.
I remember back in my early high school years, I had a “fitsperation” board before it was popular. I had copy and pasted tons of fit bods into a folder on my computer and would look at it whenever I needed motivation.
Yeah, not really motivating.
Lately, I’ve been really diligent about not comparing myself to others. It was hard at the beginning but it’s almost second nature now. I commend others for their hard work, but then turn my focus solely to how I can improve my body, my health and my life.
Amen sista. What you explain here is why I ended up deleting my blog. It became a channel for me to obsess and scrutinize myself. I unfollowed many people on Instagram, deleted my twitter account, and cut a lot of blogs off my reading list. Your blog was never one I cut off because I could always tell you got it and you understand and this post confirmed that. I really respect you and it’s a pleasure to be along for your journey. It’s hard to carve out our own niche of what is beautiful and healthy, but like you said, it comes in so many different forms.
Thank you for this Claire! Very well written! and I love that you went out and said it
What an awesome article, Clare! I am totally with you. If it were my full-time job to be fit, have a six-pack, etc. then those posters and pins would be completely inspirational. Unfortunately it isn’t realistic for me and many other women and we live a life feeling inferior to what is probably 0.001% of the population! Thanks for posting this – I think it will make a lot of people think
UGH true – man wouldn’t that be the life? Paid to eat well and exercise!? But you’d miss out on so much JOY!
Clare,
I love your honesty on health & fitness. You are such a real blogger and thank you for posting about things people are really thinking and struggling with rather than what people want to hear or see. Keep it up!
Thank you alison! That means a lot!
Ever since Pinterest got popular I feel like pictures like those have boomed. At first i was able to use them as inspiration, the realized they were making me feel bad about how I work out my body, and now, I take a completely blind eye to them whenever I see them. I think you’re right that we need to distance ourselves from them, but can use some of them that are appropriate for every person that can use them effectively, without getting negative feelings from them.
I’m glad you’ve realized how they’re making you feel, because i know far to well how it can affect other issues like emotional eating. It’s a round robin of destruction unfortunately. Hugs!
Hi Clare – I think its great that you are realizing how difficult it is for you personally to see those “Fitspiration” images. They are all over the internet, instagram, Pinterest – you name it!
I do find it however, a little hypocritical that you talk about how those images affect you, but then you continue to post your calorie read-outs and minimal food. YES I know you don’t post everything you eat on your blog. But, for people who are struggling, and look to you for healthy advice (which, I believe is part of your Health Coaching), it is kind of the same thing. You posting a calorie read out or eating a head of cauliflower for dinner is kind of the same thing as those who put up “Fitspiration” pictures.
You say “we just need to acknowledge how these images are affecting us personally” – yet you refuse to take any sort of negative comment on the blog when people call you out for some of the stuff that you post.
I really hope you don’t delete this comment because it is not meant to be mean or an attack on you in any way – its just something that I think you should be more aware of.
Hey aditi!
I don’t post any of my calorie counts (those are just a treadmill) nor did I say I had cauliflower for dinner. I’m not saying I’m innocent, for sure, but I can only so my best and write this blog for myself, hoping others will understand and take care of themselves.
And I have accepted tons (hundreds!) of negative comments and rarely delete any, so continuing to be told that I don’t is frustrating.
Thank you for being so polite in yours!
Clare
You say you’re not saying you’re innocent, but this is a pretty defensive response. The thing is, none of those fitsperation pics says “this is not photoshopped” on them, but the implication is that they represent real, achievable, healthy results. So even though I appreciate the idea of writing for yourself, you know people read it, and I wish you would consider the impression you’re giving your audience. Whether or not you did eat other things for dinner (which you didn’t mention until after the fact) or the treadmill count is inaccurate (which is beside the point).
That said… good on you for allowing constructive criticism. Deleting comments is rampant among HLBs, so try not to take concern about it personally!
Hey Jane,
Didn’t mean to be defensive, but I do think that bloggers have the right to write however they wish. I don’t think any blogger is intentionally leaving things out (I can’t speak for the commercial fitspiration pictures that are likely photoshopped). I certainly don’t intend to misrepresent, and it is my choice to not post everything I eat or explain every detail of my day. I know this is a tricky subject and I’m not entirely sure what the right answer is, but I suppose that I would just encourage reader responsibility.. If you find yourself comparing yourself to me or getting upset over what I blog, than maybe my blog isn’t the best one for you.
Thanks for the comment!
Clare
It’s definitely tricky. And props for your calm responses!
Thank you for responding to my comment – I really appreciate that you take the time to respond to your readers.
I just feel however, like you say that you write your blog for yourself and that people who don’t want to or who feel triggered by what you post, should not read your blog. BUT on the other hand you are also a Fitfluential Ambassador and you write a Healthy Living Blog in which you encourage others to live more active and healthy lifestyles. I just sometimes think that your message can get a little muddled, and you just have to be more clear with you readers.
Why feel the need to post the calorie count? We all know that treadmills are inaccurate and don’t reflect the true count, so then why post them at all? Or why not come out and clearly say – by the way, I also ate xyz for dinner in addition to the cauliflower.
People look to your blog for advice, for inspiration and to learn more about healthy living. You should really be proud of what you have accomplished and how far you have come with your ED – but I just encourage you to be a little more thoughtful about what you post, since you do have a huge number of readers and followers who look to you for healthy living advice.
Aditi –
You raise some good questions. I simply was being lazy likely when I posted those things. I guess I knwo that those calorie counts don’t mean anything, so I don’t even pay attention when I’m taking a picture of the distance.
As for the cauliflower – that was one recipe and I am still deciding how I feel about that. I am very clear that I don’t post everything I eat so that there can be no comparisons, so saying what else I included with dinner would just negate that choice. I think regardless of what I do/dont say I eat, there will be comparisons.
Thanks again!
Clare
This thread is how constructive criticism and thoughtful responses should happen.
I used to love HLB blogs, and commented often (this was a few years ago) but I stopped reading for a while because it seemed any comment that wasn’t “you are fabulous and everything you write is great” was being deleted. I am not just speaking of you, although I know you have deleted my comments in the past. As a whole though, this was/is a trend. You never see a negative comment on Kath Eats or on Healthy Tipping Point. On the rare occasion you do, there is never a thoughtful response.
Yes, bloggers have a “right” to write whatever they want, but when you are presenting yourself as a role model (and you are doing that) then you have to be more wise about what you write or post. Saying “my blog might not be for you” is condescending.
It is tough Clare, to put yourself out here every single day, so I really do give you credit. I have mentioned this before, but maybe you need a break?
Awesome post and I completely agree with everything you said. These kinds of images are dangerous in my opinion. When I was a trainer, I would constantly have clients ask me to make them look like that, and I would tell them I can and I will, I know what it takes but at what cost? As it turns out, it’s just not sustainable to be at such a low bodyfat for 100% of the time yet still try to maintain a normal, balanced life. It’s just not a realistic lifestyle for a lot of us. As for myself, I prefer to enjoy my naughty foods once in awhile and have no problem giving up a six pack to enjoy food and not live in the gym all day.
Awesome to hear from a trainer with a such a great attitude towards it!
Thank you so much for writing about this! As an avid blog reader but not a blogger myself, I constantly find myself bombarded with “fitspiration” images and unnecessary comparisons floating around in my head. Your post put into words exactly what I’ve been thinking about and struggling with. This inspired me to be more mindful of what I read/look at and how it affects me and my journey, thanks!
Love you Becca! See you tomorrow:)
seriously, amen to this post! I can’t even look at “fitspiration” things anymore because they make me crazy, the want me to look a different way and a way that I never aspired to look like!
I totally agree. I do not work out to have a great body. If i did, I would do more strength training and less cardio, that’s for sure! Intellectually, I know that would get me better “results”, but to what end? I work out because I love the way it makes me feel, and I… just love it.
Sarah- I’m with you. I do weight because it’s important and makes me strong, but CARDIO is what I love!!:)
Such a great post. Thank you for articulating what’s been rolling around in my head for weeks. I’ve been doing my own little reader responsibility campaign to limit my exposure to words/images that are more harmful than helpful to me.
Amazing and relatable post! I love this. Being someone who struggled w an eating disorder for 8 years in my recovery healthy was all about balance, EVERYTHING in moderation. But alot of health/fitness bloggers seem to be on the extreme side of healthy ruling out bread or sweets or rest days all together. And I too sometimes feel like my version of healthy is not healthy at all compared to theirs. So thank you for the reminder and the assurance that I’m not the only one that feels it!
Angel – Glad you liked it! Everyone has their own definition of balance, but some are a little too strict for me!
This is exaaactly what has been going through my mind lately. Seems that the shift has been from wanting to be “skinny” to “strong”, which I always viewed as a good societal transition, BUT it can also get unhealthy. For me, it would create unhealthy habits if I strived to be and look like some of the super strong fit women that I see in the media now. Like you said, if you are happy and working to be your best self letting these fit women inspire you, great. But if it makes you feel less about yourself or that you aren’t enough, that’s not a good thing. I will probably never do crossfit and have super ripped arms, but I am okay with that and don’t WANT to dedicate that much time and energy to it.
Exactly. We don’t HAVE to want to, and those pictures shouldn’t make us think we do!
So true! Instagram is getting worse, but Pinterest is brutal! I hate scrolling through pinterest and seeing all the “fitspiration” pictures…some of which border on thinspiration. Seeing post after post of women who are 90% naked with ripped bodies can have the same effect as pictures of skinny women – people still compare themselves in a negative way! Love your body regardless!!
Yes – all the sites are getting a little crazed!
I’ve been thinking a lot about this too. I’m a bit of an obsessive person so when I see people who are incredibly thin I wonder if I’m not working hard enough. Then I took a look back at where I was a couple of years ago and remember that I can (and probably should) get inspiration from my own journey. That’s where I’m at now, trying to keep myself motivated to do what’s best for me, based on my own goals.
I’m glad you’re doing what is best for you.
YES – love using OURSELVES for motivation!
i really needed this today. i have been blessed with 6 pack abs…i have had them ever since i was a child. lol it was rather strange to be 6 with abs like i did. but i think because of that i have always felt like the rest of my body has to look super defined too. for a while i was fine with it but now i have been obsessing about looking at those “perfect” legs on Pinterest. i think i need a break sometimes from blogs and Pinterest just to put things back in perspective
Well jealous of the abs, but good perspective on not having to have everything else be quite as perfect! I’m sure you look fantastic no matter what!
I love your insight on the fitspiration fad. I’ve unfollowed some things on Instagram for that same reason. Too much of anything isn’t a good thing, and that includes inspiration to be healthy… there comes a times when it can have the opposite effect; thanks for pointing that out. You’re one smart chica
Yes – you CAN have too much “inspiration” when it comes to fitness!
I love this post. Fitspiration can many times be anything but inspiring. Working hard is definitely something that should be admired, but I think the hardest journey is trying to find balance among it all.
So eloquent. Balance is the toughest.
Those types of images were what originally led me to workout (read Oxygen magazine like a fiend way back when), but they also quickly turned to OBSESSION and I ended up with an eating disorder. Those things can still be triggering for the same reasons you mentioned. Then I have to remind myself that my goal is to be HAPPY. I know from experience that the obsessive eating and working out that got me to a body like that did NOT make me happy. In fact it made me tired, angry, emotional, HUNGRY, and sad. Not waht I want for my life. Some of those women probably don’t experience those effect from the diets that achieve that level of leanness…but then again the pictures never tell the full truth either.
So interesting to hear from someone who has experience with those images being harmful! You are such a great role model tina!
YES. Oh my goodness, I don’t think those “fitspiration” muscle women are inspiring. Like you said, sure part of my is jealous, but it’s because I know I’ll never look like that – which is FINE – but if I look at that stuff too much it does get to me. I do start thinking “ugh, i’m flabby” and that’s not right! Thanks for calling this out!
One day people will want bodies that look like ours
right?!
I’m SO glad you posted on this. I love to workout- but I know many times my motivation isn’t what it should be. After I overcame my anorexia and was at a normal weight, exercise for the first time, seemed to be more of a “get back to my original weight” thing I felt deep down inside but never told anyone. When I was underweight, I LOVED exercise because the way it made my mind feel and relieved stress. I never had to worry about my weight because it was so low. Now that I’m at a normal healthy weight, I still love working out but often find myself thinking I should be pushing harder when my body says otherwise. Those “FitSpiration” pictures frustrate me beyond all means! I unsubsribed to SEVERAL blogs of girls who were participating because it just upset me about all the focus on working out and blogging what they ate and how much they exercised! I think our bodies are so much more than that. Whatever happened to what we can give this world instead of what we look like? THANK YOU for this post! I’m pinning it!
So true – we want to be healthy, but our success as a person as nothing to do with what we look like! Glad you were able to figure out your motivations!
Great post! This is exactly what I struggle with most. I’ve worked through most of my “control” issues where food is involved, pictures like this make me feel like I should be doing so much more….that I need to go run in the afternoon even if I took a class in the morning…that maybe I should try to eliminate meat to get that ‘victoria secret’ body. When in reality I know I’ve always been super petite, able to build muscle in my arms and have a “flat” stomach, but I’ll never have small legs, and I’ll never have defined abs, or killer back muscles. I think it’s so important that people (especially women) remember that are bodies aren’t made to put on muscle that easily, that we have fat for a reason (in order to get pregnant) and that even when we do build muscle it will never be the same as someone else. Great reminders!
You are exactly right – good point about NEEDING fat. Glad you liked the post!
Thank you for writing this Clare! You basically spoke my thoughts
Read your mind;)
Thank you for the great reminders. It’s refreshing to hear such a genuine perspective on health and body image!
You’re welcome! Glad you liked it.
You’re welcome Maggie!
I love you. I feel the same way all too often, and I can only hope that more fitness inspiration is REAL and ATTAINABLE, because I’m not gonna lie! — I do get down on myself for not looking the way great female CrossFitters look, or not being as lean or as muscular as I’d like to be. And that’s so very wrong. It’s important to strive for your healthiest you and constantly outdoing yourself — not the next woman. This was refreshing to read today. xo!
<3 you - and you look ROCKIN by the way!
But Katelyn, you also mentioned on twitter several times recently that you want to lose 15 pounds. So this comment is rather confusing.
I loved this post. And I think it’s a big testament to your strength to be able to look away from something that’s “triggering” you or just simply not making you feel good about yourself. Unfortunately, I don’t think the majority of blog readers have that same strength to look away, especially if you’re suffering from something a lot deeper than insecurity.
It also got me thinking where to draw the line between healthy lifestyle/fitness blogs and pro-ana blogs. In my opinion, it’s more than OK for you to post about a cauliflower recipe (obviously!) but it’s not OK for all these pro-ana blogs to be out there. To be honest, I’m not at all familiar with any legal/censorship rulings with pro-ana blogs but I would be interested to learn more. Because in many cases there’s definitely a side of blogger responsibility as well as reader responsibility.
Hey! It’s SUCH an interesting topic, especially when you get into all the legality. A lot of pro-ana sites have been shut down, but if they just change the wording ever so slightly they can remain up. Kind of a messy part of the internet.
Thanks for the comment!
I was just thinking about this very same topic last night! I was on Pinterest looking for good quotes/pics to motivate my personal training clients, and after 30 minutes of frustration I gave up! I just keep seeing pictures of all these women with PERFECT bodies and yes, that’s awesome they achieved that, but it made me feel like a bad person for not having a perfect body.
It’s crazy how you wrote this post just as I am thinking some of the same thoughts about not working hard enough or not eating “clean” enough or even trying to decide if I need to stop eating out or enjoying a glass of wine every now and then. I’ve embraced the fact that I will never be long and lean but now have fallen into the desire to look lean with defined muscles. To get there would be possible but I don’t know what benefits it would really have in my life. Hello crazy eating/workout obsession! Thanks for the post and I hope we can both embrace being healthy, fit and happy without having model perfect bodies.
Love the post, and really aspire to think more like you in this way. I don’t really look at many picture boards – a combo of not having time, and so that I don’t end up getting down on myself (I don’t really need motivation to work out – I do it because I love it and it makes me feel better, and I don’t really struggle with motivation to work out on a “normal” level for my body, but sometimes they would motivate me to work out more than what I think my body can handle at that point in time). Even when I decide to do things like Body Rock TV, though, and do it because I WANT to, I end up thinking “dang, I’m doing the same workout, and I don’t even look ANYTHING like that!” SO thanks for the inspiration to be happy with where I am right now! <3
Thank you! I was going to write a post about this/not comparing to others and how being healthy means not obsessing over the burn my polar says compared to others I see instagrammed or how my body fat % is higher (I still have boobs and booty you know!) or that I’m not eating clean enough/enough meals/ etc. With people sharing everything I think it becomes a overload and obsessive especially with all the visual media. My life isn’t the gym or eating to get a competition body. Having that glass of red wine or taking it easy a couple days of week and running just because it feels good is healthy too!
I am so glad to hear that I am not the only one!!! So many people post abs abs abs and all I want is NOT to see that. I wasn’t sure if I was the weird one because it seemed as if everyone was doing it all the time (well maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean) that I couldn’t help but want to jump on the bandwaggon!! Now, there are some people who post a tasteful progress pic and I feel proud of them, but most of the time it is just too much!
thank you thank you thank you! gosh this is so important. i needed to hear this! can i get an AMEN! as always appreciate your realistic and encouraging perspective!!! hope you are having a good week!
I have no words for this post. In some ways, I feel exactly the same way so many have commented. In other ways, I lose perspective and get lost in the fog of constantly wanting to be better. I feel like I am never good enough as myself and things are constantly being added to this list to make myself “good enough.” A few things on my list are running a marathon every year, eating super clean, making strides in CrossFit, pushing myself all of the time and never resting, and of course, trying to be the perfect daughter, sister, girlfriend and friend. I am exhausted. Thank you for helping me realize that I need to seriously consider seeking professional help.
I love this. Reminds me of my post : http://wp.me/p329DL-a
Great post! I think there is a time and a place for posting things like that, but a lot of people are taking things way too far. Things like no rest days or trying to workout for 90 days consecutively are NOT healthy…just like what you’re saying about the pics.
Thank you for this post Clare! It was amazing to read and I’ve been feeling the exact same way! On one hand, many of these ladies are my friends and I don’t want to stop reading their blogs, but I just know for me striving to be ripped, with a 6 pac, is not healthy for my body or me at this time in my life. I find I get competitive and feel bad about myself when I see others eating clean 100% of the time and all of that. So thank you for your honesty, because I totallyyy relate to this right now. I will never be one to show off my arm muscles or abs on the internet and I don’t always feel it is healthy, especially if you are projecting the idea that you have to limit carbs, calories, or other things. What happened to just living healthy. I do admire and understand how people love to compete, I guess I just can’t relate at this moment because I get too influenced. And sorry for this super long comment;)
I love this post! While I’m not yet by beauty standards thin. I’m working hard everyday yet sometimes these posters make me feel like I need to get crazy. Eat only protein and get muscle. I want to be fit maybe not a fitspiration. Great post again, I really enjoyed reading it and thinking about the effect these images are having on me.
Wonderful post sweetie – I can totally relate <3 It's tough to be a blogger! We want to read everything, but we really have to be careful!
It’s always nice to hear that someone else has the same types of struggles – and goes through the same ambivalence about their sometimes contradictory feelings – as I do. This is something I really struggle with and for me, the choice is that I really can’t look at “fitspiration”. I have to take care of myself first and, as you well know, eating disorder recovery is a tricky animal. And thanks for linking my post – made my day:)
I absolutely LOVE this post! These are things I’ve been thinking about a lot lately but I’ve been trying to get my thoughts straight. Honestly I fear for the direction of FitFluential but I don’t want offend any friends who are ambassadors or seem that my opinions are based on a jealousy for NOT being one, because I realized that’s not the case and I don’t really want to be one anymore because I don’t like their direction. I feel so many blogs aren’t promoting “healthy” anymore but rather “work your butt off” and “eat nothing bad” instead of “all things in moderation” and “stay active and have fun!” Obviously not ALL ambassadors (or bloggers) are the same but something I’ve noticed happening more and more lately.
kinda with you. I’m just trying to only participate in reviews/events that I would really want on my own!
Hey Clare! I think I missed this post the first time around but I love it and I absolutely agree with you! I follow TONS of fitness enthusiast on instagram only as a form of motivation and to get me moving. But, I agree with you that sometimes it gets to much and then you start comparing yourself to those people and that is exactly where the DANGER begins. I’ve also started unfollowing many that I felt were probably doing more harm than good to me even before I saw this post. So, I am glad I am not alone on this
Love this post. I’m glad so many people are feeling about fitspiration how I feel. It’s tough, I know it’s meant to be inspiring, but mostly I’ve always felt uncomfortable when I see the images/memes/and all that.