The Problem with Fitspiration

Fitspiration

 

The mental and physical state of being inspired by media, pictures, etc., to form a fit body.

 

 

Sounds nice right? It's certainly better than "thinspiration," a hashtag that was actually banned on Instagram because it created a culture where both men and women were doing anything to lose weight and be thin.

 

So yes, fitspiration is a bit better. Or is it?

 

Photo from Pinterest



The model in the photo looks great by most standards, but what many don't realize is her particular lifestyle. She more than likely is a professional fitness model and probably doesn't spend her days working an 8 to 5 job. She spends her time at the gym, or in the kitchen doing meal prep.You won't find her at cocktail parties or happy hour, her gym schedule and healthy eating habits probably don't allow for that.

 

She looks great, yes, but at what cost does the price of looking great come?

 

Photo from Pinterest

Everyone should work out and maintain a healthy lifestyle, but objectifying women's bodies to try to inspire others is not working either. Unless you have the time to dedicate 2 to 3 hours in the gym each day and weigh your food proportionally, chances are you'll find it a bit difficult to achieve this look. Maintaining it is another story.

 

Photo from Pinterest

 

Photo from Pinterest

Slogans such as "She Squats Bro" showcase women scantily clad baring their "assets," and it is just another way of objectifying women as sexual objects. The message of these images come across loud and clear, you should strive to look like the women in the pictures, or at least aspire to. How is this any different than showing skinny fashion models on the cover of magazines? It's still promoting the fact that women, and people in general (I won't exclude men here) value physical perfection.

 

Instead of promoting images supporting any body type, people should be striving for overall health. Did you run 3 miles today? Awesome! Did you do a shoulder and back workout that you're feeling the effects of the next day? Great! Did you skip dessert last night? That's good too- but don't forget to indulge sometimes as well.

 

Comparing yourself or others to images circulating on social media sites is not actually "inspiring" you the way you may think. Instead, you're just comparing yourself to an illusion. You may never look like the women or fitness competitors in the pictures. If you do it more than likely will be hard to maintain- but that's ok.

 

Health is a journey- not a picture. Do what suites you and your body to get there- not a picture. 

 



Magazine Covers and Body Image: Not Buying it!

Taking a stroll down any supermarket or convenience store magazine isle is enough to make me, at 26 years old, gag. Countless images of beautiful women in bikinis, talking about how they dropped 15 lbs instantly, to the body and cellulite shaming images marked “you’ll never guess who!” Even if I let myself walk down those isles, I admit if I'm not in the best frame of mind they can get me down.

Even fitness magazines bare perfectly sculpted bodies, who no doubt have some sort of Photoshop action going on.  While I no longer have the same body I did back in my competition days, these magazines even hammer into my head what women AND men (I won’t leave the guys out here) should look like. And of course, they’ll give you the best 15 minute work out tips and the best way to shape up your rump as well…Because we all know, that can use some work.

While I agree health and fitness are important and are essential to leading a healthy lifestyle, not every woman has to be 5’2 105 lbs to be the epitome of health.

We are sending the wrong message to our girls and women here on what healthy, normal bodies look like.

I have recently been inspired by several stories of strong, powerful women in the media.

Brooke Birmingham, lifestyle and fitness blogger of BrookeNot A Diet, lost 172 lbs and channeled her weight loss journey for all to read. Recently, she was contacted by Shape Magazine who wanted to write a story on her weightloss success.   

Brooke happily complied and sent along this picture to show what I real woman’s body looks like after losing 172 lbs, and not being retouched.

Photo from www.brookenotonadiet.com

Shape Magazine wrote her back saying they were unable to use the bikini top photo and wanted one with a shirt. Brooke questioned this, and then later declined having her story written if Shape would not print the photo.

All I have to say- kudos to Brooke for standing up for something she believed in! Shape Magazine is HUGE, and to turn down her chance to have the story run for something she believes is amazing.

To view Brooke’s blogpost on turning down the offer, click here.

After all of the media attention, countless comments, calls from Good Morning America, The Today Show, and more, Shape Magazine made arrangements with Brooke to be featured in an issue with 5 other “real” women who have gone through extreme weight loss.

They will be able to be photographed in whatever outfits, or bikinis, they choose.

I say that's quite an amazing turn out for Brooke, and for women everywhere.

What are your thoughts on Brooke's story?

The Words of a Mother

Throughout this project, I have talked of different issues impacting women and young girls. I've talked to a group of pre-teens, I've shown videos on body image- but I have yet to talk to a mother.


Although I have no children of my own (yet!) I often think of how I would like to raise children, and how I would go about instilling morals in them, especially in today's widespread social media usage. Usually I think I wouldn't let my kids have phones, but I'm not sure how likely that would be.


To get a better idea of what it's like being the mother of teen girls, I spoke to Sherrill Shiraz, mother of two girls ages 12 and almost 14. She gave some great insight on what it's like raising a family in a time where everyone is so connected. She also spoke on weight loss and wearing makeup.



"Both of my daughters have Instagram and Snapchat, no Facebook, and no Twitter," said Shiraz.. "I don't monitor what they post enough, but my friend is friends with them and she let's me know if she sees anything I should look at."


While both of her daughters have cell phones, Shiraz sets specific times when they can or can't use them.


"They are not allowed to have the phone at the table or when we are eating in the kitchen. Also not when doing homework. Otherwise my husband and I keep an eye on them and if we think it is getting out of hand we remove it. The phone is the primary privilege we take away from the younger daughter. My oldest rides horses, so we use that as leverage," said Shiraz.


Shiraz definitely thinks the media pressures women to look a certain way, and she expressed concern for her daughters.

"I tell my girls not to look at any clothing size tags because we can cut them out and nobody has to know the size- just look at how we feel," said Shiraz. 

Shiraz recently lost 30 lbs, mainly for health reasons.


"I believe we should all appreciate our body and that we should try to stay healthy- that was my main motivation for losing weight. I like the way I look now and that I can wear different clothes. I think in a way that the motivation to stay thin or healthy is not 100% negative because there is an underlying benefit for our health, but when we judge ourselves because we are not 'thin enough,' then that is bad," she said.


Shiraz expressed concern for her daughter watching videos on YouTube. "She does not understand that these [YouTube videos] are really like advertisements and many of these people are wearing clothes and using products that they are paid to use," she said.


As far as makeup, I asked Shiraz if she herself wore any, and whether she let her daughters wear it as well.


Shiraz said that while she does wear some eye makeup and lipstick, she makes sure to use good moisturizers but doesn't care too much for foundation makeup.


"My 14-year-old started wearing makeup this year and her younger sister [almost 12] has just started wearing some cover-up for her acne and some mascara," she said.

"I have never said they can't wear it, but I have never encouraged them to wear it, so I guess I am neutral. I do comment negatively if I see someone with lots of makeup on just because I think it is bad for their face and also if it looks unnatural," said Shiraz.

Shiraz said her oldest has taken an interest into learning how to apply makeup.

"I think it's important for them to experiment with their femininity and makeup is part of that in our society," said Shiraz. "I am sure her father would say something if she put on too much though!"

Shiraz says she strives to teach her daughters that there are many other things to do other than shop or worry about clothes, and currently she is getting them involved in local charities, and teaching them how to make their own clothes.