Every day we see before and after photos of weight loss. They appear on magazine covers, in commercials, and on social media feeds. These amazing changes pop up literally everywhere to remind us that we too can achieve our personal fitness goals.
But are these “life-changing” photos of before and after weight loss real or fake? Are they all just lies forced upon us by the diet industry?
According to one personal trainer, the answer is yes.
Personal trainer and fitness blogger Sophie Kay posted side-by-side photos to prove how easy it is to fake before and after weight loss photos.
“What I did in the three minutes between the two photos was turn off the overhead lights, put on better-fitting underwear, twist my body a little to the side to show the best angle, bend over, and of course All I had to do was add a filter… so don’t pay too much attention to the before and after shots!” she wrote in a Tumblr post.
She also added, “As a personal trainer and fitness blogger, I can see a lot of pressure in the industry to look and behave in a certain way. This can be quite stressful and, for some, damaging.” Possibly: perfect abs, long legs world’ The no-sweat face on Instagram represents an image of fitness that’s fun, easy, and blissful. Yes, but you can also be tired, tough, depressed, and grumpy.When you wake up, it’s still dark outside. Besides, no one actually looks perfect if they exercise properly!”
Kay explained that having a six-pack doesn’t automatically make you fitter or healthier.
“Six pack means low body fat percentage to the point where you can see your abs. Also, the shape of your abs is entirely dependent on genetics. Some people get six packs, others can.” For the vast majority of people, the lifestyle they have to live to achieve and maintain them prevents them from living a normal life free from counting all the calories. No. I prefer a little clarity and that’s it for me!”
The post quickly became popular, garnering 376 reactions. And five myths debunked. The before and after photos are real, being fit means he has a six pack, fitness should be perfect, exercises should be easy and he should be able to run fast.
“Have you seen me run? Not pretty, not fast, but I get the job done. Runner if you run, lifter if you lift, spinner if you spin, it doesn’t matter.” How fast, how heavy, and how much you can handle. Just go out there and you’ll be amazed,” she writes.
Many myths have been shattered by her own experiences, including her love of junk food.
“I love to eat anything and everything. Pizza is probably my favorite food. It’s all about living in style.Indulge but know your body and understand what it needs and when.”
in an interview, Kay revealed why she wanted to do something like this. “I wrote this post because as a personal trainer and fitness blogger, I felt a lot of pressure to look a certain way. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I’ve embraced it, learned to love my body, and want others to love their bodies too.
Most of us knew that the before and after photos we saw in magazines and on TV weren’t legal. Sometimes the people in the before and after photos don’t even look alike.
I hope more people are as honest and outspoken about weight loss as this personal trainer is.
Nicole Weaver is a romance and entertainment writer.
