Recently, all over the internet I have seen photos of male and female athletes, focusing mainly on the person's body, which is impeccably perfect, including chiseled abs, toned arms, and protruding collar bones, with some sort of quote covering it. Some of these quotes include:
"Sweat is Just Fat Crying."
"Lifting Weights Make Women Huge? False. Cupcakes Make Women Huge."
"No Matter How Slow you are Going you are Still Lapping Everyone on the Couch."
To me, this is just "thinspo" or "thinspiration" in disguise, which is an online world of thousands, even millions, of people, mostly females, who share and collect pictures of very thin women as inspiration to keep up their eating disorders. Rather than promoting a commitment to exercise for the sake of one’s health, Fitspirational messages equate exercise with ‘perfecting’ one’s body – contributing to negative body image and compulsive exercising behaviors. "Thinspiration" and "Fitspiration" both promote unrealistic ideals, both contribute to negative body image, and both are equally harmful.
Some fitness inspiration can be healthy and motivating, but others can be very harmful. Ask yourself how these "fitspiration" quotes and photos actually make you feel. To me, I honestly feel they are objectifying women and motivating people to exercise through fear and guilt. For some this may work, but for me, this is not motivating. Comparing oneself to others does not help with self love and does not help you on YOUR path. Learn how to love your body, eat healthy, and exercise, for YOU, not for anyone else.
I recently discovered a movement called #stopfitspiration. The goal is bring awareness to the harm of "Fitspiration" messages and to offer support for those recovering from exercise addiction while providing information and tips for a more healthy, balanced, and body positive approach to fitness.
Sources: Stop Fitspiration. (2014). Retrieved from http://stopfitspiration.com/
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
"Sweat is Just Fat Crying."
"Lifting Weights Make Women Huge? False. Cupcakes Make Women Huge."
"No Matter How Slow you are Going you are Still Lapping Everyone on the Couch."
To me, this is just "thinspo" or "thinspiration" in disguise, which is an online world of thousands, even millions, of people, mostly females, who share and collect pictures of very thin women as inspiration to keep up their eating disorders. Rather than promoting a commitment to exercise for the sake of one’s health, Fitspirational messages equate exercise with ‘perfecting’ one’s body – contributing to negative body image and compulsive exercising behaviors. "Thinspiration" and "Fitspiration" both promote unrealistic ideals, both contribute to negative body image, and both are equally harmful.
Some fitness inspiration can be healthy and motivating, but others can be very harmful. Ask yourself how these "fitspiration" quotes and photos actually make you feel. To me, I honestly feel they are objectifying women and motivating people to exercise through fear and guilt. For some this may work, but for me, this is not motivating. Comparing oneself to others does not help with self love and does not help you on YOUR path. Learn how to love your body, eat healthy, and exercise, for YOU, not for anyone else.
I recently discovered a movement called #stopfitspiration. The goal is bring awareness to the harm of "Fitspiration" messages and to offer support for those recovering from exercise addiction while providing information and tips for a more healthy, balanced, and body positive approach to fitness.
Sources: Stop Fitspiration. (2014). Retrieved from http://stopfitspiration.com/
Photo Credit: Shutterstock
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