I follow a dessert brand on facebook, and they posted a motivational picture yesterday that drew a lot of criticism:
The criticism?
- Looking like the woman in this pic is likely just as unrealistic as looking like a swimsuit model, so in that sense it can be damaging
- Those women have trained for YEARS for hours at a time not having to worry about jobs and work because modeling IS their career. They generally don’t have children so most likely can do cardio when it’s required and don’t have little ones sucking the energy out of them and in addition the majority NEVER use the supplements they represent. They use clenbuterol, dnp and other injectable “supplements”
(I was originally going to paraphrase the comments, but since I’m not mentioning names, nor which page these appeared on, I posted them verbatim.)
That’s true, right? That’s unrealistic!
There’s a movement on Tumblr, and Pinterest called “Thinspiration.” This is the idea that you should do unhealthy things to look unhealthily thin. While I wouldn’t call the movement “unrealistic” as there are real, living people doing those terrible things. . . I would call it damaging, unhealthy, and dangerous.
The thing is, the picture above is not a “Thinspiration” picture. “Thinspiration” tells you to not workout because your legs will become muscular and you may lose out on a “thigh gap.” “Thinspiration” tells you to follow unsound, and unhealthy nutritional advice to lose weight.
That picture is still an unrealistic body type!
No. We’re not discussing a plastic doll, or an overly photo-shopped billboard. We’re discussing a fitness model that has achieved those results. It’s not unrealistic because someone, in reality, has gotten there. She has a fit body from her training.
This is all a part of a much larger problem known as “fit shaming.” It’s unacceptable to comment on an overweight person’s health or weight, but it’s okay to tear someone down for being in shape. It’s a horrible double standard, and it’s harmful to many people on many levels. (That is the subject of a much longer post one day.)
But it’s unrealistic for me!
Things are only “unrealistic” when you don’t work toward them. While there are some people that are genetically gifted, that doesn’t mean they don’t have to work for they want; In a similar fashion, just because you weren’t blessed with genetics doesn’t mean you can’t achieve what you want. Genetics tells us only two things: What you can’t do, and how difficult your journey will be. What can’t you change? Bone structure. If you have a wide pelvic girdle that leads to “wide set hips,” you can’t change that. What else can’t you change? Muscle bellies. “Full muscle bellies” are much sought after in competitive bodybuilding and are totally dictated by genetics; unless you’re planning to compete, this means nothing to you.
You said “How difficult your journey will be”?
We’ve discussed “Somatypes” before, and while they’re a controversial topic, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest they’re very real. There are people who are naturally small; people that are naturally more fit; and of course, there are people that are naturally larger / fatter. No matter what somatype you are, you can achieve your goals if you follow a proper nutrition and training program– While you may be genetically predisposed to be fatter (like I am), that doesn’t mean you can’t have a shredded physique one day.
She’s still using “Injectable ‘supplements'”
That’s a cop out. You don’t know that, and it’s rude to assume that someone who has a nice physique is using PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) to get there. You’re looking at someone you know nothing about, and are effectively calling them a liar, unethical, and in some circles, a cheater. Sure, many use PEDs, but just as many don’t. Just because someone how what you want doesn’t mean you should tear them down.
That’s great and all, but I’m too busy.
I always find this argument interesting, because for a long time, I was working between 50 – 60 hours a week at normal jobs, while also working toward my career in the entertainment industry, and trying to maintain a little bit of a life outside of work. I still made time to prepare all of my food, eat clean, and train 5 times a week. Why? Because it’s important to me, and I will achieve my goals. If you want it badly enough, you will make the time to do so. I’ve heard of a lot of people discuss how they have no time to get in shape, yet they have plenty of time for partying, blazing through seasons of TV shows, and much more. If you want it badly enough, you will decide to change your lifestyle.
As far as the argument that this is their job (on the subject of fitness models), you’re right. It is, now. It wasn’t, though, when they had to work their hardest to get in shape. Maintaining a body type is a lot easier than achieving one, but no modeling agency wants a fitness model that is still bulking, or still cutting– They want one that will sell. So that model, the one whose work you’re devaluing, had to juggle a job to pay the bills, while preparing food, while training 5 days a week to get to the point where she could make this her job.
It all boils down to motivation. How badly do you want it?