The lies behind those weight-loss selfies: revealed!
Personal trainer Sophie Kay has the skinny


Personal trainers & fitness bloggers live like saints
“Anyone who knows me will know that this just isn’t true. I love to eat anything and everything. Pizza is probably my favourite food and although I don’t really have a sweet tooth I can eat sweet n’ salt popcorn or ice cream for days. I may not drink that much but that’s because I don’t like the taste of most alcohol! However give me a margarita (or 3) and I’m a happy girl… It’s all about living a balanced lifestyle. Indulge when you want to but get to know your body and understand what it wants and when.”
Flip through for other myths that Sophie Kay explodes on her blog

Exercise is easy
“Exercise is not easy. And if it is easy then you’re not pushing yourself. And if you’re not pushing yourself then you won’t make any progress and reach your goals. Even if your goal is just to clear your head you need to put in a bit of effort to achieve that. The real side of fitness is early mornings, freezing hands and ears in winter, ridiculous sports bra tans in summer, stinging sweat in your eyes, not bothering to wash your hair because you’re only going to get sweaty again tomorrow, permanent hand callouses, blistered feet and stiff muscles. But all of this adds up to feeling alive, proud and on top of the world.”
Photographs: Thefitologyway.com

It’s the oldest trick in the advertising book, but man, does it work. Before and after pictures are always impressive, especially when it comes to weight loss. But if you, like many people, don’t actually see yourself as an ‘after picture’, don’t worry. Just wear better undies and change the lighting, says British fitness trainer and blogger Sophie Kay.
To expose the shallow and sensationalist nature of these before-after fitness shots on her blog, Kay took two pictures of herself, three minutes apart. And she looks like a tighter, more sculpted and happier person in the second picture—taken, you’ll remember, just three minutes later. She used that time to change the lighting from harsh fluorescent to soft yellow; swapped out frumpy nude undies for fitted sporty ones; stood at a flattering angle; and used a filter that threw any bulges into the shadows. Holy instant muscle tone, Batman!
Moral of the story: Focus on your own fitness journey and don’t believe every selfie you see. As Kay puts it, “The world of perfect abs, long legs and sweat-free faces on Instagram portrays an image of fitness that is fun, easy and full of happiness. It can be all of these things but it can also be tiring, tough, demoralising and grump-inducing when you’re getting up and it’s still dark outside. Plus, no one actually looks perfect if they’re working out properly!”
You may also want to read: How to get a flatter belly in 4 weeks
Flip through for other myths that Sophie Kay explodes on her blog
