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
By Deepa Menon June 23rd, 2015
