The late ’90s and early 2000s introduced many trends that now make us question our choices, like uncomfortable and impractical clothing. Think low-rise everything and constant reminders to suppress our cravings to fit into those ridiculous styles. Remember Kate Moss’s infamous phrase, “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels”? Clearly, she had never indulged in a slice of cool dulce de leche cake on a hot summer day. Trust me, feeling thin does not compare to the joy of a delicious dessert.
By popularizing this mantra, Moss unwittingly became the face of the #thinspiration movement. If you’re not familiar, thinspiration is all about promoting a slender physique, often through images of models with protruding bones or “motivational” quotes about food and body image. Some examples include:
- “You will not regret getting skinny, but you will regret overeating. The choice is yours.” — Unknown, Pinterest
- “Junk food you’ve craved for an hour, or a body you’ve craved for a lifetime? You decide.” — Unknown, Pinterest
Those who create and share these quotes often intend to inspire rather than shame, promoting the idea that we all desire to be thin. But that’s simply not true.
Discussions surrounding body image and diet culture have evolved significantly. We’ve moved away from glorifying skeletal images of women as #goals, and some segments of the fashion industry are catching on. However, this has led to the emergence of #fitspiration, which seems positive at first glance. But, social media often reduces this concept to mere aesthetics rather than promoting a healthy lifestyle. Thanks, Facebook and Instagram—you’re the reason we have so many complications.
Much like #thinspiration, #fitspiration tends to focus on an idealized “fit” body instead of encouraging physical activity for well-being. The unfortunate truth about #fitspiration is that it can harm our mental health more than we realize. A 2017 study by researchers Amy Slater, Neesha Varsani, and Phillippa C. Diedrichs found that women exposed to fitspiration images reported significantly lower levels of self-compassion compared to those who viewed neutral images.
The findings suggest that women may benefit more from messages of self-compassion rather than the harsh realities often depicted in “fitspiration” posts. Unfortunately, these images can diminish our self-esteem, especially when coupled with guilt-inducing phrases. It’s easy to feel inadequate when we see fit bodies and forget that genetics and other factors play significant roles in our appearance.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. The study also revealed positive outcomes for women who encountered a mix of fitspiration and self-compassion imagery, displaying greater body satisfaction and less negative mood. A radical thought: when we speak kindly to ourselves, we feel better! The idea of exercising out of love for our bodies, rather than hatred, is groundbreaking.
Choosing kindness doesn’t mean we can’t reach our physical goals. There’s a vast difference between exercising to feel good and working out solely for appearance’s sake. Workout routines should honor your body, not feel like a punishment.
So, how do we maintain the essence of #fitspiration? With summer upon us, it’s nearly impossible to escape images of women enjoying the outdoors. You can control what you see in your social media feeds. If you find yourself constantly bombarded with images of someone like “Becky,” who wakes up at 5 a.m. for a workout and follows it with a green smoothie, take a moment to consider how those posts make you feel. Inspired? Empowered? Or guilty for not matching that lifestyle?
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with aspiring to be fit. However, if the pursuit of fitness harms your mental health or distorts your relationship with food, it’s not worth it. It can take years to recover from that kind of damage.
If your feed includes content that makes you feel inadequate or guilty about your body or eating habits, it’s time to unfollow or mute those accounts. Prioritize content that empowers you to live your best life. You deserve it!
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to enjoy my life—soaking up the sun in a two-piece I love with a margarita in hand. For more supportive insights, check out this other blog post here.