One of the many things I love about this blog and these bloggers is the consistent message that we are okay as we are, and that our lives can and should be happening NOW, not wait around until we’ve achieved some other body size or proportion. Time and time again we’ve called out the fitness industry for promoting body size and proportion changes as if they are the most important aspect of engaging in physical activity.
The before/after photos are especially objectionable to me for this reason. In addition to being misleading and probably photoshopped, they add on the emotional force of equating the before state with being unhappy, unattractive, unfit, unwell, unacceptable for public view. Of course this isn’t accurate.
Then comes the after state, depicted in more colorful or fashionable attire, better lighting, and of course smiles (in addition to body shape and proportion changes that reflect stereotypical views about what the fit or acceptable or attractive body is supposed to look like).
Despite that fact that we know all this, before/after photos are everywhere. The rise in use of GLP-1 weight loss drugs has brought them back with the vengeance on social media and in advertisements for online hawkers selling compounded forms of the drug (a very bad idea, btw).
One new twist on the before/after messaging was a series of ads I saw on Facebook, selling an exercise program. It kept saying, “you’ll be unrecognizable in eight weeks if you do this”.
Ew. No. I don’t want to be unrecognizable. I mean, what would happen at work? People would say, “excuse me, where is Catherine? And why are you in her office?”
Seriously though, you get the idea. In January and February (which is the new January, as we know), we are pummeled with ads selling exercise and diet programs, promising us quick transformation. I’m not opposed to transformation– in fact, I spend a lot of time working on projects that I hope will be transformative. I write, meditate, and do creative tasks in part to find new insights that change the way I see the world.
I do physical activity because I have goals, but also because it makes me feel good. Or great. It does change me, but in more complex ways than a mere photo can capture.
Here’s my one exception to the no before/after pics rule: when I get my hair cut. Here’s what I posted to my book group signal thread.
Now, without further ado, the after-haircut salon-pristine pics.
Readers, what do you think of before/after pictures? And more importantly, do you like my new haircut?
