Fitspiration: inspiring, or demotivating?

[Revi]

There was just an article in a Norwegian newspaper about the trend of very fit people posting pictures of themselves on social media to inspire others to get in shape. In it, they cited an Australian study that asked 130 women how these kinds of photographs influenced them, and a majority felt like it instead negatively influenced their body image.

That's a very small sample pool but the article includes a poll, that so far over 16000 readers voted on. 6,5k say they don't care, 4,3k say it gives them a worse body image, 4k says it inspires and 1,3k says it demotivates them. The poll doesn't really provide any good answers, so I was curious what you guys thought, both men and women.

Two picture examples from the hashtag:


So, do images like this make you want to get in better shape, or is the demotivating? And how do you feel about these kinds of campaigns in general?

Personally, I think it's a good motivation to see what others have accomplished, and it doesn't affect my body image. I do sympathize with those who are negatively affected by it though.

[Gheld]

The chick looks pretty fit and bangable. The guy looks like a normal guys face photoshopped onto the body of a heroine addict with dangerously low body fat that spends too much time at the gym.

[Unrested]

I think it is inspiring. Though people who are fat don't want to be told they're fat, they don't want advice on how to be healthy, and according to this don't think this is inspiring, but that it is bad. Simply put, fat folks want to be fat I guess. Only God can help them at that point.

[Colmadero]

That dude's picture looks so heavily edited it's not even funny.

[Crissi]

I honestly don't care. I know my body will never look like that, so I take inspiration from my own results. 10 lbs lost so far since I really started keeping track!

[Deleted]

doesn't bother me. im in decent shape and have no interest in getting a body like the guy in the OP. i think its impressive that someone can do that, but it neither makes me feel bad, or motivates me to get better.

[Deleted]

Eh.

Don't care much, maybe leaning towards inspiring ever so slightly, but I don't really have the time, or the inclination, to put in the effort for that kind of body. At most it might make me do an extra push up.

I've certainly never felt bad looking at a photo of a fit person, even when I was a bit fatter.

[Fawkess]

I dont really care, Some of the shit these people do to get their bodys in top shape just isnt for me and i prefer doing it at my own pace and way

[Planeshaper]

If people want to be proud of their bodies, they get to be proud of their bodies.

I just don't see a problem with it.

[Reeve]

I'm not really affected one way or another.

[Independent voter]

Like a lot of stuff concerning body image, it affects girls more than guys.

[Detheavn]

I will never have the type of body that guy has, and I'm perfectly fine with that.

[Revi]

Like a lot of stuff concerning body image, it affects girls more than guys.

Yeah, thought that might be the case, that's why I split up the poll. Not many women responses though

[Deleted]

Don't care. But Im in pretty god shape atm, far from the guy on the picture but better than average. I can see why someone who isn't in good shape would get demotivated even though you should be inspired.

Im all for self improvement, never understood the whole "you're good as you are" thing.

[MAGAmobile]

The guy's image... is disturbing, if nothing else.

[Feali]

It's always like "yea I wanna look good naked, too but... food".

[Deleted]

So, do images like this make you want to get in better shape, or is the demotivating? And how do you feel about these kinds of campaigns in general?
.

errr, that bloke is seriously unattractive, its like a cartoon hulk, all veiny....uuurrrrgh.

I like fit blokes, and I try to keep in shape myself, but thats just OTT.

[TirielWoW]

I think it depends on how it's handled. If they're not using it to shame people, and just saying something like, "This is how I accomplished this, and you can, too! Don't give up!" or something similar, that is motivating. If they're saying, "See how easy this is? Get moving you lazy lard asses!" that is not motivating.

[Templar 331]

I've got better things to do than to torture myself for hours a day to look like that. I'm happy to be a little flabby and go to the gym every other day for an hour.

[Malachi256]

I find American Ninja Warrior (and the original Sasuke) inspiring. Mostly relatively fit-normal people doing amazing stuff (and oftentimes the OTT people don't perform well, which is always a laugh).

Those pics mostly just make me feel meh or sorry for the people.