I bet for most of us female fitness models are the reason why we started in the first place.
We want to look like them and we want to be like them.
I know when I first started at the gym, my Instagram profile was loaded with tons of fitspo girls that post daily pictures and videos of their workouts and their ‘perfect’ bodies.
My goal was to look like them.
However, 7 years later, I still don’t.
And when I think about it I probably never will.
But why is that?
I do everything right! I eat healthy, exercise daily, and try to live balanced.
Then why I still don’t look like the fitness models on Instagram?
Well, there are a few reasons for that.
Aside from the fact that we are all different, and I can never look like somebody else, there is one more reason that I realized along the way:
Female fitness models don’t look like themselves either.
They are just really good at hiding things on social media.
And today, I’m giving you the 6 things fitness models usually don’t tell on Instagram.
Learn that they are completely normal and most of us have them.
Without further ado, let’s jump right into them!
Psst… You have to check out my video:
6 Things Female Fitness Models Are Hiding From You On IG
Instagram’s fitness models and fitspo girls post lots of photos of themselves on a daily basis.
They usually post photos of their bodies, including their abs, thighs, legs, and their booties.
But what we see is usually just a tiny fragment of their daily body image.
They pose for that picture and we think that they look like that all the time.
Here are the things we usually don’t see on Instagram and are perfectly common among all of us females into fitness.
Pssst… this is the meal plan that has helped me get closer to my dream body, so make sure to check it out!
#1: Cellulite
Cellulite is one of the most common things we all have.
In fact, around 80 to 90 percent of all women have it.
And I know that it’s almost common sense that cellulite = fat, when in fact, it doesn’t.
Even fit girls that work out on a daily basis, eat healthily, and look ‘perfect’ on IG have cellulite.
‘Cellulite is totally normal, and women of all sizes and shapes have it.
Cellulite is not a medical issue; it’s purely cosmetic, affecting 80-90% of women.
Some women are more predisposed to it than others.
The amount of cellulite you have and how noticeable it is can be based on your genes, body fat percentage, and age.’
Yet so many of us think it’s a flaw and a sign of a poor diet and only overweight or unhealthy individuals have it.
Well, it’s not like that at all.
We may not see cellulite a lot on social media, especially among Instagram fitness models, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there.
danaemercer Insta vs reality — or LETS talk LIGHTING. Because that’s the main difference in these photos.
I also want to remind you about how SO MUCH on here is FILTERED. POSED. PERFECTED.
And how you shouldn’t EVER COMPARE YOURSELF to a STRANGER on the internet.
Because cowgirl, you’re just seeing their snapshots taken in PERFECT LIGHT.
And it’s 100% true.
And thank God for individuals like this!
And she’s not the only one!
nienkke You don’t need to have smooth legs to be fit, you don’t need to have a flawless skin to be beautiful, you don’t need to be as thin as possible to look your best, you just do you for you and be perfect just the way you are ♥️
Luckily, there are more and more women showing you that on social media.
Exactly!
I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing that fit girls pose on Instagram showing their ‘perfect’ cellulite-free bodies.
Who would post a bad photo of themselves, right?
I’m just saying to be aware of it and embrace it and never ever think you’re not good enough because you are.
So, wear the shorts, and the bikinis.
Don’t wrap yourself in clothes feeling ashamed, or scrub your skin with lotions and potions.
It’s not something that’s good or bad, it’s just something that makes us human.
Something that sits on over 80% of women isn’t a flaw or a mistake.
Cellulite is normal, healthy and so common.
I have it, most females have it, and there’s nothing wrong with it, so don’t let social media tells you otherwise.
#2: Stretchmarks
Next on my list are stretchmarks.
Stretch marks, also known as Striae, are long, narrow streaks or stripes that occur when the skin is stretched too quickly.
Pregnancy, puberty, and rapid weight gain or weight loss can all cause stretch marks.
Since they are a form of scarring on the skin, there’s little medical evidence available confirming the effectiveness of treatments.
Now, they may diminish over time, but they will not disappear completely.
And that’s totally fine.
And although you won’t usually see them on IG or social media, most girls and women have them, usually on their breasts, thighs, hips, and butt.
I think it’s safe to say that most women over the age of 18 will have a stretch mark somewhere, and that’s fine.
We don’t have to do anything about it, and overthink, and obsess.
We aren’t made to be perfect, and each and every stripe tells a unique story of a part of your life.
danaemercer Me. Also me ❤️ In a society that profits from self doubt, loving yourself is a rebellious act. ❤️ I remember buying my first stretchmark-reducing lotion when I was a teen.
How crazy is it that even then, we already know to hate the lumps and bumps that over 80% of us have? And that we must pay to fix these ‘imperfections’? ❤️ Here’s just a little reminder that pretty much all of us have wiggly bits and good angles and less flattering poses. And that’s ok – even more than ok. That’s part of the glory of being human.
#3: Bloated Stomach
Another pretty common condition I deal with too is bloating.
Now we all experience bloating more or less, especially after eating a certain food or some of us even out of nowhere.
The truth is, everybody bloats differently, but there’s one thing that stands for all of us – bloating is normal to a certain degree and we all bloat.
Even perfectly healthy girls, fit chicks, and athletes are dealing with bloating on a daily basis and they’re starting to be more and more open about it and sharing their stories.
I bloat, even though I eat healthy all the time and follow my all-in-one RADIATE Program, exercise on a daily basis and try to hydrate and live the healthiest I can.
Yet I still experience bloating, and that’s fine.
danaemercer …jokes aside – don’t let a bloaty belly get you down. I know how these things can worm and weave their way into our mind, and make us question our meals and our goals and sometimes, in our more fragile moments, our worth.
Know your tummy has nothing to do with how incredible you are as a person.
How powerful. Wonderful. Strong.
Same goes for the size of your bumbum.
Bloated belly does not mean you are unfit, or you have excess fat, or the foods you eat are not healthy.
In fact, I usually get bloated from perfectly healthy and nutritious foods such as chickpeas and beans.
Sometimes even drinking lots of water can get me bloated.
And when I pose, I usually hide my bloating, but in reality, I bloat almost every day, and that’s fine.
Jelly Devote is a fit chick and a real inspiration when it comes to posing and bloating.
She always makes me feel better with her honest posts showing us the real picture, which again is far away from society’s ‘picture perfect’ and that’s totally fine.
Bloating does not define you.
If you want to learn more about how to reduce bloating, head on to check out my article > How To Reduce Bloating + Foods That Cause Gas And Bloating.
#4: Side Boobs
Bra bulge. Armpit fat. Side boobies.
Whatever you want to call this thing is actually the extra fold of skin between your arm and your boob.
And they are usually caused because of stubborn fat deposits that accumulate around the upper bra area and usually come out whenever wearing cap sleeves, tank and halter tops.
It was really frustrating for me since I had my abs are ripped, arms and shoulders toned and my quads cut, but yet my armpit fat didn’t want to leave.
I had muscles everywhere and literally no fat, but I still had this weird fold I hated from the bottom of my heart.
Well, turns out our tatas are made up almost entirely out of fat.
This fat stretches up into our armpits, which is what actually causes armpit fat.
But here’s the secret:
There’s NOTHING wrong with having these soft, wiggly bits of babe bump.
Again, almost all of us have them.
Even fit babes, Instagram fitspo girls, and female fitness models.
In my article Why The Hack We Have Underarm Fat & Can We Get Rid Of It, I explain all about that and how the one last thing you could do about bra bulge is self-love.
#5: Hip Dips
Oh, how I’ve struggled with hip dips.
I’ve even made a workout video about them…
Those hip dips aka violin hips, aka thigh gaps, they are actually the slight inward curve just below each hip bone.
They occur when your hip bone is located slightly above your femur, which causes muscle and fat to go inward.
And every single one of us has them because that’s just how anatomy works.
It’s all in the bone structure actually.
We are all born with a hip bone and a femur bone, and the distance between these bones decides how big of a dip we’ll have.
For some of us, it will be more visible, because you have a higher hip bone, or you have wider hips.
Our hip bones and trochanter major are also responsible for this, and the size and form of our dips are very individual and vary from one person to another.
That’s why some of us have bigger dips than others in the first place – simply because of genetics.
However, again, most of us have them, and that’s totally fine.
And there’re some girls that work their posing and the angels better than others.
That’s it.
And again, not having visible hip dips is not a reflection of health, wellness, or fitness.
That just means that they have a wider pelvis, or just know how to pop their hips out.
#6: Saggy Skin
And last but not least is saggy skin.
This one is also common, especially when it comes to losing lots of weight throughout your fitness journey.
Having saggy skin is totally normal and again, most of us have it.
And yes, even fit girls.
Where do you think the excess skin goes?
It’s part of the process and you should really be proud of it, and don’t ever let society tells you otherwise.
There’s nothing shameful in having some extra skin, so don’t bother about it.
Or that annoying underbelly you have going on every time you try to sit comfortably.
We all have it.
We just don’t show it on IG.
Even fit girls on Instagram will look like this when they sit comfortably and that’s totally normal, and it’s a part of being a human.
It doesn’t define how healthy you are, or how hard you’re working out – it’s just skin and you shouldn’t even worry about that.
You can learn more about loose skin in my recent article >>> Can We Tighten Loose Skin? The Truth About Loose Skin After Weight Loss
Also, don’t forget to check out my video:
Now Let’s Focus On What Really Matters!
And that is self-love!
We should all practice it and try to be better at it.
This is just a reminder to never ever compare yourself to strangers on the internet.
Mainly because things are not always as we see them on Instagram.
And even more important because you know what – your body is great!
Your health is more important, so focus on what makes you feel good, creating better habits and surrounding yourself with positive people and a lot of the other pieces will fall into place.
Social media is so rarely real, so don’t even bother.
You do you and don’t worry about anything else.
You are fierce you are strong and you are fabulous!
Always remember that.
Till next time, babe!
xoxo
How much I needed this you’ll never know. After working hard for 15 years at fitness I was feeling so down this past two months because all I saw were lumps everywhere. I never worked towards any goals. I just workout everyday and eat normally. No diet or any major weight loss goals. My goals are to be fitter and stronger. To be active and healthy. So, I am slightly overweight but have not let that bother me until recently. Looking in the mirror I wondered why I didn’t like all those fitness models after having working so hard almost everyday. Now after seeing these pictures I feel so vindicated.
Same here!
I am so happy you found my article!
We all need to see this, and realize once and for all that nobody’s perfect.
Sending love <3
Monica
Fantastic article! Thanks for being REAL instead of perfect. We are all unique!
Indeed noone is perfect..thanks for sharing this!
There’s soo much inspiration and I appreciate how much love you put into writing this article.
Let’s enjoy living healthily.
Thanks again
I’m so glad you like it!
Love,
Monica
Thank you so much ! you are truelly a inspiration.
My husband and i have been trying a ton of different diets , but we were never successful. we literally tried almost every thing. If one diet worked , a few weeks later i gained it back + more. We felt hopeless.
Untill we tried this. It saved us . I lost 45 pounds in 3 months! Even though i cheated here and there, ( dont tell him that lol). Check it out its really worth it .
Just came across this post via Pinterest and, girl, I didn’t know how much I needed to hear those kind words right now!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write an article focusing on being kind with yourself about your appearance. This is so helpful and much needed. Wish my eleven year old self had read this. And I wish there was a subject in school that taught everyone exactly what you tell here so young people wouldn’t grow up to be hating their bodies and beating themselves up for not looking like those women and men on social media.
Catherine,
Thank you so much for your amazing comment! I am so glad to hear you liked my article – it really means the world to me!! <3
I love this! Thank you so much
So glad you like it!! :)
Wow I think I wanna cry…. Thanks for being real!!! We are our own worst enemies, and I am all of what you said… I work out and still hate my body… and the lumps and bumps that never go away! I don’t go to the beach or parties because I am ashamed of not being “perfect”!
Oh, how I know that feeling.. It takes time and so much work to learn to love your body, and it all starts with realizing there is no such thing as perfection.
I am so happy if I helped you at least a little bit <3
Your article is awesome, keep it up
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you like it!
Fantastic article. The girls are still amazing . And we don’t feel as inadequate. Win win
Comparison can be a real challenge when it comes to fitness, but it’s important to remember that everyone’s journey is unique.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this! Thank you to all who shared HONESTLY! ❤️
So glad you like it!!! <3
So needed this today – I exercise most days so I’m healthy but feel like look like sit on couch all day. I’m sure I’d notice the difference if I did and I do it for me , but I’m so insecure about my body that I ridicule myself before anyone else get the chance to I always go as the “joke” to fancy dress parties never the sexy one- social media can make self exception important at times because of all the perfect images so nice to see reality which is also beautiful.
So glad to hear this!!!
Can’t thank you enough. Big sigh of relief. Neither crazy nor ugly. In with the In Crowd. Thank you, ladies. Xoxo. Liz
So glad you like my article! <3
I think you’re great!! A very important message for women today. Keep up the good work!
Thank you so much!!
Very good information.
Thanks
Young teens males and fully grown men have stretch marks, too; hips shoulders, chest, arms, behind the knees, and lower back. Depends on what which body parts grew the fastest; bulking up with muscles, and even getting fat stretches their skin, too!
Thank you for sharing this.
Love this so much! Took the link and shared with my daughters and my nieces
Thank you so much!!!
I can’t even describe how much better I feel about myself after reading your article! I now know I look normal! Thank you! :)
OMG I’m so happy to hear this! Thank you so much, your comment made my day! <3
It’s so nice to have these things confirmed, acknowledged and shared. It is encouraging and brings about self acceptance, knowing that all of this is such a common thing. I have been able to maintain my weight and dress size most of my adult life, with the exception being pregnant. I have multiple food intolerances, as well as having had a hysterectomy. I’m also approaching 40. Factoring these things into how my body changes, I’m essentially happy and confident in my own skin, most of the time. I used to have really poor body image, but in order for my kids to have self acceptance, self respect, self love and self compassion, I needed to lead by example, if they were to ever truly have these things for another person. We use the term ‘lifestyle’ instead of diet. We focus on health and well-being, instead of looking a certain way. I have raised them to believe that food is medicine and our bodies are worthy of looking after and that discipline is the key to remaining in a state of wellness. A strong body and a healthy attitude towards ourselves is so important.
I’m so happy to read your comment and glad you are past the poor body image. And I’m so proud to hear about the things you are teaching your children <3
We should all do that! Thank you for your amazing comment <3