Change Our Fitspo. Change the world.
There are some blog posts that just mean more to you than others. Not to say that I think any are less important or that I put less effort into writing them, but only that they strike a chord with me in a different way.
One such of these blog posts was the wrap up to my first ChangeOurFitspo project. I put a call out to my community of readers and fellow bloggers to take their most hated fitspo image and edit it in some way to make it true…to make it POSITIVE.
Because that’s exactly what fitspo isn’t. Fitspo isn’t motivating. It isn’t inspirational. It presents a false depiction of reality and sets unachievable standards for our bodies and mind. Fitspo uses shame tactics to guilt us into intense exercise or strict eating practices.
Point blank…it’s HARMFUL.
But it doesn’t have to be! WE can change it. And once again, with the support of all of you, I am proving that to be true.
Today is round 2 of the Change Our Fitspo project and you all came in BIG. We have more images than last time and more support than ever before. Let’s make this message go viral, friends!
It needs to be heard. Women (and MEN!) need to know they no longer need to be taunted and tormented by images on their screens. They are enough, they matter, and they have more to offer this world than the shape and size of their body, the intensity of their workout, or the “cleanness” of their diet. And so do YOU!
My images |
Via Kaylin | Via Smitha |
Via Lauren |
Via Margaret |
Via Kerri |
Via Cayanne |
Via Cassi |
Pretty powerful, right?
THESE are the messages that need to be heard.
Size, strength, tone, thinness, thickness…they don’t determine your worth. They don’t measure how needed you are in this world, how you have an innate ability to make people laugh, or how caring you are. They don’t give you value. They don’t make people love you more or less. They are arbitrary measures that society has equated with worth and self-esteem.
Well that ends today! And YOU can help.
Please tweet, pin, email, share, and send this post around to everyone and anyone you think could benefit from reframing their thoughts on fitspo!
Let’s Change Our Fitspo, friends!
What are your thoughts on fitspo?
Have you found yourself being negatively impacted by the messages that are conveyed in these types of images?
Who will YOU share this post with today?
PS: The winner of my Thunderbird Giveaway has been announced! Check to see if it’s you!

Linking up with TOL & Jill Conyers.
I love these fitspo images so much! You did an excellent job, Kaila! Thank you for reaching out to us and allowing me to be a part of this project this time around. 🙂
Love it, Kaila!
This is such an important project, and all of these images are so good.
Thank you Catherine!
These are amazing! I love this project!
Thank you Erin!!
Such an amazing post, I love this project so much!! xoxo
Thank you Alyssa!!
I loved this post so much – I really need to be more aware of the negative garbage I read, and how it affects me!
Thank you so much for reading Meg!
Thank you so much!! This confirms (in my mind anyway) that my choice to leave Beachbody as a coach. One of the main reasons was that their video ‘leaders’ exercise to the point of exhaustion and then are ill.
I will be pointing the way back to normalcy and acceptance full force with these images. Thanks to all who have the ability and creativity to do them (sadly I do not).
Yes, I am not a big Beach Body fan either. To each their own, but for the most part I don’t like the messages they promote and the images of men and women they put out in society. Unrealistic, unattainable.
Love seeing everyones “fitspo makeovers” ! Thanks for letting me be a part of this project!
So welcome! Thank you for your contribution!
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Thank YOU for reading!!
you’re soo awesome!! Good GOD i am so sick of these fitspo images. I also HATE when i go to the popular page on Instagram and STILL some stick thin model is racking up thousands of likes and comments from girls saying how they want her legs. Like… what?! i’m sorry. it kills me. Keep pushing this girl, it’s so important!
Thank you so much Beverly! I can see that you’re passionate about this too!
Hi Kaila,
Thanks for sharing this project with us and for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted!
I am happy you stopped by to check it out! Thank you Marla!
Congrats on an awesome round-up! I love all these <3 Such good messages!
Thank you for your support Emilie!
I LOVE this. I love this so much <3
I LOVE that you love this!! Thank you for taking the time to read, Nat!
This is such an awesome initiative! Sometimes, we just don’t realize how harmful a lot of that “fitness inspiration” actually is. It’s incredibly important to send out a positive message to everyone who is just starting a health and fitness journey.
Thank you so much Fabiola!! I LOVE your name BTW….so unique! I am glad you liked the post. <3
This is such an important message that needs to be shared over and over and over again.
Thank you so much Diana! I appreciate the shares!!
You’re amazing, and so are these images ?
Thank you Ellen! <3
I love, love, LOVE these! Fitness motivations usually make me feel bad that I can’t work out any harder. I already struggle with body-love so these are right up my alley. Thank you!
Visiting from Ultrablog.
Thank you so much for stopping by Patricia! I am glad this resonated with you. 🙂
Kaila you always have great posts but you totally rocked it with this one! For me? yes a little. More so for my 17 year old daughter. She’s amazing and doesn’t seem to be caught up in the fitspo movement (notice I didn’t say fitspo inspiration). I feel like I fight this social media battle everyday.
That is so awesome! It’s so nice to hear about a teen who doesn’t let herself be affected by that! That’s your doing, Jill! 🙂
This post is right on point. I think that was you do encourages, while the other discourages. I believe in balance and the changeourfitsbo movement empowers that.
Thank you Kay!
Thank you so much for this! It was much needed today 🙂
I am so happy it found you at the right time!
I love this so much, and this comes at a great time for me http://wholisticwoman.com/dreaded-regain-and-changing-our-fitspo/
I am honored that you wrote about my post! Going to check it out now!!!! Thank you.
Love this!! It reminds me of all of the fitness instagrams where women MUST have butt implants because there’s no way they look that good… naturally. Sharing!
Thank you Carly! Glad you liked it!
I love this movement, Kaila! <3 I really think raising others up is way, way more effective than tearing others down.
I especially like the "if you're too busy to work out, then breathe and focus on your other priorities" switchup! (That's especially relevant to my life right now!)
Thank you so much for your support Farrah!
Google’s being evil about your site again.
What do you mean!? 🙁
Hi, thank you for sharing with #CookBlogShare but the linky is just for food recipe posts. However this post would be ideal for my new #Slimmerseeker linky which is more weight loss, fitness, general health and well being linky. You can find it here http://www.hijackedbytwins.com/2016/01/slimmerseeker-thursday-week-1.html x
Oh I am so sorry! I didn’t realize! I will add it there on Thursday!! Thanks for letting me know. 🙂
I am blown away by this Kaila! Thanks so much for sharing this over at Let’s Get Real. I see this fitness messaging all of the time and I didn’t realize how it was affecting me until I saw your changes. You will have me thinking about this for quite some time. This post will be a great starting place to have a discussion with my 10 year old daughter.
OMG I am so happy you liked this post! Thank you so much for your kind words! Please share with your daughter. I think young girls especially need to hear this message!
Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
Welcome!
Love your post! Every time I see the “normal” fitspo images, I have to admit I feel bad and envy the skinny girls a little bit. But skinny is not healthy, you’re right! It’s a very important message for all the young girls who grow up with Instagram and social media.
The world that kids are forced to grow up in nowadays is a scary one. That’s why I am hoping this message spreads far and wide!
I love this! Sometimes I see these fitspo things on Instagram or Pinterest and I’m just like.. wtf. I love your edits!!
My reaction exactly! So frustrating to see so many of these circulating online!
THIS is such a fantastic thing youve started!! I wish THESE were the images floating around when I was a teenager. It wouldve saved me years of belittling, self-hate and insecurities.
Thank you Kat!! I am glad you like it!
These are so good! Love this message x
Thank you for taking the time to read!
I am always looking for inspiration to keep going! Great reminders and laughs!
Thanks Jennifer!
[…] Healthy Helper […]
Love all of the positivity! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Savoring Saturdays linky party! Have a great rest of the week!
So welcome! Thanks for reading!
[…] Change Our Fitspo [Round 2] […]
I’ve seen several of these original photos, but there are plenty more I had no idea existed. They’re awful. I LOVE what y’all have done to remove the shame and self-hate from these!
Thanks for linking up with The Alder Collective! Your posts have been pinned to our group board. We hope to see you next week at 8 pm EST!
Thank you for stopping by and reading this important post!
I love that you did this! These are awesome and very inspiring =)
I’m sorry I didn’t get around to contributing – I hope you do this again sometime soon!
Thank you for contributing to positive body image culture!!
Totally okay! You can help the movement by sharing far and wide! 🙂
Awesome post! I have recently been shifting my mindset in the direction you are talking about in this post. I am so glad I found your blog!
Thanks Desirae! Happy you stopped by!
Loving this movement Kaila. Visiting from BCI Link Up.
Thank you so much Gina!!
I do like these images, I think that society portrays the perfect image and much more of us should rebel against it! Thank you for sharing with #Slimmerseeker the linky will be live tomorrow and I hope to see you there again x
Welcome! Thanks for hosting!
I LOVE YOUR CAUSE and count me in. I love the message that you are trying to spread. When I lost weight , I was actually shy to “announce” or even share it with friends and family. I do not want them to misunderstood why I decided to take charge of my health. It took me a great amount of courage to share, the weight I lost because I do not want to spread the wrong message. I hate fat shaming ( because I got teased a lot too) and I am very sensitive to people who wanted to take charge of their health but do not know where to start and do not have the budget to do so. Rest assured that I will be using your images on my social media account.
By the way, lol Thank you for sharing this over at the Bloggers Spotlight Link Party. I appreciate you stopping by every single week! hope to see you again! PInned!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I am so honored that you’re going to support the project!!! Thank you thank you.
[…] people have decided to try and change it, like Kalia from The Healthy Helper because it is damaging even to the healthy. Some people have created their own community and […]
[…] common mantras floating around the fitness world, […]
Hi,
This post is very similar to what I’ve been thinking about for months. So so so much mental, physical, social etc. struggle can go on behind the scenes, behind the flexed selfies, flattering clothes and glamorous photoshoots, and we just don’t see it. If you, or anyone reading this, would like to anonymously share your story, experience, or summarise it in a sentence, you can privately message me on Instagram: @_sustainablemiss . This will be part of a one week series intended to highlight individual realities. #fakefitfiles
I’ll encourage my readers to consider submitting their stories!
That would be awesome 🙂