If you have amassed around 300,000 followers on Instagram, you must be doing something right. At least, that’s what seems to be the case for Sarah Puhto or @saggysara as she’s known on Instagram.
This health and body positivity blogger has not only been spreading well-meaning messages to her Instagram followers, but also revealing Instagram tricks some use to make themselves look better, and it’s so refreshing to see.
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Sarah’s “Instagram vs Reality” series of photos is a great inside look at what some people go through to achieve that perfect Instagrammable picture.
And what’s posted online is not always the truth.
She reveals that many so-called “candid” Instagram photos are actually not candid at all.
They’re just a bunch masterfully crafted images that give us the illusion of perfection.
Many of us, especially women, constantly obsess about how our bodies look.
It’s even more apparent when it comes to how others view us online, and we beat ourselves up about it.
But the truth of the matter is that depending on the time of the day and what you actually eat, your body may look different.
And that’s totally okay and normal!
If you only look at many Instagram influencers, you’d think that there’s no way a skinny girl could ever have any body fat.
That is simply not true.
Sometimes, all it takes is a good angle, lighting, and a professional approach to picture taking.
It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve got a perfect body to begin with.
Unfortunately, this type of “illusion” sends a wrong message to everybody out there.
There could be young girls watching and listening to what you’re showing, and getting a wrong impression.
Unless you’re working out 24/7 and never indulge a day in your life, chances are your body isn’t flawless.
That’s pretty much the case for most of us.
It’s such an unhealthy idea to be chasing perfection all the time.
It’s okay to have goals and strive to achieve them, but it’s not okay to obsess about it.
There are so many conflicting messages online about what’s healthy or not, and what’s perfection or not.
Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish right from wrong in between all the noise.
When you scroll through Instagram, you mostly see people’s photos that have been heavily retouched.
The majority of them are wearing tons of makeup to make themselves look good.
So unless you want to live your life just like that 24/7, I’ve got news for you.
Things aren’t always as they seem because everyone has flaws no matter what.
If you consider yourself worthy of love when see yourself sucking in your stomach, you should also love yourself when you see your curves.
That’s the true testament of acceptance.
Just because you look slightly different in one picture and then different in another, it doesn’t mean you’ve “let yourself go” as some say.
You’re likely just experiencing normal fluctuations.
Constantly dieting and losing weight can actually be really bad for you. You can disrupt your natural cycle and even forgo having a period.
It’s not worth it.
Many people, (myself included — I’m not gonna lie) pose sucking in that tummy when wearing a bikini.
We should just be happy with how we look and not constantly trying to make the perfect picture.
Searching for that perfect photo can be daunting.
I gotta tell you, I’m not a fan of too many candid shots, but I actually shouldn’t care so much. Do you?
Did you know that we’re meant to have body fat? No matter how skinny, fit or how much we work out?
It’s just human nature. Get used to it.
I gotta admit after birthdays or holidays, I’m not always happy with the way my body looks.
I want that flat tummy all the time. But that’s just not realistic.
Suck it in lady, suck it in. LOL. Should that always be the case?
Do we really think only skinny people have a great life? I don’t think so.
I feel like Instagram shots are only perpetuating the old way of looking at things. That only certain body types are desirable when in truth, real bodies are much sexier.
Right?
Honestly, it’s taken me some time to love the body I’m in, but even though I’m not totally there yet, I’m slowly learning to appreciate all of me.
Amen to that.
Bloggers like Sarah are helping other people learn to celebrate their bodies with their honest photos online.
It’s really awesome to see that not everyone feels they should be perfect all the time.
Accepting yourself for who you really are is the true key to happiness.
