Reality check: Blogger shows how ‘perfect bodies’ on Instagram are often manipulated

If you have felt jealous of those seemingly fit people on social media, this is for you. A health blogger juxtaposes images to expose how different angles can change perception of a person’s body.

fitness Updated: Jul 28, 2017 10:41 IST

HT Correspondent

Different angles show Sara Puhto as thin or as having a paunch. (Courtesy: Saggysara/Instagram)

In a world obsessed with the “hourglass body” or the “perfect booty”, Instagram reflects our beliefs. So, a cursory scroll might make you feel insecure about your body. But what if the images are modified and shot smartly to reflect an alternate reality?

Booty pop 🍑🌿 I was scrolling through my old photos and came across these photos where I was trying to take one of those sandy bum pics 😬 I posted the right one back in January, but the left is the reality behind that photo ☺️ I still sometimes get a slight pang of sadness and jealousy when I see all the big beautiful bums on instagram and wish I could magically have what they have. Because sometimes I feel like all my booty gains are gone when I take photos where it looks smaller, but then I remember that I shouldn't compare my body to theirs. I have a great booty and so do they! It's all about posing/angles and nobody looks like that all the time. There's nothing wrong with posting a good photo of your booty, you should post it if you feel like it! Just remember that when you're scrolling through social media and see all the posed bums that you too have a great bum and that nobody looks like that 24/7 ☺️ It seems like big butts are the thing that so many people want currently. But remember that you don't need a big booty to be beautiful. All butts are good butts ☺️ All of our bodies are different and you don't need a specific body type to fit into what society defines as beautiful!! It's stressful and so messed up that body parts and types are going in and out of style- before it was being really thin, now it's having a big booty. That shouldn't be a thing. It causes so much stress and self hate to people who do not have these things. I know it's hard but instead of trying to obtain these things, love how you look now. Not how you'll look if you loose X amount of weight or get a bigger booty. Because trust me when you get to those things you'll just want something more. Be comfortable in your own skin no matter what angle, posed or unposed, and you'll radiate beauty! 🌴☀️ ------------------------------------------ . . . #bopowarrior #bootypop #allbodiesaregoodbodies #bootyfordays #bootybuilding #instagramvsreallife #beforeafter #selfconfidence #youareyou #dontchange #acceptyourself #bodypositive #lawofattraction #everyoneisbeautiful #selflove #bepresent #findyourself #dontcare #cellulite #effyourbeautystandards

A post shared by Sara Puhto (@saggysara) on Jul 27, 2017 at 3:26am PDT

Sara Puhto, a 20-year-old Finish health blogger, demystifies the fitness trends on Instagram and Facebook and encourages a more body-positive view. On her Instagram feed, she shows how different angles can change the way you look, sometimes quite dramatically.

Instagram vs real life 💁🏼🌿 If I saw the photo on the left a year ago I would've instantly thought so negatively about my body, that all my hard work from working out was non existent, that if someone looked at me they would've never thought I've been working out for 2 years and think I wasn't trying hard enough. But the thing is is that all bodies look different. Nobody's booty looks round and peachy from all angles. Nobody's body looks the same from all angles. Don't eat less or miss out on your favorite meals/drinks or over exercise to "look good for a holiday" or to "look good in bikini photos" because there will always be angles that are "unflattering" that might make you feel bad when you see them. Instead workout and eat healthy because it makes you feel good, not as a punishment. Start loving and accepting your body at all angles with all your "flaws", instead of trying to fit into societies image of 'beauty' because that image isn't inclusive of all individuals, which is so messed up. Don't hate yourself just because of bad photos, they do not define you as a person. You look the best when you're living life to the fullest and happiest. There's no point in missing out on things and stressing yourself out so much. Life isn't meant to be a competition on who can look the best and we should normalize not having to "look perfect" all the time because it's a ridiculous concept. You are perfect the way you are 🌴☀️ ------------------------------------------ . . . #instagramvsreallife #beforeandafter #lawofattraction #bodypositive #bekindtoyourself #lifeisgreat #dowhatyoulove #veganbooty #youareenough #progressnotperfection #bodyimage #vegansofig #girlswhoworkout #selflove #youarebeautiful #veganfitness #loa #fitnessjourney #bopo #bodyacceptance #bodyconfidence #effyourbeautystandards #bepresent #justbe #moderation #balanceddiet #staypositive #thinkpositive

A post shared by Sara Puhto (@saggysara) on Jul 8, 2017 at 5:09am PDT

“There’s nothing wrong with posting a good photo of your booty, you should post it if you feel like it! Just remember that when you’re scrolling through social media and see all the posed bums that you too have a great bum and that nobody looks like that 24/7...” reads one of her posts.

She goes on to add, “All of our bodies are different and you don’t need a specific body type to fit into what society defines as beautiful!! (sic)”

Period bloating 💁🏼🌿 If you feel like you're gonna get offended or grossed out by this post then please stop reading now 😊 On the left is me a month ago not on my period (my periods are irregular) and on the right is me on my period! I'm sucking in my belly as much as I can in both photos, to show that the period bloat doesn't go away, even when you suck in and I found this is the most accurate way to compare the bloat 😬 For all my people with periods out there, you need to know It's completely normal to bloat before and on your period! You can gain anywhere from 0.2-4.5kg from water retention while on your period so don't even worry about your weight!!! Also other factors like hormones affect weight, so just know that you'll be okay, you're not fat or ugly, you haven't gained fat, it's just your period! I wanted to let you guys know that even though I preach body positivity and loving yourself, I still get days before/on my period, where I think I've gained so much fat, think I'm ugly and feel guilty for eating unhealthy snacks. But please remember that that's just your hormones and body preparing for your period that's making you feel like that. You are still beautiful and amazing!! That weight gain is just water retention or bloating, it'll be gone in a few days and don't feel bad for eating whatever you're craving, cause you're shedding your old uterus lining out your vagina, it's a lot to go through, so you eat those snacks!!!!!! And if anyone tells you, you look gross or are gross for having your period, then just walk away, you don't need that kind of negativity in your life 🙌🏼 don't even get me started on period cramps, if anyone tells you you're weak for complaining about cramps, smear your blood on them and tell them they're weak for freaking out about a little blood and walk away (jk please don't do that). Just know that period cramps vary from person to person, from no/few cramps to omfg I'm going to die and throw up everywhere from this pain, so don't judge or compare pain. Periods are a tough thing to go through and vary from person to person. Just know that it's perfectly normal and you are a strong and beautiful person!! 🌴☀️

A post shared by Sara Puhto (@saggysara) on Mar 25, 2017 at 3:55am PDT

Her aim is to tell viewers that no one is perfect, not even the fitness fanatics on Instagram and it’s all about being true to your body. Her images reflect the reality of sagging butts, a paunch, and cellulite which are often hidden through flattering angles.

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First Published: Jul 28, 2017 10:41 IST