It was enhanced, I believe that's what you're asking. First time trying that, obviously. The original isn't that much different though. Slightly less full maybe? I will provide the first take for more transparency. Even as is, they still beat my old stick boy arms by a mile. All my favorite shirts are now tight though 🥲. I honestly just suck at taking gym photos, but I sure know how to lift shit.
Dude - just post photos as you actually are. It is a sad world when people are "enhancing" their digital images so much in order to feel better about themselves in real life...
Ok man 👌
Although that's almost like telling a photographer not to edit their photos or a graphic designer not to manipulate photos. I believe we all should be smart enough to not believe everything we see online and if anything I was just hoping to motivate somebody else to stop being lazy and get physically active. I also think we all deserve to be able to do what we want to our images and it is 100% within your rights to not like it as well.
For all I know you got catfished by a girl who had overly edited photos and that's where your trauma lies. Hell, it's happened to me before. That or you just don't want anybody to have bigger muscles than you 😜
All jokes aside I respect what you say even though I don't agree with it fully. Will I do something like this again in the future, nope. I do invite you to look through any of my other photos for another instance like this. I personally wouldn't waste my time with such a silly task but every bit of my fitness progress is on chain. All I'm saying is I had never "enhanced" my gym photos in the past. You weren't there for those though, at least not to my knowledge.
You never know who you are dealing with online. For all you know, I could be some dude who got made fun of for being skinny most of his life and still struggles with body dysmorphia despite clear strength gains. Me though? No never. I didn't have a 3-4 year phase of anorexia when I was starving myself as a vegan. Nope, certainly not me.
It's all love man. I'll happily shake your hand and share a drink if I ever get to meet you at a future HiveFest or another gathering.
Motivating people with enhanced photos isn't really motivating though, is it?
Hard to use a filter meeting face to face. I see online dating for those who struggle in reality. There are a whole cluster of real-world social skills that I believe the digital generations are missing out on, which is why they are getting catfished in the first place, and struggling to build and hold quality relationships.
Why start enhancing them like this? Why not be happy with whatever gains you actually made? You talk about confidence, but your images tell a different story to the audience, as they speak of insecurity.
Dude, you think you are the only one in the world with issues? If avoiding whatever issues you actually have makes you feel better, go for it. But, choosing to put it online in a public sphere opens you up to judgement, and people will judge.
But, the problem isn't with people's judgement, it is about caring what they think, right?
And sure, I will have a drink with you at a HF for certain.
It can be if they perceive it authentically and then in turn push themselves. Something real is better though.
Face-to-face meetings are usually the best, but I've had some wild success online as well. I like to do both to increase my odds of finding somebody worthwhile.
I got a FB ad for some app that does it and thought why not try it. Already deleted it though because it is not needed and tries to charge for everything after your first photo.
You can have whatever opinion of me that you'd like. I'm happy in life and that's what matters to me. Keep judging and I'll keep chugging along just fine. I can handle a little critique and always learn from my mistakes.
This is the problem with all of the advertising, isn't it? This is what is causing a lot of the body-dysmorphia issues, as people aspire to be something that is impossible, because they believe it to be real.
Depends what the definition of success is perhaps.
You do you - regardless of the critique.
The replies here just keep getting more cringe, feels like an episode of The Office.
Yes. It is not getting better, but at least perhaps there is a perspective shift. I don't think motivating and inspiring others through lies of achievements is a sign of health or confidence.
It's only going to get worse. The deep fakes are going to (and probably already are) messing with our minds to a degree that we may never be able to reverse.
Although it didn't work out in the end, I did just get out of a 2.5-year relationship with somebody pretty amazing who I did initially meet online.
It's more akin to lying and fraud.
An edited gym selfie or deep fakes?
editing gym pics then saying look at my gains, especially with rewards.
I'd agree with you if I hadn't gotten any gains at all. They were very slightly exaggerated this one time. I straight-up agree with you that it was a weak move and you can bet I won't feel the need to do it again. In the original and edited photo both there is a stark difference compared to my 140lb self who never stepped into a gym before.
Before and after the edit.
Sure, it was lame to do. I'm ready to move on from it.
This next photo is from before I started strength training.
You are smart for telling me to cut the edits, trust me I agree with you there. However, you cannot say I have failed to grow during this period of training. The message I was trying to put out there is still the same. Don't be a lazy bum and do something to better your body so it doesn't crumble away earlier than it has to. I stand by that just have to go about it better in the future.
I honestly didn't think anybody cared this much about my gym pics.
Really not the point.
While it has no impact on my life how big your muscles are (unless of course you are going to help me move), it's disingeous, on a platform where this is an ongoing problem, it's just not good.