and if anything I was just hoping to motivate somebody else to stop being lazy and get physically active
Motivating people with enhanced photos isn't really motivating though, is it?
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.
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.
All I'm saying is I had never "enhanced" my gym photos in the past.
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.
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.
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.