Pinterest. Ahhh. Isn’t it beautiful? It has given women (and men!) everywhere a refresh on life! I’ve really enjoyed setting up my boards and finding cute, practical things for my life. I think Pinterest is “eye candy” in it’s best form.
I look for many things to put up on facebook or twitter from Pinterest. I love the motivational quotes and beautiful pictures that display them. However, I’m seeing a trend. In an attempt to be motivating, I’m finding a lot of pictures popping up with “hot”, toned women in minimal clothing.
I see two sides to this but I want to know what you think?
Things that go through my mind:
♦ Do they provide motivation for you?
♦ What is it about them that provide such motivation?
♦ Do they affect your self-esteem?
♦ How much skin is too much skin?
♦ What example does this set for younger generations?
♦ Should we be judging anyone who is dressed like this?
♦ What factor does the opposite sex play into it?
♦ How do those who struggle/have struggled with eating disorders feel when seeing them?
This is a real issue, be it on Pinterest, exercise DVDs or at the gym. I have my own thoughts on these but for now, I want to leave the discussion amongst you all.
Please “weigh” in! What do you think of them? Answer some of my questions I have listed above and let me know what you think!
I have been disappointed in some of the things posted and wish I could control it more as some of the pictures are not something I want to look at much less have my eight year old daughter see if she walks in the room. I don’t mind the ones that are dress in workout clothes and show muscles and fitness but when they are barely clothes, clothes are tight, or in provocative poses I don’t like it. It does nothing for my self esteem
Spot on. I actually just joined this week. Unfortunately I’ve already been seeing these ‘toned’ pictures along with ‘inspiration’ images on many of the blogs I read. I joined for the artsy/crafty/decor side of myself.
I find myself feeling disgruntled with my own body when I view these images. There is no story behind the image — like that the woman is probably a full-time sports model who works out for a LIVING. That does not related to the everyday working woman or mom.
I was also disturbed when I saw pictures of nearly naked guys on the site too (just during some browsing last night!).
Let’s just stick to the arts and crafts. Please!
Holly, sorry to break it to you, but pinterest is NOT just for arts and crafts. (you might want to take a minute and look beyond your self-centered world view)
Pinterest is pin-board… long before this virtual version, women (and men) have been collecting images that are meaningful to them. For people like you, I assume this means only arts/crafts. For most people this includes a variety of topics.
If you don’t want to see certain types of pictures, learn how to use the filters at the top, and take advantage of the types of boards you are following. It’s pretty simple.
Sarah, go easy on her. Kind encouraging words go further than harsh worlds.
I joined pinterest for the recipes, craft ideas and quotes and such. It is starting to turn into something different. I think we can write to Pinterest and let them know how we feel and that might help. I’m starting to see a lot more naked pictures. Facebook used to have bumper stickers that started off cute and fun, but then quickly turned into porn and other obscene stuff. People wrote in and they just got rid of the bumper stickers.
I dont get motivation from looking at other womens bodies. I know my body is not suppose to look like that and I’m okay with that. I get motivation from encouraging words. My strength comes from the Lord. It doesn’t take long for the sinful nature of the world to creep into something intended for good.
Robin you just insipired me to email them. Great idea!
When I had lunch with my best friend on Tuesday she asked me if I was on Pinterest and I told her that I was purposely not getting into that because I do not have time in my life for anything more that takes more time away from my family. I have chosen instead to read blogs that focus on my interests and help me on my faith walk – such as Women Living Well, Good Morning Girls, Time-warp wife, Grace Full Mama, The Better Mom, Simple Mom and Money Saving Mom.
I have a 3 year old daughter that I try to protect from some of the images that our society finds beautiful. My daughter is naturally thin and people tell her often how beautiful she is but I have trouble with that because I want her to find her true beauty in Christ and not in what the world defines as beauty. I have found even that I will not be re-subscribing to some magazines because they focus so much on the outside appearance and not the physical health and wellness of the body.
I think the pics are very annoying, and I don’t want my kids walking in and seeing a lot of what’s being posted. I haven’t been on Pinterest long, but it is, unfortunately, floating towards the same sewer system that Facebook is in. I don’t care when someone is showing workout moves in workout clothing that’s somewhat short. But, sticking your booty 30 degrees west and your fake chest 40 degrees east just makes my somewhat digested eggs want to come back up.
What I do find immensely motivating are some of the quotes and the pictures of outfits/accessories! I will never be as small as the sizes they post, and I don’t have a problem with that, but those pics make my little heart scream for muscles and summertime!
I have two ideas about this. While I am not on pinterest, as Clare says whether it’s there or not does it provide motivation? Yes and No. If it is a big busted woman with hardly a bikini on in some seductive pose I would tend to write it off and not have an interest, it would not motivate me at all. But if it is a well toned woman with workout clothes that show she is in shape and healthy that is motivation! Especially if I am looking at them because I am looking to learn something about excerise from them. I would not put much stock on someone who was severly overweight and not healthy looking to be able to help my with exersise and being healthy. So as in everything there is a balance to be had. That’s my 2 cents 😉
I just joined pinterest last week and as I browsed some of the fitness pins, I had the same reaction. A lot of the posts about women’s fitness include material that I find very questionable. Currently, I’m in a bible study going through Tim Keller’s “Counterfeit Gods” book on idolatry and I have been thinking of how easily fitness/appearance can become an idol in women’s lives, having a great body that is “better” than everyone else’s, to be noticed by men and women alike, etc. I’m not above the desire to want to look good and have my hard work with diet and exercise validated by a nice-looking body. But I think these images can be very damaging to both men and women, especially young girls who are being told that physical attractiveness is the way to find significance in life. To women who have children and busy lives, the photos can be discouraging, making us think that we will never measure up until we have a firm butt and washboard abs on top of raising our families and keeping our homes. I admit I’ve had to take those thoughts to God myself and confess them as sin. My significance can only be found in my relationship with Christ. I want to say thank you to you, Clare, for being such an encouraging voice in the world of fitness blogs and striking a good balance between caring for our bodies and walking with the Lord in the day-to-day. I’ve been following your blog for a few months and I pinned Peak 313 to my board. Keep up the good work and great posts!
Not on Pinterest. Yet.
For a short time, I followed a blog that is run by two young women who are often very minimally dressed. I think it motivated me in an unhealthy way because I began to lust after looking like them. As a young mom, I’ve entered the reality that my body is forever changed–and yet every time I look at or think of my son, I am so grateful that God allowed me to carry one of his children.
It is hard for me when these images are pinned because I struggle with judging the pinner and the model. Yet, my heart is burdened for these women who are trying to emulate these unrealistic pictures. I agree with the above comments that it is a distraction from finding our worth in Christ.
That’s why I am so grateful for this blog. I love your more modest workout clothes and pictures, while still being motivated to be healthy and toned like you show us 🙂
The media is so saturated with these images of “beauty” that is is hardly a surprise that it has appeared on Pinterest. I chose for myself to unfollow some of these pinners who were repeatedly posting images that were not helping me glorify God.
I think self ratings will become mandated on pinterest eventually, like gravatar. You think?
Hey Clare 🙂 It’s been a long time!
I keep trying to post a comment, but it won’t let me. I will just say this: I’m not on pinterest, but this is the exact reason why I ended my account on fb.
I so appreciate everyone’s viewpoint on this. I just joined Pinterest. But, after reading these comments, am challenged to consider its impact in my life. Thanks Clare!
Indeed, there is a lot to think about here. No, they don’t provide me with motivation. For me, exercise is about health, not body. It took me a while to get to that point. I coveted those toned, s*xy bodies when I saw them, and wanted one myself. But we’re not supposed to covet anything, and what is focusing on the shape of my body all the time going to do for me? Nothing good, I have found. My focus needs to be on the Lord, my family, my health, and so on…not what my body looks like. So, learning new exercise techniques or routines is great, but just images of s*xy bodies, NOPE, not good.
It sets a horrible example for younger generations. The percentage of teens today with eating disorders is growing at a very scary rate, and cases with girls as young as 7 are now being reported. The media’s obsession with body type has harmed our girls (and boys) and is teaching them to find worth in looks, rather than who they are as a person.
No, we are not to judge these people. The Bible specifically says to not judge the world. That is God’s job. Love will get us much further into the hearts of people, than criticism and judgement will. We do however, have to judge how much of their influence we allow into our homes.
As for skin, I don’t like shorts or skirts above the knee, I don’t like seeing bellies, and I don’t want to see cleavage of any kind. Tank tops don’t bother me, but I DO NOT want to see cleavage. I can’t tell you how much of it is on display even in churches on Sunday morning, and it just saddens me so much, and angers me sometimes. It’s not always the younger women doing it either.
It’s just something we are continually going to have to deal with, and it will just keep getting worse until the Lord finally returns one day. But we do have a lot of control over how much we let this stuff into our homes, and the lives of our children. It’s something we need to be very prayerful about.