5 Reasons I Don’t Use Before and After Photos

Photography by Opal Hour Photo

Before and after photos are everywhere in the fitness industry. They’re flashy, they’re clickable, and they’re often used as “proof” that a program works.

But at LVL Holistics, we don’t use them and that’s on purpose.

Here’s why.

1. They’re Irresponsible

As a women’s coach, I’ve seen firsthand how different bodies respond to the same plan. You could take 10 women, give them the exact same workouts, schedule, and meals, and end up with 10 different outcomes.

That’s because bodies aren’t copy-paste. There is no such thing as a “one size fits all” program—just like there’s no such thing as a “one size fits all” outfit.

When trainers post before and after photos, they erase that reality. They spotlight only one version of success while sidelining the dozens of other ways bodies can adapt, get stronger, and thrive. And research shows that when fitness is framed this narrowly, it increases the pressure to conform to one “ideal” body type instead of celebrating body diversity.

2. They Set Unrealistic Expectations

When trainers post before and after photos, they imply that if one person achieved a specific result, you should be able to as well.

But results aren’t that simple. True transformation often has very little to do with what shows up in a photograph. It’s about how you feel in your body: stronger, more energized, more confident, more capable.

And it’s not just my perspective—studies show that when women view “before and after” transformations online, they feel worse about their own progress and are more likely to experience body dissatisfaction. That’s the opposite of what fitness should create.

3. They Reduce Fitness to Aesthetics

At LVL Holistics, our coaching isn’t about chasing a certain “look.” Appearance goals are common and never shameful, but fitness is about so much more.

Movement can be joyful. Training can reduce pain and increase mobility. Exercise can improve your mental health. Those are results you can’t capture in a side-by-side photo, but they’re the ones that change lives.

Research backs this up too: people who focus on appearance-based goals are more likely to drop out of fitness programs compared to those who focus on internal motivators like energy, strength, or stress relief.

4. They Feed Cultural Obsession with Looks

Social media already shows us a constant highlight reel, filtered, and curated to perfection. The beauty and fitness industries profit from convincing us that we’re not enough.

Before and after photos play right into that system. They ask us to compare our “now” to someone else’s “after”—and studies show this kind of social comparison makes people feel less satisfied with their own bodies and less confident in their ability to succeed.

I want my clients to know the truth: you are inherently worthy. Full stop. No diet, workout plan, or “after” photo changes that.

5. They Lack Body Diversity

Before and after photos almost always reinforce the same narrative: thinner is better. That message is diet culture 101.

The reality? Bodies are diverse. Worth is not measured by a number on the scale or the size of your jeans. I don’t care how “positive” the caption is—posting before and afters still reinforces the harmful belief that shrinking your body is the ultimate goal.

And the research agrees: exposure to thin-ideal imagery is consistently linked to lower body satisfaction and higher internalized weight stigma. That’s not the message I’m interested in spreading.

A Better Way Forward

If you’re ready for a fitness program that starts with your worthiness and sees goals as more than just aesthetics you’re in the right place.

At LVL Holistics, we focus on strength, energy, mobility, confidence, and joy. Because you deserve more than a photo comparison.

References & Resources

• Samson, L., et al. (2023). Fitspiration and body image: The role of social comparison. PubMed

• Jerónimo, R., et al. (2022). Exposure to fitspiration content increases appearance comparison and focus on looks.PMC

• Bonfanti, R., et al. (2025). Social media use, appearance comparison, and body dissatisfaction: A systematic review. ScienceDirect

• Portingale, E., et al. (2024). Appearance comparison on social media and its link to eating disorder risk. Journal of Eating Disorders

• Ladwig, C., et al. (2024). The effects of fitspiration vs. body positive imagery on body satisfaction. ScienceDirect

• Thin Ideal Research Summary. Meta-analysis of exposure to thin-ideal imagery and its impact on mood, body image, and eating disorder symptoms. Wikipedia Overview

• Möri, L., et al. (2022). Media-transmitted body ideals and their impact on self-discrepancy and body dissatisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology