Weve all seen those transformation photos of people going from pufferfish-like bellies toenviously defined abs.
You may have mused, I wish I could get to that After picture, too.
Oh, but it’s possible for you to.
Without actually being close to that great a shape, in fact.
Its not honest, but marketers do it, and hot damn, you will lookfabulous.
Sometimes evil is justified, and other times, knowing evil means knowing how to beat it.
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you’re able to get resultsjust like Sally!
the ad exclaims, hoping you wont notice the fine print that says results not typical.
And the unfortunate truth is: those photos work.
Yes, most of the year their physiques are still above average but just not quite photo shoot ready.
Dont worry, this will make sense soon.
The next part is weird but necessary, trust me.
Just a shade or two darker than your natural skin color for your muscle definition to peep through.
For a little extra help with that, apply some fat.
In the form of oil, that is.
Heck, bust out asmany push-ups as you canif theres no dumbbell around.
That way when you take your picture your musclesreallypop and earn theohhsandahhsyou so deserve.
You just have to get your pose and lighting right.
The video above brilliantly demonstrates the importance of lighting and your pose in a photo.
The right lighting makes a huge difference in how you lookmore than you might know.
Your main goal here is to cast shadows on your body to accentuate your muscles.
Think dark and moody lighting.
As soon as you’re free to see muscles you didnt even know existed, its perfect.
Dont face the camera head-on with your hands hanging limp at your sides.
Maybe even hold something and pretend youre working out with it.
As you take your picture, flex your abs and muscles as hard as you possibly can.
Oh, and smile.
Dont forget to show everyone how happy you are.
The goal is to make your before photo as unflattering as possible by simply reverse engineering it.
Step One: Eat
Yes, youre allowed to eat now.
Its not uncommon for fitness models to go a little overboard after a period of deprivation.
Its very likely youll immediately feel bloated, slightly ill, and have a very obvious food bulge.
Hey, youre on the right track.
If youre still slicked up in oil, wash that gross stuff off.
That means no power poses or even a smile.
Youre miserable, remember?
You still want it to be convincing.
Going from broomstick legs to elephant trunks is an easy way for this whole facade to come crashing down.
There you have it.
You now have a before and after photo to share with the social media world!
Apply a filter if you want, too.
Fortunately, other people wont know that, andthats the point.
Not all before and after photos are fake.
In all seriousness though, before and after photos arent all bad.
If used correctly, they can actually be a fantastic tool totrack your weight loss and fitness progress.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
