These photos were taken 3 minutes apart.

Those Instagram selfies don’t always speak the truth about women’s bodies…

A UK-based fitness blogger and personal trainer just explained before and after weightloss photos cannot always be trusted.

“Even I have been guilty of only posting the most flattering selfies but don’t trust what you see,” Sophie Kay wrote on her blog, The Fitology Way.

“All I did in the 3 minutes between the two photos was to turn off the overhead light, put on underwear that fit better, twist my body slightly to the side to show off my best angle, flex and, of course, add a filter.”

New blog post up debunking some fitness myths that have been annoying me recently (link in bio). Number 1 is how easy it is to fake a fitness selfie! These two photos were taken 3 minutes apart but could be mistaken for a ‘before & after’ shot. Don’t trust everything you see… #fitfam #fitspo #fitness #fitbride #fitasfuck #selfie #transformation #fitnessblogger #ukfitblogs #personaltrainer #abs #muscles #strength #girlswholift #strongnotskinny #quads #thick #blogging #fitology

A photo posted by Sophie Kay (@fitology_uk) on Jun 11, 2015 at 6:25am PDT

Who knew that a change of underwear, a smile and an Instagram filter could transform you from Sad Sally to Wonder Woman?

“Don’t pay much attention to those ‘before and after’ shots!” Sophie warns.

The faux-sexy selfie tricks are well-known to insiders.

Posing is practically a sport with all the effort that goes into to getting it right. Chances are, the person that posted that incredible Instagram selfie just spent an hour in front of the mirror, and a year of weekly practice.

StyleCaster once published an entire article on perfecting the pose:

“Although it’s always preferable to stand in photos, if you happen to be sitting when someone comes at you with a camera, be sure to cross your legs at your ankles—your thighs and calves will look slimmer.”

Oh dear.

The Telegraph also called out fashion bloggers for peddling the “pigeon toe” — turning your feet in to make your legs appear thinner — and the “teapot arm” — putting your hand on your hip to eliminate what some would call “tuckshop lady arms”.

IT’S ALL LIES, PEOPLE.

Don’t be fooled into thinking this is #fitspo. I’d like to see these people post photos of their food babies after devouring an entire bowl of nachos.

The message is: don’t trust everything you see on Instagram — especially not when it comes to your health and your body image.

Do you think it’s fair to “alter” your selfies?

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