Infomercial trend - have you noticed?

[L Sass]

Have you noticed how folks in exercise infomercials are bigger than they used to be? Even the "after" pictures?

I'm sure this is a marketing tactic to pull in a segment of the population that is probably very out of shape and do not think they can ever get to what used to be shown as "after" shots, i.e. what I'll call thin or very fit. And if in fact it works to get people who wouldn't ever exercise to do so - then I think it's great.

But I saw the new Firm infomercial for the first this a.m. and some of those women are still quite big, saying that they are now a size 4, and sometimes a 2! Now I understand the whole vanity sizing thing! I thought one particular woman looked like a size 10 or 12 - but a 2? (Granted, the camera probably made her appear bigger. but I just wasn't buying a 2 for a second.)

And not just the Firm - but many of the ones I see now show much bigger "success stories" than we used to see (again - nothing against those people, I think it's awesome that they've accomplished so much if it's true - so please don't flame me). I also love how they re-pose foks to make them appear thinner - even our beloved P90X! They take a front shot of someone whose hips are huge, and then pose her with that 3/4 body turn as an after shot. I'd love to see an "apples to apples" angle shot. Ok - rant's over.

Lorrie

www.picturetrail.com/lsass

3 days, 60 miles, 1 cure. Check out my webpage:
http://www.the3day.org/cleveland07/lorriesassbenza808

 

[earlyexerciser]

Another reason why I love Cathe, who doesn't need any of those gimmicks to promote her product!!!

I hadn't noticed this trend, but I will be watching now! Thanks for the heads up!
Jenn

 

[Boybert]

I just love that they have a smile pasted on their face like they won a million bucks. Apparently they found the holy grail of fitness & we have all been missing out



Debbie


It's not denial. I'm just selective about the reality I accept.
-Calvin & Hobbes

 

[nspaulding3]

The other thing that I have seen on infomercials (and in magazines) is using pictures right after a woman had a baby as her "before". One of them (can't remember which, maybe a Beachbody?) in the before shot she is sitting in a wheelchair holding a baby. She is probably leaving the hospital!

Now if they compared her "after" picture to how she looked before she got pregnant I bet the difference is not as amazing.

As you said if it encourages or motivates people to exercise and get healthy that is great, but I still think it is somewhat deceptive depending on what your expectations are.

 

[nancy324]

Gee, no, I haven't noticed that at all. I'm still seeing perfect-looking people in the few infomercials I've seen. But if they're showing more realistic results, I think that's great!

 

[goldenpath]

I have noticed that too.

What I really don’t like is the before and after picture are totally different in the type of clothes, colour and pose. I really would like to see Apples compared with Apples, as well.

 

[kathryn]

>The other thing that I have seen on infomercials (and in
>magazines) is using pictures right after a woman had a baby as
>her "before". One of them (can't remember which, maybe a
>Beachbody?) in the before shot she is sitting in a wheelchair
>holding a baby. She is probably leaving the hospital!

There's one with Marla Duncan (a fitness competitor) probably about 2 days after giving birth as her 'before' picture.

Some also pay people who are in shape to get out of shape, then use their products while getting back into shape. It's much easier for someone who was once in great shape to get back into it than for someone to get their for the first time.

Also, I've seen some 'before's' that are of fitness models who got out of shape because of illness or injury (Brandy C..?).

I do think it's interesting to study exactly how infomercials, while not lying to us directly (because that would be false advertising) are presenting things in a way that would have inattentive people (that's most people!) believe some things that aren't true. Most 'gadget' infomercials use the "lose X pounds using the GADGET system" line: the "system" isn't just the gadget itself, but the diet and extra exercise that is recommended to use with it (and which is alluded to in the infintesimally small and barely legible disclaimers at the bottom of the screen).

Heck, I could sell a toothpick as a fitness device, bundle it with a diet program and recommendations to workout X days a week, and claim that my toothpick 'system' will help you lose weight and look great! (Hmmm...I could do with some extra cash...)

 

[kathryn]

>I also love how they re-pose foks to make them
>appear thinner - even our beloved P90X! They take a front
>shot of someone whose hips are huge, and then pose her with
>that 3/4 body turn as an after shot. I'd love to see an
>"apples to apples" angle shot. Ok - rant's over.

How to do your own 'before and after' shots within 2 minutes of each other:
Before, turn completely to the side, slouch, keep arms straight down at sides, let your gut hang out, frown, wear no make-up.
After: turn upper body towards the camera, to make shoulders look broader; bend bend front leg for a nicer line; suck in gut; put hands on hips; smile; put on flattering make-up.

Fake comparison photos really annoy me as well, but I see them more with skincare products. Usually, the 'before' picture is obviously taken in different lighting, which emphasizes lines and dark circles; and/or the person has a different facial expression.

Look at these: http://www.facialconcepts.com/beforeandafters.htm
They claim that the lighting is the same (even though the photographer supposedly signed an affidavit to attest to using the same lighting, it's obvious to anyone with eyes that it's not), and to make it look like there is reduction of fat under the chin, the first 'side-view' pictures are taken straight side-on, while in the second, the women are looking to the side, as if they are facing that way, but their chins are tilted a bit toward the camera. With the head-on shots, notice how the head position is just a bit different: often the chin tilted up a bit.

 

[Gayle]

>After: turn upper body towards the camera, to make shoulders
>look broader; bend bend front leg for a nicer line; suck in
>gut; put hands on hips; smile; put on flattering make-up.
>

Don't forget the spray-on tan!

 

[Amy Steppe]

Good Ole Marla.

She did a couple of layouts for Leg Show Magazine.

And Leg Show is NOT exactly mainstream if you get my drift......

 

[Amy Steppe]

And the one for bald men. It was spray paint for their bald spots!

 

[ejostling]

Oh you guys have hit them all on the head! I hate when the "before" picture is an obvious pregnancy picture. I am also very sceptical of all "after" skin care pics.

Sally

 

[Jazcam]

Kathryn your wrote "Fake comparison photos really annoy me as well"..I agree 100%. In fact I once read that some of those photos are taken in reverse. The After photo is taken early in the day (after about 24 hours of fasting and laxatives?) and then the person is told to eat alot of food. Two or three days later the Before pic is taken, at a different angle...with the stomach sticking out (holding thier breaths).

Low down :-(

 

[fitgoddess]

"Some also pay people who are in shape to get out of shape, then use their products while getting back into shape. It's much easier for someone who was once in great shape to get back into it than for someone to get their for the first time."

I have been thinking the EXACT same thing with regard to this quote...for the people they show who are BUFF after, I;m thinking, well, they must be the people who have a history of being fit in the past, as there is no way a new exerciser can get that way in just 6 months!

Also, I always like to look for after shots where people have their hands covering their love handles! If I cover my love handles with my hands, I too can look like I have no love handles. Also, if I really stretch my torso upward, I too can look like I have no remnants of belly bulge! I also look carefully to see where the pants waistline is placed, as for me, if the waistband it place just below the belly button, I have flat abs...but raise the waistband to just above the belly button or about an inch below the belly button, and I have a pooch!