Why your fitness routine doesn’t have to be worthy of Instagram
Celebrities on social media can give us unrealistic health goals, writes RUTH LYNCH
MANY of us will have a love/hate relationship with social media. We enjoy scrolling through our favourite celebrity’s Instagram to see what they are wearing, eating and how they spend their days.
But this can quickly turn into a guilt-fest as we see how much weight they have lost post-baby, or images of them flashing their toned abs with the caption ‘ate too much today’.
Of course, this is not helpful, and it’s easy for them when they have an endless supply of surgery, private chefs and personal trainers.
So while social media can be a wonderful thing, it is important to take it with a big pinch of salt, and make sure you take control of your own fitness in a way that suits you.
DON’T JUST ‘DO IT FOR THE ‘GRAM’
INSTAGRAM feeds are filled with selfies taken on a running machine or arty pictures of people doing the latest weird and wacky fitness craze.
But let’s face it, they are uploading their pictures to show off and get ‘likes’, not because they genuinely want to endorse it as a great way to get fit.
A walk to the park with the kids, cycling to the shops and going to the less-fashionable exercise class at your local leisure centre may not be Instagram worthy, but it’s just as worthwhile when it comes to health benefits.
DON’T BE FOOLED BY A FILTER
LET’S be realistic. Celebrity Instagram feeds are as manipulated and reworked as a magazine fashion shoot.
No amount of squats and leg lifts are going to give you a replica Kardashian behind.
However, hitting the gym and speaking face to face with a personal trainer can help you achieve a healthy level of fitness to suit you and your lifestyle.
Fitness coaches are highly qualified to help you get the results you want.
They can discuss your targets, your problem areas, and advise you what you need to do to attain your dream figure or weight – or as near as possible without surgery.
BE INFLUENCED BY YOUR PEERS
SOCIAL media has created a whole new kind of celebrity – influencers. These are the ‘normal’ people who share their lifestyle on Instagram, providing tips and advice to help you follow in their footsteps.
Following a yoga instructor, personal trainer or adventurer is a much healthier way to compare fitness than with celebrities.
Again, nothing beats a face-to-face consultation with a fitness coach, but they can be a perfect motivator or source of advice for new ideas.
There are some great social influencers who concentrate on body positivity and fitness, so make sure you choose people who inspire and challenge you rather than make you feel intimidated.
MAKE FRIENDS
IT’S not necessary to validate every workout by posting a picture on social media. Beating your personal best or getting a pat on the back from another gym goer is much more rewarding.
Going to a fitness class or the gym and exercising as a group is also much more positive for your mental health and wellbeing than getting a few ‘likes’ for a picture you posted.
USE IT FOR THE BETTER...
SOCIAL media can give you a fantastic insight into what classes, sports clubs and group activities are out there for you to join.
Facebook groups set up by your community clubs will always have plenty of photos and stories, so you can check if it’s the right thing for you.
It can also give you an idea of the difficulty level. Seeing people at a similar fitness level or with a body shape like you can give you the confidence boost you need to take that first step into a new class.
TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
WE ALL have an annoying gym-bunny friend who painstakingly logs every workout on every media platform. But shouting about your success – whether it’s running your first marathon or jogging your first mile without stopping – can do wonders to help keep up your motivation.
Monitoring your fitness activity through social media can also be a great way to encourage your friends and family to join you.
Most modern fitness trackers will link into your social media so you can record your achievements and organise competitions between friends.
WATCH OUT FOR BAD INFORMATION
SOCIAL media is a fantastic resource, but there is a lot of bad information out there. Do your best to make sure fitness advisers and food bloggers you follow have the right experience and qualifications to be giving you advice.
Most will include their credentials in their bios and be affiliated with a sports programme or gym.
While social media can provide us with great advice, encouragement and motivation, it can also give us unrealistic expectations.
Using it to your benefit can be a fantastic resource, but don’t get sucked in if something seems too good to be true.
Following a yoga instructor, personal trainer or adventurer (on social media) is a much healthier way to compare fitness than with celebrities
Ruth Lynch from Life Leisure