Why I have handed in my #Fitfam card on Social Media

If you’re on social media and interested in fitness, then you may have seen the #fitfam and #fitspo hashtags.  These posts are normally posted with a selfie or video at the gym going Beast Mode, a motivational quote addressing the HATERS, or of the Tupperware from meal prep.

Over the past year and a half I’ve followed a lot of these types of fitness posts as I was on my own fitness journey. Some pages I followed because I felt they were motivational in some capacity and I followed some people because... they were hot.  One guy in particular I got really excited when I first discovered him on social media since there was little to no excitement at my own gym.

Really Really Good Looking

I lasted about 6 weeks following him because I was tired of the constant pictures of him coming out of the bathroom to give Zoolander face in his selfies.  I also grew annoyed by him posting  pictures every 5 minutes.  It was overkill TO THE MAX.  

It was a sad day when I decided to unfollow him but I realized I was completely turned off by someone who did nothing but post pictures of himself reading emails, drinking water, and going to the bathroom.

That one incident started to open my eyes to this so called Fitness Inspiration.  Is this driven by motivation or extreme insecurity and narcissism?  More importantly why was I doing it?  Why was I following it and why did I feel compelled to post this type of content.

I recently read a blog post where the woman said that she would check in with her trainer and he would say she wasn’t lean enough or she would eat something off plan so she would take a selfie and post it on Instagram or Facebook because she knew she would get so many affirming comments:

You’ve got this girl!
You look amazing!

You’re so awesome!

Reading this woman’s experience resonated with me.  I don’t take a lot of selfies at the gym but when I did it was because I wanted some sort of affirmation or validation that I was okay and Look at me!  Or it was when I was hungry and doubting the whole thing and posting a picture and receiving positive comments made me think this endeavor was worthwhile.

I started to take notice of the fitness groups I was a part of and I started thinking, “This is not good and it is not healthy.  I also realized how boring it is to constantly talk about food and exercise.  There are lots of interesting things going on out in the real world aside from GAINZ or worrying about food 24/7.  Wouldn’t you know that once I stopped with the #fitfam stuff that I stopped being so obsessed, anxious, and consumed with food. I  also LOST weight.

Sure I am carrying a few more pounds than I had been but it isn’t the end of the world.  I’m still alive and honestly it didn’t make that much of a difference when it came to any area of my life because my life is so much more than food and the gym.

Turns out I am not alone in my thinking. I participate on a women’s strength training forum and many of the women said the same thing I did.  They were over it all and un-followed most of the fitness pages.  It got old to hear about the latest tragedy of how people didn't understand why you worship chicken breasts and are jealous because you go Beast Mode.

Body Shaming

As a Fitness and Health Coach that is focused on helping people live better, I realized I could not support the type of messaging that I think the #fitfam group puts out.  It goes against my professional opinion of what health and fitness needs to be.

I do not believe in body shaming and many of these fitness memes are condescending, rude, judgmental, and self righteous.  

It won’t taste as good as skinny feels?  Well let me tell you something:  I was a lot thinner last year and it didn’t feel all that good.  I was hungry and tired.  

These types of images are sending the message that exercise and nutrition are only for the perfect people who don’t mess up.  People who have issues with emotional eating or who may be in pain preventing them from exercises become alienated if feeling healthy is only for perfect people. Maybe they shouldn’t even try because what’s the use?  They won’t be like this perfect person on the poster.  I recently went to a seminar where it was said that 17% of people are active.  Where are the other 83%?  As a health and fitness coach, I want to see more people get active and many folks need to start where they are.

The Dangers of Beastmode

Unless your name is Marshawn Lynch, this needs to be retired on social media. I see so much BEASTMODE with the most horrific form. I saw a video where the person was bragging about a PR and my back started hurting just looking at the video.  Form and technique doesn’t matter.  Beast mode matters and of course you need to post it so everyone thinks you’re even more awesome.  Talk to me in 1-2 years when all of that Beast Mode catches up with you

Speaking of which it isn’t BEASTMODE to continue to train when you’re injured and in pain. That’s your body telling you that something isn’t right and you should correct the dysfunction before it gets worse and the compensations from your dysfunction lead to even worse injuries.

Negative Body Image

I was VERY disturbed by the endless negative body image and body dysmorphia conversations that take place. Some of the dialogue was starting to sound like it belonged in Eating Disorder Treatment groups. I noticed that by staying away from those types of sites and influences that after 3 weeks my own self image had drastically improved. I think the more you are exposed to this type of chronic dissatisfaction, self obsession, and poor self image the more you will be influenced.

For years I've spoken out against the influences of the media on young girls and body image. I even used to teach workshops about it and here I was being influenced by it. It's a pervasive medium and it's important to know when to fall back from that type of behavior.

Just a note: Those with these "perfect" bodies usually don't think they are so perfect themselves. They have hangups and issues just like we all do. So there goes that myth. Perfect body does not equal perfect life.

For 3 weeks in April I did a Fast for spiritual reasons. One of the conclusions I came to during the fast was that I was done with this superficial Fitness World.  I un-followed most of the fitness pages and fitness people on social media.  That’s not me.  I am much more than abs, glutes, gainz,meal prep, or whatever else.  To singularly focus on that is robbing other parts of my life and placing far too much emphasis on the physical.

News!

Soon I will have a full service website where I will have lots of news, information, and relevant content for readers.  I will be keeping this blog as my online Progress Journal since people like to keep up with that.  My next entry will be about why I decided to move on from my goal of doing a fitness competition.