The fitness industry has gained much more exposure due to the take-off of social media in recent years connecting us all instantly, resulting in fitness becoming a bigger part of people’s lives. However with the millions of people sharing their fitness journeys and their progress on social media platforms, this has produced a darker side to the virtual age we now find ourselves living in. Having an understanding of this side enables us to avoid the trap and to achieve our fitness goals in a healthy way.
False Representation
We are bombarded with images of incredible physiques everywhere we look online but they aren’t always a true representation. From female underwear models to guys with ripped gleaming abs, these images are more often than not edited using various features, shot in the perfect lighting at the most flattering angles. This can be misleading and leave viewers feeling inadequate, but remember, the images are usually far from the reality.
Social Media vs Real Life
People choose what they want to show on social media and everyone wants to portray themselves in the best light. However due to this intention, its mainly the highlights that are posted and never the every day (or boring) side of things. This produces a distorted view on how we should live our lives, making us feel guilty if we’re not ‘up to scratch’ with people that we may look up to on social media. Never compare yourself to others because you can’t be somebody else, you are unique.
Self-worth
External validation feels good and is something we all naturally crave, however seeking approval through social media can be a slippery slope. If you base your self-worth on the number of likes/followers you have you give your power away, and can harm the quality of your life. Fitness should enhance your life and compliment your physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. Just keep in mind that if you are focusing your attention on your social media worth at the expense of your own self-worth, you may be damaging your health in the process.
