Chances are you are one of the millions of Instagram users who peruse the app on a daily basis. Instagram is simple and straight to the point – simply take a photo or short video and post.
Many people have taken this no-nonsense approach in social media to a whole new level by promoting fitness and body positivity. You have most likely come across a post or two about these fitness gurus or personal trainers who promise their followers they can achieve a “beach body,” provided they finish a fitness program (usually 12 weeks long) that the fitness gurus themselves have developed.
Scroll down their feed and you can see not only various exercises and food tips but also a ton of “before and after” photos from people who swear by the fitness plan. Inspirational quotes are peppered into the feed, designed to make you feel as if anything is possible (and yes, that includes those abs and tight booty you’ve always wanted).
What most people don’t realize is that these Instagram posts can be very misleading and may even be harmful to your mental and physical health. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t strive to look and feel your best. However, be mindful and keep the following advice in mind:
- Take each post with a grain of salt – some images might have been Photoshopped.
- Get a personal trainer – nothing beats a one-on-one session at the gym. Plus, you get to have a personalized exercise routine!
- If you plan on following an Instagrammer’s fitness program, make sure to choose one you can maintain.
- If a particular account makes you feel awful in any way, unfollow it. No-one should make you feel bad about yourself. Ever.