FitFluencers: a distorted reality

I work in an industry steeped and saturated in self promotion and superficiality. A reality of the fitness industry that I don't think will change anytime soon.

I've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of Instagram FitInfluencers (fitness influencers) // fitness 'celebrities' who have millions of followers, with shredded, flawless bodies, sharing their workouts in scantily clad workout gear, sponsored by the companies they wear, not to mention the supplements they take and claim are responsible for the energy boosting, fat blasting properties that they credit for their ripped bodies...

It seems like the clear and simple equation to gain more followers, likes and shares is a result of:

1) barely any clothing

+

2) looking attractive

= the premise of what today's "Insta'fitness" careers are built upon.

I'm the first to tell my clients and friends that comparing ourselves to what we see on social media is a tremendous contributor to low-self esteem. Yet, I'm easily one to immediately feel that barrage of negative self talk for not being or looking good enough when I'm always seeing perfectly contoured faces, immaculate and flawless skin and hair not to mention hard rock bodies. For someone who has always struggled with a low self esteem and body issues, social media can very easily exacerbate that feeling. Especially as a personal trainer, where the more cut, defined and perfect looking you are, the better your chances to make a killing in the fitness industry... besides, sex sells, right? At least that's what it seems like on Instagram...

I constantly have to remind myself that it takes a village and we have no idea what really goes on behind the scenes of these photos because for all we know, before every almost naked photo posted, there could have very well been about 50 snaps taken prior to finding that perfect angle, filter, lighting and expression. I believe, that if the majority of the content shared on social media is displaying that naked, or nearly naked physique for uncensored display, that FitFluencer is no different than the hundreds of other social media jockeys doing the same thing. Sure, the photos will get you likes and followers, but where's the quality in the material being shared? It builds credibility solely based on how their body looks with a limited focus on actual fitness related and helpful material.

But who are these FitFluencers?

How did they even get to where they are?

Why do people pay for the expertise of someone who is known only as an 'influencer' anyway?

What are their credentials, other than having a massive following with almost identical accounts?

If you pay close attention, like I seem to do (and I'm not sure how good of a thing that is) there really isn't much discerningly novel, or special that differentiates one FitFluencers Insta account from another... their pages almost exclusively contain combinations of professional photos of perfectly coiffed model poses in exotic locations, with various exercise videos, healthy recipes, motivational quotes mixed with photos of their pets. They will also do the occasional "How to" guide so we can have flawless skin like them, if we follow their 10 step guide and buy their sponsored products. What we see on social media is largely a highlight reel of already lean people with the benefit of every possible enhancement available to bolster their image.

This is NOT real life.

Sure, they work hard for their body, but no, they don't look like that all the time. We are buying into what is largely curated and contrived as real life but is far from reflecting reality, therefore setting a very high and often unattainable bar for regular people, leading to feeling crappy about themselves (myself included).

"The reason we struggle with insecurity is because we compare our behind-the-scenes with everyone else's highlight reel"

~ Steve Furtick

As you peruse through the beach, exotic cars and vacation photo shoots, perfectly crafted salads and Acai bowls, amongst a discord of some subtle and some not-so-subtle advertisements for their products (workout plans/nutritional plans), you might realize that this isn't a new game. It's an old game but one that uses a new medium of a super available, uber-aesthetic and limitlessly modifiable sharing modality known as... Instagram. Sure, promoting yourself on social media in any industry is an extremely competitive space as everyone wants to stand out and be different, but it ESPECIALLY holds true in the fitness industry which is ALL aesthetically-centered. Herein lies the pitfalls with the prominence of these FitFluencers who are seen as authorities in all things fitness, weight loss and health. It's certainly very troubling because many of these 'insta-fit' celebrities generally lack formal education in these areas other than the rinky dink nutritional and personal trainer certifications.

Of course, there is an upside to the masses of the world being inspired by these FitFluencers, if it leads them to change their unhealthy habits to healthier and more active lifestyles... but at what cost? I say, both financially and psychologically. The trend, in my opinion, can do more harm than good as we are blindly lend into the potentially dangerous, internalized mental state this trend has been and continues to cultivate: the constant exposure to idealized images that cause negative consequences.

The abundance of nude images juxtaposed with motivational quotations and obscure ramblings that are intended to inspire shouldn't be what it takes for people to be inspired, because if it is, there's a much deeper issue. Do the messages of confidence and empowerment really hold up if the only visualization of confidence comes from taking bathroom selfies in your underwear? The pursuit of fitness and training has turned into a never-ending feed of indecency, cheaply disguised as 'motivation', further establishing the public perception of fitness as superficial and cosmetic-based. Unfortunately, it appeals to an audience that pays no attention to the actual credentials and expertise claimed to have, so an almost naked person doing a squat will inevitably garner way more attention than a fully clothed person doing the same.

Let me end by saying that I'm all for the gym selfie, sharing informational videos and using social media to stay accountable... but I think there should be a limit for what can be exposed and what should stay in the privacy of one's bathroom. The underwear selfies and even the skimpy, latex, skin coloured workout clothes leave nothing to the imagination, so for all those who've got it, they flaunt it. I realize that I may stand totally alone with my sentiment, but all these thoughts have definitely been percolating in my mind for a while and each time I scroll through Instagram, it just adds more fuel to my already lit frustration.