TW: Discusses exercise, body image and food.
Edited by: Advaita Singh
Working out is one of the highlights of my day. The time I spend at the gym helps me work through my mental health struggles and keeps me feeling upbeat. This feeling is one that is shared by thousands of others like me. Over the last two years we all have witnessed the sudden home workout boom as quarantine kept us boarded up. It’s amazing how many people got into some or the other form of movement over this time and we have several influencers to thank for it.
That being said, these influencers are often not certified instructors. They most likely don’t mean any harm by their content, but it’s inevitable that it could result in the spread of vast misinformation. Videos entitled “Get Abs In 10 Days” and “7 Minute Lower Ab Workout To LOSE STUBBORN BELLY FAT” spread potentially dangerous ideas. You cannot spot reduce fat, nor is it possible to get abs in 10 days. While they do make disclaimers explaining the same they’re usually not obvious and easy to miss (for instance, putting it in the description of a Youtube video that most people probably don’t read). Titles like these draw the audience in and then leave them disappointed when their results do not align with what they were promised. This can develop a poor relationship with food and one’s body, or worsen it if they’re already struggling.
Many are quick to come to the defence of these influencers and argue that their content was a good starting point or that it helped them immensely. In many cases, it is true and incredible, so they are due credit. Since most people won’t come back to a video that tells them hard work and consistency over a long period of time is the only way to get the results they desire, the clickbait is what really started getting people moving, but this begs the question, does the end justify the means? I personally don’t really know where I stand on that just yet.
On the other hand there’s the gym influencers — those who promote lifting heavy and pushing women to feel confident and comfortable in the typically male dominated sections of the gym. This is the side of instagram you’ll most likely find me lurking around. While I love the message and the empowerment because that’s what helped me feel comfortable in the gym as well, it has its problematic aspects too. The focus for women is often not performance or strength based, similar to the home workout videos. The end goal is aesthetic — big glutes, small waist and flat abs. There’s a heavy focus on lower body building and the upper body ends up getting neglected. Gymrats and gym enthusiasts alike are extremely prone to body dysmorphia, so such heavy focus on aesthetic goals could risk this.
Furthermore, people often promote weird and potentially dangerous (leg-presses on the smith machine, anyone? That one left me trembling) workouts to gain a couple numbers on their post as well as brownie points for being unique. I understand where this is coming from — there’s a limited number of maneuvers and only so many combinations of them you can prescribe. After a point it gets repetitive and engagement goes low. When this content is your primary income source it can get daunting. However, the ethical questionability of this just doesn’t sit right with me. Several people use instagram as their source for workout information, so the consequences could be pretty bad. Secure the bag and whatnot but don’t hurt people in the process… you know?
(TW: Food) Nutrition information on the internet is another incredibly toxic space. Especially the stuff you can find on TikTok. “What I Eat In A Day” videos where people show their meals alongside their physique to show what works for them have taken an incredibly unhealthy turn. Nutrition plays an important role in achieving certain physique goals one may have, but it isn’t safe to get advice on how and what to eat from anyone that isn’t a professional. What I’ve typically seen is the promotion of severe undereating and a fear of carbs. I have nothing against following a meal plan and tracking macros to attain goals, my issue is with the misinformation spread in the process. The internet is a powerful tool with a vast array of resources, but it’s also unregulated and can cause a lot of damage if you’re not careful.
The message for women always seems to be to take up as little space as possible. Get smaller, tighter, leaner, thinner. The only parts acceptable to keep large are the ones that sexualise us. The most widely circulated information steers us in this direction. However, this isn’t to say there are no good influencers out there putting out helpful and accurate information. There are many gems out there that recognise this problematic narrative and push to change it. Some of my personal favourites are Natacha Oceane and Courtney Sarracino, among others. I find it very important to filter who I follow and be careful who I trust as my source on the internet because I’ve gone down that rabbit hole of toxicity. I got out and I never want in again.