Plummeting temperatures. The incessant cravings for warm comfort food. Layer upon layer of cozy sweaters with which to bury one’s figure.
Sound familiar? This winter cycle that many of us fall victim to can result in a few unwanted pounds of winter fluff that we’ll have to slave away come swimsuit season. Don’t worry, Colliegettes™, we bet you’ll never guess the secret tool that can help you fight winter waistline woes: social media.
That’s right. Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare can help you keep off unwanted weight, and we’ll show you how. It makes sense, right? You check your Facebook and Twitter feeds countless times each day. Downloading new iPhone apps is your favorite activity. You peruse YouTube regularly for funny videos. Social media reaches us very often during the day, so why not allow it to reach us with diet and fitness inspiration?
A Canadian study found that consistent exposure to diet and exercise tips resulted in healthier lifestyle choices. Think about it – if you’re lounging on the couch and see a newly uploaded set of rock-hard ab tips, you’ll be way more likely to make it to the gym that day to try them out. Similarly, seeing a post hawking “Skinny Habit #1” on your Twitter feed will undoubtedly help you step away from the pizza. Follow Eat This, Not That! on Twitter or Personal Trainers Forum on Facebook to keep your Twitter and Facebook feeds stocked with helpful hints.
Whether you’re a die-hard Foursquare user or only beginning to discover the new phenomenon, now is the time to jump on this bandwagon! Take it from Erin Alderette, the Foursquare mayor (user with the most visits logged to a given location) of her New York City fitness center. Any Colliegette™ who has been awarded a title knows the inner fire it sparks to stay ahead of the competition.
Another dynamic new social media platform is Fitocracy, an invitation-only site that allows you to track your progress, share your accomplishments, and connect with a welcoming community to inspire you to achieve your greatest potential. Be patient with this site, however – demand has skyrocketed, so there’s a bit of a lag time to join. The best way to score an invite? Do a Google search for “Fitocracy invite” to find someone willing to give theirs up.
Foursquare, Fitocracy, and other social media outlets allow you to share your experiences (ups AND downs) with your followers, even if you aren’t the mayor of your fitness domain.
Incorporating diet and fitness into your social media life can help you connect with fellow users who will inspire you, share tips and celebrate accomplishments.
Sharing an accomplishment can make it feel more real, especially with something as personal as your body. Likewise, having a network of fellow exercisers who will notice when you slack off for a few days can help you get back on track. It feels great when your friends compliment you on rocking your Chemistry final, right? Shouldn’t you get the same feeling when you shatter your personal record for a mile run?
Now that you’re psyched to revamp your workout routine this winter with social media, here’s how to get started:
Find your starting point. Step on that scale, take your measurements and calculate your current Body Mass Index (BMI). Once you know where you stand, you can make healthy, attainable goals for weight management. Feeling extra brave? Post your goals and we guarantee you’ll feel extra dedicated!
Seek a plan that’s right for you. Start off slow if you don’t exercise regularly, and do some research. Most importantly, keep track of your progress. Mobile apps like CardioTrainer keep track of your progress using your phone’s GPS, as well as give you feedback (how far you’ve gone, how many calories you’ve burned, etc.) in real time. TheDailyBurn also has mobile apps for use on smartphones.
Don’t plateau! One of the most exciting benefits of incorporating social media into your workout routine is the constant stream of new and exciting exercise routines and tips to which you’ll be exposed. Get into the habit of switching it up. Not only will this keep things from getting dull, but it will challenge your body by working different muscles. What better way to try out fun new fitness crazes like Aerojump (a jump rope-based routine that promises to burn 450 calories in just 10 minutes) or Piloxing (a combo of pilates and boxing)? Try devoting at least one day each week to trying something new; scheduling “Mix-it-up Monday” will help you keep going strong!
Share your progress. Don’t let your hard work go unnoticed; getting positive feedback will help you push forward. Save some of the encouragement in a memo on your cell phone and read it when you’re feeling down. We guarantee seeing some positive reinforcement will encourage you to keep your routine going.
Have you already incorporated social media into your workout routine? If so, how has it helped you? If you haven’t tried it yet, what social media platforms do you plan to use this winter? Let us know with a comment.
Sources:
http://mylifescoop.com/featured-stories/2011/09/using-social-media-to-power-your-workout.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Exercise/social-networkouts-surprising-ways-social-media-motivates-exercise/story?id=12637803#.Tr6gDvJJ0Yu
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/social-media-motivate-exercise.html
http://eatthis.menshealth.com/slide/skinny-habit-5-read-diet-and-exercise-tips?slideshow=186550#sharetagsfocus
Social media logos (photo): Medical Tourism Congress, http://www.medicaltourismcongress.com/userfiles/images/social_network_logos.jpg
Runner (photo): Marie Claire, http://www.marieclaire.com/cm/marieclaire/images/Dz/running-medium-new.jpg
Stepping on scale (photo): The Voice of Tuscon, http://tucsoncitizen.com/living-thin/files/2010/07/scalefoot11.jpg