Buzz
Fitness Instagram can serve as a powerful source of motivation, but it can also be overwhelming, filled with impossibly fit individuals doing seemingly unattainable things and promoting products that suddenly feel essential. Here's how to navigate it in a way that leaves you feeling empowered rather than discouraged after scrolling through your feed.
Follow people who are slightly ahead of you on your fitness path
Just because Instagram showcases some of the most stunning and successful individuals doesn't mean you have to follow them. Our perceptions can easily be distorted by what we see online; I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling down about my body after seeing images of people whose bodies, lighting, and/or Photoshop skills are far beyond my own.
If you find yourself constantly comparing to those high-achieving accounts, consider unfollowing them. Instead, look for accounts that spark enthusiasm about your own fitness journey. These could include:
People working towards similar fitness goals as you (even if they haven't reached them yet)
People with a body type comparable to yours
People who train at your gym, or in a similar environment (for instance, if you use a home gym, find others with the same gear)
People slightly ahead of you in a skill you're working on
People who are inventive with their workouts, particularly activities that you could realistically enjoy
People who compete in the sport you're training for
These can be real-life friends, celebrities, or anyone in between. The key is to follow those whose goals are attainable for you, not those whose progress feels out of reach, but those who show that your own aspirations are within grasp.
Don't forget that hashtags can help too. The more niche, the better: I've been focusing on mastering a rare lift called the bent press, so I follow the #bentpress hashtag to connect with others practicing it. Some have perfected it and lift far more than I can, while others are struggling just like me, which is encouraging.
Focus on the process, not just the end results.
The key difference between aspirational and inspirational Instagram accounts is whether or not they share the journey of training and improvement.
Some accounts only post the peak moments of their training: the yoga pose perfected after years of flexibility work, the parkour move that was attempted countless times before succeeding, or the deadlift that took years of consistent training since their teen years to achieve such an impressive number.
Highlights may attract more followers on Instagram, but I find the training process far more captivating. Celebrities or professional athletes may curate their accounts carefully, meaning you see more highlights and less of their journey. However, those without a dedicated team or social media strategy might post more raw, in-the-moment updates about their training—so be sure to explore beyond the big names.
Take a look at stories.
If you haven’t explored Instagram stories yet, it’s time to start. Stories are the posts that don’t show up in a person’s main feed; you can access them by tapping their profile picture when it’s surrounded by a colored ring. (It’s a strange design, I won’t pretend to explain.)
Since stories vanish after 24 hours, people typically share what they're doing right now, unlike the regular feed where posts remain on their profile indefinitely. In other words, stories are perfect for showcasing the ongoing process of training.
Everyone uses their highlights in their own way, but I personally enjoy seeing clips of what people did in the gym today or even what they’re up to when they’re not working out.
Post, don’t just scroll.
How active you are on Instagram is up to you, but there are benefits to engaging with others. Instead of only scrolling through other people's posts, think about what your journey looks like and what could make it to your highlight reel.
I know people who tag each other in stories as a reminder to work out or as a friendly challenge to try something new (for example, I still owe someone some monkey bar crunches). Reacting or replying to someone’s story sparks a direct message conversation between the two of you. I’ve given and received some great feedback this way.
You don’t have to try everything.
If you get adventurous with the accounts you follow, you might soon find yourself with more workout ideas than you could ever possibly try. But remember, you’re on your own fitness journey—whatever that means for you—and you’ll be happiest sticking to your own plan.
Just like you wouldn’t expect powerlifters to try every yoga pose or vice versa, you won’t make progress if you’re constantly jumping from one new thing to the next without ever getting good at any of them. So, before you start trying everything, take a moment to ask yourself: What do I actually enjoy? What goals do I want to work towards?
Use your answers to those questions to guide your routine. Sure, there may be the occasional fun challenge (I say this as someone who recently set a personal record in the donut squat), but most of us find fulfillment when we focus on short- and long-term goals and enjoy the journey to reach them.
