We should all be taking annoying gym selfies, says science

December 28, 2017 Ashley 0 Comments

“Oh, great. Another gym selfie from Tina and Tim.”

(“Do they make an emoji where the eyes are all white? Cuz that’s how hard I’m rolling mine ATM”)

Okay. I’ll admit. Even though I’ve posted many a snap of my fitness progress online, it can be a bit annoying if it’s not done delicately. Or for the right reasons. I always wondered, “What’s motivating these other folks? Is it ego? Is it loneliness and a need to be externally validated?” But then I realized something. And that’s the real question that I, as a weight loss author, should be asking. Does any of that matter – if it’s yielding the results they seek to live a fitter life? And reach their goals?

We won’t kid ourselves here. Being egoic or requiring likes to validate ourselves is anything but healthy. But something cool happens in this mess called online social media, when we share our path toward health. Whether we wanna make our exes slobber over our scantily clad, Snapchat filtered selfie in the dingy mirror at L.A. Fitness or make the ladies salivate over our muscles – it doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant. Sure, those both come from the vice of vanity. But if all those heart reactions and all the thumbs uppery brings us back to the gym to do work, then that means our bodies are getting better. And our minds follow. Sure, we should want to do well for ourselves. However, what we often forget is that we’re interactive creatures. Despite how many of us might try to, we don’t endure this existence in isolation. We hafta interact on some level (those’ve us not living off grid, at least) to get along. Thus, at our center, there’s an evolutionary proclivity to give a shiz about the opinions of our tribe members. And if they’re out there high five-ing us for our efforts, we’re less likely to quit. We’re also more likely to cheer them on as they work toward their goals. And this fitness friendship becomes a beautiful, sweaty symbiosis to cheer us both on.

And, when it comes to weight loss, research seems to support this as well.

Per a study done on exactly this, the researchers observed that, “Not everyone can get the support they need from the people they interact with in-person on a daily basis. It is helpful that technology can support community-building and goal-achievement in virtual spaces.” Women’s Health went on to share about similar research efforts, stating that, “Other small studies have shared similar findings. A 2013 study published in Translational Behavioural Medicine, for example, found that participants who published their weight loss progress on Twitter lost more weight than those who kept it to themselves.”

So, if you’re wary about sharing a sweaty auto-photo shoot, I get it. Just remember that you can make it your own. I did. In fact, I like to share any fitness snaps from a progress or encouraging level. It’s the same thing my classmate who lost a lot’ve weight does. Every so often, she’ll post side-by-side snaps of her past large and present lean physiques. I love that. It’s not about striking some seductive pose for the sake of launching a fleet of trouser tents from gents or shade from ladies. No. It’s half about getting the digital high five that’ll keep you at it. And it’s half about obliterating the erroneous beliefs of anyone out there who looks at you, thinking you’ve got some sorcery that affords you the ability to do what you do and look like you do. It lets them witness the pit of unfitness you’ve clawed your way out’ve. And if you could change from that, then so can they.

So, sure, it might seem a little vain.

But if that vanity has an aim, then aim that camera at yourself stat and post that pose, beautiful.