Last week, one of my clients asked me why I don’t post exercise idea’s on social media. So I thought I’d explain to you all, why I’m actually pretty against it.
Now I can guarantee most people that follow me, also follow a trainer with 200k+ followers, who posts video’s of ‘their’ workouts on their social media page. Don’t get me wrong, some of these video’s are from well respected trainers, and they give the public idea’s to keep their training interesting. I get it, and I understand why people are interested in said content. However, the numerous plank, lunge and burpee variations aren’t going to get you a toned, lean body like that trainer. You know why? Because they are ALL lifting weights to get that physique. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get a body of a fitness model, without lifting heavy. They only post these unrealistic training video’s to gain followers, because that’s what you all want right? A free personal trainer on your phone, whenever and wherever you want to exercise. Now, when these accounts reach a lot of followers, they get paid to post adverts of products from the health & fitness industry, which they can hopefully trick you into buying. Feel kinda used yet? Yup, I do, cause I fall for it too! (On a side note, only buy products that someone you know personally, has had success from, not a stranger getting paid to tell you a product is amazing).
Other than constantly being lied to, the main reason I really hate these posts, is because there is hardly any instruction on how to actually perform the exercises, in a safe and efficient manor. No points on form, instruction of when to squeeze the muscles, or the necessity of correct breathing. All of my clients first session, no matter their fitness level, is teaching them to pick something up off the floor safely, lift it over their head safely and then making sure their weight is in the safest part of the foot when preforming a bodyweight squat. Can you see the pattern? Safety.
You may think you are performing an exercise correctly, but I can guarantee you are doing at least 1 important factor wrong. If I had a pound for every new client that said, ‘oh, I’ve been doing that exercise completely wrong, for years’, I’d be writing this from my private island in the Caribbean.
My advice to you, put your phone down and stop believing these exercise video’s are going to make you look like Kayla Itsines. (Funny how she’s just released a new programme based on weight training, called ‘stronger’. We all knew you got that body from weight training Kayla, not 5 million bodyweight exercises). Invest in a couple of months of personal training. Save up, or ask for some Personal Training as a Christmas present if you need to, and understand the value in looking after your body. Get a trainer that knows what they are talking about and get them to teach you the basics. Learn how to squat, lunge and press, with correct form, breathing and the importance of engaging muscle. Trust me, it will be worth your money. You’ll realise how much time you’ve been wasting on exercise apps, 2kg dumbbells in the legs bums and tums class, and how quickly the results come when actually learning, 1 on 1, with a fitness professional.
#workoutvideos #technique #form #fitnesswithgrace