The other day, I had a new Online Client of mine send me a filtered progress photo. Now this was not the first and most likely will not be the last filtered progress photo that I receive from a client. Unfortunately we now live in an age where filtered photos are considered the norm. However as I gently reminded my new client – I as your Coach actually NEED TO SEE all of your physical flaws and areas of weaknesses, so that I can make an informed assessment on your physique when I make changes to your Diet and/or Training Program. Sending me a filtered photo that hides these flaws and weaknesses are only going to slow down our results, because the changes I make will not be based on accurate information.
My new client was apologetic and understood. However when I asked this person as to why they sent me a filtered progress photo of their physique their response not only surprised me, but more importantly concerned me more than anything else.
A Feeling of Inadequacy
I’ve spoken on numerous occasions about my love/hate relationship with Social Media in the past. However the reasons for my distaste for these online platforms are more comical than consequential. I don’t and never have considered Social Media to be real. Therefore I never give much thought to anything I see and read as I scroll through my newsfeeds. If I see a photo I like, then I simply click that I “like” it. If I don’t like the photo, I simply scroll past it. I don’t take it personally when a friend or client watches all my stories, but never likes a single one of my photos on Instagram. I don’t get upset when an Online Hater attacks me verbally for my stance on Human Rights, COVID-19, Vaccine Mandates, Racial Issues, Gender Inequality, Climate Change, etc on our Facebook Group Page. In fact, I quite enjoy some of the hateful messages that I receive and always leave them up on our page for others to view publicly as well.
My new client however is much younger than me. And this person informed me that due to Social Media Applications such as Instagram, Facebook and SnapChat, he/she feels inadequate about not only his/her physique, but also about his/her own life. And to be honest, up until this week, this is something I never even considered to be an issue for so many people until my new client brought it to my attention.
Can Heavy Social Media Usage Lead To An Increased Risk of Depression, Anxiety & Loneliness?
According to numerous studies it can! And after reading through a few of these studies this past week, I can see as to how Social Media could cause significant mental health issues for so many people. I guess I was naive to the fact because I’ve never really looked at Social Media more than a marketing tool for our business. But after these past few days, I realize now that so many of us use these platforms in order to compare ourselves to others, while seeking out validation from complete strangers online who we will most likely never meet in real life.
I don’t think we should shame people who seek out this attention from strangers, nor do I think we should judge people who constantly compare themselves to others through these Online Platforms. Instead, I think we should have an open and honest discussion as to why something so insignificant as a lack of “Likes” or “Followers” can have such a negative impact on our mental wellbeing.
I am definitely without a doubt an active Social Media User. As much as I tried to resist the online movement back in 2006 with Facebook and then again in 2012 with Instagram, I now find myself out there Selfie-Taking and Hash-tagging with the best (and the worst of them). However none of the content in which I release is used with the intention to hurt others or make people feel jealous and/or envious of my lifestyle. On the contrary, I rarely release anything personal, and when I do, I’m usually just poking fun at myself.
So What Should We Do?
Well, besides the fact that I now have to add a “Do NOT Filter Your Photos” warning label to all of my new Online Clients’ Weekly Check-in Forms, I plan on paying even closer attention with regards to how I conduct myself on Social Media moving forward. I never planned on working in the Fitness Industry for this long. But now that I’ve established myself as a reputable and knowledgeable Coach/Trainer who operates a successful Personal Training Company, I feel that I have a responsibility to continue to not only promote a healthy lifestyle to others, but encourage EVERYONE that they can transform their own lives in a positive way through regular exercise and clean eating.
Yes, Social Media comes attached with some shitty side effects. But it can also be used in a positive manner to help motivate, educate and inspire one another through sharing uplifting moments, educational videos, and useful resources so that we can all help each other improve our own quality of life, rather than continue to tear each other down.
I can’t and won’t ever tell someone what they should or should not post on their Social Media pages. As adults, it should go without saying that anything cruel or disrespectful towards others should not be tolerated. However I think it’s also important to remain somewhat humble and keep in mind that bragging about how much materialistic things we own, or how incredible our physiques may look, or how amazing our lifestyles may be, can make others feel bad about themselves. I’m not suggesting we don’t celebrate our goals and acknowledge our achievements. I just believe that if you are fortunate enough to be in a position where you might own your home, drive a nice car, have an amazing looking physique, and just overall are living a great life, to use your platform to motivate and inspire others who want to achieve similar successes in life as you.
“As a general rule, it pays to be confident, helpful, and nice.”
Colin Wright
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance