I’m a very passionate person. When I love something, I’m obsessed with it. When I don’t love it (hate is a strong word), I despise it. I’ve noticed many fitness trends lately that I despise. Not that these trends are inherently unhealthy, dangerous or “bad” but they just don’t work for ME.
Creative names for basic exercises
Let’s get this silly trend out of the way first…A squat jump is a squat jump not a kangaroo hop. A shoulder press is a shoulder press not a “reach-for-the-sky.” Why complicate things?
Always looking “the part”
Do I wear Lululemon a lot, yes. Is it all I wear? No. Some days I look put together but other days I leave the house wearing every color and -gasp- a cotton t-shirt. I workout for me and as long as I’m comfortable, I’m good to go. I think it’s kind of intimidating when people look perfectly coordinated all the time…
Some days I wear head to toe Lululemon. Other days I wear the rainbow.
Posting a workout selfie. Every. Single. Day.
A) Frankly, taking a picture before, during or after a workout is not at the forefront of my mind. Do I post them sometimes, of course. But most of the time after my workouts, I just want to shower and eat, please.
B) I understand the accountability factor, but posting a selfie after every workout seems more like bragging than motivation. At least that’s how I sometimes interpret it.
Workout shaming
There are many different forms of exercise and I feel like some are “looked down upon” (I’m guilty). Everyone’s all “lift HEAVY weights,” but what if you get a good workout from lifting lighter/more reps? Or maybe 5 or 10 lbs is heavy for you? Hey, depending on the move, it can be for me. Sure as you increase your fitness level I think you should be open to lifting heavier, but on your terms.
Regarding cardio, if you prefer Zumba over running for example, that is awesome. I personally think Zumba is harder than it gets credit for. We should be encouraging people to find what they love, not shaming their choices.
Lift YOUR heavy
The idea that more money = better workout (i.e. boutique and speciality studios)
I love many boutique studios but my wallet doesn’t. Just because I can’t afford to go to a SoulCycle class doesn’t mean my regular ol’ Spinning class isn’t a good workout. No matter where you sweat, you get what you put into it. You don’t need a fancy gym membership to have an effective workout.
Everyone’s an expert
Just because I run it doesn’t making me a running expert. It makes me an expert knowledgeable on MY running. When it comes to fitness, realistically, not everyone goes through certification/training and is qualified to hand out advice. But it seems like everyone is an expert these days, which can be dangerous, confusing and overwhelming for people. There are tons of social media accounts, bloggers and probably trainers in real life who, just because of their appearance or personal success, believe they are qualified to assist others. I think the true experts are those who approach each client and situation differently, and are careful to relay knowledge only on their area of specialty.
Nevertheless, for all of these “annoyances” there are tons of reasons why the fitness industry is awesome. That’s a post for another day.
I am so with you on workout shaming! I believe that as long as you are getting up and getting active, that is what counts. Whether it is running, zumba, or even going for a walk, as long as you are doing something that keeps you active, there is no reason for your workout to be shamed. And on the zumba note, I completely agree that it does not get at much credit as it deserves. I took a zumba class a few months ago and was sore for days after!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…Mocha Protein Smoothie
Being active is key. I’ve heard people say they hate working out because they hate running. Well there are a million other things that are awesome forms of exercise! Seriously- I need to do Zumba more often. I always have fun!
Yes, yes, and yes! The outfit thing especially… I’m at the mercy of what I find at the top of the laundry pile. i don’t have brand name anything… It all comes from Target or the clearance rack at Kohls. Then I get to the gym and see the women with the makeup and the brand name outfits… I won’t lie, I’ve started wearing makeup to the gym so I don’t feel so… For lack of a better word… Ugly at the gym.
Gym shaming and workout shaming is the worst.
Jerusha @CitrusSwirl.com recently posted…Progress Report – 21 Day Fix
Target has the best stuff. They suck me in every time. Sometimes when I go to hot yoga later in the day I forget that I have mascara on and all of a sudden my towel is black.
YES – to all of this YES!
You do your best, I’ll do mine, let’s all just DO SOMETHING to feel better and stay healthy in whatever the heck you want to wear. Just move. :)
Great post!
Aimee recently posted…Packing Up
Doing something is the most important part! There are so many ways to exercise and they ALL count.
The last one…o boy! EVERYONE and their mother is an expert on social media and blogging. I read so many great posts last week (that were in the finisher) on it. It’s gotten so bad…but I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.
Haha, I wear the oldest stuff to the gym (multiple times too). I really don’t care what I look like, if I happen to have one good leggings, cool, if I happen to have an old ratty tank on…that’s awesome too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…The Struggle Of Forgiveness
I have some workout clothes (aka ratty tanks) from high school that I still wear. I have some great workouts in them too ;)
Love this! I actually go to a botique fitness studio. It’s 4x more than I was paying for my 24 membership ($12/mo Costco membership! holla!) but the owner is fabulous, classes are bomb and it’s way more of a tight knit community than I’ve ever experienced at a big gym! It’s a great space for me and motivating, and worth the price, but probably not for everyone.
Rebecca @BeTrulyNourished recently posted…5 Tips to Waste Less Food: Repurpose It and Freeze It
When I’m home my mom and I enjoy going to a boutique studio in town and I do get a great workout. One day I hope to be able to afford going regularly but I can’t on a college student budget :) But I have found a close-knit community at my yoga studio, which is a happy price medium between a gym and boutique studios.
Yes yes yes. I’m with you- I’m extremely opinionated and when I love something, I really love it. When I don’t love it, I REALLY don’t love it. Some of these are classics. I wear a lot of nicer athletic clothing, but some days I really look like a scrub. And I get a great workout doing zumba or going to a regular spin class- I don’t need soul cycle. I always tell people when they ask me how I motivate myself to run that it doesn’t take motivation because I love it. If I was forcing myself to do crossfit or another workout, then I would be miserable. So I tell people to do what they love. The judgment thing is ridiculous. As long as we’re doing something, that’s all that matters, and it’s a whole lot easier to do it if it’s something you really enjoy. Great post :)
Sarah @pickyrunner recently posted…Philly Wedding Weekend
Exactly, loving your workout is so important. I think people tend to overthink exercise and make exercise harder than it needs to be. If Zumba is your thing, you don’t need to add running to make it a real workout. Zumba is killer in itself.
PREACH!!! … I HATE when people shame others because it’s not ‘their’ workout… Crossfitters, I’m talking to you – haha!!!
& totally with you on names for the same old exercises I did in elementary school!
Right? Not everyone is going to love the same workout and it’s frustrating and discouraging when our choices are frowned upon by others (non professionals!)
These are good ones! The gym selfies drive me NUTS…especially the ones where guys and girls are lifting up their shirts to show their stomachs. I mean seriously?
She Rocks Fitness recently posted…Inspired…Energized…These Women!
Yes! Those don’t motivate me to workout at all.
I totally agree with these! I think the ones that annoy me most are workout shaming and everyone being an expert. If it gets you moving/sweating/challenging yourself, it can probably be considered a workout. Not everyone enjoys the same things, so not everyone will take part in the same workouts, but that doesn’t make the ones you don’t do inferior! Also, I don’t need the old man at the gym to tell me the weight I’m lifting is too heavy or that I should run slower; I know what I can do, thanks.
I think another (really unhealthy) fitness trend is whatever one implies that you have to do crazy-hard workouts all the time. That sounds like a really good way to hurt yourself. Sometimes, you need to go for a nice walk, do some light yoga, or do nothing at all – and there’s nothing wrong with that!! :)
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…10 Things I’m Horrible At
One time I was doing sprints on the treadmill and someone told me I should stop because I was going too fast. Umm…what?!
Yes, yes, yes! Sometimes I’m not sure if the person’s perception of hard is different than mine or they are just exaggerating to sound cool, but hard workouts every day is NOT cool to me. Recipe for exhaustion and injury.
HATE the selfies and yes, hate the only one way is THE way type attitudes. i also sometimes look down at what i wore and think really ? that was a good idea to pack in my bag ? but oh well ! i go to a boutique yoga shop but i do the 530 AM classes for $5 right now and i will haggle if they dont charge my card the $5 and use one of my passes i bought for $12 a class. that’s ridic ! i think they think im being cheap but i dont care ! do it right !
I have to commend you on being so young and understanding this concept so well. for me….you do you is still a hard concept to accept and if i could have accepted it at a younger age i would have missed out on a lot of pain where i compare myself to others and judge myself (and others). its a work in progress for me and i’m several years older than you. funny i feel it came on later in life for (i wasnt so much like this in college – not sure why). but good for you and hold onto it as you get older. maybe it gets harder after college since college feels like a “journey” and in your 30s you start to feel like “ok….why havent i “arrived” yet”
Thank you for your comment, Tara. It’s still a hard concept to understand at times and I have to remind myself of it. But I feel grateful for having this so-called “revelation” early in life. I don’t think it will end the comparison trap by any means (I still fight with that often) but it helps to have some sense of it now.
I’m very much like you in the passionate love/hate department! Agreed on the fitness workout shaming thing. Do what works for you and gets you out the door to a fit lifestyle. And oy. My wallet doesn’t like fancy clubs either lol I break my wallet on races!! ;-)
Jess recently posted…Nashville’s Country Music Marathon Recap
I was just saying how I need to better budget my “fitness money” because I often forget how much races cost! But they are so worth it in my mind.
I’m totally with you on the workout selfies. Usually I can’t stand them, mostly because If I were to take them myself I would want to use them for my own progress and motivation, not for other people to see. And the looking the part crap…some of the races I’ve done feel more like a fashion show rather than exercise, I’m all for the cheap workout clothes (aka target always).
Lacey @ Runs and Roses recently posted…How To Make BOMB Oatmeal
I only own Target sports bras. My theory is: why spend $60 on a bra if the cheaper ones work just fine?!
I try to match my workout wardrobe, but it usually doesn’t work out so well… :)~
Rachel recently posted…Marathon Training Recap: Week 15
Hey, it’s the thought/intention that counts ;)
Hi Emily! I know, I know. Trends can be very annoying when they are shoved in your face all the time, via social media and the blogging world. I’m not super into CrossFit (probably because I haven’t tried it), so I hate seeing people post the daily workouts all over — I don’t even know what so many of the moves mean hahah. Yet, I know there is a huge community who are obsessed with CF, so they love that. And as far as the expense? Cheap gyms are awesome! And so are fancy studio classes. It’s all about what you enjoy. So just do YOU! :)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…How I turned my blog into a business
I’m SO with you…I don’t know what half the CrossFit moves mean. I’ve googled them many times and still don’t remember ;) But yes, so many people love it and that is awesome.
oh my gosh girl, PREACH. so with you on the workout shaming. just unnecessary.
anorexiarevealed recently posted…Taking Off the Mask (Part 2): Broken & Free
I think we should just support each other in whatever (healthy) fitness adventures we choose!
I think Crossfit is my biggest fitness pet peeve! I’m sure there are plenty of normal, friendly people that do it, but their mentality that they are far and away the best drives me nuts. I always seem to get sucked in by the Crossfit Games, but I find it hard to buy into the idea that someone that can do a really long walking handstand is more fit, than say, an elite marathon runner.
Rebecca @ MyEagerFeet recently posted…New Rules of Lifting for Women – Introduction
Oh man YES. The name changing. I recently did a Beach Body workout (can’t remember which trainer it was) with some family while on vacation…he kept yelling ‘sprawl!’ Um, that’s a burpee. I don’t care what fun name you’re giving it, it still sucks. A burpee is a burpee is a burpee.
Megan recently posted…My Fit Faves vol. 2
Oh I especially dislike when people try to disguise/rename burpees. Nope, those are awful no matter what you call them!
I’m a little late to this party but holy moley yes! Just YES to all of these! I totally agree on this whole post. Great list and lets just hope some of the judgement based ones start to disppear off the list…
Ana Valentin recently posted…5 Things I’m Excited for This Summer
YES, PLEASE! I’d like those to go first.
I don’t think paying more makes it a better place, but I also know that I haven’t gone to a gym that I was paying little for. It’s more about the lack of self-motivation. I wish I could post a selfie everyday, but I’m not that narcissistic. LOL. Let’s say confident to think that others want to see me that much.
April G recently posted…10 Last Minute Mother’s Day Ideas Guaranteed to Make Her Smile
I’d like to think the people that post regularly are extra confident instead of always narcissistic. I guess more power to ya!