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AIBU?

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Original poster

Find fitness fascists smug?

32 replies

Adnerb95 · 30/12/2017 11:44

Let's be clear - i have no problem with people taking pride in their achievements - whether running a marathon, losing weight (which I have done recently myself) etc

They deserve our support, especially when said achievement/new exercise regime/training schedule is against a backdrop of struggling with weight/fitness etc.

That's not what I am talking about here. No, it's those people - who usually have always enjoyed exercising, who find keeping fit or slim a piece of cake (!) and who bang on endlessly about their regime and how superior it makes them to us couch potatoes.

I know it's important for health and I do my best to exercise regularly but I find it marginally less exciting than watching paint dry. It doesn't help at all to have endless postings on social media of how "a fit body = modelling excellence as a parent" and other smug, self-congratulatory nonsense.

Alongside posed pictures of the "yes, I know I look good. Aren't I lovely?" Variety.

Most of the time the individuals concerned are perfectly nice human beings in every other way. How can they not see how irritating this is?

OP posts:
toolonglurking · 30/12/2017 11:53

Where are you seeing this? I'd it's on facebook/instagram then just unfriend/unfollow. If you mean in the wider media then I think it's a positive thing, the population are getting fatter and fatter, the NHS is on its knees and a reduction in obesity and unhealthy eating/drinking habits could really help the situation.

TheStoic · 30/12/2017 11:55

I think anyone who needs external validation like that probably has fairly low self-esteem. Despite how they present themselves.

comedycentral · 30/12/2017 12:00

Meh just scroll on, yes it's annoying but it is the nature of the social media beast!

Original poster
Adnerb95 · 30/12/2017 14:59

toolong
That's my point really - it's not just irritating, that approach won't work!

Nobody was ever motivated by being made to feel somehow inferior.

OP posts:
DailyMailReadersAreThick · 30/12/2017 15:00

Fitness fanatics are dull dull dull.

Runners are the worst of the lot.

WorraLiberty · 30/12/2017 15:11

Meh

No more irritating that all the kids in new school uniforms, shoved in front of a door in September.

There's plenty of diversity on social media, so what irritates one, will interest another.

HuskyMcClusky · 30/12/2017 15:13

I love staying fit and genuinely enjoy going to the gym, etc.

However, I hate people banging on about fitness (usually CrossFit, F45 or running). Nobody else gives a fuck, just get on with it.

Thehogfather · 30/12/2017 15:18

Agree with thestoic.

Can't say I would even discuss it on social media, let alone bring it up. But when people bang on for ages about how lucky I am cos they only need to look at food to gain weight, I'm quite happy to point out that I also exercise a lot.

Thehogfather · 30/12/2017 15:21

Can't say I'm interested in the specifics of most exercise regimes either, but at this time of year they are infinitely more interesting than people talking about whichever bizarre diet fad they are on, or which dodgy nutritional advice they think everyone should follow.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 30/12/2017 15:32

There was a period earlier this year when half of my FB feed seemed to revolve around how many squats people were doing, what kind, and pictures of them squatting. Weird.

I've also got a few friends who've become utter triathlon bores. I now hate triathlon for that reason.

NextInLine · 30/12/2017 15:38

I find their food posts worse!
Seriously how can anyone sustain that sort of fitness regime on a diet of romaine lettuce and pomegranate seeds?!

lalalalyra · 30/12/2017 15:42

I don't mind the ones that bang on about it on their own profiles, I just scroll by. It's the ones that bang on about it to everyone.

"I feel grim after eating so much over Christmas" - "You should go running, the endorphins will make you feel so much better"

"I'm so down. Can't believe I've been made redundant, I'm so worried about finding another job" - "You should go running, the endorphins will make you feel so much better"

"I've broken both my legs and my entire family have been murdered by a serial killer" - "You should go running, the endorphins will make you feel so much better"

Although, I have to say, that does tend to be equally, if not more, prevelant in people who have "found" running in the last couple of years.

mumofthemonsters808 · 30/12/2017 15:52

I'm into fitness but I'm not smug, it's just something I do in my spare time. I don't check into the gym or babble on about my Fitbit, I don't even own one. I only mention it if someone asks where I'm going. I certainly don't post pictures of me in my bikini, I might do if I was a Victoria's Secrets model, but I'm not, I'm just in shape for my age.i don't think it makes me superior, I just enjoy exercise.

I think when people are relentlessly posting about their achievements they are looking for some sort of encouragement, support.It only appeals to a select audience though, I.e if you're a member of a running club, only your running club mates will be interested, everyone else will just scroll down. it's the same for anything though, football bragging only appeals to football fans, kids stuff only appeals to family or people with kids.

Didntcomeheretofuckspiders · 30/12/2017 16:07

This is why I have Facebook for keeping in touch with friends and family, and Instagram for posting about running/training/triathlon etc. I’m not trying to shove it down anyone’s throat but it’s there if people want to see it. I might sometimes share an Instagram post on Facebook if it’s something I’m particularly excited about and others might actually want to see but otherwise the two are mostly separate. It’s nice for me to have a record of my own achievements and also feel a part of a community to get ideas for training, events I might want to do, interesting bits of kit etc.

ImAMarshmellow · 30/12/2017 16:26

Yanbu!

Friend on Facebook has recently (all credit to her) dropped about 10 Dress sizes. She's gone from around a 22/24 to a 10/12 and she looks really good for it.

Every post is all about either her amazing healthy food or photos of her 'amazing new body'. She seems to get loads of freebies from various companies so naturally lots of hashtags and 'OMG!, this XXX is amazing. 😘' I want to stab her in the head with her overnight bloody oats Angry

It's not the fact she's done something amazing, it's all the bloody photos, and posts that go along with it. Last year she was singing the praises of forever living and how it was simply amazing....

WipsGlitter · 30/12/2017 17:26

I work with someone whose obsessed very keen on fitness. Her life revolves around it which is a bit sad.

I find some fitness people on social media very aggressive it's all bear crawls and thwacking big ropes about. Bring back the green goddess.

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 30/12/2017 22:26

Fitness has become Very Serious again. A while back, it was all street dance and enjoying the outdoors as the biggest fitness trends. Now it's back to boring repetitive exercises.

I'm going to find out if my local leisure centre still offers Step Aerobics classes. I used to like Step.

Armi · 30/12/2017 22:31

I used to love Step. Especially the floor exercises - I could lie down and have a little rest.

Mulch · 30/12/2017 22:35

I am guilty of instagram posts but like someone said up thread its looking for support. I keep it off fb, consider that a different audience

MoorMummy · 30/12/2017 22:39

I think I might be one of those people you hate. I work out most days/ check in at the gym/post regularly etc.

However i also drink beer and eat kebabs. Lots of both.

I’ve come to fitness relatively late in my forties and it’s changed my life. It helps me deal with a few medical issues, ( thyroid and weight gain, hair loss, depression etc).Most importantly I’ve met a very mixed bag of friends and we have formed a real tight bond. We’ve supported each other through some very significant life events and it’s been a lifeline.

I hope that people look at my posts and think if I can do it , then if they want to, they can too.

WhooooAmI24601 · 30/12/2017 22:45

I think anyone who needs external validation like that probably has fairly low self-esteem. Despite how they present themselves.

This til the end of time. I've a friend who does this. She's funny, bright, kind, an incredible mother and beautiful to boot. But she has no idea of that and feels better by validating herself with food and exercise in public. Each to their own, she's obviously in need of a boost.

Original poster
Adnerb95 · 31/12/2017 07:13

I don't hate you MoorMummy

You sound like you have a good story around these issues and enough self-awareness not to bombard your friends with silly, self-regarding hashtags. The hashtag porridge goes something like this:

#fitfam #self-respect #healthybodyhealthymind #doitnow #loveyourbody

All accompanied by the narcissism which is the selfie album.

Normally self-aware individuals who seem to lose all sense when it comes to exercise and diet.

OP posts:
AuntLydia · 31/12/2017 07:21

I never realised how lucky I am - I'm a runner with loads of running friends but none of us do this bollocks thankfully. We all share the odd post on our walls I suppose - any special achievements or nice pictures from a run but the general gibbering on about running is in our running specific Facebook groups. And it doesn't include a load of wanky hash tags either. Maybe it's time to unfollow a few people?

Lillybilly20 · 31/12/2017 07:28

Quit social media! I have and it’s made me so much happier. Social media just makes us all feel crap that our lives aren’t as perfect as those portrayed!

AwayAndStuffYourself · 31/12/2017 07:39

Lilly, I think you are completely right. Social Media is a curse masquerading as a blessing.

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