Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Gym girls

235 replies

youcanthandlethetruth · 02/12/2020 23:08

Two of my friends have taken to posting gym selfies.

One has not long had her baby and hit the gym hard, which I applaud. She has taken her wellbeing seriously but I can’t help but think she doesn’t need to post pictures on social media. It’s like a stealth brag. Particularly showing off images of her stomach and she’s wearing a full face of makeup whilst in gym gear.

Another friend has became gym obsessed in the last year. Again I think lockdown might have been a big catalyst but she constantly posts on Facebook about fitness. Constant selfies in the gym. Constant posts about calories, what she’s eaten etc. It’s becoming tedious.

I don’t want to have to unfriend them online. The selfie culture and what I feel is stealth bragging has just became annoying now. Yes, I get that you’re looking well. I recognise you are taking positive steps to maintain your health and well-being but please can you stop posting about your amazing body.

And no I’m not jealous, I’m a size 8 myself. I just hate people who feel the need to show off. Tell me I’m not the only one

OP posts:
Staffy1 · 03/12/2020 00:54

Just unfollow them, rather than unfriend. They won't know, apart from the fact that you won't be liking their posts as you won't see them, but I assume you don't like them anyway if you find them so annoying.

Doublebubblebubble · 03/12/2020 00:54

@jessstan1 cant stand it.

Social media either gives you

Misinformation
Fomo
Drama
Stress

It isnt worth it.

Doublebubblebubble · 03/12/2020 00:55

^I cant stand it lol

Hellin301 · 03/12/2020 00:56

Glad I’m not the only one!

GlummyMcGlummerson · 03/12/2020 00:57

How can people even wear make up at the gym?! Doesn't it sweat off?

TomBradysLeftKneecap · 03/12/2020 01:01

But are they wearing masks though....;D

Doublebubblebubble · 03/12/2020 01:05

@TomBradysLeftKneecap you know the answer already.

Frannibananni · 03/12/2020 01:09

People take photos of things they are proud of, it’s today’s world. I have friends who bake a lot and other that are into smoking meat and bbq, the gym selfies are much more tolerable than the constant attention seeking that another does with nonstop posts about how her children are her world and look at what we are doing today.

GreenlandTheMovie · 03/12/2020 01:11

Seems harmless to me. Not everyone is the same, or does exactly the same things. Thankfully.

AIMD · 03/12/2020 01:14

I mean isn’t the whole point of social media to share stuff....and most of that stuff is utter crap.

I just unfollow people posting things that annoy me so I don’t have to see it.

SparrowNest · 03/12/2020 01:21

You sound jealous, frankly. Pretty easy to scroll on past otherwise

Inkpaperstars · 03/12/2020 01:46

I don’t think you sound jealous. It just seems that as a pp said social media isn’t for you. I am the same, I can’t fathom what most of it is for and it seems bizarre to me that people feel the need to post what they do. However I just step back, don’t use it, and accept that they feel differently.

ScottishStottie · 03/12/2020 01:50

When i was in shape and a regukar gym goer i posted selfies etc. Not as a boast but as a way of keeping myself in check and accountable for keeping it up. Some people probably rolled their eyes and unfollowed me, but the people that messaged me privately to tell me how impressed they were and could i share some secrets was enough motivation.

Never mind the fact that now im2 stone heavier and its coming up in my facebook memories and giving me new found motivation...

ScottishStottie · 03/12/2020 01:51

And you would have hated me, i did photoshoots and everything 😜

Maskedcrusader · 03/12/2020 01:53

Good for them, what kind of things do you post OP?

Veniemmanuel · 03/12/2020 03:20

@louderthan1

The thing is, everyone takes pride in different things and sees different things as worth the hard work. A friend of mine who does (very beautiful) craft projects and constantly posts pics of them on all social media is very scathing about another friend of ours who works very seriously and posts regular progress updates/pics of her (frankly amazing) muscle tone and amazing running PBS. I see them as being the same, keen to show off the results of their hard work and talent but craft friend is so rude about fitness friend, saying to me that she's vain, self-obsessed etc. I think it boils down to snobbery really.
This in spades

And so what if it bragging? Surely people are allowed to feel proud of themselves for whatever achievement they have. You don't have to consume or engage with everything on SM -you can scroll past or unfollow

boomshakey · 03/12/2020 03:59

If you don't like your body, that's fine. Leave someone else to be happy about themselves and their health though. Sheesh.

Wow. is that what it means if you don't post gym selfies & hate the whole selfie culture in general?

Whatever happened to people being interested in something other than themselves?

And so what if it bragging?

I was raised to think bragging was bad & one should be humble. 😆

I don't use fb or insta so don't see most of this stuff however I still find the whole idea of taking photos of yourself or things you did for validation weird.

boomshakey · 03/12/2020 04:01

Surely people are allowed to feel proud of themselves for whatever achievement they have.

Of course people should feel proud. Do you think people felt pride before social media?

Seasidemumma77 · 03/12/2020 04:02

When I started my fitness journey 5yrs ago I posted daily gym photos, but I longer do. For it wasn't about vanity or showing off but accountability.

boomshakey · 03/12/2020 04:15

@Seasidemumma77 why did you stop?

Veniemmanuel · 03/12/2020 04:28

Not everyone was raised to be modest or humble. It's a victimless crime. If their behaviour is off putting you don't have to be their friend.

Yes people felt pride before social media. SM just provides a different Avenue for people fo share that pride. Not using social media for those reasons does not make you more morally superior just different.

Not everyone shares the same values as you or thinks the same it's okay to be different even if you don't approve.

Scolha · 03/12/2020 06:35

Why do you even waste the energy letting it bother you. Just unfollow if you don’t want to see it you don’t have to even unfriend.
They are doing what makes them happy just let them. Maybe they ate trying to keep a (public) diary of their progress.

boomshakey · 03/12/2020 06:37

Not everyone was raised to be modest or humble.

Do you have to be raised that way to consider them positives? I'd hardly say the opposite traits eg arrogance & vanity etc are considered good traits in society?

Not using social media for those reasons does not make you more morally superior just different.

I would never claim to be morally superior but I think it's interesting to question why some people need social media for those reasons.

Not everyone shares the same values as you or thinks the same it's okay to be different even if you don't approve.

I don't understand your point. Of course it's fine to be different however that doesn't mean things can't be criticised. Do you believe there are no negative to SM? Or that it has no impact on society?

PrincessNutNut · 03/12/2020 06:39

Why do so many people look for the worst possible motivations? One has just had a baby, it's been lockdown/restrictions, it's probably helping with their motivation and mood. Attempting to start an online sneer-fest about it is a much more mean spirited use of the internet.

If the worst thing you ever did was post gym selfies on social media, you're going to heaven quicker than most people. Just unfollow if it bothers you so much (and it obviously does because otherwise you wouldn't have started this thread).

RoseAndRose · 03/12/2020 06:41

This is a parenting site, where 'girls' normally refers to female children

What are the ages of these 'girls' - people seem to be assuming they are adult, but that's not clear from OP's post (and many teenage girls are posting selfies a lot)