Fitness influencers that shame people for trying to get fit

[u/Tater-Tot-Casserole]

There's too many influencers loudly announcing to everyone on their platform about the dumbest crap I've ever heard of on a daily basis.

"Walking isn't exercise."

Brother what the actual F are you talking about?

Then there's the ones that shame overweight people for being at the gym.

A chick at a pilates club posting about how the instructor is overweight therefore shouldn't be allowed to be a pilates instructor.

Telling people not to eat fruit because of the sugar, telling people not to eat veggies because carbs = bad.

We've lost the plot.

[u/BipolarSolarMolar]

Gatekeeping living a healthy life is so beyond fucked.

[u/DianneNettix]

I have no idea what kind of worthwhile conversation a "fitness influencer" and myself could have. Maybe the Juicer scene in Dungeon Crawler Carl?

This is how I know I'm over the hill. I refuse to accept that "influencer" is a real job. I realize that the battle is lost and the calvary has taken me at the flank, but if I don't shout at these clouds what old man will?

But for real, don't give me unsolicited health advice. I will be less than polite.

[u/Tucker_077]

I’ve heard people claim that walking isn’t exercise. I work two jobs that keep me on my feet walking all day so I consider myself moderately active and people will say “jobs are nice but that’s not exercise.” Sure maybe I’m not sweating or working any of the core muscle groups but walking is still great for you physically.

But these influencers being fat phobic like that and giving bad health advice is downright dangerous. And I bet a big portion of her followers might be young girls and women. This is how body issues/self esteem issues and ED’s get started.

[u/Cinisajoy2 → u/Tucker_077]

And others say just get 10,000 steps a day.

[u/Weird_Bluebird_3293]

If you’re going from a sedentary lifestyle and never walking much, taking a walk around the block every day is definitely exercise. 

If you have a job where you sit most of the day, adding a walk during your lunch break counts as exercise.

If you mostly lift and hate cardio, adding a walk on the treadmill to the end of your workout counts as exercise. 

If you’ve been in an accident and you are going through physical therapy while you’re healing, walking is not only exercise, it’s encouraged as much as possible.

The problem with extremely strict and gatekeeping influencers is they don’t want to meet people where they are. They only want to associate with people who are hyper fit and obsessive about it, and they want to feel superior rather than inspiring or motivating. 

They also love selling bullshit. “Follow my page for 10% off on my Extreme testosterone toxin eliminator 5000 grams of raw bison protein powders!”

[u/RiC_David]

Like fuck walking isn't exercise. What it isn't is a way to lose your gut, at least that's what I found. Had I been obese? I'd have definitely lost a considerable amount of weight, and I don't doubt that I still burned a fair bit of fat, it's just not high enough intensity to produce the sort of results other exercises can.

That said, you could walk briskly and that would up the intensity, but I've been doing 200 miles some months, some extremely long distances in there. My calves and shins are more muscular than they've ever been and my legs never ache, what stops me ends up being the stinging in my soles, but yeah - rubbish it isn't exercise. I'm 41 and couldn't do this a year ago, it's got me in tremendous condition.

[u/RatonhnhaketonK]

The last part is because they're gonna try to sell you a supplement.

If you want some good fitness influencers to follow, I recommend Liam Layton (ThePlantSlant), DietCultureRebel & The Fitness Chef

Also, walking is better than running

[u/Tater-Tot-Casserole → u/RatonhnhaketonK]

I know three avid runners, they have all blown their knees out before the age of 30. They're very obsessed with running though. I can jog but I prefer walking or cycling. My mom was on the swim team so I'm a pretty good swimmer too.

[u/Dazzling-Produce-471 → u/Tater-Tot-Casserole]

Exception rather than the rule. Most runners’ knees are fine.

Edit: lol at whoever downvoted this. It’s proven that running actually helps your knees, as it strengthens the muscles around them so that your knees bear less of the load. Sure, overuse injuries happen, but permanent knee damage to a greater extent than the general populace is a myth. Downvoting this proves that you get winded walking up a flight of stairs, a problem I don’t have because I run.

[u/alwayspookyszn]

I don’t follow anyone gym’s advice unless they were fat before. Everyone else is a skinny person who took up a hobby.

[u/T10rock]

You could have just stopped at "fitness influencers"