A long time ago, I was working with a new client.  I spent a VERY long time with him reviewing his goals and designing a plan to get him to his goals.  I explained why I chose each exercise and how we would progress his plan, and I answered his myriad of questions.  After almost two hours, we had a plan we were happy with, or so I thought.  The next day, he came in for his first workout with me and had in his hands he had the latest copy of Men’s Fitness. “Why,” he asked, “are we not doing all these exercises since I made it clear I want to be like these weightlifters?”  Although I reiterated why the plan we had developed together would get him to his goal, he thought I was ignorant and decided not to train with me.  This guy was an extreme example of what can happen when you are influenced and not informed.

Although most of us get our workout ideas from social media instead of magazines these days, the results can still be the same.  The person on your screen is young, cute, fit, happy, strong, mobile, whatever!  They look great, and you want to look great too! There is a lot of good content on social media (of course, I am biased and think mine is the best). I do like to scroll to get ideas and see how strong some people are, but I know what I can do and what I cannot do.  I know what my clients can and cannot do.  I know how to modify exercises.   I am confident that I can integrate what I see on social media into my own exercise plan and that of a client.

As your fitness coach, who knows you best and how to get you to your goal, it can sometimes be frustrating to have a client say they saw something on social media they think they should be doing.  However, I have learned to applaud clients who are trying to find information to empower themselves, and I am happy to help them integrate things into their program if appropriate, and I love to answer their fitness questions.  After all I was a teacher once upon a time. But if you do not have an educated person who can help you filter information, here are a few questions you can ask yourself before blindly following what you see in a post.

Questions to ask yourself

1. What is the actual content? Anyone can post pretty much anything.  All content producers want you to click on their content so they will have a catchy thumbnail to get your attention.  Most of the time, what they say in the intro is not even what the post is about. That is a red flag to me.  The author is misleading you from the beginning.

• What gives the person posting any credibility?  Just because they look good does not mean they know how to help you.  Never underestimate the power of genetics. Do they have a degree in the field i.e., exercise physiology, kinesiology, and the like, not public health? Are they certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine? (NASM) or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), or the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)? The NSCA and ACSM require a degree in the field to sit for the certification exam. Having these certifications means they know how to program for your specific needs, not just provide a routine that they like to do.  The NSCA focuses more on training the apparently healthy and the athlete.  The ACSM focuses more on training the person with risk factors for chronic disease and those who have chronic disease. NASM is for the apparently healthy but does not require a degree in the field to sit for the exam. Content creators should have their credentials somewhere in their profile.

• Do they provide movement cues to help ensure you are executing the movement safely and correctly? I sometimes like to follow along with a workout on YouTube, and I think to myself, “It’s a good thing I know how to do that exercise because you are not even talking.” Professionals get injured working out; you can get injured too.  An injury will derail your progress, so be sure your form is correct and listen to your body.
• Is the person posting like you in any way?  She may be younger or more fit, but that alone will not preclude you from following her.  If you are a novice and she has years of experience, she might not be the best pick for you. Can you move like that person?  How do you know?  Does that person have the same injury or chronic disease as you?  If not, is she providing alternative moves to work around your issues?  If not, she might not be the best person to give you advice.

Who I like to Follow

I like to follow Kaisa Fit.  I will never be as strong as she is and cannot move like her, but she has a Master’s degree and provides exercises for beginners. I love to see the amazing things she can do!  For podcasts, I like Dr. Peter Atilla’s The Drive, and Dr Streicher’s Inside Information.  Ben Carpenter and Dr. Stacy Sims on Instagram are great too.

Feel free to scroll but remember to ask questions, have a healthy skepticism and be safe!