4 minute read
OMG. Look at her butt.
n our global, ever-changing society, few fads rarely stand the test of time. Such a notion is true for all aspects of life, even within the evolving and expanding health and fitness industry. With each decade, new exercise routines or health kicks have inspired people to “get healthy.”
The 90s brought us dance-style fitness, while the 2000s provided specialized training, such as TRX and kettlebells-exclusive classes. However, all of these time periods have one thing in common: celebrities, who are the key influencers of popular culture, leading the charge on how to get in shape, lose weight or eat nutritiously. Now, in the era of “fitspiration,” “transformation Tuesdays” and easy selfmarketing, the regimens and practices of these celebrities are particularly exacerbated by one modern, heavily prevalent factor: social media.
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Social media gives everyday people the chance to follow their favorite celebrities on a new, more personal level than ever before. No longer are the brightest stars seen only on the red carpet, or in passing, chaotic glimpses upon entering and exiting their favorite Los Angeles coffee shops. Journalists don’t need to schedule exclusive interviews with the hottest supermodels to find out their daily routines; now, even the most “perfect” of celebrities giddily share their health secrets via their personal social media accounts, usually on Instagram and Snapchat.
Sometimes, if you’re lucky, they will even blog about it.
“Fitness” is most typically thought of as a combination of a nutritious diet and consistent exercise regimen. Here’s a brief overview of some celebrity workout routines that seem a bit out of the ordinary.
Kim Kardashian endorses “waist trainers” as the key to fitness success.
Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has given up on traditional fitness in lieu of yoga designed specifically for your face.
Meanwhile, Matthew McConaughey does what Matthew McConaughey does best: be eccentric. The movie star is known to run around outside, breaking into random fits of pull-ups when he spots an unassuming tree branch. Though this could be viewed as some variety of parkour, it’s unlikely that such a lifestyle is applicable to the average person.
On the dieting front, the stories are just as bizarre. Apparently, Mariah Carey consumed only purple foods (think plums, grapes, purple potatoes, etc.) for three weeks, while Paris Hilton once survived on only Red Bull and water—a sans-food variety of “nutrition” that she claimed worked wonders for her figure. Meanwhile, Christian Bale ate only tuna and apples to get lean for his Batman franchise, and, for her big roles, Sarah Michelle Gellar occasionally survived only on cabbage soup. Delicious.
It all seems a bit far-fetched. Yes, these are the easier malpractices to spot: they’re extreme, odd and reek of instability and showmanship. It’s safe to say many would roll their eyes at anyone who suggested they eat only one color of food (everyone knows you need a colorful plate— that’s elementary school health class for you) or that you channel your inner Tarzan and go all parkour with no real training.
But not all celebrity fitness scams—and yes, they are scams—are so easy to spot. The problem is three-fold.
First, we have celebrities who want to share their lives with their fans. Additionally, these key influencers have an extensive reach through social media. They want to impress, inspire and sell to their fans. Though many stars truly appreciate their fans, “common folk” can be viewed as consumers. Sometimes the product they sell is their glamorous lifestyle, or a passing glimpse of stardom. Other times, they sell a genuine product: a juice cleanse, a waist trainer or an endorsement to some high-intensity low-carb nonsense that will likely kill all your pre-existing good vibes.
Sometimes, these practices do work, and are worth checking out. Other times (most times) their success stories are a product of factor three: angles, lighting, better-fitting clothes and straight-up photoshop.
Additionally, even if said celebrity did have real results, that does not mean that you will have the same experience, for several reasons. You don’t know that the celebrity is being honest/not using aforementioned photo tricks, or that what they’re doing is safe. You also can’t be sure that their routine would even have the same effect on your body as it did on theirs.
Celebrities are not doctors, nutritionists or certified personal trainers. They are simply humans who have a large platform from which they can speak their beliefs. And that’s just fine—they are well within their rights to share their lives with their fans. But it’s not wise to look to these stars as health guides. They can look fabulous, amazing, “perfect,” but in reality, nobody is perfect, and following some unsustainable, fallible routine will likely lead to disappointment and negativity.
Instead of researching how Victoria’s Secret Angels eat, or educating yourself on the proper way to spin a hula-hoop for optimal caloric burn, be kind to your body. Love and care for yourself, and always:
1. Set a goal. Don’t let that goal be a number. Resist clothing sizes, scales and measuring tapes. You’re far more than digits. Your greatness is immeasurable.
2. Do your research—but not on Instagram. Look into what certified, qualified and educated people are saying. Fun fact: anyone can be a nutritionist. The term has no scientific weight. Look for “RDN” or “CTP” (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or Certified Personal Trainer). Find information you can trust.
3. Most importantly, find a routine that works for you. Do you loathe kale? Don’t eat it! Indifferent to running? Try weight lifting. Consistency and passion will only rise from finding as lifestyle that puts wind in your sails.
The purpose of this article is not to make you unfollow the Kardashians, or shut down your source of inspiration. You are 100 percent entitled to be motivated by whomever or whatever you please—having goals and working hard for results is good. For example, certain celebrities, such as Demi Lovato and Lady Gaga, preach body positivity and consistent, maintainable, healthy lifestyles. In other words, someone can inspire you without having to compare yourself negatively to them (they probably don’t even look like that in real life), wanting to follow in their footsteps or being their clone. But, establishing personal, individualized fitness goals, under a regimen that you enjoy, is far safer and more effective than drudging through so-and-so’s broccoli smoothies and ballet-hip-hop-only push-up style. The more you enjoy what you do, the more you will do it—every psychologist can agree on that, and consistency rewards itself.
Therefore, start your journey towards health your way—not anyone else’s. Set a goal that’s realistic, actively seek out healthy opportunities and strive for your own happiness. Celebrities will always be in the spotlight, and that’s just fine. But every human has vast potential to grow and exist happily and healthily—in mind, body and soul. By choosing your lifestyle over that of some celebrity’s, you place yourself steadfastly on the path to greatness.
BY CASEY DOUGLAS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA WEST | DESIGN BY DEANNA KLIMA-RAJCHEL
