How to see through pointless fitness trends
On social media there's a constant stream of new fitness trends promising or encouraging quick wins. But not everything that goes viral is healthy or useful. Learn here how to critically assess trends and find alternatives.
Jogging or running around in the freezing cold, scantily clad, until you drop: social media is full of questionable fitness trends that either promise health benefits or encourage you to push yourself to your physical limits. While some will motivate you to exercise more, you should be wary. After all, it's not hype that benefits your health, but safe forms of exercise that you stick with.
Marathons, ultras, Hyrox …
You've just run 5 kilometres and are feeling pretty pleased with yourself, but then you scroll through Instagram and see how many people are running a marathon on a regular Sunday. In recent years we've seen more and more extreme trends appearing on social media, from 100-mile runs and streak running (i.e. running at least a mile a day) to backyard ultras ("last one standing") where participants complete a 6.7 kilometre lap every hour and the winner is the last one to complete a full lap. The record stands at almost 800 kilometres.
If you follow the latest sports trends on social media, you're bound to have come across Hyrox. These are competitions where people alternate between eight intense, functional strength exercises and one-kilometre runs. And you'll probably also have seen influencers promoting exercises that supposedly protect you from injury or give you a six-pack.
Take trends with a pinch of salt
Social media can motivate you to do more exercise and try new things. But be aware that these channels are mostly about reach. Influencers use concepts that are as simple and catchy as possible with the aim of reaching a large community and generating lots of reaction. Expertise comes second, if at all. You should be particularly wary of seemingly simple solutions that promise great success. Remember that there are no shortcuts on the path to long-term health and fitness.
Risk of injury
If you’re relatively inexperienced when it comes to sports and are merely following a trend, you may end up pushing your body too hard and in an unbalanced way. This puts you at risk of injury and overtraining. It’s better to use your current fitness level as a starting point and build up gradually. This way, you’ll be doing something good for your health in a way that will last. Don’t compare yourself to full-time influencers who have plenty of time for exercise and proper recovery. With a job and a family, you can be proud of yourself if you manage to fit in two to three exercise sessions a week on a regular basis.
Better sources of inspiration
If you’re searching for new exercise ideas, it’s worth looking beyond social media. You can find high-quality content from physiotherapists, sports scientists or established healthcare organisations. They often provide free training plans. Fitness classes, specialised sports apps and personalised training advice also offer safe and effective approaches. And last but not least, of course, there's inspiring and quality-assured content here on Benevita too.
No matter what you choose, make sure the exercises are clearly explained and based on sound scientific knowledge. Programmes that focus on endurance, strength and flexibility will support your long-term health. This not only reduces your risk of injury, but also strengthens your cardiovascular system and your muscles in the long term.
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