Social Physique Anxiety
What is it and do you suffer from it?
Social physique anxiety is when individuals feel anxiety about their physical appearance or are insecure about how they look to others or how they believe others perceive their body (Hart et al., 1989; Portman et al., 2018).
Have you ever looked at your physique and not attended an event or an exercise class because of what you see in the mirror? Have you ever said, I'll start that when I've lost "x" number of pounds?
Hello (hand raised), I'm guilty over here. There is so much pressure around how we think we should look and what is considered healthy.
When I started my fitness instructor career, my biggest obstacle was comparing myself to other fitness instructors. How can I train others if I am a little fluffy or I don't have a toned body like I see other instructors all over the internet? It took me a while to research and understand what I was feeling. Not everyone wants the muscle-carved-out fitness instructor. They want someone relatable to them, who has or continues to experience the same struggles of balancing life and fitness. It is not all about the aesthetics, it is also about your mental health. I tell everyone I work out to keep the crazy at bay. My favorite line is "I hit the gym so I don't hit you".
As a fitness student, I know personally that no one is looking at you, they are focused on their movements, technique, and breathing.
Which comment can you relate to?
I would work out, but...(enter an excuse).
I feel like everyone is watching me.
I feel self-conscious working out in front of people.
I’ll start working out when I lose a little weight.
What is thought to have caused us to have this anxiety?
Social comparison has created a stigma around what specific attire many people wear during exercise and what a fit and healthy physique should look like. Social media has played a significant role in social physique anxiety.
What we do know is that as physical activity decreases, social physique anxiety increases as a result.
How to Break the Cycle
Increasing your physical activity increases your mood, improves the cardiopulmonary vascular system, and has many benefits on longevity. Functional training is one of my favorite training classes because it helps reduce the chances of injuries caused by normal daily activities such as bending over to pick something up through proper lifting mechanics and a strong posterior chain.
My Best Advice
Wear what makes you feel good
Be comfortable in your body
Don't Compare yourself with others
Focus on getting stronger
Set YOUR own realistic goals (SMART goals)
Find a fitness community that makes you feel comfortable and provides you with social support
Take the damn exercise class you've been avoiding
Schedule Your Fitness Class Today
You are not the only one facing these barriers and joining a supportive fitness community will benefit you. You will find support and accountability in your fitness community.
MISSFITS COMMUNITY At MissFits Training, we strive to make our space a fun, supportive, and comfortable environment for everybody. We want women to leave every class feeling empowered.
*We offer in-person and virtual class options.
Comments