The biggest advantage AND disadvantage about memes is that anyone can make them. Fitness always seems to be a “soft topic” in the sense that many people are uncomfortable even talking about it. Why? Perhaps people don’t believe they are working out enough or well enough. Exercise is brilliant because of its versatility and the ability to learn powerful exercises without a trainer or a professional’s help. At the same time, that freedom can bring incorrect form, insecurity, and frustration in a workout session.
Let’s take a look at a meme about fitness.
Imagine what it might be like for the an average person buying a gym membership for the first time. The chances are that they have done some basic exercises, like push ups, sit ups, crunches, lifting dumbbells, running, or walking. They get to the gym and look at the equipment their membership just bought them. “Wow,” they say under their breath. They can’t wait to start getting into shape with the rower, the machines, and attending a couple spinning and cardio classes. They look over at the treadmills and think, “Great! I know this one!” They stretch and eventually fumble with the buttons with different settings and start at a quickened jog. Easy peasy. They start looking around and see someone using a machine that catches their eye. They spy for a while, still jogging. “I think I can do that..” They patiently wait until the person is finished and wipes down the equipment. They finally arrive at the machine and try it. This is really difficult. They do 10 repetitions and are exhausted. Logically, this makes perfect sense. This person is at the gym to get in shape and to have equipment available to help them achieve their fitness goals. The machine probably worked muscles that are not yet developed and therefore, the person should struggle. However, maybe someone who goes to the gym regularly sees this person and eventually judges them. Maybe someone laughs at them; maybe someone gives them a look. Here is where most people are faced with two options: Keep going or quit.
While the struggle of exercising is inevitably difficult and the options of “keep going or quit” are often faced in fitness, this person shouldn’t even be faced with this question at this point. Even if they are, those feelings shouldn’t be confirmed on the internet from memes and certainly not by personal trainers. Having a healthy and balanced mind about what is expected at the gym can really change the atmosphere. Some people find their #fitfam at the gym and some other people are motivated by serious competition. But who would compare the skills of a sixth grader to the skills of a kindergartener?
If people removed this condescending attitude at the gym, if personal trainers removed this attitude from their social media, imagine what the difference might be for the average person. Working out at the gym would be more about THEM the customer, instead of the social injustices and the unfriendly atmosphere. Maybe we’d see more creative memes, and millions of people can agree on the idea of positivity instead of judging at the gym.
Another popular trend is “no excuses.” Remember when Maria Kang posted her photo of her cute kids with her rockin’ bod with the title “What’s your excuse?” I’m pretty sure she broke social media for a tiny bit. There seems to be this idea that an “excuse” is not believable or good enough. Maybe one excuse someone has is that they work a lot and have a family. Because there are people in the same basic situation but do exercise, it creates this illusion that the first person is avoiding exercise. People are always challenging the “impossible,” like Caroline Berg Eriksen who looked like a model just four days after giving birth. However, those stories are amazing and make newslines because they’re not normal, not expected, not predicted. Just because it was possible for one person doesn’t mean it’s possible for everyone.
The truth of the matter is that people choose how they want to balance their time. I had plenty of friends who would skip classes to practice their instruments. Their grades were lower in classes that should have been an easy A. Is that inexcusable? Maybe to some, but it was also their choice. They simply wanted to spend their time doing something different than someone else. Luckily, it was something they enjoyed. The point is that people are going to spend their time the way they think is best for them. Maria Kang’s fitness is really important to her, so of course it was a priority. She does fitness competitions; it only makes sense. In college, my professor prepared to give a violin recital. She was also enrolled in a few exercise classes and told me about the guilt she felt about skipping some of the exercise classes so she could practice more as her recital date drew nearer. I told her the classes were just an hour or so of her day, but she said that was an hour more she could spend with her instrument. She then said, “I would rather buy a bigger sized dress rather than not perform exactly the way I want.” Her job is to be a performer; it only makes sense. Her excuse IS valid.
Judging people based on appearance stems from someone else not having the same expectations. I judge people who don’t use a blinker when they’re switching lanes. But unlike the road, the gym is a wonderful place where transformations can happen. People change their lives there. They gain confidence, or should at least. The gym is not the place to make judgments. Seeing evidence of gym judgment on social media is reaching millions of people. Take down the negativity associated with gyms, fitness and exercise. I’d love to see people post more memes like this instead.
This entry was contributed by Shannon Bolen, a Public Relations and Marketing intern at Hedstrom - Ball, Bounce and Sport. She recently graduated from Bowling Green State University and loves sticky notes and Adventure Time.
