As the fitness community continues to flood our feeds, more of us are turning to social media to power our fitness and weight loss goals. But, whether you’re loyal to Facebook or taking advantage of the Instagram fitness communities, how you use it makes all the difference. Give yourself a social media check-up in this week’s Social Media Monday with this guide on using social media for weight-loss!

If you’re already one of the millions sharing and finding inspiration on social media then why not use those same feeds to power your weight loss journey? New media is a great way to link up with inspirational communities and influencers that provide tools, inspiration, and accountability to help you stay on track. While we love the connection and empowerment these social media communities offer, remember that everything has its pros and cons. Here’s how we suggest making the most out of your feeds:

Social Media for Weight Loss:
The Don’ts

Don’t Get Sucked Into the Comparison Game

Call it the curse of social media (or just call it being human), but it only takes one glance at that influencer’s amazing progress picture to send you into a spiral of self-doubt.

Why don’t I look like that after a gym session?

Why can she eat that ice cream and still rock those abs?

How does she handle her 3 kids, full-time job, and qualify for the Boston Marathon?

Here’s the deal: You’re not them and they’re not you. When using social media for weight loss, remember that someone else’s Instagram feed is simply a highlight reel that emphasizes the brief (and edited!) moments that they choose to share. Will they share that perfectly posed gym selfie with their just-messy-enough hair? Absolutely. Are they going to post the picture of the moment their threenager spit up on those sponsored Gymshark leggings? Not a chance.

Weight loss is a marathon which means everyone’s journey to the finish line is different, and that’s okay! Their accomplishments don’t take a single thing away from yours. Don’t let yourself get caught up int he comparison game, so go unfollow those negative accounts.  Then, go and follow a handful of accounts that focus on motivation, empowerment, and self-love instead!

Don’t Follow the Foodie Blogs

Being a visual platform, Instagram is the perfect place for fitness gurus and foodies alike! Since humans are so visual, we tend to be easily influenced by visual cues which makes it a great place for inspiration as well as temptation! Those foodie accounts posting pictures of those Double-Decker, Chocolate-Dipped, Mocha Fudge Donuts probably didn’t make a difference when you weren’t focused on healthy eating and weight loss, but it might be enough to pull you off track now that you’re cutting back and eating clean!

If you know you struggle with self-control or tend to give in to cravings, do yourself a favor and eliminate the temptation altogether. Take time to scroll through your follower list and replace unhealthy food blogs with healthy inspiration! Check out hashtags such as:

• #HealthyRecipes
• #CleanEats
• #HealthyFoodShare
• #EatRealFood

and follow the bunny trails until your feed is filled with pictures of whole, balanced meals to inspire your next kitchen adventure!

Don’t Get Caught Up In Negativity

Unfortunately, not everyone on social media is an empowering voice for healthy change. Some people are simply just negative and out to tear others down, but that doesn’t mean you need to get caught up in the negativity! If you’re being shown anything less than support and encouragement by someone you’re connected to, take some time to really evaluate that connection and whether it’s worth the negative impact it could have on your mental and emotional wellbeing. After all, being healthy isn’t just a physical thing!

Use social media as a resource to support your goals, rather than allowing it to make you feel bad or serve as a vehicle that allows other people to do so. You’ll eliminate stress, improve your overall wellbeing, and keep your sights set on that finish line!

Social Media for Weight Loss:
The Do’s

Become Part of a Community!

The going gets tough along the journey of weight loss, and you know what the tough do? We get cheerleaders! Social media has gotten a bad rep when it comes to making us feel better, but studies have shown that engaging and interacting on social media can actually help foster the positive mood + sense of community that helps us push through challenges. These communities on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest are great for finding new recipes, tips, workouts, and those little things that make reaching your goal just a little easier!

Share Goals + Achievements!

Don’t be afraid to share your goals and successes along the way! When you only have yourself to hold you accountable, willpower is quick to fall by the wayside. Sharing with others helps keep you accountable. Plus, what’s a better place to share than with a group of like-minded, well-connected people? Followers are sometimes even more likely than your real-world social support to identify with the highs and lows of your journey and comment with helpful tips, motivations, and reminders.

Try using social media for weight loss here by writing a post or sharing a daily photo of your progress to keep friends and followers updated on your progress! The support and encouragement can keep you moving forward while the reminders and tips help keep you on track.

Empower + Encourage!

The comparison game is not a fun one to play, and using social media for weight loss make it easy to fall into without realizing it. It’s important t remember that your journey is your own and comparing yourself to others will only set you back! Use the before/after’s as a chance to connect with someone who has successfully reached their goals! After all, who best to help you navigate your way to the finish line than someone who’s got the map?

Social media is an important part of our lives, but don’t let it be your life!
Tell us how you used social media for weight loss + tag us @TLSweightloss!