HEALTH TREND HAVE YOU TRIED FITSPIRATION?

The cyberspace is brimming with people working out and posting inspiring pictures, slogans and diet plans to motivate others to get fit and fab. Purvaja Sawant finds out all about this fitness trend     EVERY time someone on your timeline shows off pictures of their just-workedout abs or chiselled muscles, you roll your eyes and dismiss them as vain! But haven't you secretly wished you had that kind of bod too? What perhaps started off as narcissism, has become an online fitness phenomenon the world over. Called Fitspiration, these people work out and keep posting the results (pictures, diet fads etc) on microblogging and social networking sites to motivate themselves, as well as others to keep fit.  How to fitspire  From photographs of flat tummies to stirring slogans about health, F i t s p i rat i o n junkies post a variety of things to get their message across to their followers. Carrie McMahon, an avid fitspirational blogger, says, "I upload my pictures, motivational sayings and random tidbits on fitness regularly on all my social accounts. My programmes have  helped a lot of people to learn how to get in to the exercise mode and eat in a way that will last them a lifetime. In return, I have a wonderful group of followers who continue to motivate me daily to keep working out."  The visual impact and connect  You can't underestimate the impact of toned bodies to grab attention and eyeballs. Fitspiration usually focusses on athletic bodies: washboard abs, toned legs etc. Images are a sure-shot motivator, whether they're of fit people or pushy slogans. Fitness expert Neeraj Mehta agrees, "If you're a fitness aspirant, the pictures and images of a toned body will subconsciously have an impact on your mind and thought process, thus motivating you. People get so inspired that they immediately start following the fitness advice/article." Perhaps it's the power of suggestion, but many a time, after seeing positive changes in another person's fitness levels, in the hope of getting fit, we may ape the same regime. As celebrity fitness guru Vinod Channa says, "Take the example of Bollywood stars like Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham, whose physiques are idolised by youngsters. Just like these stars motivate people to be like them, fitspiration also encourages people." What's more, it is easier to relate and connect to ordinary people than fitness experts and professionals. Seeing their positive body transformation, one can be inspired to think that 'if he or she can, then so can I'. "We want to know that we are not alone in this journey and there are many like us, looking to find the best versions of ourselves. It is also about support and having like-minded people doing it with you," says Ling Lim, a fitspiration enthusiast.  Inspiring or frustrating?  Unfortunately, Fitspiration can lead people to some dangerous practices. Since everyone's body type and lifestyle are different, aping another person's fitness routine, without weighing the pros and cons, can cause major problems like an overdose of supplements and steroids. "The pictures or testimonials should be used to strengthen your weak mental resolve to work out. Don't follow the workouts or diet blindly," says fitness expert Dr Ajish Abraham."  FITSPIRATION IS MEANT TO...      Inspire you to be fit and healthy. It should motivate you to feel good about yourself. But if you start feeling guilty or ashamed about your body, it isn't a healthy form of encouragement      Fitspiration is about health, not just looks. Your mission should be to accomplish your physical and wellness goals, not just aesthetic ones