Fitness Friday

But First, You Should Take a Selfie 

(For Fitness Sake of Course)

Losing weight may be as simple as taking a selfie and sharing with others.

Look to your left; now look to your right. Chances are you just saw someone taking a selfie, whether it be for Snapchat, Instagram or Facebook.The use of media sharing platforms such as these has not only made it easy to communicate with our friends, but to share what we are doing and what we look like while doing it. Some might call the behavior self-absorbed, but some researchers at American University call it inspiration for losing weight. In both post-surgical and non-surgical environments, virtual support groups are a common place for patients in similar overweight predicaments to share their struggles with others who are familiar with their perspective. 

The researchers studied two communities of weight loss groups, surgical and non-surgical, over a period of four years. The conclusion of their study found that those who shared their stories and progress pictures in the online communities helped the user successfully achieve weight-loss more so than the users who did not update the community on their progress. According to the researchers, the photos and updates served as a sort of motivation and milestone to continue to achieve their weight-loss goals. Not only do the communities serve as motivation for future milestones, but they serve as a sort of virtual accountability as well. So the next time you see a selfie of someone working out, applaud them on their effort and think about sharing your success at the gym to hold yourself accountable as well!