A Post Workout Selfie

By Douglas Pieterse, Co-Founder & Head Personal Trainer

"It may be simple but not always easy"

Should I post a workout selfie? or Functionality over Vanity?

After crushing yourself with what seemed to be a life or death style workout, you crawl over to your mobile phone to capture the pain and glory of your battle proven body to show that it truly happened. This is a common scene for some people - and it’s not such a bad thing!

The good:

Your selfie post may have more functional effect and benefit than you initially thought. While I often look up people I know on Instagram to find out what they are up to, I also look for inspiration from those who are getting results from dedicated, strategic training.

I also like to follow people that I know as opposed to random fitness models. Posting my own post workout selfie acts like a pseudo goal that drives me to the finish line – regardless of what the workout is.

Who is it for?

This is great for people who don't always work out in a group set environment. It gives them an opportunity to connect with the fitness community and contributes to a healthier lifestyle mindset. Another set of people that can benefit from selfies are those looking to inspire others or to receive support for the progress they have made so far.

Watch out:

The selfie you post says a lot about you. When you post a selfie make sure it conveys the right impression of who you want people to believe you are. The last thing I want people to believe is that “I am a bikini model who likes lifting weights and likes to pose on the assault runner”. Be very mindful of the tone you use or you might come across as a narcissist!

Alternatives:

In case you are confused about posting your selfie and can’t decide then just photobomb everyone else's post workout selfie sessions. This will save you time and energy on editing your photos and thinking of snazzy posts.

Review:

I like seeing what people are up to and I think that post workout selfies do have a place in the training environment.

The Verdict:

Keep the post-workout selfies coming, but be sure to post what you want to represent!

What others say:

“Initially I would say no as most posts are carefully selected for vanity, as people don’t want to show a bad photo of themselves. For people that have struggled with weight issues and are using the posts to inspire and document progress, it can be a good tool.”

Kevin Le Bron Bonnifacio