How many people do you know in real life with visible abs? Seriously, think about it.
Probably not that many, right?
It’s as if our social media feeds have become elaborate stage sets, designed to convince us that everyone else is walking around with sculpted abs and flawless physiques, leaving us wondering what’s wrong with ourselves. In fact, it’s more like your social media algorithm is actively feeding you a very specific, often unrealistic, view of what “fit” should look like.
Let’s face it: In the real world, a visible six-pack is far more uncommon than the curated images we see online suggest. It’s a rarity that requires a particular lifestyle and genetics. It’s a bit like believing the world is full of people driving around in the latest luxury sports car when, in reality, most of us have more practical and affordable vehicles. Then imagine if that same person is also a multimillionaire and a parent—forget about it, right? But it’s possible and I’m ready to show you how I did it. I have plentyto share on business and fatherhood, but for now, I just want to focus on the six-pack and the expectations around it
So, let’s take a moment to bust this pervasive fitness myth—the one that has most of us believing that we’re somehow falling short if we don’t have a chiseled midsection. Let’s talk about the reality behind the rarity of a six-pack.
The Gym-Goer Illusion: Social Media vs. Reality
I remember when I first started paying attention to this idea. I was listening to one of my favorite fitness podcasts when the host’s comment struck me. He mentioned how, as a gym owner, he hardly ever sees more than a handful of guys who actually look like bodybuilders. This was a stark reminder that the people you see in gyms are generally like you and me—ordinary people who are making an effort to get healthier. That’s how I got started.
It made me think about something even more important: Social media is a powerful force in shaping our perceptions, often creating a false idea of what “normal” really looks like. Our false illusion about what a fit individual should look like is largely due to the curated world of social media algorithms.
Social Media’s Curated World: What You Don’t See
Think about it. Open up Instagram (or whatever platform you use) and take a look at what usually pops up. You’ll likely see a highlight reel of:
- Wealth: People flashing smiles from exotic locations, living seemingly carefree lives.
- Luxury: Designer clothes and accessories and homes that seem like they’re from a magazine.
- Perfection: “Greek god” like physiques, carefully posed and enhanced by lighting and filters.
- Effortless Achievement: People who preach that they have attained perfect mental health, and the perfect life.
It’s easy to get sucked into the idea that that’s the way life is supposed to look. It’s all just too perfect. And in contrast, it’s easy to feel like you just don’t measure up, and that there is something wrong with you. It’s when you believe that you’re not meeting this “norm” that issues start to form.
Of course, the reality is vastly different. It’s not that people online are actively lying, but they’re only showing you the highlights and not the continuous effort and failures it took to get there. Think of it like a movie trailer versus the actual movie—it’s designed to be compelling, but it doesn’t present the full story, and definitely not the boring or less appealing parts. The truth is that all these people are also dealing with challenges and imperfections; it is just that they don’t show this online.
Reality Check: Fitness is a Lifestyle, Not a Competition
I want to make this point crystal clear. You probably don’t even know more than a few people who actually have a ripped, shredded physique in person. But social media algorithms are like an insidious form of hypnosis, making it hard to see past that curated image of perfection. And that’s why it is easy to start telling yourself that you are “just not a gym person”, or that you’re not good enough to even bother trying. And it’s this mental barrier that holds many people back.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. It’s vital that you understand the difference between bodybuilding (a sport) and fitness (a lifestyle). And if your goal is to improve your health and your overall well-being, the focus shouldn’t be on chasing an ideal, and often unattainable, physical appearance.
In reality, fitness is about being healthy and improving how you look, and about being functional, and about being happy, not about being a bodybuilder. Bodybuilding is a sport that athletes use to push their bodies to extremes. And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t have to be your goal. You don’t have to become a bodybuilder in order to lead a fit and healthy life.
Strength training has many incredible benefits, and that’s why it can be a great tool for many people, regardless of their fitness goals:
- Increased Muscle Mass: Strength training builds muscle, which is vital for metabolism, mobility, and overall health.
- Improved Overall Health: Regular strength training can improve heart health, manage conditions like diabetes, and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses.
- Stronger Bones: It helps to improve bone density, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, especially as we age.
- Increased Confidence: As you get fitter and stronger, this improves your confidence and self-esteem.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits that come from being fit and healthy. If you decide that improving your health and fitness is your goal, you don’t need to chase the unrealistic “six-pack” ideals.
The good news is that you don’t need to spend countless hours in the gym each week to get started or to continue getting results. It takes 3-4 weekly strength training sessions to experience the health benefit and consistent cardio to keep the fat levels down. Then the rest of work is not done in the gym, but in the kitchen as it’s all based on diet and simply being in a caloric deficit.
Take Away: Reclaim Your View of Fitness and Health
So, what’s the message here? It’s time to re-evaluate the negative impact of our social media consumption and the lies the algorithms are feeding us. The fact that your Instagram feed is full of “Arnold-like” bodybuilders doesn’t mean that’s the norm for everyone, or that it is even healthy for many people. So, please, be mindful of what you are consuming online and try not to make that your standard for how you think you should look.
And you should also remember the following because you can achieve it but chase progress over perfection:
- Strength training and cardio to be healthy, is a valid goal.
- You don’t need to aspire to look like a bodybuilder, just focus on 1% improvements and you will get to the best version of you.
- Fitness is a lifestyle that is for everyone.
So, lace up your shoes, put on your workout gear, and get to the gym. Working on your fitness is a fantastic investment in your physical and mental health and future well-being. Your future self will thank you for it!
