Over the years as social media usage has increased, many workout influencers have found a niche on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. These influencers are known for posting content that shows their workout routines, nutrition and progress. While these individuals can be very encouraging to viewers in their fitness journey, they can also have unintended negative effects.

     Some social media influencers are prone to posting only the best versions of themselves and their lives. I know when I post on Instagram I take a lot of pictures and go through them to pick out the ones where I look best. No one would post a picture of themselves where they look bad, this goes for influencers too. This want to be “what social media likes” can also lead to editing, without revealing what they’re doing to their followers. Due to the societal standards we have created today, most people feel like they have to fit a specific mold to be accepted. If people see a body that they want, they are more likely to subscribe to that person and follow their path. This can be misleading when the reality of the influencer is different from how they are pictured on social media.

     Another commonly hidden secret by workout influencers is whether they've had plastic surgeries and other types of body enhancements or not. People can take steroids to look very defined and muscular in a short amount of time, along with undergoing cosmetic surgeries to make their butts bigger or liposuction to reduce excess fat in certain areas, all while telling their followers they are natural. 

     Well-known influencer Lexi Hidalgo participated in a TikTok trend where people revealed secrets about themselves, admitting that she didn't do half of the workouts she posted on her account. She frequently posts about nutrition and working out so this was a complete shock to me when I watched the video. Lexi is someone I find a lot of inspiration from, so my perspective on her completely shifted and I’m left wondering what else she could have lied about, along with other influencers.

     On the other hand, not everything about workout influencers is negative. There is an influencer I follow named Molly Ava that posts side-by-side pictures of herself a single minute apart, one posed, one relaxed. She does a great job of showing the reality of working out by emphasizing that a body can look so different within a minute, but regardless both versions should be accepted as beautiful. This creates a safe environment for her followers by proving not everything you see on social media is the way it seems.

     In the end, it comes down to who you choose to let flood your feed. It’s hard to look at a ton of perfect bodies and keep a positive mindset about your own. At the same time, this may encourage you to create a healthier lifestyle by following their workouts and diets. An influencer's impact on you, positive or negative is what you allow it to be.