By Destiny Guzman |Staff Writer|
Social media has distorted the way we choose to view and live a healthy lifestyle.
It is being used to encourage our generation to make a positive change, but it comes with negative associations as well.
We see that motivation for leading a healthier lifestyle comes from wanting to look a certain way, and social media is a great influence for this trend.
“People who want to look like others are definitely a huge contributor to this trend. I have a lot of friends that are wanting to get into fitness to look like someone specifically,” said student Erica Bice.
A healthier lifestyle has to be for yourself and not for others.
“If you work out for yourself, you’ll actually find it a little bit easier. If you do it for yourself, you’ll see growth,” said student Caleb Asbra.
A healthy lifestyle is not only about physical gains, but it is also about our emotional and mental health as well.
According to President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN), maintaining a healthy lifestyle will “improve sleep, decrease potential of becoming depressed, increase your energy and self-esteem, relieve stress, and increase your chances of living longer.”
We see nothing but posts of people’s external outcome, when in reality, we should be focusing on the internal benefits that will help us live a healthy life.
While surfing social media sites, I would find myself uncomfortable and unsatisfied with my own physical appearance.
As a result, I refrain from going onto those sites.
We, as consumers, have to be aware of what we are choosing to look at and not allow the media to dictate what the definition of “beautiful” is.
“I’m very into developing myself as a person and developing others and encouraging and supporting my peers,” said student Kimberlie Hao.
“I find that with myself it’s all in the mind, and you really just have to accept everything for who you are and realize how unique of a person you are,” added Hao.
We should be able to maintain a healthy lifestyle without the need to look like someone else.
Being healthy should be about taking care of your body from the inside out, meaning accept yourself for who you are.
Then, work on your goals.
There are many long-term benefits in maintaining a healthier lifestyle.
“Combined with physical activity, your diet can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight, reduce your risk of chronic diseases, and promote your overall health,” according to PCFSN.
We see these factors as more beneficial to our inner being than anything else.
Our motivation to lead a healthy lifestyle should be for our own personal development because if we choose to follow what social media has portrayed, then we will never find contentment with ourselves.
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