Health shaming is putting people down for being healthy, but the opposite is real too and I’m seeing it just as often, if not more.[Tweet “Health shaming is putting people down for being healthy, but the opposite is real too . @MarissaVicario”]
A few weeks ago I was mindlessly scrolling Facebook after a long day.
And there it was.
A perfectly curated picture of a health guru’s activated charcoal-infused green juice sprinkled with magical moon dust. The perfect photo was captioned with a laundry list of the all the holistic activities – a vitamin IV, acupuncture, colonic and blissful two-hour yoga and meditation class – they had found time for in a busy schedule of back-to-back clients and meetings that day.
To close out the caption, they posed the question, “What have YOU done for your health today?”
Clearly, the above is exaggerated a little, but you get the idea. I’m sure this person had the best of intentions, but the way they communicated their message didn’t express those good intentions.
In the moment after that photo appeared in my news feed, I put myself in the shoes of someone who is just getting started on their health journey, struggling to take the first step or challenged to be consistent. Seeing a picture like the one I described can be inspiring, but with the caption that accompanied it, the same photo becomes intimidating, even motivation-killing.
Health shaming is putting people down for being healthy, but the opposite is real too and I’m seeing it just as often, if not more.[Tweet “Health shaming is putting people down for being healthy, but the opposite is real too . @MarissaVicario”]
I try to be sensitive to the fact that there are days when some people can manage only a workout or a simply a better breakfast than the day before. That’s where they are and that’s OK.
The quest to ultimate wellness is a process, one where we you can give yourself permission to start small, where you are and continue to layer more on as you master the basics. When I first started eating healthier, I drank a green smoothie every morning, but I was still throwing back a diet Dr. Pepper in the afternoon. Those green smoothies made me feel so good that it wasn’t long before I didn’t want that diet soda anymore because it didn’t align with how I wanted to feel or who I wanted to be.
Social media can be a powerful or dangerous tool – you get to decide – depending on how you use it. If you’re a wellness leader, think about how you inspire your community and be intentional about using social media responsibly. You may be light years ahead with regular oxygen steam baths, but others may not even know what that is.
I’m not suggesting you shrink or dim your light, but think before you post: is this educational and inspiring?
If you’re a health and wellness consumer, know that, like with everything else, social media captures the highlights. Even the leaders and gurus have struggles and rough days too. We’re all in this together. Most importantly, find a community online and in-person where you feel supported to become your best self.
Please weigh in in the comments. Has social media been helpful, hurtful or both on your wellness path?
If you’re looking for a truly supportive place to get accountability on the road to establishing healthier habits + shopping lists, a sample menu and some helpful “clean eating” hints, join me on the Green Your Diet 7-Day Challenge – CLICK HERE.
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