The Big Enchilada of Fitstagram

Four score and a couple weeks ago, I wrote a post about "fitspiration" accounts and whether or not they actually do more mental harm than physical good. I wrote about how, in my personal opinion, these “fitspo” accounts are whatever you make them to be. Like any new concept in today’s modern society, excessive use can be dangerous and lead to destructive behavior, but taking things to the extreme is at the fault of the follower. The purpose of these accounts is not to manipulate their followers’ lives in a negative way, but to promote body positivity and body acceptance in women of all shapes and sizes.

One specific "fitspiration" account that focuses on body positivity and getting stronger (mentally, physically, and emotionally) rather than getting skinnier is the Baroness of Burpees, Kayla Itsines.

Unless you’ve been residing on a remote island without Wi-Fi or you naturally have the metabolism of an eleven year old, chances are you’ve heard of Kayla Itsines. The Australian Personal Trainer ignited a fitness phenomenon, to put it lightly, with her body-positive outlook and fitness and nutrition “Bikini Body Guides.”

With an Instagram following of over 5 million, a handsome boyfriend/business partner, an ADORABLE husky, and abs painted by God himself, it’s safe to say I hate this Aussie (kidding, but MY GOD that little pooch could make Victoria Beckham crack a smile). Not only has she built an entire empire around burpees and squats, but she also created a fitness cult that is now famous in it’s own right. Her beloved devotees refer to themselves as “Kayla’s Army” or “the BBG community,” and some of them have formed social media followings in the millions. This girl’s fans have fans.

Contrary to pessimistic belief, the BBG community does more than just pledge their allegiance to Kayla. They uplift and motivate each other, one squat thrust at a time, and are a source of social support for those involved in the program. Commonly referred to as “BBG Instagram accounts,” Kayla’s followers create their own Instagram accounts where they post about their health and fitness journey with Kayla’s fitness and nutrition guides, using hash-tags and commenting on each other’s posts to keep up with one another’s progress. By making a BBG Instagram, Kayla’s followers are able to connect with other like-minded people with similar goals, such as losing weight or gaining physical and mental strength. For the BBG Instagram community, they gain motivation through progress pictures of other women and through the comments and encouragement that these women share to people they’ve never met in real life. People gravitate toward the positivity and they want to be a part of the community.  From incredible weight loss transformations to women overcoming eating disorders and gaining strength, the motivational spirit of the BBG community is undeniably contagious.

I invite you to go see this pandemonium for yourself. Type in #BBG to Instagram, scroll through some of her clients’ mind-blowing before and after pictures, and let me know how quickly you drop down into mountain climbers.