With the arrival of a new year comes a wave of newcomers to fitness, eager to start their health journey in the gym.
It’s essential to keep in mind body types vary widely and not to be daunted by those who are more muscular or leaner than you are, as they’ve likely been on their journey a lot longer.
This is the empowering message fitness influencer and life coach Ella Mintram (@elmint on Instagram) hopes to impart to her followers. She believes in conveying authenticity and frequently encourages this ethos among fans.
“Here’s a lil reminder that people post what they want you to see, whether that’s a more flattering angle or cutting out the parts that they don’t want you to see,” she shared with her social media audience.
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Ella added: “So here’s to always showing you the other side. The side you don’t normally see. The side that we ALL have despite nobody ever posting it.”
Her video clip illustrates the point by first presenting her front-on, leggings hoisted up, sporting a cropped sports bra and revealing a glimpse of her midriff. Following this, she is seen lifting weights on gym equipment, where her leggings have rolled down to reveal her stomach.
Another segment shows a slight adjustment of the bralette, exposing the kind of flesh everyone has. Filmed from the side, her stomach appears just as most do – not completely flat.
She explained: “You might not see these angles as much, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t exist! Your body moving, folding, and changing at the gym is completely normal.”
In another clip, she stated: “Our bodies are meant to move… It’s literally part of having a human body.”
“Stop comparing yourself,” she encouraged viewers towards the video’s conclusion, sending a kiss to her audience. Followers were quick to express their gratitude in the comments section, sharing personal accounts of how Ella’s regular gym visits significantly bolstered their own self-confidence.
One individual commented: “Seeing a body that looks like mine has given me the confidence to get back in the gym, and I’ve been going consistently since October! Focusing on getting stronger, not changing how my body looks – finally enjoying it! Thank you!”
Another expressed: “The closest I’ve ever come to seeing a body like mine in the gym on popular media. Thank you, thank you, so appreciated.”
An Instagram enthusiast revealed: “I love your content. You look just like me, and you’ve helped me feel like I deserve to take up space at the gym!”
Someone else voiced appreciation for her authenticity: “Thanks for sharing and keeping it real; we all needed to see a real person and not filtered,” and one woman shared her sentiment: “I LOVE YOU! Thank you for your videos! Being on a fitness journey myself, I have learned to love myself because of your videos!! I’m getting there, but tiny progress is still progress!”