Let’s talk about a topic that is so common in the health, fitness, and nutrition industry but also is not welcome in the health, fitness, and nutrition industry.

The comparison trap.

It’s easy to look at somebody next to you and say, “I wish that was me.” 

Getting into the comparison trap can put you in a bad headspace and can truly hurt you in the long run with your goals. That simple little comparison can spiral you down a pathway of, “I’m never going to hit my goal,” or “it’s this just isn’t for me.” 

Social Media & The Comparison Trap

Social media is one of, if not THE main reasons these days that we find ourselves in the comparison trap.

If you don’t watch the news, Facebook Meta has been getting a lot of heat lately for causing the comparison trap in teenage girls. A lot of research has been done that shows how seeing other girls or influencers on Instagram makes teenage girls think negatively about themselves because they don’t look like what they’re seeing.

• Their hair isn’t perfect.
• Their makeup doesn’t look like that
• Their skin doesn’t look like that.

We see all of these filtered lives on Instagram, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Twitter, etc and can get stuck comparing ourselves to what we are seeing.

Yet, we have to remember, it’s a highlight reel.

• Maybe that girl just spent an hour doing her makeup to cover up this skin that looks just like yours.
• Maybe she’s using a filter
• Maybe it’s Photoshop.
• Maybe her kids are screaming in the background of that photo

It’s a highlight reel and it’s causing a huge problem with our minds.

How To Get Out Of the Comparison Trap

So what do we do when we get down stuck in a comparison trap? A quote that I love:

Don’t compare your chapter one to somebody else’s chapter 20.

I think that fits really well with the health, fitness, and nutrition industry. As somebody who works with people one on one and in a group coaching setting, I meet people all the time who are at different stages of their health journey.

On that note…keep in mind that chances are you don’t know somebody’s whole story. Going back to the highlight reel. You don’t know maybe they’ve been fighting an eating disorder and it’s taken them years to accept their body, despite how skinny they are. Maybe they’re putting in hours a day at the gym

Another way to work your way out of the comparison trap is words of affirmation. Remind yourself that:

• I am strong.
• I am confident.
• I have been working hard.

Most importantly remember how far you’ve come.

In Episode 12 we talked about using small goals that add up to big results. Look back on those goals. Look back at how far you’ve come.

What was your biggest takeaway from this week’s podcast?