Starting an active lifestyle, and maintaining one, has never been more difficult. Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. How many New Year’s resolutions have we broken because when it comes to getting fit, just how and where do we start? The rise of social media has given us another channel to see all these fit people encouraging everyone to kickstart their fitness journey. Which, as most of us have felt in one way or another, have made us feel bad about our eating habits and our non-existent fitness regimen.
But social media can also serve as inspiration… in the form of fitness influencers!
Fitness influencers are health buffs and, in some cases, certified trainers and nutritionists that offer free diet tips and training programs to help each and every one of us get the body we have always wanted. These influencers have made it easier for just about anyone to find workout ideas and training programs. They even coach us on the habits that we need to develop (as well as habits that we need to kick) in order to set our sails to one destination in mind — getting healthier! Scroll down and get ready to feel #fitspiration flowing through your veins!
Brittne Jackson | @brittnebabe
Dubbed as the “Queen of Home Workouts,” this personal trainer and fitness model started her business blog in 2013. Her blog discussed health and wellness for everyday women that wanted to work on a healthier lifestyle. In an article with Cosmopolitan, Brittne says her brand is all about fitness and a visually-appealing aesthetic. “It’s not so much as trying to be perfect or phony. I think it’s more so about things being visually appealing because that’s the point of social media.”
Quick stats:
- Her main Instagram account, @brittnebabe has 1.6m followers
- Her fitness-focused account, @brittnebabefitness has 425k followers
- She specializes in home workouts but also has other training programs like Dance Fitness, the 21 Day Challenge, and BrittCamp
- She runs her business alongside her mom, Kimberly Jackson
Rachel Brathen | @yoga_girl
For yogis, Rachel Brathen might just be a household name. Brathen, nicknamed Yoga Girl, is a Swede that deepened her yoga practice after moving to Central America. According to her official website, Brathen started teaching her Vinyasa Flow yoga classes in 2010 with a focus on integrating alignment, core work, and breathing techniques with basic poses and creative sequencing.
Since then, she’s written Yoga Girl – a book about her life and finding her true calling in yoga. The book became a New York Times best-seller. Brathen has also started a podcast where she talks about her yoga practice as well as helping people meditate and pause in this fast-paced world.
Quick Facts:
- Brathen has 2.1m followers on Instagram
- She also runs a couple of non-profit organizations focused on animal rescue and women and children in need
- According to Forbes, Brathen now charges $25,000 per Instagram post
Dwayne Johnson | @therock
At 180m followers, it’s hard not to include the one and only Dwayne Johnson. The WWE prodigy turned blockbuster Hollywood star has always been known for being fit and for his outrageous meal plans. Johnson eats about five meals (yes, you read that right) to maintain his muscle mass. And, whenever there’s a role he needs to prepare for, he usually eats protein-rich meals to give him an edge when working out.
In an article published by Bodybuilding.com, The Rock talks about his early routine as well as the insane clangin’ and bangin’ workouts he does in the gym. Johnson says he makes it a point to work out six days a week and prefers to isolate muscle groups when he trains. The best thing about The Rock’s fitness routine is that he’s transparent with everything that goes on even behind the scenes.
If you’ve been following The Rock’s Instagram account, you might have also seen his epic cheat meals that are feats in and of themselves. In an Instagram post, The Rock detailed his legendary cheat day where he ate 12 pancakes, 2 double-dough pizzas, and 21 brownies in one day. There’s a reason why The Rock is built like a tank after all…
Quick facts:
- The Rock has 180 million Instagram followers
- When training for a role, it’s common for The Rock to eat around 4,000+ calories a day – which is almost twice the recommended daily calorie intake for adult men
- Johnson loves to do a lot of weight training but doesn’t forget his cardio – he usually spends his mornings with a run or starts workouts with 30 to 40 minutes of cardio
Simeon Panda | @simeonpanda
Simeon Panda, for lack of a better word, is a fitness behemoth. Forbes has featured the 30-year-old British fitness trainer as one of the world’s top fitness influencers. He’s also a fierce athlete and competes in bodybuilding competitions, such as Musclemania, across the globe. According to his YouTube bio, Simeone has been featured in, and at times written for, various major fitness publications such as MuscleMag, Train Mag, and Muscle & Performance.
Simeon’s success and popularity allowed him to launch his own sportswear line, gym accessories brand, and publish a couple of ebooks about his fitness routines.
Quick facts:
- Simeon has 6.4m followers on Instagram
- Simeon has won the Musclemania European Championships in 2013
- Simeone appeared in the documentary, Access Muscle
- He has also pursued acting and has appeared in a couple of films
Lauren Drain | @laurendrainfit
Where do we even start with Lauren Drain Kagan? According to her Facebook page, she’s a
World Beauty Fitness & Fashion (WBFF) Bikini Pro, a fitness model, CrossFit athlete, and a New York Times best-selling author. Oh, and did we mention that she’s also a registered nurse and a certified personal trainer? In her website, Kagan offers various types of workout plans that range from beginner to more advanced workouts.
Lauren champions becoming stronger, healthier, and happier through hard work and a disciplined lifestyle. She has done various TV appearances such as CNN, MSNBC, and 60 Minutes and has also publicly talked about her experiences growing up in the controversial Westboro Baptist Church. Her book, Banished: Surviving My Years in the Westboro Baptist Church, talks about being banished from the church due to non-conformance.
Quick facts:
- Lauren has 3.9 million followers on Instagram
- Lauren mixes weightlifting exercises, resistance training, CrossFit, as well as DIY home workouts
Joe Wicks | @thebodycoach
If you’ve been featured in the Daily Mail, Women’s Health, Men’s Fitness, The Times, Cosmopolitan, and Grazia, chances are you’ve made it. Joe Wicks has done all that and more. Wicks is also a fitness coach, a TV presenter, and an author. He’s known for incorporating high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in his training programs and has since published his nutrition and fitness book, Lean in 15 – The Shift Plan: 15 Minute Meals and Workouts to Keep You Lean and Healthy. If you’re into meal preps and HIIT workouts, Joe Wicks might just be the coach for you!
Quick facts:
- Wicks has 3.6m followers on Instagram
- Wicks has 2.29m Youtube subscribers● Aside from his YouTube videos, Wicks also has a podcast called Wean in 15.
