All too often, we leave an Instagram scrolling session feeling discouraged and depleted. Why aren’t we traveling to Bali right now? We aren’t we eating farm-to-table greens? Why don’t our children stand still long enough to capture the sunset and apply the Juno filter?
It’s about time you started to make Instagram work for you as a source of motivation and inspiration as you strive to do the little things — the real, often un-photographed little things — that lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Here are 12 Instagram accounts you should start following immediately, as they’re packed with workout tips, diet advice, vent sessions, and (of course) lots and lots of selfies to help you drop the phone and start working up a sweat.
A graduate of Stanford, UCLA, and Johns Hopkins with a Ph.D. in Public Health, Dr. Shauna likes to infuse her yoga and general wellness advice with a love for hip-hop.
Author of Healthy Is the New Skinny, Katie Wilcox resists a singular ideal of beauty in favor of health in whatever form it takes. She posts body-positive workouts, affirmations, and candids from her busy life as a mother and public speaker that reinforce her message that “you can hate yourself skinny, but you can’t hate yourself healthy or happy.”
Andrea is the effervescent creator of Xtend Barre on Openfit. On Instagram, she alternates instructional videos with inspirational quotes and calls to action that eschew drill sergeant bullying for kindness and encouragement. Learn more about Andrea here.
Amanda Sullivan is a former missionary and aid worker who lost her leg after being struck by a car. She hasn’t let her loss or her crutches (hence her Insta handle) stop her from being a total badass. We’re talking a marathon-running, obstacle-course-race-conquering badass.
Alex Honnold’s Instagram bio says it all: “Climbing!!” Yes, his feed is very activity-specific, but if you ever needed inspiration for getting out of the house or gym and into some all-natural athletics, this account will do the trick.
Alyssa Reyes is a registered dietician, WBFF Fitness pro, and pint-sized power lifter whose account flips nicely from the gym to diet tips/sample dishes to her own candid personal journey (and admitted struggles).
Although focused more on physical therapy than straight fitness, this site is nonetheless worth a follow for their frequent advice on how to avoid injury during workouts and also how to get the most out of whatever you’re doing without unnecessary pain and strain.
Not only is Hannah a global ambassador for adidas, she’s also a DJ. So her feed is filled with images that inspire you to get up and get moving in every sense of the word. Whether it’s an intense workout or a FOMO-inducing party, Hannah is worth the follow.
A personal trainer to the stars (his bio links to a video of him training supermodel Naomi Campbell), Joe Holder’s account shows him in the gym, at the playground, at points near and far around the world — but it gets across the message that fitness is a lifestyle and not something you do once a week.
UK-based trainer Emily “Em” Furey has an energetic Instagram life, full of motivational exercise videos and a healthy dose of travel porn and even some food posts. If she figures out how to bottle her energy, she’ll have it made.
With an M.A. in Applied Psychology on her resume, Rachel is about total fitness for body and mind. In addition to workout suggestions, tips, and how-to videos, she talks frequently about keeping her mind sharp, too.
Have you heard of this guy? Yes, The Rock himself chronicles his fitness journey — including photos of his epic “cheat day” meals — as he moves from home to movie set, where he has an entire crew construct a gym for him wherever he goes. So, you know, relatable (but still fun).
As a writer, editor, and producer, Eric's work has appeared in publications such as Men’s Journal, NBC, Mental Floss, Nylon, and Cosmopolitan. He studied English and Film at Boston University, once babysat with Angelina Jolie while doing thankless PA work on indie films in the ‘90s, and his first grown-up office job was with Muppets. Follow him on Twitter.
