Tip The Case for Gym Selfies Search Skip to content Menu Menu follow us Store Articles Community Loyal-T Club Loyal-T Points Rewards Subscribe to Save Search Search The World s Trusted Source & Community for Elite Fitness Alpha LifeLiving Tip The Case for Gym Selfies They can get annoying to other people sometimes but science says they can also help you get lean Check it out by Chris Shugart November 18, 2017April 5, 2021 Tags Motivation, Opinion, Strong Words, Tips Share Your Goal or Just Shut Up There are two schools of thought when it comes to setting and reaching a goal: The first says to share that goal with people because that makes you more accountable. Accountability is huge, and a big part of the reason why people hire trainers and diet coaches. So that makes sense. The second says that telling everyone about your goal can backfire because of something called a "premature sense of completeness." That means you get a feeling of satisfaction just from declaring your goals when you haven't actually done the work yet. Satisfaction isn't exactly the feeling you want to have BEFORE you've reached your goal. Both schools of thought are correct because it comes down to the individual. Both methods work depending on your personality type. Now a new study says that the former – sharing your goals – works very well, but there's a slight twist. This method works better in "virtual support communities." The Study A study published in the Journal of Interactive Marketing looked at the role of virtual communities and fat loss goals. Researchers found that "individuals are more likely to achieve success with such goals when they make a public commitment to achieving them." So instead of telling their families, friends, and coworkers, the people in the two groups studied (groups with surgical and non-surgical weight loss goals) went public but remained semi-anonymous over the internet. Think Facebook groups, Instagram posts etc. The study lasted for four years. The participants not only reported their achievements by posting things like progress photos and "before and afters," they also reported their struggles and setbacks. Motivation increased as did accountability. As the researchers noted, "...social identity motivates public commitment in support of goal attainment." What This Means to You Virtual support communities work. If you're trying to build muscle, lose fat, or set a new PR, you'll be more likely to do it by finding a like-minded group on the internet and going semi-public with your intentions. Then, use that community to discuss your achievements and failures. And maybe it also means that we shouldn't be too tough on all those people sneaking in a selfie at the gym. It could be the very thing that's keeping them on track. (Just don't take those selfies right smack in the middle of the free weights area, okay?) If you aren't too comfortable sharing your progress photos on social media, head over to the T Nation Forum. You'll find thousands of people who share your goals that will cheer you on, offer advice, and maybe kick you in the butt when you really need it. And we all need that sometimes. Reference Tonya Williams Bradford, Sonya A. Grier, Geraldine Rosa Henderson. Weight Loss Through Virtual Support Communities: A Role for Identity-based Motivation in Public Commitment. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 2017; 40: 9 DOI: 10.1016/j.intmar.2017.06.002 Get The T Nation Newsletters Don' t Miss Out Expert Insights To Get Stronger, Gain Muscle Faster, And Take Your Lifting To The Next Level related posts Alpha Life The Real Judgement-Free Zone Planet Fitness isn't judgement free. And neither are you if your staunch beliefs about training hold you back from making progress. Here's why. Blogs, Opinion, Strong Words Christian Thibaudeau September 2 Alpha Life Tip Flex to Boost Your Willpower Wanna skip that workout? Wanna eat that ice cream? Here's how to increase willpower instantly, according to science. Motivation, Opinion, Strong Words, Tips Chris Shugart February 1 Alpha Life Ladies 6 Reasons NOT To Compete Bodybuilding stages are booming with herds of women. Are you planning to be one of them? Before you go any further, read this. Bodybuilding, For Women, Opinion, Powerful Words, Strong Words John Romano January 20 Alpha Life Psych Job – The Mental Side of Things Usually, when you're talking weight training, you're talking about the five acute training variables; exercise selection, order of exercise, load, volume, and rest. There are literally thousands of training articles out there, discussing the many thousands of possible combinations of these variables. Opinion, Powerful Words, Strong Words Chris Moore October 11