The popularity of celebrity fitness routines shows no sign of abetting. Celebs come and go, often from international stardom to total obscurity in the blink of an eye – so why are we so drawn to their exercise programs? And more importantly, do they really help you achieve a fitter and healthier lifestyle?
Often, the appeal is aspirational in nature. You want to look like – or at least have a figure like – your favourite celebrity. It’s not unreasonable to assume that if they can achieve that look using those techniques, then so can you. Some psychologists go further and argue that, whether consciously or subconsciously, we believe that emulating the celebrities we admire might bring us the same level of success, fame or wealth. An emotional desire to get ‘closer’ to our idols may also play a part. By inviting them into our homes and having them show us how they exercise, we achieve a ‘connection’ that goes beyond watching them in a TV show, film or listening to them sing.
Regardless of the motivation of buyers, celebrity fitness programs have become successful on a commercial basis. Whether they are successful as exercise or diet aids is a whole different argument that, at least partly, depends on your expectations. There are some important points to bear in mind.
- Most celebrities don’t look the way they do simply as the result of a set of exercises.
- Many will have personal trainers, dietary advisers, chefs and are often on extremely low-calorie diets.
- Unlike most of their audience, they have money to spend on exclusive beauty and skincare products and cosmetic surgery.
More significantly, everyone has a different body shape. Even if you followed exactly the same diet and exercise schedule as your favourite celebrity, you still won’t have exactly their figure. Although that may seem obvious, setting yourself a goal such as ‘I want to look like my idol’ is just setting yourself up for disappointment.
That aside, fitness workout videos that feature a certified personal trainer alongside the celebrity are often the most rewarding, combining useful, professional fitness and health advice with the ‘fun factor’ of a popular celebrity, giving you the best of both worlds.