Over 500 million people follow the #fitness hashtag on Instagram — but behind the workout videos, transformation posts, and motivational reels, what’s it really like to be a fitness influencer?

In this episode of Well Enough, Emilie Lavinia is joined by two leading voices in online fitness: Alice Liveing and Shakira Akabusi.

Alice Liveing has half a million followers on Instagram and shares positive advice on staying fit, in a sustainable way. But that wasn’t always the case. She began her online career as ‘Clean Eating Alice’ - an approach to nutrition which ultimately caused an eating disorder and even affected her menstrual cycle. Today, she opens up on what that lifestyle was like, sharing tips from her brand new book. Shakira - AKA Strong Like Mum - has fitness in her veins. You’ll know her as a resident fitness expert on ITV’S Lorraine.

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Timecodes

00:00 Introduction

02:45 Why Lifting Weights Is Empowering For Women

04:00 "Influencer" vs Personal Trainer

06:50 The "Thinness" Trap & Misinformation

12:55 Best Self vs Thinnest Self

14:25 Performance Goals over Aesthetics

16:30 The Ozempic Era

18:30 Why We Hated PE at School

23:00 The Dangers of Viral Challenges

25:25 "Boring" Basics - Exercises That Work Best

27:30 Pros & Cons of Online Fitness Access

29:40 Gen Z, Longevity & Aesthetics

34:35 New Era of Female Sports Role Models

38:55 Cleaning Up Your Social Feed

40:05 Guide: Starting Fitness in Perimenopause

40:55 What is Progressive Overload?

42:15 Why Posture is Critical

44:55 Tips for Gym Anxiety

48:50 Wellness Non-Negotiables

More from today’s guests:

Alice’s new book ‘Give Me Strength’

Follow Shakira’s ‘Strong Like Mum’ Instagram

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