264 / 298
bite
real
life
L
ast summer Britain experienced
a collective sporting euphoria.
Olympic fever spread rapidly across
all professions, age groups, locations
and minorities as it dominated not only
our television sets but our streets, gyms
and dress sense with fashion designers
such as Marc Jacobs, Alexander Wang and,
of course, Stella McCartney, leading the
path in sport style. Never have I seen so
many Paula Radcliffe and Bradley Wiggins
wannabes taking to the streets donning the
obligatory sunglasses and sideburns.
Though the cultural hype surrounding the
Olympics has disappeared and with it the
New Year’s resolutions to diet or visit the
gym weekly, it seems there is still a form of
continued fitness phenomenon. In a world
run by social networking and electronic
devices it seems the fitness fad has moved
online with motivational Facebook and
Twitter accounts following the lead of
highly popular page ‘Fitspiration’ and
numerous workout apps acting in place of
personal trainers. As part of our celebrity
culture many have chosen to exercise
via workout videos and articles posted
by the likes of Jamie Foxx and Katharine
McPhee. Following this increasing health-
consciousness the gym industry revenue
has risen to 1.2% over the past five years,
with over 8.7 million gym members across
the United Kingdom. In a vastly saturated
industry, many wanting to exercise feel
lost which poses the question of whether
these new electronic aids will benefit or
take away from the fitness experience.
In recent years weight lifting has
become very popular, particularly amongst
women, following from celebrity pin-up
girl Jodie Marsh, who gave up glamour
modelling in 2011 to compete in a
bodybuilding competition. Now number
one International Natural Bodybuilding
Federation (INBF) North American
champion bodybuilder, Jodie has inspired
many women to take up weight lifting
and proven that bodybuilding is not just a
man’s sport. With social media pages and
apps promoting weight training for women
on the rise, The Bite Magazine speaks
to Scottish fitness model and personal
trainer, Katie Reekie, about the role of
social media in changing perceptions of
women’s weight training and bodybuilding.
After trying numerous fitness fads
and experiencing disappointing results,
jewellery designer and owner of Riptinka
Accessories, Katie Reekie began weight
training. In order to track her progress,
share advice, inspire others and break
stereotypes about female, Katie launched
a Facebook page titled ‘Riptinka Fitness
Tips for Aspiring Divas’. Now, two years
later, the 31-year-old runs her own weekly
class called ‘Pretty Powerful’ at City Gym
Glasgow: “If you want to grow strong
and change your body, weight training
is definitely the way to go. I have started
running a class for women who have tried
Barbie
CORRINE MCCONNACHIE
EXPLORES THE BENEFITS OF A NEWVIRTUAL FITNESS
FAD AND LOOKS AT THE FUTURE OF THE HEALTH INDUSTRY.