Exhibitionism is part of the sports workout

Competition in the workout: A kind of "exhibitionism" in sports
Slim and fit in a very short time: not only guide books promise for a long time, but recently also some training programs on the Internet. In social networks, sports challenges encourage the body to get into shape quickly and effectively. Some people seem to like this "exhibitionism", where others are watching as the buttocks and stomach grow smaller, encouraging sports.

Competitions encourage collective sweating
"Fit and slim in four weeks": For some years now, so-called counselors have been offered tips on how to lose weight and shape one's body. The trend is also becoming more popular in social networks. So-called sports challenges encourage collective sweating. Some say that such competitions are an effective pastime, for others it is a superfluous hype. The fact is that the trend towards a better physical fitness in this country has been going on for a long time. The fitness industry in Germany is booming.

13 times more power in 30 days
The news agency dpa reported in a recent report on such competitions in the network. So the "Plank Challenge" called a utopian-sounding goal: In only 30 days, 13 times more power should be achieved. The Facebook event encouraged several thousand people to join in. Plank (translated forearm support) is an exhausting affair where you keep your body above the ground. The back is stretched out, the weight is on the forearms and toes. This causes it to pull everywhere: in the stomach, in the back, the upper arms. On the first day, participants should hold the plank for 20 seconds. The prescription increased daily until at the end of the challenge, which was over 30 days, 270 seconds of forearm support were targeted.

Big changes in a short time
New to these sports challenges is that they run on social networks. For some people it seems to be an additional motivation if they can show their workouts to others by video. Others criticize this form of "exhibitionism". Major physical changes in a short time but were promised even before the Internet competitions, in guidebooks, for example, or in long-running commercials. As it was then called: "Taut belly in just one month" or "In only eight weeks to beach figure". Currently, the dance teacher Detlef Soost promises: "I make you sexy." As it says in the dpa message should be with his "10 Weeks BodyChange" in ten weeks 20 kilograms away.

Inhibitions before sport are lowered
It is questionable whether such limited-time sports activities are effective or superfluous. "You can be brilliant if you use them properly," says the Professor of Movement and Neuroscience at the German Sport University Cologne, Christine Graf. They make progress more visible and they ask for performance review every day. However, the objectives of the challenge would have to be realistic. "Then the right challenge should be selected, there begins the success." Hildegard Rebsch says that the manageable time frame reduces the inhibitions in front of the sport. The fitness trainer and yoga teacher has in her book "stomach, legs, buttocks & arms. The 30 Day Body Challenge "Outlines 15 short training programs, each with four to six exercises designed to make the body better in a month. She runs a gym with her husband. "Anyone who is constantly on the move or has little time often asked me: what can I do quickly at home or at the hotel?", The trainer said.

Entry into the sports world
Her book is also one of the answers to the question for whom this type of sport makes sense. In principle, it is something for everyone: Sporty active people make a time-limited challenge as a change to their everyday activities. And people without a sporting background may thus find a way into the sports world, says Rebsch. Oliver Stoll, Professor of Sport Psychology at the University of Halle-Wittenberg, believes it is "possible" that the short sporting activity will result in a long-term sports routine. "It may be that you enjoy the sport over this kick. And fun is an important motivator. "But it is important to develop an" inner drive ".

"Courage for exhibitionism"
"Sport has a lasting effect only after three months with two or three units per week," said the sports psychologist. "Then a more positive attitude to the body sets in, you are in a better mood." Activities over a shorter period are just a "straw fire". "You have to feel that you do something for yourself with the sport," says Rebsch. Challenges such as the Plank Challenge encourage participants to share their progress on social networks. "Anyone who enters a competition on Facebook has to make it clear that they put themselves under some pressure," warns Graf. Stoll says that it takes courage for exhibitionism: "Especially when it is public, permanent failures can be problematic here and in extreme cases lead to depressive states."

Stop if it hurts
Or you always want to achieve more. But too much sport can hurt your health. In addition, participants in such sports challenges will not correct anyone if they perform the exercises incorrectly. As a rule, they work alone. "That's a problem," says Graf. An important rule is: stop when it hurts. "In addition, the required exercise should be adjusted in doubt to the individual performance." Such a correction can be made up or down: Who is fit, which will probably not mind 20 seconds forearm support. For the athletic it can be a challenge to start with 60 seconds and to increase from then on. But according to Rebsch, one should know his limits: "Anyone who notices after seven out of fifteen scheduled rehearsals that they can no longer do so should listen to his body - and correct the goals downwards." (Ad)