Images: @tabslifts
Tabitha Lofts, fondly known as Tabs Lifts on Instagram, is more than just a nutritionist; she's a beacon of inspiration for nearly 80k followers navigating their tough twenties and become the healthiest, happiest versions of themselves. I had the privilege of sitting down with Tabitha to delve into her personal journey with fitness and uncover the secrets behind her unwavering confidence.
JOURNEY
My journey into social media unfolded very organically. I have been on a long journey with my health and fitness ever since I was first able to set foot in a gym at the age of 16. I didn’t know what I was doing, I was crippled with body dysmorphia which then lead me to binge-eating and then feeling like I had to spend hours in the gym to make up for it. But once I started to properly educate myself, I realised it maybe wasn't my body that was the issue, it was my mind. I then turned to social media, to see how other people in my situation had fixed their mindset, and found the female fitness community.
I have always enjoyed training, it is a genuine passion of mine. From the age of 16 to now, almost at the age of 25, I have continued to work on myself, constantly learning. The female fitness community on Instagram was a massive part of my journey in educating myself on health and mindfulness. This inspired me to share my own journey, which started with some progress pictures and food diaries, and has now turned into nearly 80,000 followers on Instagram. The shift between working out more aesthetic purposes and working out for my mental health was something that put me where I am today. Seeing these girls on Instagram that share their physique that has taken them 5 years to achieve and comparing it to myself who had maybe just started was why I wanted to become a coach. I didn't want anyone else to compare themselves like I used to, putting myself down for not being good enough as my glutes didn't look as good in leggings as theirs, or I couldn't run as far as them. I want to educate young girls in the position I have once been in, to look after their bodies for their health.
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"each journey is different, focus on your journey and admire others, everyone was a beginner once and everyone is still learning in some way or another"
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I love my body fat, it shapes my body. But there has been plenty of times over my journey where I have looked in the mirror and called myself 'fat', as have so many women, but it does not mean fat is a bad thing. Body fat is vital to my health and the amount of body fat you have does not make you any less worthy. I am happier now focusing on my health, regardless of the amount of fat on my body. Understanding that food is fuel, to look after your body and keep it running was crucial to
making progress.
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Body dysmorphia is a real thing. As someone who has done every diet, exercise plan, endless amounts of cardio, I want to tell you that my focus now is mindset. I want you to feel incredible and powerful in your body no matter the size. Understanding mindset allows you to still potentially chase a physical goal but put your health first. My ups and downs in my journey has just showed me that nothing is a quick fix, and that focusing on the long-term process creates a lifestyle, and that you aren't 'behind', you are exactly where you're supposed to be.
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INFLUENCE
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It's really easy to be influenced by trends on social media - but I try not to get caught up in that. Once you start obsessing over looking a certain way or copying a fitness coach you will forget to prioritise your health. Instagram is such a good platform, especially in the fitness industry, but it can be extremely toxic. A lot of advice is not always good advice, and it has taken me a long time and a lot of educating myself correctly to be able to understand when something is misleading.
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There is a fine line between admiring influence and being jealous of it. Something I tell my clients is that if you follow someone and feel jealous towards their physique, which therefore means you put yourself down, then unfollow. It isn't worth it as it is damaging the way you view your own body image. Fitness influencers spend majority of their time working on their body image, due to it being their full time job, so unless you have the time that they do for this, you shouldn't compare yourself, especially if you work full time.
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Spending time on yourself can mean so many things. For some people this is just getting their daily step count up, but for others this could mean training for a marathon. Training and working on yourself is subjective, and looks different for everyone. My advice would be look at your current routine, drastic changes never lead to long-term results so see what you can implement to slightly elevate your current diet or current exercise levels. If you aren't hitting 10,000 steps but would like to become more active, maybe spend some extra time in your day taking yourself on a walk. Becoming healthier and fitter is a personal journey, so comparing yourself to trainers who are 9 years ahead of you isn't healthy.
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The female fitness community are so motivating. Since gaining my following, and working with some amazing brands I am lucky enough to have gained such an amazing community of girls. It has allowed me to leave a lasting impact on those I have the privilege of sharing my story and my knowledge with. My goals don't stop here, I only have time to help a certain amount of people, which is why I want to expand and develop a team of women who are here to share their well educated information with women who want the structure of a coach and need the accountability of a trainer. The female fitness industry is inspiring, it is a community I would never leave and will always be a massive part of my journey.