I’m starting to get really fucking fed up with social media. Yeah, there’s plenty of great things about Instagram. For example, it’s a great way to waste time while you’re taking a shit without actually learning anything.

There’s a lot of not-so-great stuff, too — like the fact that the entire Internet is going to hop on your ass if you’re not training with better technique than Yury Belkin while using competition plates and wearing a singlet. You see, it doesn’t really matter whether you’re working hard, or lifting heavy weights, or, god forbid, getting stronger. All that matters on social media is looking good.

And that’s fucked up, because looking good has nothing to do with powerlifting. Powerlifting isn’t a pretty sport. It’s a hard one.

And it’s hard because powerlifting is about self-improvement. Constantly striving to lift more weight requires discipline, and patience, and perseverance — traits that might actually make you a better person, unlike your ability to blow $300 on a pair of pimped-out gym shoes. That fact gets lost when you’re scrolling through post after post of “PRs” (read: gym lifts) and self-aggrandizement.

And if this sounds hypocritical coming from a guy who spams a bunch of shirtless shit, keep this in mind: I buy into the social media bullshit because no one fucking listens to anything else. Be honest: would you be reading this if you didn’t follow me on Instagram? Probably not. If you have other suggestions, trust me: I am all ears.

Stop worrying about your Instagram gainz, and start thinking strong and training hard.