Well Enough

Women’s Fitness: Instagram vs Reality with Alice Liveing and Shakira Akabusi

Well Enough

Show Notes

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.

More from Well Enough: Follow Well Enough on Instagram here Follow Emilie on Instagram here Subscribe to the Well Enough newsletter here

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Well Enough

Jun 24, 2026

What if the life you thought you wanted was never really yours to begin with?

Jun 17, 2026

For decades, women have been sold the idea that exercise is about shrinking themselves — flattening stomachs, toning arms, and chasing the elusive “beach body.” But personal trainer and author Elizabeth Davies thinks it’s time for a rethink.

Jun 10, 2026

Comedian, presenter and Off Menu co-host Ed Gamble has spent more than 25 years living with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at just 13 years old, he describes managing the condition as "like having another job" - a constant balancing act of food, insulin, exercise, stress and everyday life. In this episode, Ed opens up about growing up as a self-described "fat kid", the complicated relationship with food that inspired his memoir Glutton, and how living with a chronic condition has shaped his understanding of health, control and wellbeing. We discuss the mental load of diabetes management, male body image, perfectionism, social media wellness trends, and why trying to optimise every aspect of your life can sometimes make you feel worse, not better.

May 20, 2026

Elite marathon runner Anya Culling's story will inspire you but maybe not in the way you expect. She shaved nearly two hours off her marathon time and now competes at the highest level, representing her country.

May 13, 2026

This week, clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and content creator Dr. Julie Smith joins us to dismantle the myth of constant happiness and offer practical tools for navigating life's inevitable storms.

See all episodes →