Hey so uh,
Apr. 1st, 2018 02:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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airyairyquitecontrary:
troubled-pasta:
As a trans guy who’s been working out for a few years now and has learned a lot about their body and building muscle and whatnot in the process, here’s something I don’t see mentioned, like ever.
Abs don’t really look Like That™
when they’re relaxed.
Here’s a few examples from a Reddit thread asking for pictures of people both flexing and not flexing their abs
I rarely see male body positivity posts in general but I’ve never seen this mentioned, and honestly? Call me stupid for it if you want, but I genuinely thought that super defined look was something that was achievable in a relaxed state, simply because I’ve never seen anything to the contrary.
As someone with body dysmorphia as well as dysphoria, you can imagine the damaging effects that might have had on my mental health trying by to achieve the impossible. I can only imagine how many other masculine folk out there could be struggling with the exact same thing.
Anyway like, this is mostly to point out for masculine folks that might be pushing themselves too hard, that you’re probably doing better than you realise.
The photos also show how different the muscles of the arms, chest and thighs look. Bodybuilding photos and movie or TV imagery that focuses on very defined musculature (eg Hugh Jackman in the Wolverine movies) are often done when the model or actor is dehydrated to the point of having a headache and feeling really unwell, just to reduce the slight padding of the skin over the muscles. It’s not a way you can look while feeling comfortable and energetic and doing normal activities.I agree that it’s important for all of us to go easy on ourselves and accept that our bodies are going to look and feel strikingly different in different positions and states, and I can see that this would be particularly important for someone going through a transition where they try to refashion their body to better match their self-image.
(Your picture was not posted)
airyairyquitecontrary:
troubled-pasta:
As a trans guy who’s been working out for a few years now and has learned a lot about their body and building muscle and whatnot in the process, here’s something I don’t see mentioned, like ever.
Abs don’t really look Like That™
when they’re relaxed.
Here’s a few examples from a Reddit thread asking for pictures of people both flexing and not flexing their abs
I rarely see male body positivity posts in general but I’ve never seen this mentioned, and honestly? Call me stupid for it if you want, but I genuinely thought that super defined look was something that was achievable in a relaxed state, simply because I’ve never seen anything to the contrary.
As someone with body dysmorphia as well as dysphoria, you can imagine the damaging effects that might have had on my mental health trying by to achieve the impossible. I can only imagine how many other masculine folk out there could be struggling with the exact same thing.
Anyway like, this is mostly to point out for masculine folks that might be pushing themselves too hard, that you’re probably doing better than you realise.
The photos also show how different the muscles of the arms, chest and thighs look. Bodybuilding photos and movie or TV imagery that focuses on very defined musculature (eg Hugh Jackman in the Wolverine movies) are often done when the model or actor is dehydrated to the point of having a headache and feeling really unwell, just to reduce the slight padding of the skin over the muscles. It’s not a way you can look while feeling comfortable and energetic and doing normal activities.I agree that it’s important for all of us to go easy on ourselves and accept that our bodies are going to look and feel strikingly different in different positions and states, and I can see that this would be particularly important for someone going through a transition where they try to refashion their body to better match their self-image.
(Your picture was not posted)
