Jamie Reidy discusses a personal trainer who’s willing to walk the waddle for his overweight clients.
Ashley Strickland’s continuing series on CNN.com covers perceptions of beauty. This week she focuses on defining the new male ideal.
Good topic!
The female form has long been the topic of discussions about self-esteem, but what about men? Their ideas about weight, body image and self-esteem have been largely swept under the ambiguous rug of masculinity. Meanwhile, changing standards about the ideal male form can leave them overwhelmed and exhausted by the chase for perfection, too.
“Drew Manning.” Just say that name and think about it. Of course that dude is in great shape; not surprising at all to learn he’s a personal trainer. (And a blogger and author.)
So why the hell would he gain seventy pounds on purpose???
Drew Manning wants to better relate to his heavier clients, so he can better help them meet their fitness and weight loss goals. (btw, just as nobody on “24” ever refers to Jack Bauer as just “Jack” when talking about him, I think it’s impossible just to say “Drew.”) The change has not been easy on him, though.
“I’m a lot more self-conscious now. There was a total lack of confidence in the way I felt in public because I wasn’t the fit guy anymore.”
I totally wanna ask Drew Manning a bunch of questions over some not-lite beers and chicken wings.
Like, why can women say things like, “Oh, I wish I had her calves!” without seeming homosexual, but guys can’t?
Men comment on what they don’t wish they had, i.e. “Dude, I’m psyched I’m not as hairy as Larry.”
Should guys talk more about their bodies with each other?
Like, “I wish I had Drew Manning’s old abs.”
Photo by: Lynn Nordstrom Manning
I have to admit, those pictures are impressive. The fact that he’s doing it out of a sense of empathy just makes it more so.
Most men and young men don’t read beauty magazines; there are very few magazines focused on men’s beauty/fitness compared to women and teen girls’…just look at your grocery store’s check-out aisles. Other men are more inclined to peruse Sports are Illustrated Swimsuit issues and the like. Culturally, the marketing and focus on men’s bodies and beauty are much behind women’s. If and when men’s advertising get as pervasive and influential as it does to women, then I would bet, the shift and conversations would naturally come up for men and boys. I’m not anti-advertising, or for people to be at… Read more »
I can’t imagine putting your body through that kind of strain, even for a successful blog.