This Guy Finds Out That Models Gave Him The Wrong Impression Of How Muscles Suppose To Look When Relaxed, Realizes He’s Been Working Out Too Hard
Let’s face it—we all are guilty of comparing our bodies with picture-perfect models we see on Instagram or other social media channels. The skillfully edited and posed photos they share are notorious for giving many of us self-esteem and body image issues. While the body positivity movement is there to help, there’s still a common misconception that women are more vulnerable to these problems. The truth is, people of all genders can develop negative views and dissatisfaction towards their self-image by aspiring to achieve these unrealistically high standards.
One American study has shown that over the last 25 years, men’s dissatisfaction with their looks has almost tripled. The study found that around 43% percent of men are unhappy with their appearance and the number is almost as high as women’s.
Nevertheless, the subject of male body positivity is still not frequently discussed. Luckily, there are people who are taking small steps to change that.
Image credits: UnretiredGymnast
Tumblr user @troubled-pasta shared an important piece of information he learned about how muscles work.
Image credits: This_cant_be_all
The man, who has been working out for years to achieve the looks of a ripped body and has learned a lot about the process, was mind-blown after finding out that muscles look completely different when they are flexed and relaxed. And he’s not the only one.
Image credits: edireven
Apparently, there’s a common misconception that if your relaxed muscles don’t look defined, that means you’re not working out hard enough.
Image credits: unknown
The user admitted that he had no idea that people in these photos were flexing muscles, so he just couldn’t resist sharing this information on the male physique with other people.
Image credits: unknown
The post was highly appreciated and went viral across several social media channels with a simple body-positive message: “You’re probably doing better than you realize.”
Image credits: sydeu
78Kviews
Share on FacebookThere is only one human I know of that has visible muscles while relaxed (that isn't a pro athlete or model), and that's my brother. But he's a metabolic freak according to the doctor so yeah, the standards are messed up. PS. By metabolic freak I mean he goes into ketosis after two hours of not eating, even when inactive, he eats 4,000+ kcal a day, even when he doesn't exercise an unusual amount, etc. Doctors are mildly confused about it, but he's the picture of health so they haven't bothered to investigate.
Wow! That's indeed a very interesting and rare case! I think I have a few friends who are close to that state
Load More Replies...I prefer the unflexed look, anyway. The super-defined muscle thing always struck me as unnatural and a bit gross.
Interesting. I didn't know this before either. I learned a new thing today.
Even rom/com stars are ripped these days. If women think men don't feel the pressure too they're kidding themselves. It's also why so many men shave their torso. Makes muscles look more defined.
Load More Replies...Two things the fitness industry doesn't prepare you for... (1) very few people have the right proportions for that fitness model look. You might get asymmetrical muscle imbalance, or maybe you'll never get abs that pop, or your butt will stick out massively after a few months. Everyone is different and their bodies will be different. (2) In order to look better, you'll need to lift a considerable amount of weight, and to do it safely you'll need to brace your core... over time, even if you're fit as you can get... you'll get a belly no matter what you do. That's just muscles underneath, and you just have to live with it... or flex your core every time you take your clothes off.
I posted a photo years ago. I'm (well I was) a dancer and also a teacher. 7 months into my pregnancy I shared a photo without my Abs engaged which was a full baby bump. Then another one with my Abs engaged where I only had a slight bump. I did this to show my students that even though you can be extremely 'fit' nothing that you see on insta fitness pages is what it seems.
When you think about it, it's obvious it's not how it's supposed to look but I remember I one wondered "how it feels to have abs showing while at rest and if you felt the difference".
I'm impressed the beer guts can look so toned when the muscles are flexed!
Actors in movies always be like holding their breath in shirtless scenes, pretending to be totally relaxed.
Apparently these days they also dehydrate before a nude scene, because that makes the muscles look more toned too. Sick, isn't it?
Load More Replies...Man it is absolutely buckwild that this post has reached as many people as it has. I only found out today it ended up on BoredPanda (would’ve been nice to have been asked before the author blasted the fact that I’m trans across the broader internet but whatever) and I’m glad it’s helped as many people as it has. Anyway for the absolute geniuses in the comment section, all of those photos are of cis men so congrats on making an excellent statement about how poorly educated transphobic people are. You can't even tell the difference between a cis man and a trans man, and some of you can't even get the difference between trans man and trans woman correct. It's kind of laughable. And since it's come up, I mentioned that I'm transgender in the original post because people who aren't raised as cisgender men or don't have men in their family don't get educated on topics like this and only have media to go on to understand how masculine bodies work. Hence why it was relevant to mention, you know, unlike your opinions about what constitutes a man, Diogenes. Anyway I'm more of a man than a cis man could ever be, so have fun with that
Don't bother replying to this message, I won't see it, but take care of yourselves folks! Don't forget that transgender men and women are infinitely cooler, funnier and sexier because of who they are, not in spite of it <3
Load More Replies...It's great that the people running this site have no regard for the English language. No effort made at all.
The image on the left is flabby and fat and very unattractive. Also, what is wrong this dude's pecs? Is he FTM and had a really bad breast reduction? That's what it looks like.
Oh please... I've seen muscles on a man that look just like the models. Normal guy who worked out. Same with guys who are active physical workers. Low body fat and strong muscles is the recipe. Subtract any of these and you need to flex to see the muscles.
Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's normal. It's very important for people to understand that they're much closer than they think to some of the models they are comparing themselves to. Otherwise you put in massive amounts of effort just feel defeated because you've still got a bit of belly flab, which is usually the last 5-10 pounds to disappear and the last 5-10 pounds are super difficult to lose. Being 10 pounds overweight is NOT a failure and unfortunately, not everyone knows that.
Load More Replies...Mildly interesting. For some reason, I assumed those dudes looked like that 24/7. Obviously they'd flex for photos though. Dunno why OP needs to announce that he's trans, and then try and bend the story into some kind of mental health drama. Get a grip.
Why isn't it something that is allowed to affect his mental health? Many trans guys struggle with not looking masculine enough because if they don't, they're afraid society won't accept them as men. Of course it affects their mental wellbeing and I think it's toxic and unfair if you don't think guys are allowed to have mental health issues and talk about them openly.
Load More Replies...The childish word you use for vagina does not exactly spell expert, B***h. What do you gain from attacking people's identities? They are not yours, you can have your own.
Load More Replies...I'll give you a tip. No one wants to be called 'it' and it's considered rude by everyone.
Load More Replies...Those are not a woman's nipples, those are a man's nipples. He is a man. It doesn't matter what gender he was assigned at birth, he is a man. I don't know whether you realize it or not, but your comment comes off as transphobic.
Load More Replies...There is only one human I know of that has visible muscles while relaxed (that isn't a pro athlete or model), and that's my brother. But he's a metabolic freak according to the doctor so yeah, the standards are messed up. PS. By metabolic freak I mean he goes into ketosis after two hours of not eating, even when inactive, he eats 4,000+ kcal a day, even when he doesn't exercise an unusual amount, etc. Doctors are mildly confused about it, but he's the picture of health so they haven't bothered to investigate.
Wow! That's indeed a very interesting and rare case! I think I have a few friends who are close to that state
Load More Replies...I prefer the unflexed look, anyway. The super-defined muscle thing always struck me as unnatural and a bit gross.
Interesting. I didn't know this before either. I learned a new thing today.
Even rom/com stars are ripped these days. If women think men don't feel the pressure too they're kidding themselves. It's also why so many men shave their torso. Makes muscles look more defined.
Load More Replies...Two things the fitness industry doesn't prepare you for... (1) very few people have the right proportions for that fitness model look. You might get asymmetrical muscle imbalance, or maybe you'll never get abs that pop, or your butt will stick out massively after a few months. Everyone is different and their bodies will be different. (2) In order to look better, you'll need to lift a considerable amount of weight, and to do it safely you'll need to brace your core... over time, even if you're fit as you can get... you'll get a belly no matter what you do. That's just muscles underneath, and you just have to live with it... or flex your core every time you take your clothes off.
I posted a photo years ago. I'm (well I was) a dancer and also a teacher. 7 months into my pregnancy I shared a photo without my Abs engaged which was a full baby bump. Then another one with my Abs engaged where I only had a slight bump. I did this to show my students that even though you can be extremely 'fit' nothing that you see on insta fitness pages is what it seems.
When you think about it, it's obvious it's not how it's supposed to look but I remember I one wondered "how it feels to have abs showing while at rest and if you felt the difference".
I'm impressed the beer guts can look so toned when the muscles are flexed!
Actors in movies always be like holding their breath in shirtless scenes, pretending to be totally relaxed.
Apparently these days they also dehydrate before a nude scene, because that makes the muscles look more toned too. Sick, isn't it?
Load More Replies...Man it is absolutely buckwild that this post has reached as many people as it has. I only found out today it ended up on BoredPanda (would’ve been nice to have been asked before the author blasted the fact that I’m trans across the broader internet but whatever) and I’m glad it’s helped as many people as it has. Anyway for the absolute geniuses in the comment section, all of those photos are of cis men so congrats on making an excellent statement about how poorly educated transphobic people are. You can't even tell the difference between a cis man and a trans man, and some of you can't even get the difference between trans man and trans woman correct. It's kind of laughable. And since it's come up, I mentioned that I'm transgender in the original post because people who aren't raised as cisgender men or don't have men in their family don't get educated on topics like this and only have media to go on to understand how masculine bodies work. Hence why it was relevant to mention, you know, unlike your opinions about what constitutes a man, Diogenes. Anyway I'm more of a man than a cis man could ever be, so have fun with that
Don't bother replying to this message, I won't see it, but take care of yourselves folks! Don't forget that transgender men and women are infinitely cooler, funnier and sexier because of who they are, not in spite of it <3
Load More Replies...It's great that the people running this site have no regard for the English language. No effort made at all.
The image on the left is flabby and fat and very unattractive. Also, what is wrong this dude's pecs? Is he FTM and had a really bad breast reduction? That's what it looks like.
Oh please... I've seen muscles on a man that look just like the models. Normal guy who worked out. Same with guys who are active physical workers. Low body fat and strong muscles is the recipe. Subtract any of these and you need to flex to see the muscles.
Just because it's possible doesn't mean it's normal. It's very important for people to understand that they're much closer than they think to some of the models they are comparing themselves to. Otherwise you put in massive amounts of effort just feel defeated because you've still got a bit of belly flab, which is usually the last 5-10 pounds to disappear and the last 5-10 pounds are super difficult to lose. Being 10 pounds overweight is NOT a failure and unfortunately, not everyone knows that.
Load More Replies...Mildly interesting. For some reason, I assumed those dudes looked like that 24/7. Obviously they'd flex for photos though. Dunno why OP needs to announce that he's trans, and then try and bend the story into some kind of mental health drama. Get a grip.
Why isn't it something that is allowed to affect his mental health? Many trans guys struggle with not looking masculine enough because if they don't, they're afraid society won't accept them as men. Of course it affects their mental wellbeing and I think it's toxic and unfair if you don't think guys are allowed to have mental health issues and talk about them openly.
Load More Replies...The childish word you use for vagina does not exactly spell expert, B***h. What do you gain from attacking people's identities? They are not yours, you can have your own.
Load More Replies...I'll give you a tip. No one wants to be called 'it' and it's considered rude by everyone.
Load More Replies...Those are not a woman's nipples, those are a man's nipples. He is a man. It doesn't matter what gender he was assigned at birth, he is a man. I don't know whether you realize it or not, but your comment comes off as transphobic.
Load More Replies...
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