The Dark World of Unrealistic Male Body Standards

[@brettjosh]

Thanks for watching!🙂 Free guides: transform.brettjosh.com/josh-brett-links Follow Me for Extra Content: 📸Instagram: joshuwab_ - instagram.com/joshuwab_/ 🐔Twitter: Brettaljeni - twitter.com/Brettaljeni

[@juicebox86]

Thankful for your presence on 'the scene.' Your content is truly refreshing and brings shadowed issues to light. Kudos, and keep going!

[@hhiippiittyy]

As you toalk about the halo effect I'm just sitting here thinking "This Josh guy is pretty."

[@ArantyrDarkhand]

OOO my GOD something that im sayng for more than a decade. Women beuty standarts take a bath and dont eat like a hipo. Men beuty standarts 5 years of perfect diet, perfect gym and perfect use of steroids with luck to get the genetics. And they do all this to atrract a mediocre used Wh ore.

[@Binfamous1JmanyPro2]

Please I've gone to a sporting event with a slim Jim body out running super super soldier bodies when I was in my division pace Lifting 300 lb more than body weight, I would jump out of bed to do 1000 super squats with ten pounds weights, and farmers marching with 90 lb bench bar before I went headed towards a job, or did yard work with elderly all day

[@kalmmonke5037]

beauty isnt so subjective, thsi is just demoralizing subversion

[@InnisShannon]

If you're a natural lifter suffering from body dysmorphia, just walk down a beach in America. You'll instantly remember that social media isn't reality and you're probably doing better than 90% of people your age. (Does not apply to muscle beach, only go there if you need to be humbled)

[@rainchopper898]

disregarding that most people on the beach don't care how their body looks and therefore you've entered a rat race with yourself.

[@Kaniala-l7s]

​@@rainchopper898facts

[@yoeyyoey8937]

The problem is comparing yourself to other people to begin with. Only compare yourself to yourself

[@VVabsa]

@@yoeyyoey8937 That's how I came to do sports during adolescence. I did nearly nothing during my teens other than playing games lol.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

@@VVabsa Nice good job 👍 you’re doing the work

[@MarcJansma]

I always thought that the ideal male natural physique was not that warped, until some friends and people at the gym told me they genuinely thought that The Rock is natty. My mind was blown.

[@columodonnell9202]

I remeber telling a female friend the rock wasnt natty and she said smth along the lines of "but he works really hard"

[@battams1]

Same as those in regard to Mike OHearn 🤣

[@taylorhillard4868]

I mean....we saw those girls refer to Chris heckin Bumstead as a "dad-bod" .....pretty confident in saying the physique standards are more warped than Salvador Dali's pocketwatch.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

It doesn’t matter what people think, only reality. Irl people respond well when you look big and strong and they are kinda nonplussed when you are too lean or look like a ifbb pro

[@NOLlFE1]

​@@columodonnell9202he probanly does، just enanced

[@shiloh1994]

On the height surgery thing. I work for a company that packages those rods. We had a doctor come in for a tour of our facility. And I asked him what his thoughts on it were? He said this verbatim. "I've only ever used these on car crash victims, and people with limb deformities. Outside of that I think any doctor who goes along with using them outside of that scope should lose their license" think about it like this most people want to avoid being in the circumstances that require those rods at all costs.

[@Mostopinionatedmanofalltime]

They have elevator shoes online that will add five inches to your height. A lot easier.😮

[@MangyPL]

It's my only hope as a 4'11 male

[@shiloh1994]

@MangyPL to be what? A 5'4 male? Dude, if you want to do it, I can't stop you. But you'll still be in the same boat with metal rods in your legs. Also, there's a high chance you'll never walk again. And for what? to impress people who could care less if you get hit by a bus tomorrow?

[@MangyPL]

@shiloh1994 that would at least make me the average female height , instead of 5 inches below it. 4'11 is 4'0 in females eyes.

[@shiloh1994]

@MangyPL so you're willing to possibly cripple yourself so that women will pay attention to you? Bro, this surgery has a high complication rate, and you'll be even shorter if you're in a wheelchair for the rest of your life.

[@klaus7637]

"Looking good means nothing, if you don't feel good"

[@pryanikkable]

If you have a lot of money you mean)

[@JohnSmith-jp6pk]

i can say i feel good i feel like the video doesnt get it, we dont work out for others, we work out for the body WE want, theres nothing wrong with that if thats what keeps us motivated

[@potbellyfatguyfromnewyorkcity]

except looking good has a very high correlation with feeling good...i never knew a fat man or woman who was happier than one who is cut up or well defined or toned...

[@Dell4834]

Bullshit

[@Hyperlaser_Merc]

​@@Dell4834Elaborate

[@wubuck79]

As an older guy who’s lifted naturally for 25 years, I’m glad to see people start talking about this. I was a very skinny guy growing up and was self-conscious about it. I started lifting at 18 but was never even tempted to use steroids or other dangerous substances. In fact, the culture overall very much discouraged it. It was desirable to be muscular, but nobody was shooting for pro bodybuilder physiques except for pro bodybuilders. It worries me to see so many young guys doing this to themselves, and striving for such unrealistic goals. Young guys, especially, can achieve VERY nice results naturally. Looking around online it’s horrifying how many high school kids are on gear.

[@LaurenForster]

I know, when you're online it seems everyone is doing gear now, even for the women, especially in America for women

[@LaurenForster]

@@SeanMendicino-n3d that's because you actually go off cycle unlike some of these idiotic teenagers doing steroids

[@SenorGuina]

@@SeanMendicino-n3d how do you look at yourself in the mirror after writing such a misleading comment?

[@Dlannin05]

@@SeanMendicino-n3d You can't make a blanket statement like that about something that very clearly can be dangerous. I know you're obviously aware it can be done in a less-damaging way, but that doesn't mean you can just say, "steroids aren't dangerous." It's like if I said, "alcohol isn't dangerous" on a video about alcohol abuse, just because I know I'm able to drink moderately.

[@Dlannin05]

@@SeanMendicino-n3d I appreciate your great response and I don't think you're being stupid. You just were applying your own experience to other people who are all very different from yourself without thinking about it that way. It's an easy mistake we all make often. I'm glad you had a proper role model to help you do things in a safer way. Keep doing what you're doing and stay safe brother.

[@fredsifyable]

I was originally pursuing a degree in Media and Communications - the day I learned it all comes down to exploiting insecurities is the day I quit.

[@nomanejane5766]

Sounds like u was studying advertising

[@ssarvesh93]

Everything is based on exploitation of something or someone.. we cant escape that.. its our sad reality

[@heitoroliveira5166]

​@@nomanejane5766 I have a degree in Journalism (with comunications, because in my university you couldn't do one without another, and its easy to know why) and he's right. Lots of things on Communication and media, and not just advertising, are about highjacking your mind, explore pre-conceptions of the world and society you don't even know are in your mind, built in by years of societal reinforcement that has nothing to do (today a lot is, but wasn't always this way) with media, and using to make the message get to you. Some faculties and disciplines are more or less agressive. But communication is all about studying how information spreads through various forms of medium from the paper to the internet, the Advertising to the real world conversations and how different paths lead to different interpretations. Mostly of the biggest advances in communications and Media (not only the technological ones) were made at wars of after wars. Because successfully influencing ppl is a big asset. No matter what faculty of communication you study, it all comes to explore how ppl's mind work in your favor. I honestly agree with the guy, i just couldn't quit for personal reasons.

[@fredsifyable]

@@nomanejane5766 Advertising was sadly the only subject viewed by the curriculum as a viable career - and advertising is in everything - so yeah, I guess the degree was rather misleading.

[@tangowiththemango1165]

​@@fredsifyableI'm sorry to hear that.

[@Kodamair]

"Self improvment is supposed to enhanace yourself as a person. Not replace yourself." As someone who ended up in multiple psych wards due to starvation induced psychosis and becoming overly obsessed with feeling the need to look a certain way JUST to deserve love or attention.. This quote really hit me hard.

[@landmindssoul4636]

Jesus that hit hard.

[@JojoJojo-tr7hd]

It really did hit me hard too 😞

[@JigglyBags]

you did not go through allat, lyin ass nga

[@Saitaina]

I never got that far in my eating disorder (had a few staya for Depression), but yeah, my whole self worth osbofy image related.

[@Calisthenics_Warrior]

That's why self improvement is masturbation

[@zartic4life]

"Hey mom I want to be a doctor" "To help people I'm so proud of you" "No to prey on people's low self-esteem and makes tons of money"

[@broskyification]

If you want to be healthy, never ask a doctor

[@keyparker5031]

I am happy you are talking about this. I am a mother of 1 girl and 2 boys, and body shaming goes both ways. I want my children to grow up healthy (mentally and physically). Not focus on how they look but who they are.

[@PLATINUM_S0UL]

maybe i wont look like gigachad without steroids but i wont know until I try .

[@Dabby724]

You buy clothes to look good? You workout to look good along with a myriad of other benefits like stronger mentality, reduced stress and depression, etc

[@lazysnipeify]

It’s been painfully obvious for some time now that body positivity is only for women and girls

[@willnotwill7167]

@@Dabby724 For real. I am all about self love and acceptance but not to the point of cognitive dissonance. The path of least resistance is to do these relatively normal, low effort things such as dressing well, eating well and exercise. Demographics vary but in many places, I'd say 90% of the population fails at this. Simply having an attractive appearance and (true) self confidence will carry people VERY far in life! Actual confidence can only come from achievement and the willingness to do difficult things, otherwise it is fleeting.

[@potbellyfatguyfromnewyorkcity]

yes but looks matter. we are animals and judge based on looks first, everything else second. especially girls. no guy chooses a girl for her brains if she is ugly. be realistic instead of lying to your kids

[@VegitoAttacks]

The issue for male bodybuilding standards is almost entirely due to the fake Natty's. You see lots of fitness influencers that are shredded benching 315 like it's nothing and people can't help but feel inadequate in comparison

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Well bodybuilding is all drugs anyways. Just focus on getting and being stronger

[@andersbjrnsen7203]

good point! the fake nattys make something that is close to impossible seem like something you would be lazy loser not to achieve.

[@oooooba8343]

not really, even if steroids didnt even exist there would be genetic freaks who would be on top of the fitness industry spreading unrealistic standards.

[@asddasdasdasdadsa]

It's bodybuilding it's to get as big as possible nobody ever said that's attractive (besides a lot of gay guys) or that healthy if you want to be attractive for females be lean and have a sixpack that's all you have to do at a certain size you are getting more and more unattractive for females same as females get more and more unattractive the more beauty ops they done. Edit: okay Hollywood says that shit but that's just a bunch of lunatics and they also said Lizzo is attractive,

[@ArantyrDarkhand]

Its simple natural you WILL NEVER BE LEAN AND BIG. You have to pick one be good looking with cloths or without it. If the guy its big and lean hes on it. When you get to the science of for exame size of arm natural can get majority of peak natural will be 38cm. And theres legends of the pre steroids era body building with 43. But majority will never hit 39cm.

[@eliashornwall8546]

The Luke Skywalker doll actually makes me mad on a story level, not because it is setting bad standards. Luke in the beggining of a new hope is a scrawny teenager. He’s not an action hero, and even when he becomes one, he doesn’t have to be extremely physically strong, since much of his power comes from force augmentation. He also hasn’t trained for nearly long enough to be able to have that physique, even by the end of The Empire Strikes Back.

[@theorossyt]

Exactly his greatest strength was never his physical strength, but rather his mental strength and knowledge with the force lol. Glad I wasn’t the only one.

[@f4gsforpele]

Agreed, it’s really dumb

[@lesslycarthan956]

It's a piece of plastic

[@cunning-stunt]

Yoda one of the most powerful Jedi masters is hardly a muscle bound midget, muscularity and height had nothing to do with being a jedi.

[@theorossyt]

@@lesslycarthan956 We’re all just having a friendly discussion on something that interested us in the short?

[@Jetstar589]

Not even Adonis looked as ripped as most of the bodybuilders today man.

[@desgroid]

Same goes for old paintings of the god Thor, who as one of his titles is the god of strength has a similar physique to Sean Connery in his body building days.

[@mariachi3217]

@@desgroidthat can be said to every male statue made. I will say rhat the muscle limit may have been much less during that era. Still, I find it strange how there’s an over idolization of body building.

[@Vsevolodbochkov]

He's god of wine or something, not god of acne, joint pain and megalocardia (heart condition where it becomes so big that it can't pump blood properly)

[@EinTechnikFreak]

@@mariachi3217 no, they just werent able to train as efficient and didnt had the proper diet for todays physiques, they surely had the same muscle limit

[@MariousyPlays]

its cause the juice has gotten stronger since then

[@Uninterested69420]

Boys Please limit or cut out social media use entirely Its damaging to your mind and self image

[@dolanduk7946]

Social media is absolutely cancer

[@asddasdasdasdadsa]

It's not if your mentally stable for teens I'll agree but for both genders, the funniest is the things you see aren't even attractive for the other gender do you look at a girl after 20 beauty operations and aay wow thats hot no you think jesus is this woman ugly same goes for guys on steroids most woman find it unattractive being lean and fitt is attractive brad pit fight club, most gymnasts or climbers not being a fucking orc

[@rememberme3762]

@@haveabossdaydelete you tube stop coping😊

[@valentinepetric3689]

1000% couldnt agree more the less i use it the better i feel

[@Joemamaisa304]

Absolutely!! People need to realize this. I’m in much better state of mind after deleting instagram and dating apps. Not to mention, I am spending more time with my family. The joy that it gives is real.

[@dytonyx]

"Comparison is the thief of joy." Go exercise and enjoy your own individual progress because every body is unique.

[@doublesalopetoimcre]

yap. reach a body that you are content with, and you can keep up without ruining your life.

[@mikonson4091]

I'm unique in a way of how fucking useless I am at everything ☺

[@sunderark]

​@@mikonson4091you're not bro I believe in you!

[@RR-et6zp]

Just do kinobody. Its 3 hours per week . The guy is the einstein of fitness

[@mikonson4091]

@@sunderark you don't know me

[@anndheir]

I see so many people saying "MEN HAVE IT WORSE" or "WOMEN HAVE IT WORSE", it's such a pointless fight, it doesn't matter who has it worse, no one should be suffering, no one should feel like they can't speak up and say what's bothering them. Let's encourage each other and not downplay someone's issues, we all have something that's bothering us, some just show it less.

[@professinalweeabootrash5254]

You didn’t watch the video

[@anndheir]

@@professinalweeabootrash5254 What do you mean?

[@jazzwazzo9659]

@@professinalweeabootrash5254their point stands. guys still hurt a lot of women with jokes and teasing of how they look. were just absolutely blind to it and im saying this as a GUY. im no feminist nor masculinist but i fall more under humanist. but theres no metric to measur

[@professinalweeabootrash5254]

@@jazzwazzo9659 He addresses this argument in the video.

[@Oyabu...]

​@@jazzwazzo9659 pov you didn't even read the comment lmao. He's talking about you kind of people only

[@terrarian7]

A very close friend of mine ended up in the hospital for about six weeks due to anorexia. Even now, she has to be so careful that she's eating enough and it's scary. People need to realize what's healthy is a middle point, not any of the super muscular "alpha males" and not obesity, but somewhere in between.

[@revisit8480]

Does she have a father figure? I mean your whole identity seems to be terraria, so I'm guessing that's unstable too - but it's not as damaging as literal starvation.

[@terrarian7]

@@revisit8480 yes, she has a father figure, from what i can tell they have a great relationship. why the comment about terraria? it really doesn't seem relevant.

[@Blade29894]

@@revisit8480 Bro having or not having a father figure has nothing to due with this.

[@sleepingcat637]

​@@revisit8480 you're a terrible person. A father-figure has nothing to do with this situation

[@zoy13]

This what KZbin was really made for . Expressed highly quality of thinking and no ads amazing.

[@CaptPostmod]

I appreciated this video. You mention GIJoe vs. Barbie. And I often thought it was strange as a comic book fan in the 80s that all the focus was on unrealistic female standards when we had male standards like Clark Kent and Peter Parker in comics. There are zero versions of Clark Kent or Peter Parker that aren't absolutely ripped and gorgeous, yet young boys were told these were "nerds" because they wore glasses and didn't run around in tights flashing their completely unrealistic musculature.

[@kadenkohl782]

Barbie isn’t even some bimbo either. She’s just a normal woman for like 30+ years ago.

[@Randy_Batswinger]

​@@kadenkohl782 Neither Superman or Spider-Man were that jacked in the beginning. Superman still had an attainable, drug-free looking physique well into the 1970s based on bodybuilders like Steve Reeves. Ditko and Romita Spidey especially wasn't big by any stretch of the imagination. In fact he isn't now, really. Or wasn't last time I looked.

[@Kit-kk9cb]

@@Randy_Batswinger he was always big for a spider

[@venomshot2815]

​@@Randy_Batswingerdid you not see the newest Superman movies? Guy looks huge

[@vovac8915]

And how are we suffering because of this? I'm not a ripped masculine chad. So what? Do I need to attack hierarchies and ideals because of that? This is not about you.

[@AlexanderRodriguez-lm1qw]

We can’t all look like Grizzly. These standards need to end

[@The3Lego3Freak]

I will never be FULL :(

[@Sarahizahhsum]

I don't care for muscular guys. Many women don't want that. I just want you to be kind, respectful, and care for yourself. Because men have focused on the wrong things, I'm still single at 28. Edit: I said many. Not most. There are other factors as to why I'm single, yes. But a big portion of it is that men are focusing on the things I'm not looking for. Its just a fact. Sorry if facts offend your feelings but thats just reality. It might also be that I'm not looking to be a breeding factory for men as I do not want kids. But who knows. All I saw were the same issues I see in men. Lack of accountability and accusing me of exactly what has been happening. There is nothing wrong with me as to my preferences. I'm not being picky at all. My preferences are just that, preferences. I don't see how butthurt the majority of yall got over this. Its just a rando comment on YT. Lol

[@recreationallifting]

We are forever MOGGED by thine Bloat Lord. We never had a chance…

[@youngcalisthenics]

For real..... his forearms are larger than most people's quads

[@deedumeday518]

@@Sarahizahhsum you're making excuses

[@usef2941]

These types of videos needs to be taught in school and saved for generations to see. Thanks for the amazing content ❤ There’s this clip of the guy in twilight saying he “rebelled against the gym”that’s the only weird thing in the vid cuz Fitness is amazing. And it was not inlined with idea of the vid

[@sbtkelly1]

Josh, as an exercise scientist I can earnestly say that this is one of the most important messages that modern society needs to address. Kudos to you for daring to speak out. This is essential viewing for every young man.

[@GoldenMushroom64]

It really isn’t.

[@emeraldeyesinthesand8355]

Wait there's a scientist for exercise, wth

[@joshboston2323]

@@emeraldeyesinthesand8355 --there is a scientist for everything.

[@MrObsvenchilde]

@@GoldenMushroom64 Yeah most people are fat. Worse this will do is make them by protein powder for a week and then forget about it.

[@selmevias1383]

@@GoldenMushroom64 Something tell me you have a twitter account.

[@georgeball710]

Bro your videos are incredible. There’s nobody else’s in the industry who makes videos as high equality as u do.

[@spilledcoffee383]

He's the Lemmino of the fitness industry, posts in large intervals but always comes through with top notch documentary quality

[@tmmnago2722]

Editing is top tier.

[@nathanparish7122]

But isnt it ironic that most of his thumbnails include this unrealistic male body standard. Kinda trying to profit off what he is bashing on in this video imo

[@spilledcoffee383]

@@nathanparish7122 no not really. All of them include people who are relevant to the topic on the video and the rest are his own transformations.

[@M3l_0N666]

Quite the contrary, you just havent found em yet. But more quality is better than quantity i guess.

[@Objectified]

Height shaming in America is considered hilarious at best, and normal at worst. The average 5'9 male is routinely derided as short, unmanly, and so hopelessly inferior that men - particularly celebrities and comic - will preemotively denigrate themselves as a defense mechanism. It's so endemic that achieving a near-unattainable physique is as likely to net you scorn as "trying to compensate" if you aren't puahing 6 feet or taller.

[@jessa5388]

Ehh, my husband is like 5'9" and no one would call him short. Not that I would care if he was. I've dated short men and know tons of lovely, married, short men. No one else cares, really.

[@Will-qx9vm]

I am 5´9 in one of the worlds tallest countries (Norway). I am just below average statistically here. I have only been called short by a dude who was 6 foot 2. And now that I am older and wiser I have realized that I have had a huge amount of female attention, and still do. But because I thought my height was a problem, I never bothered to escalate. And MAN did I miss some chances, it will torture me for the rest of my life.

[@adamdemars8729]

@@jessa5388 I'm 5'8 and have routinely been called short my entire life. I know guys who are 5'10 that also get called short. Not that it bothers me but it is definitely a thing

[@melodi996]

@@Will-qx9vm not sure about all countries, but I would guess statistically it's just slightly below the average in the most countries, 70-80% of women are shorter than that, so they should be perfectly fine with your height, there's definitely a cult of height in the US, if you look at the memes, you need to be an actual giant to be considered "tall enough".

[@Will-qx9vm]

@@melodi996 Right, but the craziest part is this: most of those women can't really guess peoples height accurately in real life if they are shorter than said man. Especially if the height difference is significant, so I have read stories about people getting interest from their date in real life, just not on tinder. It is just so silly. And btw most of the women who was keen on my have been slightly taller than me, or same height or just a tad shorter. I don't know what is up with that, it seems women care less when they themself are a tall woman (5'9 is ofc tall for a womam, even here) but the really short ones want to be with Shaq O'neill types.

[@andrewjackson8089]

Been there🤦‍♂️ you become obsessed with food intake, gym sets. I ruined family holidays because I was always in the gym or running. I’ve missed out on family parties to avoid the food and drink…..oh,,and I became dependent on coke to have a good time🤦‍♂️

[@yummydragon8533]

i hope you're doing better now

[@nomorepartiezz]

Yep and the rebound was absurd… I went from tracking every single ounce of calories and macros to stuffing my face with food again. 2-3 years later I’m still struggling to get back into good shape from the after effects of that rebounded dirty bulk

[@MALICIOUS407]

Hey man, the world is dark and cold. There’s a lot of liars and cheaters in this fitness community. But videos like this are what is needed in this age. We can’t wait for someone else to start speaking up about this. Thank you for making this and please never stop. I am a 27 year old who has suffered with body dysmorphia my whole life. I lived with bullemia for years and Went down the path of sarms. I wish i had better influences going up and i hate myself for putting my body through that. I had a bad crash to my system after the sarms and i have been trying to recover for almost 2 years now. If anyone reading this is thinking about making a dumb decision like that, please dont. You all are special humans, you’re loved, you’re needed on this planet.

[@Cathmoytura]

I grew up with a mother who criticized my lack of masculine bulk when I was in my early teens even as guys at the feed store expressed amazement by how strong I was for my age. I carried multiple bags of horse feed with surprising ease. My exercise of choice was riding BMX bikes in the woods around our house, a cardio sport that doesn't bulk muscles. Now in my mid-50s, I still have the endurance athlete's leaner musculature. My main exercises have always been cardio, but I've added strength training for bone health. I told my children -- daughters and sons -- to develop healthy relationships with food and exercise and aimed to teach them what that is step-by-step. I made sure they knew every sport and physical activity from archery to Zumba will develop the body differently, and every body will look different.

[@jonharrison3114]

Seems like you raised them right and for that I have the highest respect for you 🫡

[@oskarklingest5682]

Always the oldheads giving an unrelated and irrelevant anecdote to very subtlety and discreetly toot their own horn. What does the fact that “guys were impressed with how many feed bags you could carry” have anything to do with how you raised your children?

[@t41xz]

@@oskarklingest5682 they were admired and it made him feel proud, it changed the way he was thinking about health and fitness.

[@piscessun3087]

Mean mother

[@TILLEYJS]

Sounds like your mother was jealous and bitter..... Same phenomenon as mothers hating their daughters out of jealousy.

[@rogerhild2801]

“I realized the hard way that looking good means nothing if you don’t feel good” this quote definitely describes my on and off workout routines I’ve had for a couple years

[@Bristecom]

I was always pretty thin but still somewhat fit but a few years ago I felt pressured by society and other guys to bulk up to be "healthier" and attract girls. So I tried to gain weight and more upper body muscles which was fine but ever since then I got a lot more exhausted when running or biking or just in general and I couldn't figure out why until I realized that it was likely just the extra mass/muscle that was taking more oxygen/energy out of me! And that was just a relatively small change - I can't imagine how much worse I'd feel if I had kept that up and pushed myself to look like a lot of other gym bros/muscle heads!

[@rogerhild2801]

@@Bristecom I agree! When I started my fitness journey at 21 years old it was because I wanted to join the coast guard and I had to be able to run a 1.5 mile in 12:51. After finally being able to reach that time goal it’s become second nature for me to put cardio above all else and do everything as clean as I can

[@bealotcoolerifyoudid7217]

Exactly. I do it because im full of energy and feel good on the days outside of gym. Not to look great

[@Brodc]

​@@Bristecom Sounds like you didn't compensate for the extra work with more protein

[@tigerdank5666]

Define "feel good"

[@frusia123]

They did it to women first, and now they're doing it to men. As a middle aged woman who used to have an eating disorder due to unrealistic beauty standards, I tell you this: it's not worth it. The way you look is really much less important than you imagine. It's not worth losing your health over it. Work on yourself to be an interesting and kind person, work on your hobbies, have a job that fulfills you. Be interested in other people, view them as persons, not objects. And you'll be alright in life.

[@yisusferro603]

well, the diference is nowadays we are domimated by an era of image and hipergamy more than ever, if you are a young, even mid-aged guy and you want to have a minimum of success with women in dating apps and similars you need to be almost like a fitness model since in these apps only have success a 10% of guys. Depends of your enviromemt sometimes is the best chance to meet women around. if you dont pass that filter you dont have even the chance to show how good, kind, smart, whatever u are in live. It´s an oversimplification but is like that

[@frusia123]

@@yisusferro603 Maybe dating apps are not the way to go then?

[@iancavon7125]

I always wondered how they even succeeded in doing it to people since the vast majority of men actually don't like the super skinny female "starved model" look, just as the vast majority of women don't like the super bulked-up male "gym freak" look. Women and men alike strive for a body that's not even the ideal/prefered one in the eyes of the opposite s3x, that's what's really crazy.

[@yisusferro603]

@@frusia123 as I said nowadays for many men is almost the only choice. Most of my daily life at job, hobbies, social circle and the area where I live is made out a 75% of dicks vs 25% women (lot of them old and/or not very femenine)

[@daddymike4158]

you're very sweet for saying this. Maybe one day something will happen that will change how I see myself and these things. But I know my place in the ranking, I know I'm truly invisible and meaningless where I live and others' violence and lust will prevail over my silly passions, ideals and dreams. It's easy to get punched in the face the first x years of your life figuratively or literally, for doing something wrong at home or in public. My thoughts and feelings mean nothing to anybody other than me. I don't have friends, family or a partner I could talk to about these anyways, other than maybe one friend whom I don't want to lose. How many years before that truly changes, I don't know. There are many more handsome people than me and how easy it is to sell someone something with that as your advantage is clear. If anyone could become an actor in a main role it would be them, not me. I mean come on how can i compare to a 7ft2 bodybuilder that also has a medical degree and a huge lumberjack beard. I'm 6ft2. I feel like a small child back in school when i set foot in the gym. My degree also socially means nothing compared to a doctor. Anyways. if Tomorrow i woke up in my dream body. I don't know what I would do. I guess sometimes when i go to a place where I stand out I just hate how now people look at me. It wasn't that way in school. Probably I'd be overwhelmed and end it all even sooner realising I can only start living life this late.

[@mounirabib212]

Something needs to change, when I started bodybuilding I thought that by training hard and eating five meals a day it would make me look like a men's physique competitor, but what I learned through the process was that those goals were just unrealistic, just be the best version of yourself and enjoy the journey. Great video by the way!

[@RR-et6zp]

Just do kinobody. Its 3 hours per week . The guy is the einstein of fitness

[@kathleenking47]

Women smoking was WORSE since our bodies tend to be more acidic than men

[@maninagasmask]

@@kathleenking47are you fucking comparing body dysmorphia what the hell?

[@ronnieketchum1241]

A child having Rippling muscles is the most disturbing thing I've seen this year. OH MY GOD.

[@Davido50]

Truth 💯

[@dominiquepowell3158]

Facts

[@DaddyIsntDoneSpeaking]

That kid should be playing Mario kart with his friends 😢

[@rgeurts8836]

W BODY SHAMING!!!!

[@JackCritical]

@@rgeurts8836 no, it not that, its just that the child has probably given up its childhood for some fame, money and glory that will just go to the parents, and retain nothing afterwards. its like beaty pageants but instead of the feminine its the masculine, and both are bad. idk if your comment was under one level, or two of sarcasm but if i read it right it was basically "ah yes, please insult a literal child" and please correct me if i was wrong about that. and if you meant that i hope i changed your mind.

[@bitcoindiplomat1103]

Going to watch this video with my 3 teenage sons to start a conversation about realistic physique goals. Thanks for your hard work on this, Josh. Your content is so valuable.

[@RR-et6zp]

Just do kinobody. Its 3 hours per week . The guy is the einstein of fitness

[@twilightsparkle75]

i have 3 kinda 4 goals. get rid of severe excess body fat, severe imo. get rid of gynecomastia from adhd meds as a child, or atleast thats what i blame lol, and to be capable of making it out there. need t o he able to pull up several times, do dips, run for an hour straight without slowing down or stopping at the very least. realistic goals imo. things that are pretty much necessary living out in the wildernesss.

[@renevanleeuwen1813]

Yes please do, starting the conversation with your boys is the best thing you can do. Even if they seem negative or indifferent to the message, they pick up on what you try to convey to them!

[@Rkosin]

@@twilightsparkle75 those are good and healthy goals

[@fuzzypanda1684]

I hope it goes well. The most important thing is that they understand that the bodybuilders on stage and the models on IG look like that for only a couple of days, after going to extremes to get there. Once the competition or photo shoot is over, they lose a lot of that extreme look. Make sure they're not comparing themselves to those people. Secondly, make sure they understand how catastrophic it can be if they take steroids at a young age. It can permanently shut down their endocrine system, and their testosterone production for the rest of their lives. Supplements, protein powder, all that is fine, but anything that messes with hormones is dangerous for anyone under 25 at a MINIMUM. Looking good for 6 months is not worth being unable to produce testosterone and regulate their hormones for the rest of their lives.

[@FreedomTalkMedia]

One thing not mentioned in this video is the fact that 80% of men who go on dating websites are incapable of getting a successful date. So there is a never-ending pressure to get more muscular to try to attract women.

[@Nobody90019]

Exactly. That's the real issue.

[@JGnLAU8OAWF6]

Don't go there then?

[@mistertwisty1693]

This. It’s a problem created by selfish women

[@JGnLAU8OAWF6]

@@mistertwisty1693 not really, there are just way more men on dating apps/sites.

[@dyslexicsoap7605]

@mistertwisty1693 most women don't really care that much about big muscles tbh

[@m1xomatosis]

Not only is the video educating, the editing is also on point

[@drewski5150]

The Rock is particularly problematic. Not only in terms of body goals, but ageing body goals. No doubt he has great genetics, but his body must be a chemistry lab at this point, and no-one will call him out on it until his health declines (which will likely happen suddenly and dramatically) as a result of it.

[@damnyankeega]

If you want aging goals, look to the late Jack LaLanne.

[@hhiippiittyy]

Unfortunately his wealth may protect him from the worst of the consequences, leaving anyone not swimming in money with the mistaken belief that what he has done is healthy.

[@mateaukalua4426]

The Rock looks 62 and he's only 52.

[@brianmeen2158]

Yeah the Rocks situation is ridiculous. When he was in his 20s and early 30s he was big but not lean yet when he gets into his late 40s and 50s he is not only bigger than he’s ever been but much leaner! So yeah it’s obvious what he’s doing and I definitely get urges to jump on TRT(but higher than baseline doses) when I see guys like him

[@brianmeen2158]

@@mateaukalua4426rock looks amazing as a 52 year old. Cmon man

[@markchalled3976]

There are more than a few posts on YT that talk about this topic. This the most complete one I have seen. Dysmorphia, eating disorders, steroids in children, the unsustainability of the 'perfect' physique and the fact that people are literally dying to get to some ideal. Thanks for the post.

[@versus19rs]

This is fantastically made, well done Josh🙌

[@rohitduda6702]

Glad to see GVS getting some more recognition. One of the realest dudes in the industry and an inspiration to natties all around.

[@kapoioBCS]

GVS is unrealistic body standard tho

[@Fitness_Lorenzo]

GVS the goat!

[@AlexanderRodriguez-lm1qw]

@@kapoioBCSinspiring* body standards

[@trev6664]

How so? Hes usually 12%-20% bf year round. Yes hes jacked af but you can be too if you train seriously for a decade.@@kapoioBCS

[@ChefofWar33]

​@kapoioBCS Unrealistic for the impatient maybe. Dudes physique is the result of 8 years of consistency.

[@ReiPlush_MH]

I have been training since i was 16. It's been 10 years now. I have never once even entertained the idea of PEDs. I occasionally get comments saying "you don't look like you've trained that long". This typically comes from women or men who aren't into fitness. From their PoV if you don't look like The Rock or like an instagram roidhead influencer then you either: 1- haven't trained much 2- don't work hard enough I am very happy with my body and what i have achieved. I also believe that i still have room to grow and improve - but i am probably somewhat close to my genetic maximum as a natty. People have such a warped perception of what is achievable naturally that it sometimes really hurts.

[@danielrusu5278]

It is not laziness. It is staying natural.

[@rhetorical1488]

the lamest yet best compliment i get is from people who haven't seen me in a long time. Dude you look like you did in high school. late 40s now bout 14%bf. I may not be jacked like the kids in the gym but if they live to my age they'll be lucky. keep it natty

[@captainteemo2380]

I feel like this is so strange, i have been training for the last 8 years, natty. I am 6 foot 1 (185 cm for the europeans) weigh around 95 kg and like 15-18 % Body fat so i have abs but no veins and since i dont skip and go 4-5 Times per week plus cardio i feel like this is my maximum, still most women dont know how much pain and work i put into it and of course they notice to them its no big deal since women allways look like they have a nice body unless they are anorexic or overweight...

[@zvezdoblyat]

Mate, don't take it as an insult. Because only recently did I realise that without a pump, not even the shredded people just walk around looking like that. I've also seen countless before and afters of a guy visibly gaining 20 lbs of muscle in 3 months. Again, only recently did I find out that a lot of those people are using steriods and such. So to a person like me who is not a man, and also knows fuck all about working out, your results seem "pathetic" when you compare them to other men who have bulging after only 4 weeks of going to the gym. They're speaking from a place of ignorance, don't take it to heart.

[@steveb1164]

I've had body dysmorphia since I was 12. Thank you for posting this.

[@rgndusk]

the issue is that we can’t just stop comparing ourselves to others and all of those other pieces of advice because for those in high school, the girls they want are comparing them to those instagram models

[@kakyointhemilfhunter4273]

Same for men too, even in adult life every piece of media has and glorifies those perfect 6ft tall unrealistically built and perfect face men. Even the other side of more effeminate attractive men is unattainable for most, being 5’10+ with perfect skin and hair as well as a defined and basically 0 fat face. Sorry about the ramble… topic hits hard for me

[@sirreginaldfishingtonxvii6149]

Many young men are fumbling around in the dark because they're so confused about what they're supposed to be. What a man is supposed to be. Some, in their searching, are ensnared by dangerous ideals. Ideals pushed onto them as answers to that question. "Hypermasculinity", this obsession with bodily aesthetics, is one of them. Be careful out there, friends. Don't hurt yourselves. Whether in body, mind or spirit. I know it's sometimes hard to realize who you are, and to be comfortable with it, to own who you are. It's hard to conquer yourself. I know that. But I know you can do it, without harming yourself. I truly believe that we all can.

[@aerah76]

I'm halfway in through the video and I wish this to be one of the most watched video in the fitness community. Very informative.

[@Al_Max]

I almost didn’t watch this video because I was scared it would “convince” me to work less hard on myself. Shows how easily these disordered ways of thinking can sneak in. Thanks for such an important and nuanced video.

[@MickeyMouseTHEONE]

bro converted to the bitch side💀🕊

[@tuukkai1841]

This was a good video indeed. However, one with such a title could easily have been about blackpilling people and telling them to not even try, so your initial concerns were perfectly reasonable.

[@Gian_sas]

​@@tuukkai1841blackpill isn't necessarily bad, people just think that because you can't change your height or face you're doomed and should stop trying in life. I agree most of them are stupid but the concept of looks over everything that blackpill spreads is a reality in todays modern society.

[@tuukkai1841]

@@Gian_sas Sure, I agree with your examples. I was referring to muscle building and fat loss

[@bro918]

@@Gian_sas its more so if you dont have the looks/height then you need to give up on dating, not necessarily life. but yeah, blackpill is law

[@KARL9S]

I was criticized and laughed for being too skinny when I was younger. This made me gain fat, and then I was criticized for being fat. I rarely compared myself to social media, mostly to people in real life and I still feel inadequate. This led to body dysmorphia and being afraid of negative judgement. I've got health problems because I was so disconnected with myself. No one says something good about my body, Im constantly trying to improve it and for the past years thats the goal im focused on all the time however its very hard to achieve something. I always feel that everyone expects my body to look a certain way that is acceptable for a male. I'm so tired with this, I just wanna feel normal. Sadly my friends dont seem interested in congratulating me for my hard work even when I say I need it

[@MikeHL78]

Thank you, Josh, for bringing up Edward Bernays in this! A college professor of mine published a biography of him right before I took his class. After that, I see Edward Bernays's influence everywhere. More people should, frankly.

[@Eebens]

Glad you mentioned the halo effect and social proof. It's really important to educate people about these

[@LickerOfAnuses]

I wonder what would even result after enough awareness is spread. People aren't going to change their instincts. In the west the way our system and culture promotes individualism, materialism, and all the other superficial manifestations of it are also a large contributor to our primitive behavior, but it's also merely another layer of manifestation/symptom of our human instincts - the real cause. Something like the "halo" effect will never change. If you're born a certain way, good or bad, your life will be vastly different whether you like it or not. The only way to get around it is by improving our means to cope while minimizing the bad. I hope one day we can see family values being more of a thing, but it feels like we're never getting there.

[@MistakenlyOfTwill]

Thank you, Josh. It makes me sad that we all deal with this, both men and women. The standards are set so high because of social media. We end up hurting ourselves in the long run. I truly hope things do get better.

[@SunBozo]

ba

[@streetfundz3179]

Pick me ahh comment 😹😹😭😭😭😭😭 bro really think he someone with that

[@ddqio7774]

?@@streetfundz3179

[@wazramzi6614]

It isn't just social media encouraging these trends but dating apps and their algorithms. If you're an average 5 foot 10 young man, you're considered unattractive to the average woman on these apps and you won't be getting much likes, let alone. What better to increase your chances than to pick up a weight? Women standards have sky-rocketed and men are just trying to meet the new yardstick if they aren't blessed with a photogenic face or height.

[@richardgeorge2250]

@@streetfundz3179you are weird asf

[@chemurr]

Excellent video! I first read about “The Adonis Complex”, years ago and have always been interested in the conversation and concerned about this new obsession. Great, well-organized and clearly-explained content

[@adam_bbing]

I definitely have body dysmorphia, but I recognize that I do and understand that I look way better than I see myself. So while I will always continue to push myself in the gym, I don't actually hate myself.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Nice keep it up. Just keep progressing and you’re on the right track

[@DJKRUUSH]

Me too, it fuels my addiction to the gymm i dont even hate it.

[@sautter09]

Me too! I know I look good and don't need more muscles. Just staying fit is more than enough. Yet I often catch myseself thinking, I could add muscle here and there. But I don't hate the gym and still enjoy it.

[@sugoikage4240]

Me too man. I swear the day since I was way more dedicated to my fitness than ever so many people have complimented my physique along the way. Even strangers that I met in random places I swear. But I still look at the mirror and feel very inadequate at times. I think one of the main factor is the standards that most social media have emphasized upon us.

[@ArantyrDarkhand]

Its normal... i was skinny now im built like a greek statue and i still think most of the time im still the skyny dude. Takes time to kinda adapt to the new reality.

[@rabidspatula1013]

Pursue health first. Always. Longevity and functionality will always pay dividends over a couple IG photos with good lighting.

[@Gehab]

Christ man, what a powerful video. I was so close to falling down this rabbit hole a few years ago. I cannot imagine the mental pressure your average young adult has to deal with these days. I wish I could take every guy suffering with body image issues to the gym, and to teach them how fun and rewarding it can be, without the need to look like a fitness model. Fantastic work as always! You’re a legend, dude!

[@keen8087]

Holy crap, Gehab! It’s good to see you’re still around. I recently just started going to the gym because I don’t wanna be so skinny, but honestly I’m really enjoying it just for the feeling you get afterwards. It is really tough tho because you see all the super jacked people on social media and it’s hard not to compare yourself to them.

[@makhundred]

Promoting ''suffering'' is infinitely better then being fat skinny or half the person you want to be

[@MiguelPrates225]

​@@keen8087In my opinion, you should ignore all these perfect fitness influencers you see on social media and simply have fun with your routine and on your journey to develop a better-looking physique. You don't need to do everything perfectly. As long as you stay consistent and focused, you will see your body slowly transform and, after a couple of years, you will be amazed with how far you've come and incredibly proud of yourself. You will never have a physique like Chris Hemsworth's or Chris Evans's, but you don't need to, and you shouldn't try to anyway. You'll look pretty damn amazing regardless.

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Fitness models don’t look good irl. But everyone looks good when you are strong

[@joaomarcelo7708]

@@makhundred I am skinny and I feel good. Great? No, I could take more care of my skin and my hair, and get some muscles, but I will never fall down this stupid rabbit hole. I will never overdo myself or take any drug, ever. your problem and that of many men and women is one of insecurity, and ironically enough it will never end by going down said rabbit hole. as the video said, you will desire more and more without end in sight

[@Chronoverse1999]

You know, when I've reached the part of the video where it said that it was taboo for women to smoke, I would say that's one hella positive taboo, because at the end of the day they avoid damaging or harming their body with smoking and avoiding it as a general harmful addiction, so at the end of the day, women did not miss out of anything except making the quality of their life better and healthier.

[@kublenator]

Im 15 and a pretty skinny guy.I dont do weightlifting alot,but instead do cardio and calisthenics for basketball,so i do not have a six pack,i do not have the biggest biceps, i do not have the biggest chest and i dont do steroids (and never will).Im proud of the way my body is and to everyone out there,look at yourself and make a goal for yourself,dont do it to like be someone else.Stay natural!

[@Kagamunde]

I'm 22 now, been in sports all through school and lifting since 7th grade. All of that never made me really big. It took ageing and becoming a larger human to put on significant muscle from training, literally 'growing up'. 135 lbs your age and 195 now. My body at 15 would never be able to be this big, not naturally or healthily. High school boys aren't meant to be adult heavy unless they are an outlier in height. Keep centring physical developments around a sport or hobby you enjoy. I hope you maintain that positive attitude; it'll be a stark reminder to you when you feel lost at times how to act, as we young men stomp our path through life.

[@kublenator]

@@Kagamunde 💯💯💯

[@samcurtisrobinson]

You’re 15! You’ve got years of growing to do

[@ne0paul]

Channing Tatum - "I don't know how people working 9-5 manage to stay in shape, when I struggle and it's my full time job". Well said Mr Tatum. This is something Im often in conflict with and not something I think people consider enough when taking advice from FULL TIME fitness influencers. Amazing video. Boy do you have the voice for it 😂👍🏻

[@sambrewer7282]

9 I'll l

[@yoeyyoey8937]

Channing Tatum is wrong. You only need to workout like 4.5-6 hours a week to get amazing results. Stop kneecapping yourself by telling yourself that your goals and their processes are impossible. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy. Don’t fall for it

[@gamooor1386]

That's because staying in shape should be effortless. It's a lifestyle and mindset change completely not rushing to get results for the sake of capitalist gain

[@Timmy-mi2ef]

​@@gamooor1386Pushing yourself will always require effort

[@gamooor1386]

@@Timmy-mi2ef because we seek instant results so we go to drastic measures. Little changes and habits build up over time. Like I quit soda when I was teen pretty sure it butterfly effected my entire life now that I’m mid 20s

[@blerst7066]

I want to thank my 8th grade science teacher for absolutely destroying my idea of the ideal male body. We were learning about muscles, and she showed us pictures of bodybuilders and Olympic athletes. She explained that bodybuilders have bigger muscles because of steroids, but skinny athletes are often stronger because they train to improve the performance of their muscles, not their size. It blew my mind that bigger muscles didn't always mean more strength, and helped me not buckle under the pressure of influencers and mass media.

[@b-rare]

Bigger muscles looks aesthetically better. These dudes do it for the look. If you want strength you can be fat ass in gym that ego lifts. Think worlds strongest men competition it’s all obese dudes

[@nivii__]

Thats interesting..

[@lunactiathemoth]

good for ya :3

[@Michael-qe1xo]

Steroids go both ways. Strength and muscle mass

[@kontakostyler]

The olympic athletes are on steroids lmfao. Your teacher had a good message but you literally do not become the best person on the planet at something naturally

[@xt-cj7jg]

These kinds of content about fitness industry is like a window through the eyes of others thoughts thatll never come to your mind, odd how some people want to break their bones, injecting random shit, all harmful stuff just to look the way they think other people think look good

[@assassincodm8450]

I'm not gonna lie I was literally buying into this unrealistic body standards in my head. I'm a bit overweight and I started going to the gym 4 months ago. I have made decent strength gains and also lost some body fat. I still have those goals in my head, but I will try to not to do the negative self talk from now and have realistic goals. This video is one of the BEST videos I have seen in a while. Thank you so much mate, let's all rise above this silly dysmorphia thing together 💪🏻

[@homerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr]

When you've been lifting for such a short period of time, it's hard to gauge whether your expectations are unrealistic. After more than 5 years in the gym, I've managed to build a physique well beyond my initial expectations without any steroids. There was even a point where some of the "gym bros" thought I was on roids. You'll be surprised at what you can achieve with perseverance and a decent diet.

[@assassincodm8450]

@@homerrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I agree! Many of my friends who are experienced lifters have also told me that as a natty it takes years to get the physique you desire, and that doing it just for a couple of months and then quitting aint gonna cut it. Either way I'll have to work hard, which I will. I keep ur words in mind! Thanks

[@robinspanier7017]

gl in your journey, hope you will arrive to your goals

[@coreo6688]

You need to look at it as a marathon, let's pretend that you are 20 kilos overweight, if you lose 1 kilo a month( 1 kilo is achievable and you can also eat some pizza and sweets here and there), in 2 years you are gonna be at a normal weight, it's all social media "you need it NOW , get it NOW , do it NOW , FAST , this workout will give you results in a MONTH, do this and you will improve your net worth in 30 DAYS" it's all fucking BULL SHIT to get you to feel bad, take it easy and you will see results, do not shame yourself if you look bad , you are actively doing something to improve , that is what matters in the end.

[@idontwanttodothisnomore]

Go for feal, not for look. Work for a body that feels good

[@DanHammonds]

You are doing great work with this channel Josh. People need videos like this. I spent half my life chasing these unrealistic goals, battling anorexia, body dysmorphia and depression. It's taken me until my 40s to accept what you're telling us here.

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

I'm 35. I have a samilar story. It ruined my life in my 20s.

[@InappropriateShorts]

😂

[@monger6689]

@@InappropriateShortswhat’s so funny

[@InappropriateShorts]

@@monger6689 You

[@monger6689]

@@InappropriateShortsok?

[@steelmongoose4956]

When people train for performance instead of cartoonish aesthetic standards, good things happen.

[@SeanMendicino-n3d]

No they don't. People on gear get better results and the noble natties stay small forever while wasting money on programs that don't work to get results that don't matter. The answer is to legalize steroids so that we can have a safer and more regulated market. The attitude of banning all the things failed with booze and failed with weed. At this point there is no rational argument to keep these drugs illegal.

[@liam.cameron]

Facts🤌

[@officialrohinmusic]

You can greatly damage your body chasing performance as well. Let people chase the goals they want

[@auricia201]

Chasing performance can also lead to the same problems if people are trying to be The Best at any cost. I mean, just look at drug use in athletes. Just train and exercise for health, and create reasonable performance goals to give some extra motivation, and be happy with whatever aesthetic changes happen with your body in the mean time.

[@auricia201]

@@officialrohinmusic Sure, let people get into the rabbit hole of the dangers pointed out in the video. If they want it, they should do it, freedom and all that

[@swiftstreak98]

There’s self improvement and then there’s vanity

[@alyzu4755]

As a woman who has dealt with bulimia, anorexia, and everything else, it breaks my heart to see these impossible standards imposed onto young men and boys. A couple of decades ago women had to starve themselves (and possibly use Adderall and/or cocaine) to achieve the "perfect" body. Now men have to crash diet, take steroids and dehydrate themselves to achieve the same. And they have to behave in ways that will ultimately destroy them, physically and emotionally. (BTW, I'm 5'9", my husband is 5'5", and we've been together for 28 years. We've been married for 22 years and have 2 kids. Anyone who mocks someone else for their height is an AH.)

[@animekingdom4918]

People always try to take a shortcut when you can get a healthy, sustainable body naturally.

[@maninagasmask]

⁠​⁠@@animekingdom4918 you have clearly never worked out or just tried body building before. It is nearly impossible for the average man to get the “perfect” physique. Even with great genetics to get to that “perfect” level you have to start using drugs and other enhancers. It’s not about being lazy it’s about how it’s impossible to do without it.

[@animekingdom4918]

@maninagasmask Have you picked up a weight before ? It's definitely possible to achieve an impressive physique naturally within a few years.

[@animekingdom4918]

@maninagasmask Now a perfect physique, no? But an impressive one, yes. This goes for women aswell they can achieve an impressive physique naturally.

[@NazriB]

Lies again? After Dark X

[@onlycalves4188]

This video is great. I’ve been overweight all my life and began working out a year and a half ago. I’ve lost 60 pounds and still feel too fat. I noticed I’m beginning to see veins in my ab area but still felt fat. I started wondering if I had an issue after that. This video has shown me I need to be easier on myself and proud of the progress I’ve made. Thank you, sincerely.

[@Spearmint22425]

Dude 60 pounds is huuuge!!! And that fact that you’ve been committed for a year and a half mean you’ve solidified a good habit, your already winning your body just needs some time to catch up!!!

[@onlycalves4188]

@@Spearmint22425 Thank you! It means a lot!

[@louiswestra8403]

​@@onlycalves4188keep on going man! Im proud of you (even if i don't know you)

[@Koliflower]

Dude 60lbs is awesome! Don't fall into burnout, be kind to yourself and learn to make fitness a regular part of your life. It's the best addiction to have if you can keep a healthy perspective! Keep going bro!

[@straw_napper2847]

Great...doing good and be constant...enough...plenty enough

[@alyssapowell1799]

My step-nephew joined the Marines out of high school because he wanted to look a certain way (muscular) and do cool stuff like a Call of Duty video game. He got really into lifting, and was upset he wasn't gaining enough muscle since he was required to do so much running and physical activity in the Marines. He was bulking, eating a lot of junk food on post and not doing enough running/cardio. He got in trouble for being overweight, and assumed he could do a body fat analysis and pass since he had so much muscle, but didn't. He was put on a special weight loss program that required extra PT (more running) and he complained about it killing his gains and losing muscle. He opted to leave the Marines with non-honorable discharge because he didn't want to run or lose his "gains" or train to pass the PT test. My dad was trying to talk to him about how his job prospects would be if he left the Marines in that way - essentially quitting - and he didn't care. He wanted to look a certain way and believed that if he stayed in the Marines, he wouldn't look that way and it wasn't fun like a video game, and thus he wanted out.

[@armind4555]

Welp he's kind of a moron though it's not that unexpected out of highschool. Hope the kid's doing better these days.

[@PenguinCrayon269]

least insane cod player

[@mehitablestorm8877]

I'm so sorry, I hope he grows out of this obsession. What is he trying to prove to himself? He ruined a lot of job potentials for himself. If you're good enough to get in the Marines....you should try to make the best of it. Sometimes we have no sense when we're young.

[@bofa722]

​@@PenguinCrayon269smartest one too

[@folksurvival]

The decision could have saved him from an early death or serious life-altering injury.

[@giltzexuh]

Popularize self worth and health/nutrition education for all, demonize gate keeping and misinformation

[@chrisdevos1594]

Being someone who was naturally muscular and referred to as "the Body" in my community, it is very true what you shared in this video. Body dysmorphia is a very real issue. I look at myself in the mirror at age 50, even being still fit looking, and I am displeased with what I see remembering what I looked like in the past, then again, I don't gym at all. It is also true that the pressure around you to look your very best does push you into areas and directions that will make you feel very uncomfortable. I say, do your exercises, but become the best version your natural body will allow. The rest is up to your unique personality and mindset. You will be much happier and healthier for it.

[@kittenluvzu]

Most guys would agree with you and then turn around and take whatever drug they can find to have the advantage over other guys. Steroids will only continue to get worse because there’s so much competition amongst males and most males are psychologically fragile.

[@tano1670]

​@@kittenluvzuthing is majority of fake natties are easy to spot, but yeah the avarage joe is not going to know the difference

[@DavidDavids-u3g]

@@kittenluvzu "most males are psychologically fragile" citation needed. Most males don't take steroids, the vast minority take steroids.... "Most guys would agree with you and then turn around and take whatever drug they can find to have the advantage over other guys." You talk nonsense.

[@WerdFTW]

23:20 "Self improvement is supposed to enhance yourself as a person, not replace yourself."

[@soulubilityofficial6635]

Honestly, I really needed this video. At just about 26 years old, I’m a little bit overweight and I’ve done calisthenics in order to help me manage it as well as walking and doing push-ups and I look in the mirror and still feel kind of inadequate at times. Was actually just thinking about that and then this video popped up in my feed. This video was a literal Godsend.

[@oUncEblUnt420]

Fix your diet, stop eating sugar and cut down the carbs

[@littlebabycarrotful]

Ive read the longer it takes to achieve a fitness goal the more likely it is to be permanent

[@Rocky13Ray]

@littlebabycarrotful yes. And if you do it long enough it ingrains and changes your DNA to a degree to be more mauclar

[@jooot_6850]

I know the feeling, brother. Trust me I do. I would recommend getting into a real gym alongside calisthenics, because you’ll start seeing more results. More muscle and regular hard exercise will make you look but also feel a lot better. Just make sure to eat healthy and take care of yourself, yeah?

[@owainsmith6439]

Great video lad, I’m 40 and now finally getting more comfy in my own skin, and changing my paradigm of what an ideal physique is. I’m also acutely aware of the social media influence on my teenage boys and we talk openly all the time about training, supps, influencers and drugs etc. Thank you.

[@teodor-ot1nn]

This is why social media is soo dangerous. I do not have Instagram nor TikTok

[@JadesFitnessBucketList]

Definitely a worrying trend ive witnessed with boys and men over the last few years...interestingly this emphasis on leanness and muscularity with the 'optimum male physique' is getting worse because never before have we been so inundated with it as we do today where connecting with our idols/famous people feels so within reach, especially on social media where the algorithms push the most aesthetically pleasing body types on our feeds because they get the most engagement.

[@naegleriafowleri2230]

This is simply the result of social media/internet revealing what was always true for decades. Women DO care about a man's looks despite the coping and self-denial of many men who were brainwashed to believe otherwise and think of women as angels. In the past, it wasn't as obvious and hidden behind closed doors, but social media revealed women's true nature and hypergamy. These made many men realize that their looks matter more than they ever thought and were led to believe by media, movies, etc. Modern women, unlike their predecessors, are more open and less ashamed about admitting that they do care about looks, height, money, status, etc, especially since women make more money than ever, they no longer need men to "support" them, so they can picky about a man's looks while also picky about his money. The internet also destroyed the copes of many men about women's sex lives. Most women have way more sex and sexual partners than most men are willing to accept. As man, you've been sold lies about women your whole life. Men are waking up, that's why male body obsessions is more rampant, men realize they need to looksmax to even have a chance today's competitive landscape where women are one click away from male models, fitness models, chads, rich playboys, etc

[@NeoAutodroid]

I hope this issue enters more people's awareness. I tried to bring it up years ago with some friends and was just laughed at, very few took unrealistic male beauty standards seriously as an issue. There was almost a double standard about how society addressed toxic advertising targeted towards women vs targeted towards men but I'm glad more are recognizing now that it's one and the same issue.

[@nix2939]

When you hear unrealistic body standards your mind immediately goes to women, because that is all that is ever talked about. But now go to the men's section of any clothing store, look at the underwear section and try to find a single picture of a guy that isn't mega-ripped.

[@TrevorG]

The root of disappointment is comparison to others

[@potbellyfatguyfromnewyorkcity]

it can be a motivator...or compare yourself to your own self (a vision of your best self)....it's not all negative you know?

[@bigdapramirez6157]

​@@potbellyfatguyfromnewyorkcityBut most of the time it just screws you over

[@gordongekko2781]

@@potbellyfatguyfromnewyorkcity Aspiring to be the best version of yourself is a good thing. But, social media has robbed ten of millions of people of their happiness. Consider all of the people who have achieved above average results in their lives, but still feel like losers. Everyone wants to match the top 1% (in looks, lifestyle, popularity), but that is literally impossible. By definition only 1% of the population will ever be in the top 1%.

[@mariachi3217]

@@potbellyfatguyfromnewyorkcitywhen done right but most of the time it’s not. Even if does work, it’s just temporary before the cycle ultimately begins again. Better to compare your past from your present rather than someone else’s present to yours.

[@Matt_Nor]

I love how clear Efron was about not glorifying his Baywatch physique... There's nothing healthy or beneficial to looking unrealistically lean or ripped. Scott Murray is an unfortunate, but true example of how dangerous and fatal it can be. RIP. Be very careful with the algorhythm as it can and will provide you with dangerous content that can be harmful long term A big thank you to you Josh Brett... for doing what you can and spreading awareness.

[@signedupfordoconly4275]

But then he goes has that giant massive clown looking jaw implanted into his face lol. He’s obviously still not a poster boy for anti body dismorphia.

[@ericklunalpz]

"It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable" - Socrates I workout for myself and for the physical and mental health benefits it provides. Will I ever be satisfied with how I look? Probably not, but I’ve made peace with that and am just enjoying the process.

[@beatleswithaz6246]

Why not be satisfied? Things don’t need to be perfect to be satisfactory.

[@sexmusichandle]

​@@beatleswithaz6246why be satisfied when your dissatisfaction can fuel progress

[@alejandroromer1262]

​@@sexmusichandleprogress always brings sacrifice. And sometimes there are things that it is not wort sacrifing, like you should never sacrifice your health. If anything i agree there should be things we can do to improve, but never take things too far.

[@sexmusichandle]

@@alejandroromer1262 we must take things too far

[@jakqup]

Based

[@kyrirhcp]

This is an excellent video. I don't watch much TV and use adblockers and avoid social media, but still suffer with body dismorphia and have since forever. Shame is the most powerful marketing tool, and it should literally be outlawed. I watch men and women being told they are ugly unless they meet a standard which can not be met. Shame is used to tell you you don't do enough, work enough, earn enough, smell good enough, live expensively enough, and you will never be or have enough. Greed is contagious and it doesn't spread by sneezing or coughing, it spreads most effectively by shame. Thanks for this video on such an important topic. I hope it gets heard and things start changing.

[@ozziejim8472]

‘Insecurity sells’ nailed it!

[@jasg855]

Great video. This whole problem already started with Arnold, back in the eighties, (at least for me 😂) social media only amplified it. Keep up the good work Josh, it's much needed.

[@Kaniala-l7s]

Facts

[@Cynthia_Blackraven_666]

Your arm looks juicy bro

[@Sawrattan]

Not that I was alive yet to see it, but I get the impression that in the 80s men could still view Arnold and Sly objectively as superhumans, like it would be cool to be that big but it was normal _not_ to be that big.

[@katiemarsh4970]

As a parent, I appreciate video essays like this so much…thank you for equipping me with the information I need to protect my child ❤

[@Man.Well93]

thank you for being one of the VERY few women that actually care (trust me, it's true).

[@krowkovtuber]

YES! please make more videos talking about this to dilute the unhealthy images being spread online. i'm a woman so i was not aware of this issue on a deep level, but this video really enlightened me. i can only imagine how much this video would help young men who are feeling insecure due to unrealistic body standards of celebrities.

[@wrh41]

So glad I grew up without any social media.

[@ph318]

Ya but people into fitness back then just read magazines and websites full of fake natties. Can't believe I thought protein powder made those drugged out bodies.

[@Jartran72]

You had it good really. Though face book became big when I was about 13-14 I never used any of it and I could not be happier for it. Sure I had facebook to chat with friends but I never scrolled through it. Never had instagram or twitter or whatever. And I pretty much live normally, happy with not many problems. Social anxiety saved me from this mess and I love it.

[@mrkiki2023]

Thank you for this video. I've struggled with a disorder after obsessing over fitness videos back in 2012 on my Naturalkindsof gains channel and its why i stopped uploading videos. I realized how corrupt this fitness industry was and it was draining my mental health quickly. It has become so saturated with fake images and personalities, it's sickening. I could say the same about these cringe videos of people acting like kids with ADHD, ridiculously annoying camera angles and sound effect with the thumbnail showcasing a cringe reaction face as the cherry ontop. I feel bad, honestly. It's sad. I hope people realize the worth of being themselves and not taking media seriously is so much more than anything these people can offer.

[@key4duty]

I started working out again after a long break. 6 months in and i’m very satisfied with the results. Especially in my overall strength. Gained around 10kg, probably mostly muscle memory or newbie gains. But it’s just so satisfying to see progress, to outgrow your shirt and jeans again. But most importantly working out is something I enjoy, making progress, clearing your mind feels great. Getting more muscular is just a nice bonus, but working out in itself truly boosts my mental state. I can advise anyone that wants to look like the people they look up to. Be real to yourself, seek and test out your limits in the gym but don’t take shortcuts and stay consistent. You will reach your goal if you keep it real. And if you’re still not satisfied seek help, talk about it. The natural way is far more rewarding in the end and your older self will thank you for it.

[@kishoratono1567]

Mainstream nedia always love talking about unrealistic female beauty standards, but we haven't had enough discussion about unrealistic male beauty standards. This is a great video! Thanks for making this.

[@jetboylilmanny3216]

Unrealistic? If your body can naturally turn into that what is unrealistic about it ? That exactly what your body is capable of but you don’t use it

[@Violacci]

As a psychologist im so happy you covered the biases as to why we fall for all of this ❤ very informative, great video!

[@PatrickRobertsMedia]

Well done! Are you considering making this into a full length documentary? You absolutely should!

[@User-27559]

Ive been working out for 5 years and only just now feel good enough to take my shirt off on holiday. It’s very toxic, i still feel skinny because at 21 my height of 6’4 its tough to gain mass however once my friends saw me on holiday taking my shirt off they gave compliments and it felt bizarre but i needed this video to try curb my imposter syndrome of feeling like I’m never enough. No matter which part of your fitness journey you are as a man, keep more focus on mental health than anything else because believe me, you’ll never feel god otherwise.

[@nihiqallam5616]

It never that deep 😂

[@jooot_6850]

I felt that. Every time someone complimented my physique.. or anything I do, really… It always felt fake to me. Because I never thought I was good enough.

[@ryzikx]

you're 6'4 youll be fine

[@georgehaas7292]

You honestly look great dude, keep up the hard work in the gym and the excellent vids!

[@aerah76]

I think this is the first video on youtube I found about unrealistic male body standards

[@yoeyyoey8937]

You haven’t been on the internet very long because they’ve been making them for years and much better ones imo

[@LeoBezan]

It's not talked about enough, especially irl

[@yoeyyoey8937]

@@LeoBezan it is, for years, by much better fitness channels than this actually (no offense to the author)

[@LeoBezan]

@@yoeyyoey8937 this video was great, I just finished watching it

[@Arcaryon]

As a young man, I personally am worried because I love working out. I love training, I love becoming stronger - in short, I actually love the concept of bodybuilding. I fear that the standards for success are already exceeding what I can achieve without using drugs and this will become more and more normalised. People are photoshopping Hercules statues to be more and more mascular. The strongest man in Greek mythology, a literal demigod, is not enough. I can not condone this.

[@Shoxic666]

Honestly I think the conversation about this subject has grown substantially in recent years. It just wasn't talked about when I was a kid outside of school during the odd talk or presentation.

[@Dmoriarty1993]

As a powerlifter, i don't give a fuck about aesthetics, provided i'm not overweight. 15-16% body fat is good enough for me. Having watched this, i'm grateful i feel that way. Edit: i have no social media presence beyond this youtube account. It appears that helps a lot! It's frightening to think that social engineering is so pervasive and effective.

[@Demise6969]

It's insane how different people are on KZbin vs other social media

[@Saitaina]

Great video. We all know that women can easily fall into body dismorphia thanks to media and cultural pressure - but FAR too often people ignore makes who face the SAME. ISSUES. It's absolutely ridiculous. We need to encourage health and happiness over trash concepts like a perfect image.

[@grammaton6leric]

I've heard it said that many people who are now into fitness/nutrition grew up as chubby kids. I count myself among them. I picked up my first Men's Health magazine sometime before I started high school and I instantly knew it offered the solution to all my problems. I wouldn't have to deal with the insecurities and the awkwardness of my middle-school years if I could just lean out. So, I started crash dieting and doing the magazine workouts like a fiend. In a matter of months I went from chubby kid to skinny/toned kid and everyone noticed. When people would comment on how skinny I'd gotten it gave me a high no drug could top. It got to a really unhealthy place pretty quickly. The dieting turned into disordered eating and the exercising turned into over-exercising to the point I was spending hours in the gym and I would feel incredibly guilty/anxious if I missed a workout. Now that I'm an adult, I have a much healthier relationship with fitness/nutrition. I still workout and plan my meals only now the goal is health and positivity rather than achieving an aesthetic. The point of this share is just to say: if you have boys/young men in your life who seem overly concerned with working out, maybe they've recently lost a ton of weight, talk to them about their fitness goals. Talk to them about how to achieve them in a healthy way. If you don't have that knowledge get them in touch with a fitness/nutrition specialist or find some competent resources. There are good books out there on the subject, even some good content here on YT if you search with a keen eye. Just talk to them before the fitness industry and the influencers get their hooks. Once you start forming unhealthy relationships with food and working out in your formative years it can take a lifetime to remake them into healthy ones.

[@kairon5249]

crash dieting during your peak growing time (late middleschool, early high school) means you dont have enough nutrients for growth and you will end up shorter

[@jcmmmmmm]

Facts

[@grammaton6leric]

@@kairon5249 I’m just under 6’. It’s true that I didn’t achieve the golden height, but I’m happy with where I’m at. Also, it strikes me that out of everything I said, this is what you thought was most important to comment. Idk, live your truth. Edit: Obviously what I was doing in my younger years was not healthy. I’m not happy that I did it, just that I was able to recover from it and get to a healthy place.

[@oldishandwoke-ish1181]

I think this new pressure on males to be beautiful (women have suffered from it for centuries) is a contributing factor to the incel movement.

[@Emadi311]

A good example for this is if you watch the show “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” from 2005-2023 you can literally see how body standards change, fx the character Dennis at the start of the show had an average physique and girls were attracted to his physique but later on the show like season 7-8 and upwards his physique got less and less attraction because the standards for the male physique got higher and higher, they even make jokes about it and how modern day standards are so ridiculous.

[@terminaldeity]

The joke has always been that Dennis thinks he looks better than he actually does. The journey of Mac's physique is a better one to reference in the context of this video.

[@joshuawilkinson4524]

I struggle with my self image. I’m a personal trainer and I tell my clients all the time that stage and beach bodies are temporary. But there are days where I wish I were more ripped to sell more training. So thanks for your videos that help me stay grounded in my self expectations.

[@damnyankeega]

I know a lot of people use personal trainers for aesthetic reasons, but I think there should be more emphasis on health and performance and longevity. If you are physically fit, you are likely going to look good anyway. I’m in my 50s. I want to fight off decrepitude for as long as possible. I can already see people my age having issues with mobility and basic activities. I want to live a healthy active life for as long as I can and then just drop dead doing something fun.

[@kyleb5169]

@@damnyankeega I agree and that's why the personal trainer I use is a good friend who has a true interest in my well being and makes sure I do things the right and healthy way. I'm 5'10" 145 lbs and will never use drugs or plastic surgery to look better. I also don't focus on trying to get giant muscles or 6 pack abs. I focus on having great mobility, eating healthy and exercise so that I don't end up like 1 of those seniors that's 60 years old and can barely walk or gets bed ridden for days.

[@thesquad2253]

stop looking in the mirror all day

[@steviejrr]

Beach bodies are very sustainable mate. 10-15% bf is sustainable, anything under you don't feel too well.

[@oza1302]

Another gem Josh! What stuck out to me from this video is how the media (largely) drives the public to a false dichotomy. You either conform to these ideals and feel miserable trying to attain it or, same coin different side, you try to normalize obesity and anyone who points out how unhealthy that is, is called 'fatphobic'. How about C? You have a reasonable diet and exercise plan that fits your schedule and place in life 'cause you're worth it and the people in your life deserve it.

[@FudgeTheGoddess]

I'm so glad someone is talking about this. I've worked for a certain Gym for 5years in South Africa and I've noticed how unhealthy bodybuilding culture is with all the substance use and how they are injecting themselves or eachother just for the perfect competitive physique. Some have become chemical experts with all the different products on the market