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Be a man

High school boys struggle with body image

Senior Jacob Schultz is your average Martin student: bright, involved, and driven. What many wouldn’t know about Schultz is that he struggles with how he sees himself. From changing the way he eats to the way he pushes himself in the gym, this struggle affects his daily life and many of the students around him would never know it. Body image has been portrayed as an issue that stereotypically women struggle with, but it can affect men just as severely. As a result of this, men might not know that they are struggling with body

image issues and that they can, and should, reach out for help. Having problems with body image can progress into habits that range from changing the way you eat to even just changing the way you dress. Regardless of the severity of men’s body image issues, it’s still a prevalent issue in society today. “I already eat a lot, but sometimes I tell myself I need to eat more if I want to gain more muscle mass,” Schultz said. “While that may be true, there is an issue with guys eating a ton of calories in unhealthy forms. It’s called ‘dirty bulking,’ and while it may be a form of gaining weight, it isn’t effective or healthy long term.” Men don’t only overeat in hopes to achieve a perfectly toned body, but they also cut back if they feel they’ve gotten out of control. “Some days, when I’m feeling insecure about how I look, I find myself cutting back and restricting what I eat,” senior David Lopez said. “I usually try intermittent fasting so that there isn’t as much time in a day where I can eat.” The average high schooler should eat three full meals a day with a few snacks here or there. With that being said, the average teenage boy should eat around 2,800 calories a day. “I usually eat some fruit and toast for breakfast, then I eat something like a Clif Bar for a mid-morning snack,” Schultz said. “Typically I try to have a balanced lunch, another snack, and then whatever my mom makes for dinner.” In contrast, body image isn’t only about how much muscle a man has, or his physical attributes. “I feel that faces can be really overlooked,” Lopez said. “People care a lot about how your body looks, but facial features are something you can’t change.” Facial features aren’t the only thing boys are concerned about. They’re also worried about how they’re perceived because of visible blemishes they may have on their faces. “I’ve struggled a lot with acne and it’s not socially acceptable for men to try and cover acne with makeup,” Schultz said. “‘What’s wrong with your face?’ is a question I used to deal with daily because of my acne

“Why do you look like that?” “Facial features aren’t something you can change.”

By Lilly Griffihs • Copy Editor

and how it looked on my face. Guys are supposed to be tough and not let those things get to them, but it’s hard to do when someone just says that to you.” Insecurities like these start a lot younger than just high school level. Many teenage boys said they start discovering insecurity from the minute they’re put into an athletics class at school. “It happened at a pretty young age, I’d say as early as seventh grade,” Schultz said. “I was influenced to have a six pack and be super tall.” Focusing on your image can take a toll on not only your physical health, but also your mental health. If you feel that you need to lift a certain amount of weight to be successful, you aren’t in the right headspace. “It is more about health for me than it is for image,” STEM Academy Coordinator Jason Forsythe said. “Not focusing on this allows me to focus on other things that make me happy and fill me with a sense of worth.” These insecurities don’t only come from a person and how they appear themselves, but how they compare themselves to others, sometimes even girls. “Most of my insecurities stem from intrusive thoughts I have,” Lopez said. “I find myself comparing myself to others a lot and it’s really detrimental to my mental health.” Comparison contributes a lot to how men portray themselves and they try to show off in the gym. “Guys are more concerned about lifting as much weight as possible rather than using proper form or using the proper amount of weight for them,” Schultz said. “When I’m in the weight room, or in any gym setting, guys who are much bigger than me make fun of me for the amount of weight I use or just because I’m smaller than average. It can be highly discouraging.” In contrast, some boys said they don’t feel a sense of toxic masculinity when walking into the gym. “I’m more self-aware in the gym,” senior Nana Boadi-Owusu said. “But I use those around me who may be stronger and faster than me as motivation.” A lot of boys have an idea of what they want to look like, but they just don’t know how to achieve it. Dieting and workout plans could be harmful without knowing what the end result could be. “Goals always have more value if they are things you want for yourself,” Forsythe said. “Seeking somebody else’s ideal image of what you should be has never ended well for me.” There are a lot of factors that come with a man and his body image. A lot of the time girls forget to consider

“I find myself cutting back what I eat.” “I was influenced to have a six-pack and be tall.”

that men have body image issues and there is a feeling of hopelessness when they realize they can’t change a certain part of themselves. “The things that guys are most insecure about are things that are generally uncontrollable,” Schultz said. “You can’t change your height or the way your body is structured. Everyone is different and I think people need to realize that’s okay. Toxic masculinity and the idea that you need to have huge biceps and a six pack – that’s not a realistic idea for every guy.” Although body image is something everyone struggles with, it’s hard to get out of the mindset that you’re the only person experiencing it. Only you have the power to change your thoughts. “I know it sounds cliche, but be happy with who you are,” Forsythe said. “You have the power to shape who you want to be and how you want to look. If there are things in your life that you don’t like, you have the power to change that. Just make sure your selfworth comes from things you want for yourself and not things people want you to be.” FEATURES • 27