Protein World "beach body" adverts

Possibly off topic, but am I alone at feeling uncomfortable with the number of people both on MN and in the media generally ogling Aidan Turner in Poldark? If it had been men commenting to such a degree about a half dressed woman I suspect there would have been an uproar.

A group of my male friends at the gym are going away this week. They have spent the last 3 months getting beach ready. Their words. I asked them why, they all said its a mix of other peoples expectation of what's looks good and them wanting to look a certain way, for themselves.

I for one, used to be 20 stones. I still don't look like that model but have never considered not going on the beach. Even when Kate moss was held up as the ideal.

This advert isn't a danger to women my age (41). It is to teenage and young adult girl, girls with eating disorders, low self esteem and body dismorphia. I can see tha advert and evaluate it reasonably. A younger, less experienced girl will see an impossible image and think that this is what she should be. Also young men will expect this as the norm. This is when, to achieve this impossible goal many vulnerable girls will kill themselves with diet pills and eating disorders.

I watched a programme about steroids and a lot of men did it for respect or approval from their peers. Obviously female attraction was part of it but it seemed a distant second.

I think if you watch the Arnold Schwarzenegger film about his bodybuilding career, women just don't feature, which is interesting.

Anyway I'm off to dream about being built like Daniel Craig . All the best.

Sorry x posted Ah i see. At the end of the day Futopia we can only do our best.

The men excsersising and taking steroids that you mentioned. Are they doing it for themselves or because they feel pressured to look good for the female gaze.

Oh sorry, you mean men aspiring to be like David Gandy etc.

I don't know about other guys but I do it for all sorts of reasons. In fact oddly enough I'm drinking a protein shake now, just before bed, as I'm trying to drop the bodyfat by a few %.

Other than fitness, I'm pretty vain so like to look the best I can. I would say that I'm in between David Beckham and David Gandy (physique wise) but sadly lack the good looks .

I also go to the gym with colleagues so there's a bonding aspect to it too. My wife likes the way I look and obviously it's nice to receive the odd compliment, even if it's from other (random) guys in the gym.

But of course. When I see films on TV or at the movies then it's an aspirational thing. I know how hard it is to look how I do at the moment so have massive respect for other men who have built impressive muscle (naturally).

This is the other aspect, that doesn't bother me so much but I know motivates other men. Respect.

I also feel like this about #noexcuse, I find it motivating. Not quite motivating enough to join a gym, but to keep focused on making healthier choices.

I like seeing fit healthy women. It reminds me to keep my weight/fitness in check and that the average person on the street is now overweight and shouldn't be a guide I measure myself against. It is not ok for me, to become overweight. Images like this inspire me to choose a salad and take the stairs not to stare in the mirror and cry.

Futopia can i ask whether you think they are doing it for themselves or for the female gaze

Helena

Sorry I'm not sure if I understand the question. Which 'they' are you meaning, Protein World?

Apologies again.

Helena

From the post yesterday in 'Chat' it sounds like you have a very specific condition that puts you outside of 'most people'.

Therefore my comment does not apply to you and neither should it.

My wife also falls outside 'most people' as she has strong, powerful legs from years of aerobics/boxercise/spinning and weights. She's got great legs but no thigh gap.

Not that it matters anyway but it does seem to bother some women.

This advert is targeted specifically at those that have more than basic knowledge of supplements and is what adverts are for. If you're not the target audience then there's no need to take any notice whatsoever.

When I drive past billboards of huge Kit Kats and Mars Bars I don't give them a second thought as I'm not the target audience. The same goes for the arrows directing me 2 miles to the nearest McDonalds.

I'm certainly not going to start defacing them just because I object to fast food.

Futopia can i ask whether you think they are doing it for themselves or for the female gaze.

Thanks U2

I can't comment on what it's like for women but for men aspiring to look like David Gandy/Daniel Craig/Jason Statham/Henry Cavill/or the cast of 300, it's hard enough dropping the bodyfat but even harder to bulk up like them too.

It's why so many men are turning to steroids nowadays.

Futopia My legs would never look like hers I have a hereditary condition.

I got it from my maternal grandmother. And as i cant travel back in time and hand my grandfather a condom there is very little i can do about it.

Even if i didnt have this i still wouldnt be "most people"

Ive gone from a size 28 down to a 14 and feel physically healthier and better. I dont go to the beach I find it boring. If im somewhere new id rather go and sightsee.

Note i said physically better. But my mental health has taken a real hit. Its taken me a while to accept that i will never be good enough for some no matter what i do.

I did it for my health not to lie on a beach. Ive spent my entire life actually avoiding the sun. Which means i get people saying i look younger than i am.

Great post FutopiaDad

And I think men do have more pressure on them now to look a certain way than ever. Maybe not to the same extent as women but it is getting that way.

I only have to hear my teen boys' conversations to realise that they feel loads of pressure to look a certain way. My son hates it because he is tiny and has very little muscle tone. He has admitted that pics of David Beckham and men with muscles make him feel like his body shape isn't what girls want.

My husband works out a lot and is a weight lifter. Her certainly care what his body looks like.

In fact, type 'Beachbody' into google images and the first category you get is 'Men'.

I can't remember the last time my DH moaned about his body shape

80schild

Just because your husband has no interest in his physical appearance that doesn't mean that men in general aren't bothered.

I'm incredibly sensitive to my bodyshape as are hundreds of men I've seen regularly at the gyms I've visited over the years. I don't get stressed about it but I know a lot that are and obsess about body fat percentages.

This isn't directed at you specifically but I've read a whole lot of posts from people that actually have little idea about what protein supplements are and what they're for, which is frightening when people are making such emotive judgements. Protein supplementation isn't about gimmicky diets but properly planned and controlled nutrition.

To be honest I don't have a problem with a company promoting a fitter, healthier lifestyle and don't agree with the campaign as I don't think it's suggesting what the campaigners are claiming.

The term 'beach body' has been around for aeons and applies to both men and women. Ironically, the massively popular 'Insanity' workouts along with P90X, T25 etc. are sold by 'Beachbody' who sell fantastic products happily to millions of people who want to get fitter and in the best shape they can, often for the beach but not exclusively. Their ads are on constant repeat on TV yet I've never seen anyone complain about the (arguably) more ripped women than the one used on this advert (who looks completely normal to me).

Personally I think she looks great, with about the right amount of body fat. Not every woman has a frame/build like hers but she is basically what most people would look like, if they did not eat more food than is necessary.

To quote my DD all it means us that you have a body and intend to take it to the beach.

Oops sorry just realised I totally misunderstood your post carry on as though I didn't say anything please!

YY Magenta And Mengog., Spain and Italy are both predominantly Catholic countries where women are valued very highly for their looks. Half my family is Italian and the pressures on Italian women lookswise are IMMENSE.

And I wont get started on Catholicism and misogyny because it will derail the thread but it does contribute to the pressure.

If your husband 'needs' to go on a diet but doesn't why is that a good thinG? Presumably by need you mean he is overweight and his health would benefit from losing weight, so why are you citing it as positive that he has no interest in doing something about it?
If I was overweight I would hope I would care enough about myself to do something about it.

i'm glad that we are talking about this -

but (theres always a but!) i fail to see how this is any worse than the multitude of other ads out there

I am late to the thread but would just like to add that I feel some women actually seem to manage to set the clock back 30 years by buying into all this crap. It really irritates the hell out of me. If women object to something in theory they should also object to it in practice by not buying into gimmicky diets, reading rubbish, soul destroying magazines and start behaving a bit more like an unreconstructed man. I can't remember the last time my DH moaned about his body shape, thought he should go on a diet or had any doubts about himself or his ability whereas so many women do. Why is this?

shewept you need to read up on how much leisure time men have and compare it to how much leisure time women have.

Your answer is too simplistic.