But they're not letting concern about these issues hold them back. They're proudly strolling the beach. They're comfortably changing in the locker room. They're confidently playing skins at Tuesday-night hoops. They know you can be strong in more ways than one.
There's nothing wrong with pushing to be your best self, building muscle and strength. But strength comes in many different forms. This is the message the men on the following pages want you to hear. From Martinus Evans, a 347-pounder who runs marathons, and physical therapist Ilya Parker, who escaped jokes about gender and weight as a youngster to become a fitness-inclusivity advocate for heavier people, to Cody Young, a self-described body-hair ambassador, and bodybuilder Jim Arrington, 90 years young and still lifting weights daily.
They're not preaching acceptance of your body, necessarily. They're saying it's okay for you to want your body to look different in whatever way you want it to look different. It's okay to care more about how your insides function than your outsides look. It's okay to care more about the walls of your cardiac arteries than the ripples of your abdomen. (It's also okay to care about those things equally.) It's okay for you to care about your man boobs and not your triceps.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Men's Health US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Men's Health US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CONFESSIONS OF A CEREAL KILLER
COLD POP-TARTS? ALMOND MILK? PROTEIN CEREAL? WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT? WE ASKED LIFELONG BREAKFAST LOVER JERRY SEINFELD.
When Cancer Comes for Your Nuts
Testicular cancer rates are rising, and it's most common among young men ages 20 to 40. Here, one guy describes his shocking diagnosis when he was just 24-and the warning signs that other guys should never ignore.
"Everything You Want is on the Other Side of Fear."
Ryan Gosling and David Leitch are the star and director of The Fall Guy, the romantic-action-comedy blockbuster stunt-fest you'll see at least twice this summer. But they've also built a bond over stunt work, pain, and purpose.
6 A.M. With...the Olympic Fencer
Miles Chamley-Watson's workouts are filled with jokes-and rapier-sharp intensity.
WHAT MAKES A FATHER TOUGH
Social-media wormholes, political tensions, planetary peril-who would WANT TO RAISE A KID in this world, anyway? Well, these guys. Here's what BEING A DAD has TAUGHT EACH OF THEM about HAVING GRIT right now.
FRAUD-PROOF YOUR FINANCES
Scams are everywhere, and money is one of the biggest sources of anxiety for American men. Protect your money (and peace of mind) with these moves.
THE SEMI-COMPLETE USER'S GUIDE TO...THE PANCREAS
For a small, blow-dryer-shaped organ deep in the abdomen, the pancreas has a lot of power. Here's how to keep it happy so you stay healthy.
THE NEW SCIENCE OF HIP MOBILITY
Own the weight room, crush backyard football, and beat back pain by strengthening and stretching your hips.
GOT L-THEANINE ON THE BRAIN?
Supplement makers claim this amino acid focuses the mind and calms the nerves. We have questions.
THE MOVEMENT + MUSCLE WORKOUT
Get stronger and faster with this two-part session that packs on muscle-and primes you for light-speed runs, too.