- It's weird cause the only time I've seen myself naked
is in front of a mirror and there's no mirror right now.
So I don't know what the hell is going on with my body.
Today we're getting photoshopped into our ideal bodies.
- I think specifically, being a queer man
there are more rigid ideals for body type
and there's not really a place to be kind of in between.
- When I was growing up my mom would always
try to recommend me when ways to help myself get taller.
I was having pressure placed on me
for something that I have literally no control over.
- I've never been called hot, or sexy,
like maybe sometimes cute,
but my grandma is the only one that was like,
you're so good looking,
and I'm like, thanks grandma.
- My ideal body type would have to be
kinda broader shoulders, slimmer waist,
just toned and fit.
Hello internet.
(laughter)
- My ideal body type would be to be taller.
I'm nervous though because I don't want to see that
and immediately feel like, why can't I be like that?
- I think I'd want abs, more chest,
more shoulders, more bicep, I mean, the works.
- I'm a little nervous to get photoshopped.
So I'm hoping that this process
will motivate me to reach my fitness goals
rather than make me just feel bad about my body.
- There's a chance that when I see the picture
I might not like it.
When you're at home depot and you get like a color swatch
of how to paint your wall
and you can see if you actually want it.
That's what I wanna do today.
- I would like to know what I look like
kind of as a sense of closure I guess
and being able to really examine how it makes me feel.
I think it'll be healthy in the long run.
I'm really nervous I'm gonna like this more
than how I actually look.
- I just joined a new gym,
so I feel like this is gonna be
an extra little push for me to get going.
- I feel like it's just gonna look like my head cut out
and put on someone else's body.
- Damn.
It's really funny how it just takes a leg extension
and then you're like,
that doesn't even look like me.
- Ha, oh my goodness.
Wow, I definitely think this is
what I'm going for as far as body goals.
- Oh!
I don't know how I feel about this.
I like the arms.
- There's something about how boyish my face looks
and I'm not sure if it would work
on a taller body and a taller torso.
- I love that I don't have this really intense six pack
cause I'm not looking to have a six pack.
This is definitely something I can aspire to.
- I mean, it's good to know what I don't want to do.
I like the upper body.
- I like it, but I don't like it
as much as I thought I would.
Which makes me a feel a little bit better about it.
- But it's also funny because this before picture
I was expecting to look really, really bad.
Which kind of makes me wonder
how I perceive myself now
might be a little more dramatic
than what I actually look like.
- I think overall, I'd like something in between
my now photo and then this new photoshopped photo.
The second photo isn't really me.
It's a little too aggressive.
- Just because I see this doesn't mean
that I'm going to start looking at myself
in the mirror with disgust everyday.
I know that it's the influence of society talking
and it's the pressure of being a dude.
- For the passed nine months,
I've actually lost 40 pounds
and I'm happy that I've made that much progress so far,
and looking at the ideal body,
it would be nice to get here,
but I'm also happy and proud of where I am now.
- Don't let yourself get in the way of achieving your goals.
But at the same time,
an important part of loving yourself and loving your body
is loving your body and who you are,
every single day, every single part of the process.
- A lot of masculinity comes from being tough and strong,
but I think the definition of strength
is also very flexible nowadays.
(light trance music)