The older we get, the harder it seems to get/stay in shape. And it seems our bodies get hairier as well.
Do you feel comfortable going shirtless in public, like at a beach or a pool?
I used to have an athletic body but now I’ve got a major dad bod and this summer I was feeling a little insecure about it. My wife insists it’s fine but going on vacation this summer in Hawaii made me self conscious.
How are you men holding up with this?
35 comments
I have a hard time and always have. To be honest it sucks.
Yes
You’re already married dude, who tf you gonna show out for if not your wife? And she already says you look good
I have zero fucks left to give about anyone’s opinion of me.
6ft
190lbs (overweight by 5-10 and bad cardio)
Sleep deprived
Bald
Proud dad of 2 girls
There are much uglier people than you at the pool almost naked. Why care?
Care less what ppl think as I get older.. that being said with age comes wisdom.. work out more eat clean n ull always look good
I’m 37 and still in shape. It’s never too late to get your diet and exercise in check, you can look good shirtless again!
Just gotta watch what you eat man. I used to have more muscle mass from lifting regularly. Nowadays I’ve lost a lot of the size, but managed to keep the fat off. Just eating cleaner and less. Less drinking is probably a big factor
I just refuse to care. I’m not skinny and I’m not buff but I’m not fat
Yes. I don’t give a fuck. But I typically cover because skin cancer sucks.
Nah, i also workout
I’m way too pale to be taking my shirt off no matter how ripped I am. I usually put on a long UV protection shirt when I’m going to be in a situation like that. I’m a ginger we are not supposed to be in the sun. Been like that my whole life.
Usually wear a shirt. Bit more dad bod. No kids
Compared to some male friends though im slim Jim. No beer gut as such. Wife doesn’t really care.
So sometimes shirtless. Weight not to worried about more the scars.
I’m 69 yo & have been a tank top guy since my early 50s. I developed a Dad bod after a fairly serious motorcycle crash along with taking a desk job.
Eh, I go to the nudist resort. I’m not the best looking nor the worst.
Nah, I look better than most teenagers/20 year olds at 33.
Youre 30s are still a great time to be in shape.
I’ve never been a fan of it but that’s just been my modesty, no matter what shape I’ve been in, 130 or 180.
I’m 47, I’m in better shape today than I was in my 30s. I do photography now (as a model) that I was uncomfortable doing before. Just make time and do it. I know plenty of people in their 50s or 60s that are ripped. It’s not that it’s harder, it isn’t, it’s harder to find “time”, just prioritize it.
Yes. Embrace the chest hair, shave the back
The honest answer is that I’m not worried about the opinions of strangers or my wife, but it does occur to me when I’ll be around friends or co-workers. I think that’s natural, as these are the people whose opinions of me I care about but who, unlike my wife, don’t see me naked all the time, lol.
With that said, while it comes to mind periodically, it’s never stopped me from actually doing whatever the thing is (getting in a hot tub with friends, going on a float trip in the summer with colleagues, etc.).
God, no. But I’m massively overweight and have been most of my life, with all the deep body issues that come with that. I was wearing a shirt to my backyard pool when I was in my twenties, and at this point I’ve not gone in ten, fifteen years and that’s a major reason why. I think I look grotesque while fully clothed, there’s no chance I’m going shirtless in public.
It’s not a dad bod. It’s a father figure.
Sure. Im pushing 50 and don’t give a flying fuck what anyone thinks.
Im fat. Just to add to it, I had emergency surgery about 10+ years ago for a perforated bowel. My stomach looks like I was shot by a shotgun and gutted and then fixed.
Love who you are. Be confident. If someone looks at you weird, make eye contact and smile.
Best shape of my life at 47 so no complaints.
Btw – never trust what women say. I recently asked my wife if I look better with a flat stomach or not. She says “I love both.” I say – what if you had to pick one? Keep in mind you’re not talking to a woman. I want to know, not be reassured. Her – “definitely a flat stomach. It accentuates makes your chest and shoulders pop.”
I just make sure to stay active and I’m in pretty good shape for my age, I do have surgical scars that I was self concious of, but to be honest judging or asking people about those is a a dick move, so if someone says anything, they are a dick and I shouldn’t care what they think.
Same as making fun of overweight people at a gym, its a dick move to judge them, so fuck it, if anyone has a problem, its their problem.
Yeah, I regularly go shirtless at the pool. At the beach, I tend to wear a rash shirt for sun protection.
Again, rocking the dad bod, and body hair that runs from neck to ass (my barber said he needs a lawnmower to trim my neck hairs). But it’s just normal.
End of the day, just wear what you feel comfortable with.
My kids are my 6 pack. Absolutely no one looks at a dad playing with his kids in the water and thinks, “dude’s gotta cut ice cream.” The confidence I feel from how much fun my family is having is way beyond anything I ever experienced when I was in good shape.
EDIT: going bald honestly also helped with my vanity. The invisibility factor for bald men is real AF. When it’s completely obvious that almost no one sees you as a sexual prospect, it’s very freeing.
Just turned 70.Still have abs and workout 5 days a week.Light weights,1 hour bike,5 mile walk/run.Actually like taking my shirt off.
I know that I’m not as lean as I was in my early 20s.
I’ll be damned if I let mild insecurity stop me from enjoying the sun, sand, breeze, etc.
And you know what? 99.99% of people do not care. Do what makes you comfortable.
One of the best pieces of wisdom ive ever been given is as follows…
99.9% of the people you see in public you will never see again in your lifetime so who gives a flying fuck what any of those people think?
No hesitation anymore.
Don’t have a huge belly, but it’s ok because with age maintaining that perfect physique isn’t feasible.
The stress, working hours, family time eats up the discipline. Gym/sport has been reduced mainly to staying healthy, and even with that, I have started having back issues.
Just lifted 8 boxes of 40kg each to move to the back of the house and that was enough workout.
Yeah I only where a short because I burn badly quickly. Otherwise I don’t care what others think.
I don’t just feel comfortable, it’s my preferred state of being and makes me feel confident. Staying not fat in your 30s is one of the easiest wins.
I’ve live in Hawaii my entire life (I’m 39) and we give zero fucks about what you (or anyone else for that matter) looks like with their shirt off. It’s the tropics, it gets hot and it gets humid…shirts are coming off. I had no problem walking around shirtless when I weighed 500+ pounds and I have no problems walking around shirtless now that I’m down to 175 pounds, with a HUGE scar from sternum to pubic bone and no belly button anymore. Young kids, old grandpas and everyone in between goes shirtless and no one bats an eye.
I have my entire upper body tattooed
They’re all dumb tattoos
And people gotta see how dumb I am 😎
I stopped caring like 20 years ago.