J . M A I L

Shredded: What the heck?

Just watched:

Shredded

http://www.nfb.ca/film/shredded/

Richard Gaudio, Douglas C. Taplin, 2005, 22 min

“This short film follows a group of teenage boys eager to emulate the muscle-filled bodies of their media heroes. Revealing the lengths these boys are willing to go to achieve their goal, this film explores the use of supplements and the temptations of steroids. The boys relate their experiences, desires and motivations to the audience, who are left to draw their own conclusions.

The film is designed to provoke discussion among teenagers about body image and where lines should be drawn between healthy and dangerous behaviour.”

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Found this video linked on a bodybuilding forum. I thought I would give it a watch and boy was I shocked. Teenage boys are asked about their goals. expectations, their motivations, and are told what they can actually expect without steroid use (the movie also features a bit of non-sense about steroid use from some nobody personal trainer).

I was shocked at what these kids had to say. One wanted to be 230 pounds and 6% body fat. Other boys went on and on about how girls only care about are muscles and six-packs. For the record I can’t think of a single person that is 230 pounds and 6% bf on the planet that isn’t using steroids and in my personal experience girls don’t give a crap about big muscles.

Does almost everyone have these unreal expectations of what is possible while staying natural (i.e. not taking anabolics) and working out?

One of my favourite quotes about natural bodybuilding is:

“It’s like looking at a swim-meet without the pool.”

There are definite limits to what the body is naturally capable of and it seems as if most people (i.e. everyone) is ignorant of these limits. The human body is not meant to carry a lot of muscle without carrying a lot of body fat.

I think everyone is aware of the growing movement to help girls deal with body image issues. People do not want girls to fall into the trap of comparing themselves to models and celebrities. People preach to girls that they should accept their natural body shape, perhaps the same should be done for these highly impressionable (and mentally dull) boys.

Why then am I continually surprised when I see and hear the opinions of poorly educated people concerning bodybuilding? Maybe I am the one who is really dull.