Scrawn to Brawn Essay Example
Scrawn to Brawn Essay Example

Scrawn to Brawn Essay Example

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Brian Dimuzio Jr.

Baker College: Have you ever wanted to be that guy that turns heads when walking on a beach with no shirt on, or maybe even the guy that maybe breaks necks to check you out? The article by Guy Trebay in the New York Times, "Scrawn to Brawn: Men Get Muscles, Or Pray for Them," caught my eye with the way today's society is bringing kids up with the various hormones and drugs in today's world. Referring to the video or a documentary, he had watched just recently that one of his buddies had reminded him of how much fun he had missed out on. Guys happen to be much thinner back then, most would say simply because they're trying to look exactly like someone they see in a magazine or on a television commercial. Trebay (2

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000) (Para3) asserts "Most of them were stoner's swayback, but that's aside from the fact they were skinny." Trebay (2000) (Para 3) Being that skinny guy back then during the Woodstock era was acceptable and known as normal back then. Yet in today's society you would be judged as "a pathetic dweeb," says Trebay (2000) (Para 4). The women even varied a little different back then, but not as much of a change in this era as the guys. Being able to compare and contrast men from then until now is as easy as holding a picture of a guy from the Woodstock era to a picture of a guy on MTV.

According to Lou Schuler, a fitness editor for Men's Health, the modern ideal man is someone with highly visible muscles, as mentioned by Trebay (2000) i

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paragraph 7. However, it is worth noting that the men selected for the cover of Men's Health also possess chiseled abdominals and a large torso. These individuals not only belong to a self-selected minority but also possess exceptional genetic qualities, as noted by Mr. Schuler in paragraph 8 of Trebay's article. This ideal physique may not be impossible to attain, but it remains an aspiration. Both Rolling Stone magazine and muscle magazines have gathered substantial readerships in recent years, with similar sales figures. Even Wenner Media, the parent company of Rolling Stone, has joined the fitness trend by publishing regular articles in Men's Journal focusing on achieving six-pack abs and a well-formed posterior. Over time, there has been a significant increase in the number of men opting for cosmetic surgeries and hair transplant procedures. Dr. [author's name] conducted a recent survey to highlight this alarming growth.

Charles Ysalis, a researcher at Pennsylvania State University, states that steroid abuse is now widespread among adult males. Furthermore, over forty percent of boys aged twelve and above in America admit to experimenting with or planning to use anabolic steroids as they grow older to enhance their appearance. The increasing prevalence of steroid abuse and body transformation has resulted in a rise in eating disorders, especially among young men. In response to this trend, Jane Pratt, the editor of Jane magazine, came up with a plan to satirize the airbrushed bodies and faces featured in Playboy magazine. They invited individuals from various locations to pose in creative positions and subsequently airbrushed the pictures to showcase alternative possibilities and critique the mindset promoted by Playboy magazine.

My feelings on the issue are

mixed. According to Trebay (2000), most guys in Woodstock were skinny stoners. However, I disagree with Dr. Charles Ysalis' argument that the male population abused steroids during that time. I have seen pictures of the Woodstock era and understand Trebay's perspective. I am a strong advocate for going to the gym daily, but I have never taken steroids. It cannot be denied that men in the Woodstock days were considered skinny, while today's men tend to have more muscular bodies. Lou Schuler from Mens Health magazine (Scrawn to brawn, 2000) states that the ideal man now has visible muscles from a distance. I wholeheartedly agree with Schuler and hope to achieve a similar physique myself.

In modern society, populations and body sizes are constantly growing. Whether it is obesity or muscle mass, there is always a topic for Mens Health magazine to address. Personally, I find it unjust that men are frequently accused of using steroids. Merely having noticeably larger arms in comparison to one's torso should not immediately lead to the assumption that the individual is a steroid user. Instead, their efforts and commitment should be acknowledged. While I do go to the gym and consume supplements, I want to emphasize that I never utilize steroids or any comparable substances.

Many people follow their regular exercise routines, but some choose to incorporate pre-workout drinks for better workouts. Personally, I use Jack3d as my pre-workout drink. It contains Arginine Alpha-Ketoglutarate (AAKG), Creatine Monohydrate Powder, Beta Alanine, and Caffeine. These ingredients have no connection to steroid usage or the potential to trigger a failed urinalysis test.

In today's society, we have seen numerous changes in the past few decades.

However, we still live our lives to the fullest. The perception of body types or sizes has greatly evolved without resorting to plastic surgery. Nowadays, some believe that cosmetic surgery is necessary for self-expression and standing out. In contrast, during the Woodstock era, people found satisfaction in their natural appearance.

Regarding steroid usage, there has been a change over time. In the past, people, mostly men, used steroids without any prohibition or testing to determine who was using them. Nowadays, steroid usage is more regulated and testing is conducted to identify users. It's important to note that not all men take steroids or use supplements, but many do enjoy going to the gym regularly. In the Woodstock era, gyms were uncommon but not unheard of.

Reference

  1. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/20/style/view-scrawn-to-brawn-men-get-muscles-or-pray-for-them.html
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