With #hotgirlsummer now firmly in the rear view mirror and #christiangirlautumn in its full, pumpkin-spiced swing I figured it’s time to explain #fatboywinter. 

First things first, and I want to be clear about this: #fatboywinter is in no way intended to be degrading, fat shaming, or self deprecating. Instead, it’s a chance for us to have a little fun and challenge some norms about men’s bodies, especially in the very image-heavy fitness industry.

Rather than try to #mansplain what we’re going for lets get it right from the horse’s mouth (or Stallion’s, in this case):

#hotgirlsummer is all about confidence, feeling good, and being true to yourself, no matter what. All admirable goals that we should all work work towards. There has been a lot of impressive and hugely important work being done, particularly in pop culture, to empower women of all colors, shapes, backgrounds, and orientations to be comfortable and confident in themselves. 

It’s been refreshing to see women, particularly in the music industry, who for years have been forced to fit certain marketable aesthetics, lading the front lines of change. Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Nikki Minaj, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, the list goes on. Powerful women, being themselves, owning their power, their bodies, and their image (and no doubt getting rich doing it). One doesn’t have to agree with their looks, their bodies, their style, or their way of being, and that’s the whole point. They’re doing their thing, expressing themselves, and having fun. It’s nobody’s place to judge.

What matters is that women all over are waking up to this in a big way. Look at Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s song W.A.P. Yeah, it’s really raunchy. Yeah, if you’re a good christian conservative, it’s going to piss you off and make you uncomfortable. If you’re a square, you’re not gonna get it. I mean, the first few times I listened to it I didn’t know what to think. I still can’t say it’s my cup of tea, but who cares, It’s not for me. I’m a 31 year-old white guy from Connecticut who listens to viking metal unironically, I’m not supposed to like it. Plenty of ladies, on the other hand, are real into it. And no shit. In case y’all didn’t know, girls can be horny and raunchy too. They can ask for, nay, demand, what they want and assert themselves. And they do. No wonder it’s been played over 435.8 MILLION times on Spotify in 2 months. 

Anyway, I guess the point I’m trying to make is this: despite a political and cultural environment that is a complete dumpster fire, there are some real and meaningful advances being led by women. They’re hitting on self-acceptance, body positivity, ownership of one’s body and power, acceptance of mental and emotional health and vulnerability, and not taking anyone’s shit. This is urgent, relevant, and necessary. 

At the same time, us fellas are way behind the curve. It makes sense, things have historically worked out pretty well for us, certainly more so than than for women (especially women of color, who, let's be real, are the ones leading the charge). Well, how many of us out there can say the old ways are still working for us these days? The whole stiff upper lip, lone ranger on the high plains nonsense died with John Wayne, and he’s been dead 40 years. It’s like we’re all dragging around a corpse.

We need to learn from the ladies, cut the bullshit, and support one another. Too many guys are ashamed to be themselves, are uncomfortable in their own skin, are hypercritical of their bodies, and too harsh on themselves and their mental and emotional health (if they have any awareness of their emotions at all). Not only that, but we have no idea how to even begin communicating any of this with each other.

Well to hell with that. #fatboywinter is here. What we’re doing is small. So small. It’s just two guys (for now) lifting weights, working on our mobility, trying to eat better, be better, and support each other and our loved ones.

We aren’t here to get soft. It’s not weak to care. Quite the opposite. We’re here to lift, to lift one another, and to be flexible and adaptable, and we have fun doing it. 

We’re sharing our journey with you, and we hope to encourage and support men (and women too, but y’all could school us) to embrace themselves, their bodies, their hearts, and their minds. We are enough, we are much stronger than we look, and we’re here to learn and grow. Follow along, and join us if you’re man enough. 

Check out the playlist on Youtube

-With love, Sean and Rob, the O.G. Fatboys.

One final thought, to sort of prove a point here. So Zac Efron apparently has a “Dad Bod” now. If that’s a dad bod (see the picture on the right), then I’m Jabba the freakin’ Hutt. This is the kind of nonsense we’re here to destroy.