Do you even lift bro?

SCIENCE & HEALTH

Men struggle with body image too

Shibi Prabhakar

Cameron Smith was always one of the smaller guys throughout his athletic career at Swan Valley High School. He wanted the physique of superheroes, like in the comic books. We see muscular bodies on social media.

“As a kid looking at superheroes like Superman, I wanted this body,” Smith says. But over the years, I have realized that that is unrealistic, but I can still achieve my best body and learn how to improve on different things and fitness.”

Smith isn’t the only one who felt like this. According to Florida House Experience, “88% of women and 65% of men compare their bodies negatively to television and social media images.” While we think body image is more of a women’s issue, we are now seeing a massive increase in men having problems with their body image too.

Logan Ducharme is the manager of the Saginaw Athletic Club. Plus, he is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist, and strength and conditioning coach.

He says, “90% of the time, a client comes to me because they're uncomfortable with the way they look. Sometimes they can't even look in a mirror.”

Ducharme says, “I feel social media has done horrible things to the exercise and physical fitness world. Especially now, with TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, the people posting this kind of content becomes very hard to believe what you see. A lot of it is lighting and photo editing and when you have young kids seeing this, trying to achieve that, and trying to succeed in building this physique is damaging. None of it is reality.”

Social media has coined new terms such as cut, jock, and swole. Ducharme feels those words are overused in today's society and feels it's more of a “joking term.”

Focusing on these different social media terms in the fitness world leads can lead to bigorexia. You might be wondering what bigorexia is. According to Healthline, this is a disorder where a person feels that their “body is too small or they are not muscular enough.”

No one is immune from feeling this way. Even Ducharme says, “sometimes when I looked in the mirror, I would tell myself on multiple occasions, oh you're

logan ducharme, 23, is doing his Push-day workout routine at sac, nov. 17, 2022 ; Photo credits shibi Prabhakar

not big enough, oh you're not muscular enough when in reality, you just have to look at yourself and say you are physically fit you can walk up a flight of stairs without getting tired, and you are okay.”

You can be who you are without having to change a lot. Bigorexia may sound like a goofy term, but it's 100% real.”

Smith, the former high school athlete, said, “being the smaller one made me more self-conscious. I would see so many of my other teammates with bigger muscles who looked more athletic than me, which made me feel a little self-conscious. But over my athletic career, I have learned I needed to focus on myself and become the best self I could ever be.”

He says, “people should look at a realistic goal and not jump to major conclusions. Just look at the little victories here and there.”

When it comes to body dysmorphia, Smith says, “obviously, it can go both ways. For girls, it's about being skinny; for guys, it's about being more muscular. This can lead to some severe consequences, like eating disorders. People need to look at themselves and be the best they can be.”

Body dysmorphia and eating disorders are on the rise. According to the White House, “1 in 10 Americans are expected to develop an eating disorder in their lifetime.”

Smith looks at this quote from Martin Luther King Jr: “If you cannot fly, then run; if you cannot run, then walk; if you cannot walk, then crawl. But whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward. I look at this in every aspect of my life, especially regarding fitness. I will always strive to be the best I can be.”

What about the male physique? “There is not a true male physique Ducharme says. It's not a good to judge yourself based on a celebrity’s looks. Look at yourself based on your character, not how you actually look physically.”

But at the end of the day, an essential aspect of fitness is how you feel about your body image. Ducharme says, “I'm comfortable with my body image. Obviously, growing up and going through puberty was very hard because my body was continuously changing. There were times when I looked in the mirror and just hated myself. But now that I've grown up, I can understand that the body is a very interesting and intricate thing. Just love yourself the way you are.”

LIFESTYLE

Start shopping smart

Vanessa Selle

Before shopping gets too crazy, your Collegiate staff has put together a list of fun, budget-friendly gift s for friends and family. Many of these gift s are perfect for an apartment or dorm room and are great universal gift s for anyone on your list.

Ecolution Micro-pop Microwave Popcorn Popper

Th is is an excellent gift for those who love popcorn but do not want expensive, single-use prepackaged bags containing unwanted chemicals and excessive calories. Th is incredible gift is perfect for a one-person snack and is dishwasher-safe. It is available in multiple colors and even comes in a bigger family size if needed.

DASH Mini Waffl e Maker Machine

Any breakfast favorite would work as a waffl e shape is perfect for this machine. It is a simple plug-in-and-go and small for those with space limits. Th is gift is available in multiple colors and patterns and includes a recipe guide!

Dosmix Portable Bluetooth Vintage Speaker

Th is Bluetooth speaker puts a classic twist on a trendy technology favorite. Everyone could use a good Bluetooth speaker, and making it unique is even better. Th is speaker is designed to be portable and is small enough to fi t in a bag or even a large pocket. It works for audio and hands-free calls and has a rechargeable battery with a USB cable.

FaceTory Best of Seven Facial Masks Collection Th ese face masks are perfect for pampering your friends’ skincare needs. Whether this pack includes classic favorites or introduces new favorites, it is a great universal gift for close friends or acquaintances.

Bodum Cold Brew Coff ee Maker

Th is cold brew coff ee maker is great for the coff ee lover. It is a french press style, 51 oz, and all components are dishwasher safe. Th e locking lid keeps coff ee hot or cold! Th e small size saves space and is convenient for refrigerator storage.

To fi nd the correct links for these products, see this article on deltacollegiate.org.

December: More than the holidays.

December is about a lot more than the holidays. Here are just a few of the many other things observed this month: World AIDS Awareness Month

Made in America Month Bill of Rights Day - Dec. 15 Animal Rights Day - Dec. 10

Spiritual Literacy Month Monkey Day - Dec. 14

Safe Toys and Gift s Month Bill of Rights Day - Dec. 15

National Llama Day - Dec. 9 Visit the Zoo Day - Dec. 27

ENTERTAINMENT

“It’s beginning to look a lot like winter” playlist

Love Hard (2021) - Netfl ix Just Friends (2005) - Prime Video Th e Holiday (2006) - Prime Video Barbie in A Christmas Carol (2008) - Prime Video A Christmas Story (1983) - HBO Max & Prime Video Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) - Roku & Prime Video Elf (2003) - Hulu A Christmas Carol (1951) Prime Video White Christmas (1954) - Netfl ix A Christmas Prince (2017) - Netfl ix Th e Santa Clause (1994) - Disney+ Home Alone (1990) - Disney+ Th e Polar Express (2004) - HBO Max, Hulu It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) - Hulu, Prime Video A Long December - Counting Crows Winter Song - Th e Head and the Heart Winter Winds - Mumford & Sons Th is December - Ricky Montgomery Tokyo - RM Hungover in the City of Dust - Autoheart Father Christmas - Th e Kinks Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry Ukrainian Bell Carol - Richard Saucedo Love Like Winter - AFI Making Christmas - Nightmare Before Christmas Last Christmas - Taylor Swift Happy Holidays - Andy Williams Slow Jamz -Kanye West Carol of the Bells Hallelujah- Carrie Underwood and John Legend His Favorite Christmas Story- Capital Lights

Holiday horror movies

Logan Fairchild

Black Christmas (1974) - “A Christmas Story” (1983) was not director Bob Clark’s fi rst rodeo when it comes to Christmas fi lms. His fi rst was “Black Christmas,” and it established a lot of trademark conventions for slasher fi lms, including; a fi nal girl and a killer POV camera that John Carpenter later famously utilized in “Halloween” (1978). Th is fi lm takes place on a college campus during winter break, where an unknown killer stalks and murders a group of sorority girls. It’s not as trashy as it sounds; it’s an extremely well-made fi lm with great acting and an intense story.

Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) - Th is fi lm is a little trashy. A low-budget horror fi lm that outraged parents who were disturbed by Santa Claus is depicted as an axe murderer (although this was not the fi rst, nor the last, fi lm to do this). Upon its release, it was picketed until pulled from theaters just two weeks aft er release. It mainly remained unknown until recently when horror fans rediscovered the gem, and newly remastered footage came to DVD and Blu-Ray. Th e acting isn’t necessarily the best, but the plot is fun, and it’s stuff ed to the brim with Christmas goodness and plenty of good chuckles. Christmas Evil (1980) - Th is fi lm is similar to “Silent Night, Deadly Night” in the plot; a psychologically torn loner dressed as Santa Claus goes on a rampage. However, this fi lm is more severe. Our main character, Harry, absolutely loves Christmas. So much so that he tries to become Santa Claus himself and spread good cheer (and eliminate bad) on Christmas Eve. Th e acting in this fi lm is superbly better than the previously mentioned one and supplies a tremendous amount of Christmas aesthetic. It also starts at Th anksgiving, so it’s a two-for-one holiday fi lm!

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010) - A Finnish horror fantasy fi lm in which a research team accidentally drills into a burial ground, unleashing an ancient creature whom young Pietari believes to be Santa Claus as the local children start going missing.

Treevenge (2008) - Th is short fi lm is about 16 minutes long and is easily found on Youtube. While I don’t typically list short fi lms, this one, in particular, is a seasonal fave and a must-watch for any horror fans out there. Comedy and gore mesh together in this tale of Christmas trees coming to life and seeking revenge on those who chopped them down.