3-25-2016

Body Image Issues: Are They The Same For Straights? 

As a gay man I have body image issues. I know this. I don't need a therapist to tell me that. For the longest time I couldn't figure out my problem with my weight. Truthfully, I still don't have a complete grasp. This is what I know, I look down and I see a morbidly overweight man. When I see a picture it confuses me because that is now what I see reflecting back. I see a healthy man. 
Something dawned on me though. One day I started analyzing where my eyes drifted. I found myself comparing my body to women's. Is that strange? I wonder how many other gay men do the same? Is that normal behavior for gay men? I will see a woman in a bikini and I don't get aroused at all, I do stare in wonderment though because I see the tone of the body and I immediately look at my own body to try and figure out why I don't measure up to her. I have to remind myself that I am not a woman nor do I want to be. But I consistently try and compare myself to women's bodies and get frustrated when I cannot measure up. I just wonder how different I am to other gay men and what do you do about it?

With Love

Jeff Utnage 823469