March 11, 2019-Lander, Wyoming.
You may have noticed a trend: More and more men in the prime of their lives sporting a physique that isn’t quite the chiseled look that society seems to claim men ought to have, nor is it the let-go appearance of the couch potato. This is the dad bod. Also, whether we like it or not, it is here to stay.
While some like to make sport of this particular physique, it must be noted that people who possess this body type aren’t necessarily out of shape. The dad bod is really not related to the ever-popular ‘keg,’ but actually indicates a degree of physical fitness. This sort of man is likely not the sort of person to trouble the world with daily Facebook posts about his gym time, nor is he likely to tweet about having just finished binge-watching the second season of Stranger Things.
The possessor of a dad bod, rather, seems a man more of the Aristotelian mean. He is well used to physical labor and other forms of exercise, but these are not his end in life. Neither is he overwhelmed by the desire for food, although he certainly knows his way to the local pizza place and more importantly, the beer aisle. All exists in a particular sort of balance, resulting in a healthy body profile with ample muscle and modest stores of fuel for said muscle.
In the end, what you have is, as the name implies, the perfect physique for a father. Even though science has only recently made breakthroughs in determining that his abs are not, as he claims, made of iron, his abs aren’t an uncomfortable place for a little on to sit and play row your boat or simply bounce up and down, thanks to the upgraded padding. Additionally, as his children get older, he will be able to practice a variety of sports with them, pitting both his strength and his energy reserves against the boundless enthusiasm of his progeny. That, or they will simply admire his hidden strength as he spends the day clearing a woodlot with the family. Either way.
These factors combine to make the dad bod a dominating physique for any man who takes himself seriously, for that unique individual who doesn’t live solely to make some incredible gains at either the weight bench or the LazyBoy recliner. To have a dad bod is to declare boldly that you are your own person and that you will fulfill your responsibilities, but you won’t let them take away from the good, the true, and the beautiful in your life. You are the sort of person who will give your all at your blue-collar job, and then have no shame about coming home and mowing your own lawn, then spending the evening with your beautiful wife and children. Them, and maybe a tub of ice cream. After all, you’ve worked hard and you’ve earned it.
According to the Washington Post, the dad bod revolution consists of nearly 27.8 million men in the United States alone, which means that this population alone could match the entire population of Australia one-on-one, with over three million men to spare. Are you among that number? Check out the following flow chart to find out:
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