Thank you for writing this Lucas. I’m 53 and have been going to The Phoenix Effect for the past 18 months. It has changed by body completely and, more importantly, it has changed me on the inside. But still, my biggest body shame is also that damn belly fat. Once you reach middle age, body fat accumulates in men around their waist. When I look in the mirror, all I see is that extra inch of fat around my stomach and I ignore the overall great shape I’m in. I still struggle to take my shirt off in class, pool parties, and everywhere else any sane person would do so because it’s just too damn hot to keep your shirt on. But I’m doing so more and more often as I gain more confidence in myself and accept that I’m in very good shape and health even if it’s not the perfection that’s drilled into our heads.