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The Weight We Carry
Men struggle with body image too.
By Ryan Hall
I’ve written more than 200 articles for The Good Men Project since 2016. It’s one of my favorite platforms to speak out about the challenges men face today. And today, I want to dive into something that affects all of us, but often stays hidden in the background — our bodies.
We don’t often talk about what it means to live in a male body that doesn’t meet society’s expectations. But we should. Because it shapes how we show up in the world, how we shrink, and how we hurt.
In my writing, I often reflect on how I process life through stories. Writing helps me make sense of the chaos, the unexpected turns, and the moments of stillness. This particular story? It’s been ingrained in my soul since Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas.
Let’s rewind.
It’s eighth grade. Eastwood Middle School. Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
I was twelve when my family made the difficult decision to cut ties with my paternal grandparents. I won’t get into the details here, but the impact was seismic. At an age when your sense of self is still forming, I suddenly felt untethered.
That was also the year I started gaining weight.
