Tim talks about his Extreme Male Beauty experience, and how it’s changed his perspective and way of life.
How did you find the process of making Extreme Male Beauty?
It was a brilliant educational experience, and sticking to that exercise regime and diet for eight weeks felt like such an achievement. But not all of what I learnt was positive. Before I did the show, I looked at guys who were in the gym all the time and I thought they were just good guys – that they looked after themselves and were healthy. Now I know that a lot of them are self-obsessed and bordering on psychopathic. I had a guy who came up to me while I was working out and told me to get out of the way of the mirror so he could see his reflection. Women, if you want to be with a guy like that, go for a guy with a gym membership. They spend 90% of the day thinking about themselves.
But don't you think getting fit is a good thing?
Of course it can be physically beneficial, but I now have knowledge I didn't want. I know how much fat is in everything and how long it would take to work off, so when I go to the pub or have a pizza, that's all I can think about. Ignorance was bliss. I'm so pleased to have done all the training, but I'd encourage men to do it sensibly.
In what way?
Sit down with someone who knows about this stuff, work out a sustainable plan and stick to it. Don't cut out carbs and alcohol altogether – reach a balance with a healthy lifestyle. Let the changes happen slowly. You need to be able to maintain your fitness – don't ever start an intense routine like I did and think that you'll keep it up permanently. You won't, and then you're into yo-yo dieting and exercising, and you'll start to obsess over it.
Do you think this is as big problem for men as it is for women?
Absolutely. Women have been objectified for years, which is terrible, but at least they can talk to each other about it. Loads of men worry about their appearance, but they don't talk about it because it's not considered masculine. It's all a secret. I'd say men are even more insecure and vulnerable than women, because they have no coping strategies.
You say they're vulnerable – what are the risks?
Eating disorders are rife. Men punish themselves in the gym in the morning for what they ate the night before. I met so many men who had been sucked into surgery or steroids. They don't tell anyone – they do it in secret because they feel like it's cheating, and so it's not considered macho. Often when a guy is taking steroids, the only person who knows about it is his dealer.
How can this be tackled?
Making this show has made me think that there should be a clinic or helpline for men with body dysmorphia. I met hundreds of guys who are exercising and dieting secretively. I noticed that the muscly guys were the most self-conscious about taking their tops off – the average guys didn't care, but the ones who were really into it felt that their bodies weren't good enough because they weren't 100% perfect. I believe that on a moral level we've uncovered something here.
In terms of your own more moderate regime, what did it teach you about health and fitness?
People say that getting fit is as much about diet as exercise. I didn't want to believe them, but it's true – a high protein diet is crucial, because your body needs fuel to build muscle. You can exercise all you want, but if you're not eating the right stuff you won't see much difference. It's a science, and it's pretty simple when you get your head around it. In the end I had to give in – I went on a diet of increased protein and reduced carbs.
Did you see the effects of your new lifestyle?
Oh, definitely. It's incredible how much you can change your body. About 90% of my old drinking friends are now doing what I did. To be honest though, I was desperately hoping there would be a lazy way to build muscle, but there just isn't. You really do have to put the hard work in. I'd say to anyone that if you want to get fit, you'll go through two weeks of hell – cravings and feeling like shit. But then you start seeing changes in your body, and feeling better, and it all gets so much easier.
Have you maintained it?
Straight after the show I went back to drinking beer and eating crap, but within a couple of weeks I had a rethink. Eating better does make you feel better. I'm on a fairly low-carb diet now. I don't cut out potatoes and pasta, but I eat smaller portions. I go to the gym two or three times a week, and I'm enjoying it more now. Hopefully, I'll be around longer because I did this show.
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