Real Bodies: 'You don't have to spend your life in a gym to look and feel good'

Joe Goddard, 28, Leeds, Director of avaj underwear brand

I’m not scared of my body. It’s not perfect – I haven’t been to a gym in about two years – but that doesn’t bother me, so I thought I’d just go for it. Plus, it’s a good opportunity to show off my new underwear brand! I haven’t always been this comfortable with my body; as a teenager I had quite a lot of acne, so I think this confidence has come with age, and when that started to clear up.

Height: 5’10

Weight: 11 stone

Diet: I’m a bit all over the place, to be honest. I tend to skip breakfast in the mornings, and for lunch I’ll just have a sandwich or something. When it comes to dinner time I’ll just have pizza or pasta. I don’t tend to diet at all.

Guilty Pleasures: I think I’m at my worst when I’m hungover – that’s when I’ll probably get about two boxes of Calippo orange ice lollies, and just get through them – they’re an amazing hangover cure.

Ideal Man: Russel Howard I’ve had a crush on him for years and then he got fit! Or Evan Peters from American Horror Story. I liked him in Asylum; he was cute in that.

Manscaping: I tend to be hairy round my bum and stuff, so I Veet there (avoid your balls) and just clip round the front. I have very little chest hair, so I just whip off the bits that grow there.

Top Body Product: I’m gonna have to say my own products. We have this spray and go moisturiser which is absorbed by your skin in seconds. Yeah, so avaj Spray Moisturiser. It’s better than getting body butter out and waiting for it to skin in. all you need is quick spritz all over and you can get dressed straight away.

Clothes: I tend to keep my jeans skinny. With tops, if I feel like I’m having a big day I’ll wear a looser shirt but it doesn’t swing the decision that much, I’d say.

real 1

Do you feel like there’s a lot of pressure on gay men with regards to their bodies?

I definitely would say so, especially on Grindr and the likes. I’ve had people call me fat and stuff but it’s like, ‘are you actually joking?’ Just because I don’t spend X hours a week in the gym doesn’t mean that I’m fat. I’m an average guy.

Do you think that kind of criticism stems from insecurity?

I’d probably say so, yeah.

Do you share pictures online?

I’m not one of these people who take a lot of selfies. I don’t mind my picture being taken, but I have friends who take like five or ten selfies a day. I just find it a bit strange. I don’t have the time.

Are you happy with how you look? Would you change anything?

I am happy. I wouldn’t change much; I’d just tone up more, but that requires a lot of effort.

Do you feel comfortable being naked?

Yeah, I mean on holiday I’m always the first to have my clothes off around the pool and I’m not bothered by it at all. At strip poker I’m always the first one to lose!

Would you be put off approaching another guy if he had a better body?

I think you’ve just got to try. Every guy’s got his different kind of type. I know there are some guys that like big, hairy beards and stuff like that. You know you might be this cute young guy but you could be looking for someone that looks like Santa Claus. so, you never know someone’s taste.

What would your advice be to readers about loving your body?

Don’t take onboard negative comments and live your life how you want to. You don’t have to spend your life in a gym to look and feel good.

You can read more from Real Bodies in the new issue of Attitude, available to download and in shops now.

Also in Attitude’s Summer Issue, alongside all your usual news, reviews, fitness & travel:

In a special feature we examine the issue of race, the LGBT community and the media, to see what’s working and what’s not.
Nathan Sykes talks life after The Wanted, touring with the Little Mix ladies and his ever-growing gay fanbase.
Welsh actor Alexander Vlahos gives us the scoop on BBC2’s new graphic, gay sex-filled French period drama Versailles.
We catch up with star of The Voice and Kinky Boots Matt Henry, fresh off his ‘Best Actor’ victory at last month’s Olivier Awards.
As Meryl Streep returns to the screen as Florence Foster Jenkins, we look back at the career of this modern Hollywood icon.
We put drag in focus with an exclusive look as the stunning images of Magnus Hastings’ new photo book Why Drag?
Bryan Sipe, wirter of Jake Gyllenhaal’s new film Demolition, tells Attitude about overcoming loss, personal identity, and why a gay teen was central to the film’s plot.
Former Dragon’s Den star and interior designer Kelly Hoppen sees whether she can pass for a homo in How Gay Are You?

Real Bodies: ‘You don’t have to spend your life in a gym to look and feel good’

In This Article: