Where is the dadbod veteran from?
The dad bod: a term that has become synonymous with a certain kind of relaxed, laid-back body type. But who was the first dadbod veteran, and what has happened to him?
For those who may not be familiar, the dadbod refers to a style of physique that is characterized by a rounder stomach and love handles, often paired with a receding hairline and a general air of relaxation. It’s a style that has been adopted by many men as they grow older and move away from their more athletic youthful pursuits.
But the origins of the dadbod vintage can be traced back to the 1990s and early 2000s, when it first became popular among surfers and skaters in Southern California. These men, who were known for their laid-back and creative lifestyles, were rejecting the traditional bodybuilding standards and embracing a more relaxed approach to fitness.
Early Influences on the Dadbod Era
• Surf and Skating Culture: As early as the 1990s, surfers and skaters in California started embracing a more relaxed lifestyle, which included rejecting the traditional bodybuilding standards.
• Lack of Intensity: Fitness at that time was largely limited to bodybuilding, strength training, and distance running. Surfers and skaters, on the other hand, focused on power and agility.
• Growing Up in Southern California: The sun, saltwater, and coastal terrain influenced the relaxed pace and attitude of the beach.
• No Judgment at the Beach: With such a laid-back attitude to life, surfers didn’t care about aesthetics like they would with competitive swimmers.
• Focus on Fun and Freeing Time: This is, to some extent, rooted in the desire for having more free time (hours to surf and party!").
Rise to Popularity and Mass Acceptance
• 2011: The term "Dad Bod" became first associated with an ideal image (the epitome) – a beer drinking dad enjoying life without sacrificing anything. The media made that "Dad Bod" go mainstream.
• Mainstream Popularity by 2014: From being a sub-cultural (mainly surfing) issue to becoming an increasingly celebrated concept, Dad Bod captured public attention. "Who would have thought," someone thought, "We never want to give that [laid-back attitude + relaxation] up again"? So, many opted.
• Body Confidence (as opposed to Competition: For many men (from surfing, and eventually fitness communities), a love and enjoyment of working out went away, making this culture’s "success story of having a dadbod". This became normal too.
