Thanks for the replies, everyone. I do feel better reading your responses.
There is also the opposite syndrome of that (I forgot the latin name) where your front ribcage tends to go inwards. Be glad you don't have that, as someone who suffers from that (luckily not too extreme) it also damages your confidence/self esteem and even if you work out hard/regulary you are always more limited /lung capacity/even heart problems afaik.
Either way, if you are not within what is considered 'normal', no matter how small the difference is, then you will always have to fight with that or have to overcome it.
Sorry to hear that, those health problems sound rough. Somebody told me that there are some complications with being barrel chested including Pneumonia and Emphysema but I'm wondering if they got mixed up with the fact that symptoms of Emphysema is a barrel chest. It can also be a symptom of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). But I'm not sure if I fall under those brackets. I'm going to a Doctor to discuss it though, just incase.
And you're right, it's just that one thought at the back of my mind.
Sylveste, is that you?
You are what you are, man. I can't speak to having a barrel chest, but I have gynecomastia, so I know what you mean about being self-concious of your condition. Best advice I can give you is to acknowledge that you can't change the circumstances of your birth and body, and to focus your worries on other things you can't change, like politics and mortality
. Just keep in mind that anyone who doesn't know you will make a five second judgement (maybe good, maybe bad) and then when they're not around you, they'll never think of you again. You're temporary real estate in their thoughts and concerns, so don't let their views be anything but the same in your own head.
Very true, sometimes I guess I just need a confidence boost to make me feel better. In the end, I'll never see them again so you're right.
Isnt this an advantage for swimmers?
I heard that in some cases of this it happens due to swimming in your early life. In my case, I didn't. But primarily it's due to the lungs being enlarged.
It drains your confidence? I've only ever heard the term barrel chest as a good thing on a man.
If it's not in fashion atm, don't worry if you pay attention to such things, it will swing back in fashion sooner or later.
It does affect my confidence, because the rest of my body including my legs, arms and stomach are disproportionate to my upper torso but I guess that's up to me to fix that. But yeah, reading up on it, seems like many people refer to it as a positive quality. I just never saw it that way.
Do you have the great strength the article suggests? You could take pride in that.
Yeah, my upper body strength is pretty good, I'd say.
There are options. I am a bit barrel-chested, and have considered special medical braces and corsets and binders to weaken the ribs, or breaking them, or removing them. No matter how fit I am, how well I eat, or how much I exercise, I can't change my bones without drastic action. Should you take those options? Only you can decide. Personally, I can't afford the money, or the risks. I will never be a size 24-26, I will never be as thin as a stick from head to toe...
But you know what? I have crazy long legs, and can Cosplay Sonic 06 Eggman. That, as silly as it may be, makes me accept my body.
Find something like that for you man!
I can't afford it either, the general gist of the thread is to accept it. It seems like I'm not the only one to have something like this. I guess I do have to find something to help me accept that, either by doing something or just changing my way of thinking. We'll see
Thanks for the response. And that cosplay sounds great.
Lakitu, I've got one too. I suffer from kyphosis of the spine, which makes it look even bigger. I was massively anxious of it for quite some time. However, I've got a hot girlfriend, a most people don't seem to notice/give a shit.
Accept it and move on from it. Life will be better.
Glad you've found someone and you're probably right that no one probably even cares, it's just my stupid brain. I'll have to learn to accept it.
Seems like a cool problem to have.
Complexes are a weird one, because now you're just turning a 'potential' quality into a defect.
You might also have a small case of body dis-morphia.
However old you are, trust your body and it'll naturally find its center if you work out properly and stretch regularly.
Over the last month, I do stretches, weights (4 times a week) and exercise. That seems to help and I can look at it as a potential quality with increased lung capacity and upper body strength.
I also have a slight barrel chest which makes me feel like I have moobs whenever I wear shirts. I'm slightly overweight, not super-bulging belly-level though; if I stretch my arms up I look slim (lol). In my teens, I used to never go out in public with only a shirt on; always had on a long-sleeve jacket too (I'm 21 now).
Now, I don't really care. I realized that I'm probably never going to see these people walking by in public ever again, so now I don't really give a shit. I do push-ups and some basic full-body stretching regularly for maintenance, but overall I'm okay with myself now wearing only shirts.
live free OP
LOL thanks. Yeah, I've decided to take that step and just avoid wearing jackets on a hot day. It could help me.
I have a rather large barrel chest. Big enough that it makes it unsually difficult to find well fitting clothes. Add that to the fact that I'm 6'4" and I have a very hard time shopping for shirts.
I exclusively shop online now for Tall style shirts. They seem to sit correctly on my shoulders and give my chest the room it needs too. It's totally boosted my confidence and I don't just wear jackets over my shirts all the time anymore like you are doing now. You should try it out.
I do need to find the right style and size clothing, definitely. Henley shirts seem to suit me well most of the time, but unfortunately I'm quite short (5'8). Normal shirts are very difficult for me, because most of the time my chest looks like it's going to burst through the shirt buttons.
