When it comes to our bodies, many people feel like they have a particular image to uphold, which is fine. On the contrary, many people don't know where to draw the line when it comes to being healthy and preventing self-sabotage. This becomes especially concerning when an individual is constantly in the public eye and puts pressure on themselves to always look their best.
It's sad to say that this is the plight of a number of singers and recently, Shawn Mendes had been obsessed with looking physically fit for the cameras.
There is a big difference between wanting to be healthy, maintaining a healthy weight and physique, and being obsessed with always looking fit.
This is where it becomes unhealthy. Singer and songwriter, Shawn Mendes has unfortunately fallen victim to this destructive obsession. This has caused Mendes to reach a breaking point and postpone tour dates due to his mental health. In addition, Shawn has made some very personal confessions about his mental health battles.
This article explores the difficulties Shawn has had maintaining a particular physique and the steps that he took to overcome his unhealthy dependency on his physical appearance.
Shawn Mendes' Workout Routine
Back in 2020, Shawn Mendes opened up about his harmful perception of his body and how he changed his perspective. When it came to his workout routines, he was always preoccupied with being in good shape and a strenuous strength training routine.
Mendes' routine included going to the gym five times a week to train a mixture of cardio and strength training. On the two days that he did not work out, he rested but still somehow managed to incorporate activities to keep him active.
Shawn had admitted to always wanting to look good on camera for himself and his fans as he believed that though plenty of his fans liked him for his music, they appreciated the bonus of his muscular body that accompanied his singing. However, Shawn quickly realized the stress that he was putting himself under was starting to get too much for him.
Shawn Mendes Skipped Sleep To Exercise
Mendes shared that he used to give up sleep to work out, having an unhealthy obsession with perfecting his physique. He thought that taking a few hours from sleep to lift weights was the better bargain. At the time, the 22-year-old pop star spoke plainly about the unhealthy and dangerous habit, saying the pressure of being the "pinnacle of fitness" came from fearing if he wasn’t physically fit, he’d lose fans.
Mendes then added, "some days I would have three hours of sleep [because] I'd get up two hours early just to be able to work out."
Mendes began to realize the “expectation to be hot” was unsustainable and dangerous—within the past year. The singer shared that he has a better outlook on his body and fitness now, and credits meditating, journaling, and his girlfriend Camila Cabello at the time with helping to change his perspective on his fitness journey.
Camila Cabello Encourages Shawn Mendes To Change His Outlook On His Physical Appearance
Camila Cabello underwent weight gain during the pandemic which made her the target of internet trolls who body-shamed her. However, Camila didn't let that get to her and in response, she made a TikTok video where she expressed she was grateful for her body and didn't stand for body-shaming in any way.
All those crude and out-of-line marks clearly affected Camila Cabello and made her more self-conscious about what she was wearing and how her body would be perceived. The 'Senorita' singer addressed the ongoing fat-shaming that she was facing on the internet on a TikTok video when she got a moment of clarity amidst all those negative remarks about her body.
In the video, the Crying in the Club crooner talked about the self-consciousness that hit her when she was running wearing a top that showed her belly which she wasn't tucking in like a normal person. She went on in the video on a positive note reminding herself and everyone that is at war with their body is "so last season."
Mendes was impressed with how his girlfriend at the time, Camila faced and coped with media scrutiny of her body helped change his outlook. The singer called Cabello “so strong, so clear and confident with her [body].”
“It really changed my view of mine,” Mendes added, “it really changed my life.”
