One year ago, the New York Observer was boldy proclaiming "man flab is fab." But new evidence suggests the tides are changing!

THEN:

One by one, from Hollywood to the Hamptons, men have liberated themselves from the flat-stomached emo-boy reign of terror…Our men are carrying an extra 10—hell, maybe 15—pounds in the midriff, haven’t even thought about the gym in months, and they are unashamed. Why should they be? The Hollywood box-office draws have stopped looking like the lithe and graceful Orlando Blooms of the world, delicate and emotive and who might possibly weigh less than an average female fan… [NYO]

NOW:

Tired of hating yourself and your boyfriend for not hating himself? Help is on the way! Just one week after it was revealed that Ryan Gosling’s chunky physique may have contributed to his dismissal from a film role, directer Ridley Scott has reported that he demanded from the stocky Russell Crowe a 30 pound weight loss before filming began on their newest project, Body of Lies. Finally, everyone can be afraid of looking in the mirror. [Mollygood]

Apparently man flab just became a little less fab and a little more problematic. Now, are you going to break the bad news to Val Kilmer or should we?