All Comments on 'Man in the Mirror Ch. 03'

‘Javmor79’ you are a very good writer a brilliant story although the BTB die-hards would say there was no burning. I say there was and it was subtle. The bitch got burned and admitted it even if it was only to herself. Nothing like getting revenge that is sweet and makes the person realize WHAT he/she lost! And this one lost a lot. I was really very sorry for Arthur when she told him he was a fat overweight slob who could not even find her clit after 5-minutes of lazy oral sex. When she bragged about if only he came earlier when her caught them in the shower he would have seen what type of woman she was when she was with a man who knew what he was doing. That was one of the cruelest things to say to any man. I’m so glad the tables got turned and he actually said the same words verbatim. It is exactly what happens to all cheaters when the affair is not illicit anymore; they lose interest for Derrick was not going to be step father to the twins. He was only interested in the mother - a fuck buddy. GREAT STORY – FULL MARKS!!! 5-Stars! This could be a novel – even a movie!

This was a magnificent treatise the evolutionary changed in the areas personal responsibilit, clinging to victimized as an excuse to for failure, courage, self denial and self delusion. Beyond that the concurrent pain and struggle to reinvent yourself into a better person.

The MC initially is displayed as a fat, self absorbed man with no respect anyone, not even, and especially himself. [No one lets their body go to hell without purposeful neglect. His sheer arrange demands a pass and approval just way he is WITH NO effort on his part] For the first 1/2 this story he is an unending displace of self-pity, refusal to accept responsibility and project his failure as a man being due someone else's fault.

In point of fact he is an abject failure in every area except being a good dad. He was a,truly loathsome thing and, initially, I didn't blame Peg to much for dumping him; however, to that point, she really didn't do a great deal to stop the avalanche either. Also fucking the guy in his bed was despicable. Worse, she felt justified.

On the positive side his metamorphosis from the trash heap to a man remaid, both internally and externally, was a study worthy self reflection by all of us.

The sexual aspects were handled in an appropriately sensitive relative to the scene. At the end he realized that what he loved was the memory of what Peg loved not Peg now. Better, he finally owned his responsibility in the failure of his marriage.

Peg, on the other hand, is,revealed to be a person predominately influence by externals [his new body] and confident, self possessed man her husband had become.

Her fling over, with nothing to show for it AND unable to manipulate him back to her bed, finally lifted the curtin of her shallowness, delusional self righteousness to reveal a bleak future.

I though this story just short of brilliant...and,something every couple at the 15 yr mark SHOULD read. With counseling then I think they will be horrified how they have slowly drifted from each other. Complacency, without some compelling force to blow it up, is eventually fatal. The author has displayed that point brilliantly.

Few comments from the medical, it's what I do, on the physiologic effects of obesity.

The abilty to withstand physiologic and,psycho-emotional stress is,significantly degraded. Also a concurrent, and progress, lean muscle disuse atrophy occurs. Jointly these two issue result endless fatigue, emotional lethagy and psycholigical decline.

Fro the sex performance aspect loss of agressive regular exercise is DIRECTLY correlated to severe testosterone production.

Worse, the counter hornone, ESTROGEN, is produce significant quantities because thst is one of the functions of fat: concurrently the body becomes slowly feminized both physiologically [think man boobs], ACCELLERATED decline in lean miscle mass (beginning to see the negative feed back loops here). So sever emotional and physucal fatigue, sub-normal testosterone levels, significant serum levels of estrogen, in combination, are a nearly perfect receipe for imporence or severely substandard sexual performance

Add in here that sever testosterone defiency is,directly linked to insidious covert depression

More ?: Direct correlation to hypertension, heart disease, stroke, premature joint degeneration; low back, hips and knees.

TYPE 2 DIABTES which worse ALL OF THE ABOVE by several ordrs of magnitude.

One last point gentlemen. Do you truly believe a woman is turned by a semi-flacid dick [see reases above] hidden in rolls,of fat

You don't wanna be that guy? The make a decision to be a different and better guy.

How ? GYM AND TRAINER (U need him. Don't argue), Clinical dietician: Your diet changes today. All the shit food goes into the can. See your a physician who specializes i male hormonal issues and do what he directs.

Last part and the hardest. Take a nude front and profile picture and taoe them the the bathroom mirror. Next to it place a before and after photo of a man in your age area. Above all this place a note. I'm gonna THAT GUY. Oh, every month replace the nudes with an update

Last. As you drop belt sizes have the clothing re tailored to you new size or destroy them and replace them. Yes, put some skin in the game.

Very last, I promise. The most FAT, not just weight, you should lose is 5 pounds a month. If you commit that goal is sound.

So, given the above you have a choice. 1. Do nothing and suffer the consequence or, 2. Make a decision change. The results and consequences rest on your head and no one else's. Want to know what you chose, take a look at what you've got.

FROM OUR SEAL BROTHERS

THERE IS NO EASY DAY.

Good luck brothers.

Fun fat to fit story. Five!

I enjoyed reading the three stories. I hope anyone reading this, who as a partner who they really loved, but as gone, or his going to seed, talk serious to them about it, before giving up on then, you just never realise what your going to lose before it's to late.

I can see y he didn't throw more words during their last argument because he wanted to be a better person, which was too bad. I wish he would've destroyed her in words then but I don't think she rationalized in his thinking either. Moral of the story is to communicate, otherwise a marriage won't last

Damn good

Damn. Thanks. I enjoyed this tremendously.

Our MC, sort of like the Phoenix, rising out of the ashes for a second chance at life. We all have that chance for a do-over its called tomorrow. We can learn and change our attitude for us not someone elase but you have to want to change and that requires understanding yourself and how you feel about things and why. God! What's wrong with me getting all philosophical? You know, I fuigured it out, I've been reading LW and even Romance stories for years. They have given me a little more understanding about life and love and marriage. To all you authors out there keep writing, you all have different isights on life that give us new ways of looking at things/ 5 stars and thank you.

A few words on "cameo characters." If it's important that a character needs to be Person A from Story X, then it requires that the reader has read AND remembers Story X. If it's NOT important, then why not Generic Person B?

I don’t think he was “trying” to be a better person. He had already become a better person, because he was now focused on himself and his own good qualities, his “80%”. The things that made him a real man, the new “man in the mirror”. He didn’t have the desire to beat up on his ex-wife anymore, because he didn’t hate her OR love her. He was past that, because he was moving forward with his life. She was yesterday’s news.

The “ultimate revenge” - living well.

Whew! Had me worried for a little while late on there. I feared it was veering towards the most unwarranted recon. of all time but the MC stuck manfully to the task and shed the most significant weight of all; Paige.

Men age like wine. It is always proud to be a MAN. A women who backstab her husband when he is down hill deserve every misery in her life.

Damn good story! People never realize what they have until it's gone and then it's too late.

Thanks for writing

This 3 part series was outstanding. I really enjoyed the read. No injuries, no accidents, no violence. Was a der interesting & a spellbinding story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 6 stars from me. Thanks for your efforts. Alan

The story is an excellent statement of insecurity, both in wounded individuals, and in the ones who wound; of some who help a lot, of overcoming a dreadful betrayal, of finding a new path, and more.

Your essay at the end is excellent too, should be redone as a separate "how-to" to commenters, for appreciating a niche which does what very good stories should do, what literature is supposed to do. Speak to the reader, divert them for a little from make him or her think, even out of their comfort zone, and maybe move them somehow. They don't have to be little morality plays, but we do live in a world and are a species underwritten with a moral dimension, and fiction which does not somehow relate to that risks not connecting to the readers; one where thoughts on life can be shared and reacted to.

Javmor has stressed the point that convoluted and lengthy explanations are, well, unnecessary.

You just can't convince someone who's decided not to do it.

It applies to the characters and commentators alike.

Great story.

5

He goes to see Colleen, Upon arrival, she has him sit in her living room and tells him, we have to talk. Then, she drops the bomb on him...."Honey, I hate to say this but I have to... Dearest, I'm back with my ex. " His next time with his kids, He asks them if their mother is seeing anyone... They tell him no... So, when he drops them off at Paige's front door. Instead of leaving like he's done, he just stands there, Paige asks him if there's anything else, he half smiles and asks her if she's doing anything next Saturday night. She looks at him and asks, "Arty? Are you asking me out on a date?" Two months later, they re-marry.

Credible characters and situations. Paige's character and motivations can't be explored in detail because the narrative is in the first person. That's the author's privilege and a perfectly valid choice. A nice morality tale with a comfy ending. I enjoyed it a lot.

Very well written story that employed 'real' people with realistic emotions and reactions.

Javmor is one of the very few LW authors who does show genuine insight into human motivation and his characters behave like real people.

PB

reversal of roles. great story ! wife was superficial as shit. 5 stars.

Wow, I haven't commented on this story yet. How can that be seeing as how opinionated I am. Well, I liked it, gave it a 5 which is rare these days. And I enjoyed it a lot. So, thanks for the story and the entertainment.

I thought it was a great story! I got a little put off with the slow start and the main character flopping around aimlessly. The ex wife needed to be taken down a couple of notches.

Nice!

Very well written with quite a few lessons to be taken from Thank you

Nope

Wow! It took a while but he finally grew up!

Very cool that he, finally, got an accurate perspective on his Ex. Admittedly, he criticisms were accurate, and maybe justified, but after the fact, she should have stepped to the plate and helped her husband. THEN, if he blew that off, what follows is totally on him.

Good story !

How sloppy does one have to be to repeatedly write the wrong name for an established character. Heaven forbid one do a little thing like proofread.

Bravo. Very well crafted. By turns heartbreaking and heartwarming. You are an excellent author with great insight.

Yeah it was ok, but lets be honest the only reason he didn't take Paige up on her offer was because he knew he'd still suck in bed. The embarrassment of having got to his 30s before learning to be considerate and thoughtful must have been overwhelming. But honestly it's very hard to care about a grown adult that can't perform in bed ... because it shows a complete lack of awareness and a degree of selfishness that would not simply be confined to the bedroom.

Also after reading a number of these stories my impression of gyms is that they are full of cucks and those desperately trying to not be cucked ... but what those people should be thinking about is what is my partner doing while I'm at the gym.

I enjoyed how the story told the complete circle of transformation that was necessary for Art to find his true self. I suspect, the evil, selfish spouse ( yes, I know she is fictional ) may find her way.

Thanks for the opportunity to use my time well.

5 stars for the gut-wrenching discovery (wife pleasuring another man) and the evolution of his restoring his confidence and moving on. Refusing his soon to be ex-wife who was keeping him around as 'plan B' was pivotal. One small note: a little less family and sibling history would keep it focused on the core issue (infidelity) and make it a better read. Well done otherwise.

It's kind of a story about how fickle love really is, from both ends. I can't help feeling that Arty didn't really love his wife and that was the root of it all. What kind of person doesn't recognise that their partner isn't satisfied in bed, the kind that's self obsessed and unobservant, it's the one job that you have.

A reread after six months. I still like my earlier thoughts, and this is still a five star story. But I'll add this: Arty got pudgy. Big fat deal. He had a wife who saw her wedding vows as conditional upon her husband's appearance?? There was no way she deserved anything other than the fastest possible divorce. The fastest.

"...so long as you both like the way the other looks?" SRSLY? I know, it's a story. But here she doesn't have excuses beyond feeling dissatisfied. How long did the affair go on?

As a person who has just shed 40 pounds with diet and exercise, I could relate to this story. But I did it not to impress my wife. I did it to improve my health. It did. All of my vital numbers have improved significantly. My doc says I probably just added years to my life.

This is a very well written story with crisp, believable dialog. The author gets five stars for telling an honest and compelling story. I just feel sorry for Paige. She made a mistake that will take her a very long time to recover from. Like many marriages, they had something worth keeping, but they let it slip away. Kind of bittersweet, but a great story.

Well here's the thing. Yes all stories offer SOMETHING. But the stories about real life only offer same garbage man-hating sad reality that one can observe in... wait for it... real life. Without wasting time to read the stories that offer absolutely nothing different from that. Whereas, the escapist stories, offer, well, escapism. Entertainment. Attainment of imagining a better situation than the fucked up reality we live in.

/

And the "realistic" stories offer the evil people the win... like yours, where the bitch asswipe of an ex wife suffers about 1% of the pain and suffering and damage she visited on her husband, despite deserving 100x more. Is that more in line with real world? Sure. Does that make for an uplifting fun read? No, it makes for depressing, sad one.

/

So, your story and its chapters get 3.5 stars because after all, the guy did get a better model in trade off, despite being fucked over financially, AND a good makeover making him feel better about himself and removing psychological shackles women placed on him all his life. The same women who supposedly loved him and were supposed to care and protect him. I was tempted to do 2 stars, for the dumbshit stale trope of "let's lie to the kids and pretend the divorce is for a benign reason and not because your mommy is a bad person". But I'll be nice and only 2-star second chapter for that instead of all 3.

Good plot line, well executed and well written but "pedicured hands", seriously? Feet are pedicured, hands are manicured. Also, it's 'couldn't care less', NOT 'could care less', think about it...

5 stars. Brilliant effort. Thank you very much for a very well written well planned realistic story with believable characters.

But. Of course there is a always a butt.

The running times.

Seriously. We have this guy working his ring off at the gym on a special nutritional regime, with an RSM from hell beating on him, dragging him through this terrible sadistic keep fit programme for months on end.

And the best this guy can manage is to run just over 2 miles at a very slow rate. And then he is tired and worn out. His running rate is equivalent to a 9 minute mile. Or a 4 hour marathon.

Our weekly social training runs after work on Fridays, were always 5min 20 seconds for under 10 miles, and 5:40 for between ten and twenty miles. Then it was off to the pub, get very drunk, continue smoking, and try and pick up some easy lay in the bar. Hence there were never any runs that weren't just training.

Also agree with Inka re very over used very stale very shallow and very short sighted and very stupid trope about him lying to his kids. Why? Just so they can have the honour and privilege of being raised by the slut of the week with alley cat gutter morals and principles? Doesn't he love his kids? What did his kids do wrong so that he no longer feels the need to protect them from immorality and deception. Why on earth would any Dad willingly abandon his own children, his own flesh and blood to allow them to be exposed and even raised where that standard of morals and behaviour is acceptable?

Still a good entertaining story though.

Thank you for a very readable and engrossing story.

Unbelievably good story, the insights that you have accorded to your characters have proved to all that you are a very good writer. The story was so interesting that I could not stop reading and nodding at the psychological revelations between people... very good analysis on the writers part. Your story was so true to life and thus bittersweet. The story deserves a ten but, alas, a well deserved 5 is all that is allowed. Thank you for your excellent tale.

Loved the author's coda. The story held my interest and I enjoyed the learning arc of your characters. I can see some of the commenter points regarding Paige and wishing for more "justice" but then again, this was Arthur's story. She could have an agonizing internal monologue about her failings running contantly. Derrick may have dumped her for a younger, more beautiful model. She may become fat and depressed. Then again, maybe she will experience an epiphany similar to Artie. That will be her story. Thanks for sharing your work with your readers.

Well I'm glad my wife didn't treat me like that. At 26 years old I was seriously ill with a rare illness. I was diagnosed with Addisons disease, saved my life. Have been on steroids for nearly 50years and was told I would likely put on a lot of weight. It didn't happen but I did put on more than I would like to. With Addisons disease you don't produce adrenaline so are unable to vigorously exercise in some cases. I have no stamina but have managed to keep my weight down, shame about my hair loss as my wife would prefer it if I had a good head of hair instead of a hairy body. I have lived longer than my life expectancy with Addisons so I am grateful to the NHS for that and even more thankful to a great wife for all of her love and care over the last 55years. Love her to bits. Thank you for a totally realistic story, not everyone dumps a husband /wife because their body or hair has changed. Mel B known as Hornydevil47

Really enjoyed your story. Certainly nice to see a person with low self esteem turn his life around and become a happy person. 5*.

Thank you for such a good story, well written, character set just right, by that I mean they come over as real, the plot was really well thought out, some of it was quite thoughtful but I liked it.

Your Author's Final Notes are so true. When I first started reading LW, all I seems to read were the serious BTB stories, and I enjoyed them, even the nuclear ones. Now I have found some other authors that have gone in different directions, and those, too, are good and enjoyable. JAV, you are excellent. Thanks for all your stories.

You have your own unique style and processes for sure.

Thank you!

have said it. A very sure of herself woman cheats on her husband and have the audacity to insult and belittle him, it took him a year to discover his self worth after that she realized what she lost. 5 - stars!

great story about self belief well written thanks

Great story arc, very fulfilling and rather comforting picture that life goes on despite it's troubles, failures and betrayals.

Very enjoyable.

A story with a strong and believable plot.

Well written too.

Not a man's journey

but a man's recovery

from a great shock to his system.

And coming out of it stronger than he was before.

Top ratings from me.

Very inciteful story. You have hit on feelings that I have had all my life. I have always felt that I was just not good enough and held back all the time. Maybe I too am better than I think.

Paige didn't have real love for her husband. A little talking could have turned this all arioound but she was too self centered to go to the trouble. Too bad some couples change to the point that they no longer communicate.

5*

Nothing superflous; every paragraph with a purpose.

Thanks for sharing.

Excellent story, one of the best on here, very realistic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really liked this story and how well it was written. I never lost interest and found it reflected a lot on real life and emotions.

Great characters, and a very believable story. Your descriptions of the thoughts and emotions of the main character and the changes over time are excellent

Awesome writing. Keep up the good work.

Excellent story, well written and very thoughtful, I like the deep insight into King Arthur his thinking and character. I enjoyed the way you wrote about his faults, failures and mindset throughout the story! 5*

Great story. I looked forward to seeing the next chapter. Thanks for sharing your stories with us readers. 5 stars from Xluckylee.

Good story, glad you didn't ruin it with a reunion.

Second read. Still just as good.

Great story and great message.

Someone in a comment said they felt sorry for Paige. My instant reaction was "hell no!" She's a narcissist. She doesn't even understand what real love is. She's just an immature teen whose life is guided by emotions and selfishness.

And then I thought, perhaps I do feel sorry for her. After all, she's an immature, narcissistic woman who doesn't know what real love is and likely is incapable of ever learning what love is. How sad.

Javmor explores the growth in maturity in his MC, At the end, he realizes that his wife wasn't really who he imagined her to be. He'd put her on a pedestal because he loved her. This is all too often the case in real life. I'm not sure it gets explored that much in LW stories and certainly not well.

Too often the wife is a caricature of a bitch from hell. They exist. But not exclusively.

What I wouldn't give to meet Jerry. A weird way to go about it but he sure got the message across to Arthur. And kudos to Arthur for coming to the realization like he did.

She didn’t know it yet, but Paige was better off without Art!

Read this a few times and still good. The wife needs to seek fictional help and he was a better man than most. Glad he got a good ending. I think once u cheat on your spouse and get found out, the marriage will never be the same