Benefits of being in shape

[MrNate]

Do you guys feel that this facet of attraction is underestimated? I seriously think that being in shape is one aspect of attraction that is often over looked. I'm not saying that you have to look amazing, but just imagine if you were in (or close to) prime condition?

 

That would help you in so many ways. You would experience an exponential increase attention from women/men. (Who doesn't like a nice body?) Also you would become more confident in yourself, and in turn, that confidence will radiate outside of you. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you do good.

 

I find that there are very few people in this world who are 'ugly'. So why not make the best of your looks? Why not be the best person you can be? I think this would make dating lives richer in a way.

 

In no way am I saying that being in shape is the end to all problems, because that would just be silly. Instead, I see it as solving a LOT of problems.

 

MrNate

[Rorschach]

Do you guys feel that this facet of attraction is underestimated? I seriously think that being in shape is one aspect of attraction that is often over looked. I'm not saying that you have to look amazing, but just imagine if you were in (or close to) prime condition?

 

That would help you in so many ways. You would experience an exponential increase attention from women/men. (Who doesn't like a nice body?) Also you would become more confident in yourself, and in turn, that confidence will radiate outside of you. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you do good.

 

I find that there are very few people in this world who are 'ugly'. So why not make the best of your looks? Why not be the best person you can be? I think this would make dating lives richer in a way.

 

In no way am I saying that being in shape is the end to all problems, because that would just be silly. Instead, I see it as solving a LOT of problems.

 

MrNate

 

Way ahead of you, I'm closing in on month 4 of a 7 month plan to get in shape. I'm finding it basically impossible to get any women to give me the time of day as is but just getting myself in shape is going to make a huge difference.

[Engadget]

I think the biggest benefit is self confidence. I need to get back to the gym, but I'm broke. I've been doing push ups, sit ups and curling my free weights.

 

I have a little extra around the middle, but overall I stay in decent shape even when I don't work out.

[Lakeside_runner]

That would help you in so many ways. You would experience an exponential increase attention from women.

 

I'm in shape but it's not like girls suddenly started hitting on me...

 

Also you would become more confident in yourself, and in turn, that confidence will radiate outside of you. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you do good.

 

TRUE! Being in shape gives a huge confidence boost!

 

I find that there are very few people in this world who are 'ugly'. So why not make the best of your looks? Why not be the best person you can be? I think this would make dating lives richer in a way.

 

In no way am I saying that being in shape is the end to all problems, because that would just be silly. Instead, I see it as solving a LOT of problems.

 

TRUE AGAIN. It foremost makes you feel good about yourself. Since I took up sports and working out I stopped obsessing about the fact that I'm gonna be old and single and started reaching for goals that were seemingly out of my reach just to prove to myself that I can do it. I'm 100% positive that this is because of being in shape.

[phineas]

Way ahead of you, I'm closing in on month 4 of a 7 month plan to get in shape. I'm finding it basically impossible to get any women to give me the time of day as is but just getting myself in shape is going to make a huge difference.

 

I've got a few more inches to loose on my mid-section.

I say inches because i'm lifting as heavy as possible while retaining good form & over the last 2 months I have lost maybe 2 lbs but i've dropped a pant size.

 

I work with almost all women.

I've worked with them 10yrs.

 

I can't walk by without some kind of mention about how good I look.

Granted I know it's good compared to what I was. I'm barely into 36" waist pants.

 

I get into those while retaining the muscle I have now & I KNOW it will be easier getting dates.

 

And the more dates I get, the easier it is to meet the right one.

[MrNate]

I've got a few more inches to loose on my mid-section.

I say inches because i'm lifting as heavy as possible while retaining good form & over the last 2 months I have lost maybe 2 lbs but i've dropped a pant size.

 

I work with almost all women.

I've worked with them 10yrs.

 

I can't walk by without some kind of mention about how good I look.

Granted I know it's good compared to what I was. I'm barely into 36" waist pants.

 

I get into those while retaining the muscle I have now & I KNOW it will be easier getting dates.

 

And the more dates I get, the easier it is to meet the right one.

 

Exactly, Phineas. Being in shape gives off plenty of unconscious good vibes.

 

Keep up the hard work man.

[mem11363]

The visual impact is big. The tactile impact if you are sleeping with someone is also big. I think that the confidence booster is even bigger.

 

This is an area where many Americans have poor priorities.

 

 

 

Do you guys feel that this facet of attraction is underestimated? I seriously think that being in shape is one aspect of attraction that is often over looked. I'm not saying that you have to look amazing, but just imagine if you were in (or close to) prime condition?

 

That would help you in so many ways. You would experience an exponential increase attention from women/men. (Who doesn't like a nice body?) Also you would become more confident in yourself, and in turn, that confidence will radiate outside of you. If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you do good.

 

I find that there are very few people in this world who are 'ugly'. So why not make the best of your looks? Why not be the best person you can be? I think this would make dating lives richer in a way.

 

In no way am I saying that being in shape is the end to all problems, because that would just be silly. Instead, I see it as solving a LOT of problems.

 

MrNate

[sagetalk]

 

1. Do you guys feel that this facet of attraction is underestimated?

 

2. I find that there are very few people in this world who are 'ugly'. So why not make the best of your looks? Why not be the best person you can be? I think this would make dating lives richer in a way.

 

Yes, it is the #1 most overlooked facet of attraction. If people spent less time whining about how girl A or guy B doesn't like them and more time working out, there would be little to complain about. Hot bodies attracted hot bodies. Use your brains to figure out if the rest of them is any good .

 

2. Also true. Many of the people who think they are not datable are just overweight. If they got ripped, they would be in the game with all the other popular people. Models are almost always in great shape, why, because that's what people want to look at.

[ADF]

I agree that being in shape in one aspect of being attractive. But I wouldn't say it is understimated. On the contrary, looks are generally overemphasized, almost to the exclusion of other factors.

 

Look all the posts on here from men who have met wonderful women but who are reluctant to date them because they aren't model-beautiful. Or look at the posts from women who talk about wonderful men who just "aren't their type" (usually code for, "not hot enough").

 

If anything, we are obsessed with physical fitness, to the point where no other good quality a person may have counts if it is not coupled with a sleek body. It is actually pretty sad.

[MrNate]

Yes, it is the #1 most overlooked facet of attraction. If people spent less time whining about how girl A or guy B doesn't like them and more time working out, there would be little to complain about. Hot bodies attracted hot bodies. Use your brains to figure out if the rest of them is any good .

 

2. Also true. Many of the people who think they are not datable are just overweight. If they got ripped, they would be in the game with all the other popular people. Models are almost always in great shape, why, because that's what people want to look at.

 

Exactly. I want fine women, but I realize it would be stupid to just expect that if I'm not fine myself.

 

Why not make fantasies reality?

[MrNate]

I agree that being in shape in one aspect of being attractive. But I wouldn't say it is understimated. On the contrary, looks are generally overemphasized, almost to the exclusion of other factors.

 

Look all the posts on here from men who have met wonderful women but who are reluctant to date them because they aren't model-beautiful. Or look at the posts from women who talk about wonderful men who just "aren't their type" (usually code for, "not hot enough").

 

If anything, we are obsessed with physical fitness, to the point where no other good quality a person may have counts if it is not coupled with a sleek body. It is actually pretty sad.

 

Maybe physical attraction is more important than we think?

[sagetalk]

I agree that being in shape in one aspect of being attractive. But I wouldn't say it is understimated. On the contrary, looks are generally overemphasized, almost to the exclusion of other factors.

 

Look all the posts on here from men who have met wonderful women but who are reluctant to date them because they aren't model-beautiful. Or look at the posts from women who talk about wonderful men who just "aren't their type" (usually code for, "not hot enough").

 

If anything, we are obsessed with physical fitness, to the point where no other good quality a person may have counts if it is not coupled with a sleek body. It is actually pretty sad.

 

You missed the point, I'm talking about people seeing it in themselves not their partner. There are too many people who want to date hot guys/girls but they themselves are overweight/obese. Sadly, many people miss this elephant in the room every single day.

 

There is no redeeming quality for being out of shape, just excuses and defenses to make people feel better about themselves.

[MrNate]

I agree that being in shape in one aspect of being attractive. But I wouldn't say it is understimated. On the contrary, looks are generally overemphasized, almost to the exclusion of other factors.

 

Look all the posts on here from men who have met wonderful women but who are reluctant to date them because they aren't model-beautiful. Or look at the posts from women who talk about wonderful men who just "aren't their type" (usually code for, "not hot enough").

 

If anything, we are obsessed with physical fitness, to the point where no other good quality a person may have counts if it is not coupled with a sleek body. It is actually pretty sad.

 

Sorry, I forgot to add that I disagree with that statement. If this were the case, obesity rates would not be rising so fast in America. Physical fitness needs to be stressed more now than ever.

[ADF]

You missed the point, I'm talking about people seeing it in themselves not their partner. There are too many people who want to date hot guys/girls but they themselves are overweight/obese. Sadly, many people miss this elephant in the room every single day.

 

There is no redeeming quality for being out of shape, just excuses and defenses to make people feel better about themselves.

 

There's no redeeming quality to being out of shape, but not everybody is into working out, either. Why should people who don't care to go the gym all time be singled out as lazy or be accused of making excuses? I could just as easily call people who don't like to read shallow and stupid. Would that be fair? I don't think so.

[ADF]

Sorry, I forgot to add that I disagree with that statement. If this were the case, obesity rates would not be rising so fast in America. Physical fitness needs to be stressed more now than ever.

 

An obsession with physical fitness and a rising obesity rate are not mutually exclusive. Americans tend to go to one extreme or the other. They either stuff themselves with junk food and are sedantary, or think they have to train like professional bodybuilders to be fit enough. The better solution would be to make health, rather than looks, the goal for keeping fit.

[MrNate]

An obsession with physical fitness and a rising obesity rate are not mutually exclusive. Americans tend to go to one extreme or the other. They either stuff themselves with junk food and are sedantary, or think they have to train like professional bodybuilders to be fit enough. The better solution would be to make health, rather than looks, the goal for keeping fit.

 

The first are in much more existence than the latter. I'll also have to disagree with your extremes. Of course the better solution would be to make health the goal, but in reality, it's not. There is a motive much greater than simply being healthy. I believe it is in no way a stretch to say that a primary reason a lot of people workout is to make themselves more appealing to the opposite sex.

 

If this is not the case, you may have a hard time convincing me the majority of women seek a slim figure simply for health purposes. I think there's a lot more at play here.

[EasyHeart]

I think being in shape is more of an avoiding-a-negative. In other words, I don't think most women think, "Oh wow, he's in great shape. I want him." But I think a lot of them think, "Eww, he's fat" and you're now off their radar.

[ADF]

Oh, I think you're absolutely correct when you say people often get fit in an effort to attract the opposite sex. And there is nothing wrong with that per se. However, the standards of what a "fit" person looks like have gotten a little ridiculous over the past several decades. This is true for both men and women.

 

Look at any of Hollywood's leading men from the 40s, 50, or 60s. Few of them would pass muster at a trendy nightclub nowadays. Why? Because they're not "buff" enough. Rock Hudson, Kirk Douglas, John Wayne--these guys all looked like they had burly, work-hardened physiques. Well, being work-hardened doesn't cut it anymore. Nowadays, you've got to be gym-sculpted to be good enough. You can''t just have broad shoulders anymore. Now, you need perfect muscle seperation in your arms. Nowadays, you can't just have a flat stomach. Only 6-packs abs will do. It's just crazy.

 

Same with women. Nowadays, the ideal for women is to be tall, long-legged, slender, and have large breasts that--somehow--stay perfectly erect. Plus, she can't have any pubic hair. God forbid a grown woman's body should look like a grown woman's body. Like I say, it's just crazy.

[Stockalone]

Do you guys feel that this facet of attraction is underestimated?

 

While I was never in prime condition, I used to be in very good shape. And according to the women on LS, I was actually rather good-looking too.

 

But that never translated to attention from women. Then again, I never expected it to, nor did I care about it much myself.

 

Which is why I agree with EasyHeart. While being in prime condition will earn you a few extra points, it's hardly that important. It's merely an added bonus. I think most women don't care about it that much as long as the guy isn't too much out of shape.

[USMCHokie]

Which is why I agree with EasyHeart. While being in prime condition will earn you a few extra points, it's hardly that important. It's merely an added bonus. I think most women don't care about it that much as long as the guy isn't too much out of shape.

 

 

I tend to agree with this. I was just discussing this with one of my friends at the gym tonight...and we were wondering whether it's actually a negative to be in very good shape...as in you'd actually intimidate women...any thoughts on that...?

 

And I honestly don't think women put much appreciation to physique...as long as he's not slovenly and takes reasonable care of himself, it's not going to make much of a difference if he's average versus being an Adonis...but that's merely speculation on my part...

[Green]

I was once in horible shape. I looked anorexic. Seriously when women ask you if you eat its a bad sign. I think its worse in ways to be a really skinny guy then to be really fat as far as looks. I mean a chubby 240 lb guy could probably beat a skinny 140 lbs guy.

 

Well when I was super skinny I managed to get plenty of REALLY HOTT GF's.

 

I am now in shape and have a REALLY HOTT GF. Being in shape is better but not the end of the story. I see plenty of young inshape guys with women I would not care for

[Eeyore79]

You have to do the best with what you got in the genetic lottery, which means working out and eating healthily. Whatever you look like to begin with, you will always look more attractive if you're fit and toned and slim. It's about being the best version of you that you can be.

 

I think women tend to look more at other attributes than specifically at a guy's physique, but that doesn't mean it doesn't matter. It's not a big deal if he doesn't have a perfect physique, but he gets extra brownie points if he does. A guy doesn't have to be smoking hot for me to like him, but he goes up an extra notch in my estimation if he is!

 

I don't think women would be intimidated by a guy who is in good shape, unless they're extremely out of shape themselves... but if you've made an effort to get in shape yourself, do you really want those sort of women anyway?

[MrNate]

Oh, I think you're absolutely correct when you say people often get fit in an effort to attract the opposite sex. And there is nothing wrong with that per se. However, the standards of what a "fit" person looks like have gotten a little ridiculous over the past several decades. This is true for both men and women.

Look at any of Hollywood's leading men from the 40s, 50, or 60s. Few of them would pass muster at a trendy nightclub nowadays. Why? Because they're not "buff" enough. Rock Hudson, Kirk Douglas, John Wayne--these guys all looked like they had burly, work-hardened physiques. Well, being work-hardened doesn't cut it anymore. Nowadays, you've got to be gym-sculpted to be good enough. You can''t just have broad shoulders anymore. Now, you need perfect muscle seperation in your arms. Nowadays, you can't just have a flat stomach. Only 6-packs abs will do. It's just crazy.

 

Same with women. Nowadays, the ideal for women is to be tall, long-legged, slender, and have large breasts that--somehow--stay perfectly erect. Plus, she can't have any pubic hair. God forbid a grown woman's body should look like a grown woman's body. Like I say, it's just crazy.

 

They've definitely been taken up a few levels over the years. I'll definitely agree with that.

[BubbleFreak]

Five years ago I was overweight (though I still had a few people asking me out).

 

Then I lost all of that weight in about a year, without having to "work out". I just changed my lifestyle and the weight came off naturally.

 

Suddenly I had an influx of even more people asking me out, this includes strangers as well as people I knew in highschool who had never even talked to me before. And people would come up to me and be like "wow you look beautiful now" (with the connotation that I was once ugly) or "I almost didn't recognise you". I even had someone asking me if I got plastic surgery...

 

People do treat you different when you look healthier/more physically attractive. But I think a big part of the attraction is the new aura of confidence and happiness.

[USMCHokie]

People do treat you different when you look healthier/more physically attractive. But I think a big part of the attraction is the new aura of confidence and happiness.

 

 

I absolutely agree with this. And going along with the premise of OP's first post, physical fitness plays a very large role in confidence and self-esteem. When seeing friends from high school, they definitely see me a lot differently as I'm a lot more fit now than I was back in high school (5'8", 125...your stereotypical frail Asian guy...). But just as with anything else, looks do matter in today's society, and it's a pretty common belief that more attractive people are treated better...and popular media has made trim and fit people the standard of attractiveness...