“I can see why regular guys bodybuild; mostly because they want to look good for women and get laid. This is why bodybuilding publications have buffed dudes standing next to hot chicks: the message is “Lift weights, buy our supplements so that you too can bang a chick like this!” Sex is the primary motivator of male behavior and advertising companies use it all of the time.”
In reading this thread http://www.T-Nation.com/readTopic.do?id=1276558&pageNo=0, and let me add it’s not the first time I have noticed this, there is a lot of guys that are motivated to train to impress the ladies.No doubt by lifting weights you will be noticed more due to the positive changes it has on your physique but is this really the reason why most men lift?. Just the simple pleasure of reaching my goal for the evening and building a better body for obvious health reasons is enough for me. Training for me is a needed and welcome challenge and it’s something personal.
Don’t get me wrong here, it’s never been a bad thing attracting good looking woman by building a better looking body. I am in a committed relationship and the last thing I am interested in is trying to impress someone else. The reason why I am asking this question is because a lot of guys that enjoy lifting weights are often stereotyped for being meat heads trying to look good to score with the ladies. As far as I am concerned there is a little more to it than that, or am I wrong?
thats what they initially are, then they get the chick stop lifting get out shape, get ill, bust their back & then finally decide to go back to wieghts for health reasons & to look good NEKKID!!(again)
From what I gathered here at T-Nation and from the few serious lifters I’ve met, they almost all started lifting exclusively to get a better body and attract chicks, but they end up sticking with it because it becomes a lifestyle. Those who lift purely for physique reasons usually don’t stick with it for too long, or they just do crappy.
When it becomes a lifestyle, you don’t even have a real reason for it anymore, it just becomes part of who you are. And even in a list of priorities, chicks go down, and health and personal enjoyment goes to the top.
my girlfriend has a thing for skinny guys, she doesn’t like that i lift and she likes even less that i’m getting bigger. I love her to death and want her to be happy. so there must be some other reason that I lift.
-health
-self esteem
-combat effectiveness
and last but not least…
-i get to play with big ass metal circles
I’m married and havn’t stopped lifting since I was in Jr. High School. I lift for myself, but going up 100lbs in bodyweight… I can tell you I never gave a fuck what the “ladies” thought. I only hoped they liked what I was shooting for, becasue I was doing it regardless.
I’ve pretty much went from scrawny to brawny. Although personality will be your #1 determining factor for success with the ladies, its not the first thing they notice. Besides your face, height and whatever else thing is on their list… they do take a look around to see if you’re what they want. Probably most womens eyes go straight to your ass to see what that looks like; even if you have a great chest and bulging biceps.
Going up in weight I noticed two things. One- at the ripped stage and my lowest bodyfat levels between probably 6%- 8% and 160-180 lbs I appealed to the “little girls” more but was seen as a tool to the “women”. Going up over 200lbs and closer to 10-12% bodyfat… the “women” seemed to be more attrated to me. I never really gave a shit who was or wasn’t attracted to my build because I was doing it for personal reasons and I never really had troubles with the ladies anyway, ever.
Two- But, I will say this… OPINIONS VARY. Do it for yourself because for every woman that thinks you look good, there are that many more that don’t. Be attractive to yourself… it will help your confidence and that in turn will help your overall attractiveness.
From my experience of going up through the different weight ranges from approx 150-250lbs @ 6’ tall… I would say the most attractive I was from a womans standpoint was about 200lbs and 10% bodyfat at my height of 6’ and for my bodytype which is naturally very skinny. I think everyone will have their own numbers of what looks best on them. I am currently 6’ 225lbs around 10% bodyfat and am pretty happy where I’m at. I don’t plan on getting much heavier, maybe a little more muscular but I like to be at about 225.
In short… “I don’t give a fuck what women think, I lift for what I think”. I’m the only person who has to wear this body everyday.
[quote]danmaftei wrote:
From what I gathered here at T-Nation and from the few serious lifters I’ve met, they almost all started lifting exclusively to get a better body and attract chicks, but they end up sticking with it because it becomes a lifestyle. Those who lift purely for physique reasons usually don’t stick with it for too long, or they just do crappy.
[quote]danmaftei wrote:
From what I gathered here at T-Nation and from the few serious lifters I’ve met, they almost all started lifting exclusively to get a better body and attract chicks, but they end up sticking with it because it becomes a lifestyle. Those who lift purely for physique reasons usually don’t stick with it for too long, or they just do crappy.
When it becomes a lifestyle, you don’t even have a real reason for it anymore, it just becomes part of who you are. And even in a list of priorities, chicks go down, and health and personal enjoyment goes to the top.[/quote]
I like to think it has something to do with a warrior mentality. If you strive to be Strong, Able, Confident, Ready for Action, you will test and hone your body in the weight room or some other physical endeavor.
I mean who wants to be soft, weak, unsightly to view, physically dependent on others? If that’s your thing, well, what can one say. However, if you have that fire in your gut and like to battle against yourself you stay strong. If you can attract women because you look good and they like it it’s just icing on the cake.
I lift for a lot of reasons, many already stated by others. But, for me, the number one reason is I used to walk in a room and people would say “damn, look how tall and skinny that guy is.” Now they may just say “look how tall” - I want them eventuaaly to say “look how big” but I’m not there yet.
Health and self-esteem benefits aside, for me it is also a matter of pride and vane chauvinism.
In a nation where obese, out of shape and lethargic people are becoming the majority, being fit is definately a minority that does not bother me at all to be part of.
At the end of the day, I think we are all into this because it makes us feel simply good.
Among the usual reasons, I have had this weird feeling since high school that some day in my future I will be in a life-or-death situation that will require me to fight to survive. I guess it’s like a phobia of getting my ass kicked or murdered. Being bigger and stronger than normal, in my opinion is a deterent. Dabbling in boxing and martial arts combined with physical strength is a security blanket.
If you want the real reason? I’ll give it to you. It’s NOT insecurity. Noone knows pyscho-babble better than me… and that’s not the fucking reason why we lift.
Weight lifters are alive! The purpose of life is to basicily test yourself everyday. There is no better way to test yourself than to test your fortitude, will, fear and heart all rolled up into one… than through the “brotherhood of iron”(thanks A.A. for the term) Men lift because it makes them feel alive, and by doing this they can still test themselves and push themselves while their not dead yet.
All that other horseshit psycho-babble doesn’t apply to serious weight lifters. It can be taken and shoved right back up your ass… all this is, is an IRON JOURNEY. Plain & simple.
[quote]MODOK wrote:
Why do I lift? There is no easy answer. Since I was 4 years old, watching the “Incredible Hulk” and hitting the most muscular pose for the old fashioned Polaroid camera, I knew I would be a weight trainer. Watching my older brother lift his Orbitron concrete weights while training for boxing provided the biggest influence on me. I admired him so much, and the one thing we had in common and shared together was lifting those weights out in our garage. He’s left us now, passing away last year of a massive stroke, but every time I grab hold of that cold knurling I feel his spirit just a little bit.
Nowadays lifting is as essential as oxygen to my soul. Its my oldest friend who will always be there. Regardless of whether I have had a bad day or great, the old musty plates and slightly rusted bar will be there when I get home to tlift me up, test my fortitude, and humble me on occasion. Lifting has made me a better person over these years, and I can only be thankful that Providence has allowed me the health to continue to do this wonderful thing that I love so much. Why do we all lift? I think its very different for us all… but for me its all of the above and so many others I’m sure I’ll never be able to list.[/quote]
[quote]PGJ wrote:
Among the usual reasons, I have had this weird feeling since high school that some day in my future I will be in a life-or-death situation that will require me to fight to survive. I guess it’s like a phobia of getting my ass kicked or murdered. Being bigger and stronger than normal, in my opinion is a deterent. Dabbling in boxing and martial arts combined with physical strength is a security blanket.
Plus I want to look good lekkid. [/quote]
What’s lekkid? Oh, and carry a 44. Mag in case that situation comes up.
[quote]Dedicated wrote:
I like to think it has something to do with a warrior mentality. If you strive to be Strong, Able, Confident, Ready for Action, you will test and hone your body in the weight room or some other physical endeavor.
I mean who wants to be soft, weak, unsightly to view, physically dependent on others? If that’s your thing, well, what can one say. However, if you have that fire in your gut and like to battle against yourself you stay strong. If you can attract women because you look good and they like it it’s just icing on the cake.
D [/quote]
again, on the money!
Listen to the serious lifters, they’ll tell you why. It’s the Brad Pitt wannabe nancyboys that fuck up the “ironmans” reputation. We ain’t here for the chicks!
I’m here for the beer! And the heavy metal… motherfucker!
I’ll be happy with a case of beer, freezer full of steaks, heavy metal cranked on the stero or my amplifier, and a garage full or iron plates and barbells. Fuck the women… I don’t need em’. I only have one because I have a dick and it has to go somewhere, right? Women are a great accessory, not a necessity.
