Some like 'em hot. Some like 'em... not? Wait..

[Wyst]

Help me with something ladies of the forum. Do women in general NOT care if guys are in very good physical shape? That's the basic question.

Yes, yes. We have the stereotypes that Hollywood and pop culture crams down our throats and I'm also very well aware that some women prefer burly, or bearded, or bald, or smooth, or hairy... etc etc etc.

I prefer to be in shape (again, my personal preference). I feel more energetic, physically at peace, optimistic in attitude, and it definitely does something for my self-esteem to set goals and meet them (plain 'ol positive reinforcement). I work out for me - not to get chicks.

I have noticed though that it doesn't really matter how in shape I am. Guys notice and frequently comment/compliment. Girls don't seem to notice at all. Though they do tease me for my healthy eating choices.

So tell me, do girls really not notice/care? Perhaps they notice other things like attitude, how guys treat others (ex. children and servers at restaurants), or how much direction and security they seem to offer.

Discuss!

 

[Jill Hives]

I definitely DO notice if someone takes care of themselves. It may or may not be a deciding factor in whether or not I find them attractive depending on a combination of other factors, but I do notice.

 

[Wyst]

Just added poll.

 

[Jill Hives]

Just thought it might bear mentioning that I do actually know a couple girls who like bigger men. And they are quite hot by societys standards, so this was a shock to me to find out. Maybe it is a combination of the ego boost they get by being so much more obviously "attractive" than their partners or maybe they just like 'em cuddly. I know lots of guys who like bigger women, but not as many women who like bigger men.

Me, I went for twig thin and tall most of the time before I got hitched. My husband is pretty average height and pretty thin, but not scrawny by any means, just muscular. And I definitely find him rawr worthy. Prrr...

 

[This]

Of course everyone notices to some extent but it's mostly the body, a good healthy body indicates good genes and fertility. There's a reason it's "attractive"

 

[Arsal]

I like them with their tummies tucked in.

 

[arbygil]

Subconsciously, some women prefer men who can protect them, and if they look like a big burly bouncer type she may be attracted to him for the protection factor.

I like someone who takes care of themselves, but that doesn't mean he has to work out every day and look like a jock. If he primarily eats healthy and likes taking walks, that's enough for me.

 

[dream echo]

I like watching my hubby run; it's hot, lol. But he's never had a six-pack, and as he's gotten older, he's gotten a bit of a belly. I actually kind of like it; it's a nice pillow, haha. It's a part of him, so it's attractive to me, and there were other more important things that drew me to him that had nothing to do with physical appearance. I will admit to generally liking taller men who look like bouncers for the protection factor, as [MENTION=442]arbygil[/MENTION] suggested, but I have dated short guys who are thin as well.

So yes, I do notice when a man is in shape and has a nice body, but it's not what I look for first in a partner. Also, I'm not going to approach a guy and tell him: you're hot; I want to nom you, even if I'm thinking it, lol. If we are compatible in other ways and end up together, then I'll tell him so. Otherwise, I figure eye candy is eye candy, but it's what is inside his head and heart that matters more to me.

 

[sassafras]

While I'll admit I prefer my guys tall and broad-shouldered, I develop a crush on people for a variety of reasons and their level of physical fitness is never really a requisite as to whether I'd consider dating them.

The most important thing for me is our level of respect, intelligence and how well our personalities click. Everything else is just gravy.

 

[acd]

Subconsciously, some women prefer men who can protect them, and if they look like a big burly bouncer type she may be attracted to him for the protection factor.

I like someone who takes care of themselves, but that doesn't mean he has to work out every day and look like a jock. If he primarily eats healthy and likes taking walks, that's enough for me.

Precisely.

 

[TigersGoRAWR]

Subconsciously, some women prefer men who can protect them, and if they look like a big burly bouncer type she may be attracted to him for the protection factor.

I like someone who takes care of themselves, but that doesn't mean he has to work out every day and look like a jock. If he primarily eats healthy and likes taking walks, that's enough for me.

That, definitely.

I don't like the whole "REALLY buff" look. For example, a guy with really really big muscles on his arms, a huge six pack and whatever.... doesn't do anything for me in the slightest. xP

What arbygil said is just lovely.

 

[Wyst]

Interesting.

I wonder why Hollywood is so is so intent on pushing the ripped guys in movies rather than the average guys.

 

[This]

Interesting.

I wonder why Hollywood is so is so intent on pushing the ripped guys in movies rather than the average guys.

A lot of hollywood is influenced by gay men, muscular men tend to be popular among the gay community from what I've noticed.

 

[894tt3h9]

I am not at all attracted to the jacked up, overly muscled look. If I see a guy who's muscle head to toe that's just fine but it doesn't really do anything for me. I'm sure they look like an action figure when they take their shirt off but for me it's not important.

I prefer perfectly average body types. I don't really care about all the muscles. Actually I don't even mind if they have a few extra pounds on them. If I really connect with someone then I tend to like exactly how they look just because it's them and I don't try to change how they look either. Either I want them for exactly who they are and how they look, or I don't want them at all.

There has to be physical attraction though but for me it's more in the subtle things about someone's appearance than in how much they can bench press. I'm more of a face person than a body person, though really thin or really overweight doesn't do it for me at ALL.

 

[Peppermint]

A lot of hollywood is influenced by gay men, muscular men tend to be popular among the gay community from what I've noticed.

lolwut


Aesthetically speaking, I prefer a lean body, which is neither flabby not overly muscular (burly). Overall fitness and food choices don't really concern me, unless they pose a serious health concern.

 

[aerosol]

I don't really like muscles much. It's a turn-off to an extent.

 

[Kgal]

Interesting.

I wonder why Hollywood is so is so intent on pushing the ripped guys in movies rather than the average guys.

I suspect it's because most of the women here are INFJ's and it really comes down to how a man makes us feel about ourselves. Not how his body looks.

If a guy looks at me and he shows how he feels about me in his eyes when he looks at me - then I'm hooked.

I'll admit to being attracted to guys who appear to take an interest in their health. Meaning no large amounts of body fat on them - especially their stomach - as this has been correlated with heart problems and diabetes. oth - I would not be attracted to a guy who has developed his muscles to be noticeable. As in the Hollywood types. I prefer a man who likes to read, ponder, and think. Such a man would probably not have the time needed to develop the physique of someone such as The Rock or Vin Diesel or Stallone - or "Arnold".

 

[Wyst]

Michael Phelps isn't exactly bulging with muscles but he's got a high degree of muscle definition.

That degree of leanness is what I like for myself. Sometimes, because I get a lot of comments though, I wear long-sleeved shirts because I don't like to draw tons of attention to myself. At the past couple of pool parties, the shirt has stayed on. It's weird how self-conscious I get. INFJ-ism, I guess.

My physique is definitely not something I want to wield at women.

 

[mochi]

Well, if a person looks lean, like a swimmer, I suppose it looks okay. But guys who are overly buff/muscly/six packed are unattractive to me.

I think I prefer someone who is average to slightly overweight rather than muscled, similar to what dream_echo said about being a pillow. :3 I'm also not really a body person, so I guess it wouldn't matter to me (except super skinny--I can't date someone like that because the men in my family are super skinny. I would feel like I'm dating a family member blagh XD.) I look at the face more.

 

[Lerxst]

Yes, I know I'm a guy, but there are all sorts of reasons women like us.

I'm a bit on the scrawny side, but I get annoyed when Hollywood even portrays the scrawny ones as "fit" - like the geek who takes his shirt off and exposes a six pack. Last I checked, most of the scrawny geeks I knew had lots of "soft spots".

Although I've had some really "hot" girls fall for me when I was younger - the "out of my league" kind of girls if you know what I'm talking about. That was just weird. But then again...