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Men’s magazines are filled with exercise and workout routines designed to give you a chiseled physique. The glossy ads in the magazine showcase the desired result of all this work: a chiseled and ripped body. But what is the end goal of the pursuit of all this muscle? Some men work out for the health benefits, for pleasure, and to generally stay in shape. This is reasonable and desirable. Every man should want to be fit and healthy. But some men develop an unhealthy obsession with getting a ripped physique. Steroid use has become common, not just for athletes, but also for average joes who don’t want to be so average. But to what end? To attract the ladies? To meet some idealized image of the male body? Such a pursuit is a huge waste of time. Here are some reasons why:
Huge muscles are not as attractive to women as you may think
While there’s no denying the fact that women view a man’s ripped physique as a sweet bonus, it’s rarely, if ever, a deal breaker. The women I have known in my life have been far more focused on a man’s personality, sense of humor, decency, confidence, and ambition, than whether he had six packs abs. Research studies have born this out.
Several years ago, psychiatrists at the Biological Psychiatry Laboratory gave a computerized test to college students in the US, France, and Austria. The men could choose from 10 different layers of fat and 10 different layers of muscle to create what they believed was the most attractive body type to women. The study found that men consistently layered on more muscle than women actually preferred.
A follow-up study had similar results. Compared to Taiwanese men, Western men greatly overestimated how much muscle is desirable to women. The men were asked to choose the body type which they thought was most attractive to women. They overwhelming chose a physique with 20-30 lbs more muscle than average. But when women were asked to choose the body type they found most appealing, they chose the average one.
Why is there such a disconnect between what women want and what men think they want? Interestingly, one reason the study posited on why Taiwanese men don’t desire huge muscles the way Western men do, is that women and men have more parity in the West than in Asia. Harrison Pope, whose lab headed up the studies, said, “Nowadays, women can do almost anything that a man can do with one exception: They can’t bench press 315 pounds, no matter what the Supreme Court says. It may be a last refuge of masculinity for some men in the West.” Hopefully, reading this blog has convinced you that there are more avenues to being a man than how much weight you can squat. Spend your time developing truly manly traits, not your pecs.
Avoid being a dupe of the media
Of course another reason men are increasingly making a ripped physique their goal, are the images constantly being pushed by the media. In the 1950s, only 3% of print advertisements showed men undressed. Today it has risen to more than 35%. While many men believe themselves immune from the effect of such images, they are unfortunately taking their toll. It has been estimated that about 45% of Western men are unhappy with their bodies to some degree, compared with only 15% some 25 years ago.
The problem is not so much the number of images, but the impossible standard of body type those images convey. The majority of men don’t have the genetic makeup to attain the bodies seen in magazines, and in trying to attain it they feel frustrated and inadequate. It’s not longer acceptable to simply be in shape, now a man should apparently want to look like Matthew McConaughey.
It wasn’t always so. The manly men of yesteryear like Humphrey Bogart, James Dean, Cary Grant, and so on had normal, average physiques.
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James Dean. Average Body. Bad Ass. |
Matthew McConaughey. Pretty Boy. |
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1960s Batman. Average build, but still managed to defeat the Joker and have a career as the Mayor on Family Guy. |
When you have start putting abs on your Bat suit, you know you’ve been duped by the media. |
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The Duke didn’t have a six pack. Did that stop him beating the bad guy and getting the girl? Hell no, Pilgrim! |
Obsessing about your physique gets in the way of your life
The other night I was tearing into a delicious burger at Red Robin when I looked over at a family sitting at an adjacent table. The whole family was chowing down except for the dad. This man, with his biceps and tree trunk neck bulging out of his t-shirt, was eating his two bunless, unadorned burger patties with a fork. He wouldn’t touch the fries. I felt sad for this man.
Attaining the kind of physique showcased in Men’s Health requires a man to organize his life around that goal. He spends many hours in the gym each week. He totes around Tupperware containers of chicken breasts and broccoli so he can eat “clean” every 3 hours. He even brings these to dinner parties, or avoids these parties altogether since they’ll tempt him to blow his diet. He avoids going on vacation and thus having to miss his workouts. And all for what exactly?
You lose focus on why exercise if truly important
Exercise offers a myriad of benefits: it can boost your brain power, help your heart, prevent Alzheimers, alleviate stress, and knock out your depression. But if the focus of your workouts is to add another inch to your bicep or to go down 1 percentage point in your body fat, you may one day burn out on exercise altogether. If you only workout to get ripped, then when you don’t see the results you were hoping for, or the results come too slowly, you may give up. The key to a lifetime love for exercise is finding deeper motivations than physical appearance.
Instead of concentrating on having six pack abs, focus on becoming “functionally fit.” What’s the point of fitness if it doesn’t help you in your everyday life? When are you going to have to press 400 lbs off your chest? If a car falls on you? Good luck with that. Keep your back strong so you can play with your kids. Keep your heart healthy so you can live into old age with your wife. Keep your muscles limber so you don’t pull something while running between gates at the airport. So keep your workouts simple. Find your local Cross-Fit, or stick with the basics, like running and the Holy Trinity of Fitness.
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< UFC Fighters are good example of “functionally fit.” No six pack, but they have have the strength and stamina to kick your ass. |
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@M. Steve
The pity thing was never meant to be that serious. When I saw the guy it made me chuckle. I was using “pity” to be a little tongue in cheek. “I pity you man.”
Nevertheless, I stand by it. I may not have truly pitied him, he’s free to make his own choices, and good for him that he makes healthy ones. But it still made me shake my head. I understand that maybe he had already used his cheat meal, but then why go to Red Robin for dinner? It’s all totally bad for you stuff. There are plenty of restaurants that offer healthy options. If you’re going to go to a restaurant that’s famous for burgers and fries, than have burgers and fries. Not a plain patty.
I haven’t read all the comments, so this might have been posited. I think that it’s because men think women are just as shallow as they are, so they expect women to care as much about abs as men do about cup size. I’m glad their shallowness has backfired.
Kind of a poor article to be honest. To some people, eating isn’t exactly the biggest joy in their life. Personally I know I could do without the heart attacks from eating a greasy hamburger, and I’ll benefit a lot more from it. The benefits I get from eating a hamburger? Maybe a few seconds of excitement. I’ve stopped eating any sort of bad foods since last week and I’ve managed to attain all my diet goals with less calories, and rather than be hungrier, I’ve actually started to become less hungry. Yeah, it sucks to be one of those people that are entering and working in the fitness world for “the chickz” but, if you set a goal and want to achieve it, go for it! There is nothing wrong with setting your own goals and achieving them, no matter what some silly article tells you. Society might not like the larger muscle look, but if that’s your goal and that is what you are shooting for, then more power to you. Go out and do things, unlike the rest of the world.
“The body is all you are. Bad body = bad you. ”
by your logic, Stephen Hawking is worthless.
…dumbass.
The pursuit of a six pack isnt unhealthy. It is very good because during it you learn alot about eating clean, cardio, being fit, and how your body adapts to weight training. That willpower crap is BS. After a week or two of routine excercise, it becomes just that a routine, I mean how much will power do you do to brush your teeth? Exactly and thats what excercise is, a good habit.
Some of us chose this as a hobby instead of something else.
Also just to set the record straight, everyone and anyone can have a six-pack, unless they do not have any abdominal muscles. You just need to know how to work out.
(non weights)Crunches with high reps= flat but conditioned core
(weights) Crunches with low to med reps (5-12)= Youre ab muscles grow to the six lumps that make up a 6 pack
then you have to lose fat and go at least bellow 9% bodyfat
I beg to differ. I’m a girl, and I, for one, LOVE SIX PACK ABS.
Could it also be that the women are just lying out their asses, like when they say i like sweet, sensitive guys who like to show their emotions and cuddle! teehee!
I haven’t read the above comments yet, but one thing that stood out as completely misleading to anyone reading the article was;
“The problem is not so much the number of images, but the impossible standard of body type those images convey. The majority of men don’t have the genetic makeup to attain the bodies seen in magazines”
This is plain lying to anyone who reads this article, practically giving them excuse to not attain this type of body. Anyone can get the physique they aim for with hard work and discipline. I have seen guys in their 60’s still looking ripped. I know a 44 year old who was unhealthy for roughly 38 years of his life and over the last 6 years he has attained a physique a lot of men in their 20s with they had, completely naturally too. A lot of your points were how the media con men into believing they can attain these physiques, when infact they can, and this right here is one of the comments made in your article that is decieving them and telling them they can’t, which is incorrect.
@Ben-
So you are saying that someone with the body of say, Orlando Bloom, could, he if just worked out really hard and ate a lot of protein, attain the same physique as say, “The Rock?” Without steroids? Dream on dude.
And tbh the amount of times the authors have had to defend this article in their comments has just proved how poorly written and thought out their points and the article is. Try again.
@Brett
So you are saying that someone with the body of say, Orlando Bloom, could, he if just worked out really hard and ate a lot of protein, attain the same physique as say, “The Rock?� Without steroids? Dream on dude.
Nowhere in my comment did I say that, nor did i mention steroids other than the 44yr old I know who has turned around his physique without the use of them. Your arguments are almost as bad as this article. I’m done here.
@Ben-
Ben: “Nowhere in my comment did I say that”
Actually Ben that was your whole argument: Ben: “Anyone can get the physique they aim for with hard work and discipline”
You thus argue that if you have a slender body type but aim for a huge physqiue you can get one with only hard work and elbow grease. But this is not true.
“And tbh the amount of times the authors have had to defend this article in their comments has just proved how poorly written and thought out their points and the article is.”
Actually Ben, it just proves the incredibly poor reading comprehension skills of much of the populace.
@ Brett
“Anyone can get the physique they aim for with hard work and discipline�
This statement is correct, although you took it out of context. Your article was talking about natural physiques, Matthew McConaughey being one – and he hasn’t even got an impressive one. Anyone aiming for the body of they guy on the front of ‘Mens Health’ or any such magazine can easily achieve it through just hard work and elbow grease. We aren’t talking about steroid abusing wrestlers. The article is about 6 packs and large pecs, both of which can be attained naturally.
““And tbh the amount of times the authors have had to defend this article in their comments has just proved how poorly written and thought out their points and the article is.â€?
“Actually Ben, it just proves the incredibly poor reading comprehension skills of much of the populace.”"
Or is just proves a poorly written article.
Ben I see we are never going to agree here. Matthew McConaughey was an example of how the standard for how men should look has changed over time, not an example of an unattainable standard. The point is that we think the current ideal is the best simply because that’s currently the ideal pushed by the media. What society considers ideal changes over time.
And I still don’t believe that someone who starts out with a very slim frame can through hard work alone attain the physique of a Men’s Health cover model (actually MH cover models are celebrities, most of which keep their shirt on because even they do not have the physiques of the models on the pages inside). For one, the photographs in magazines like Men’s Health are airbrushed. In the end, maybe you could naturally beef up someone like Orlando Bloom to magazine proportions, but then it would depend on your definition of “naturally.” Working out 3 hours a day and eating a crap ton of protein is not a natural way to live. Which goes back to my question, a question which none of the previous commenters have answered-”Why?” Why live like that to get big muscles? To be the best you can be? Well, then why is that considered the best? Why is the best a man can be to think about his own body a lot and spend a lot of time making it ripped when he could be making productive contributions to his family and community? I’m all for being healthy, I work-out 6X a week, and I like my muscles. But at the end of the day I understand “there’s more to life than six pack abs.” I’m not sure how anyone could disagree with that. What the converse? “Life is six pack abs?”
There is nothing “unobtainable” about Matthew Mcougnehy’s physique. Pretty much any guy could get reasonably close to that without devoting their whole life to it.
A good diet and *smart* training each week, and you wouldn’t have to spend more than 90 minutes a day 5 times a week on exercise. Completely reasonable considering the result.
That’s hardly the same as bodybuilders who spend every waking minute obsessed about their diet and 5 hours a day in the gym.
Hi,
Your right about the guy eating bun-less burgers and broccoli but did you look around at some of the other tables and see the overweight people filling up on fat loaded foods.. Are bodies are not meant to shove crap like that in there.. From reading your post I think you are the type of person who looks for the easy way out.. There is no such thing. You have to work hard and eat right and that’s not extreme. Remember criticism is always a sign of jealousy… BTW crossfit training and UFC fighters always follow strict diets, those that don’t ended up on the opposite end of a KO…….
Dear Author,
This piece provides motivation to people who doesn’t want to work hard simply lazy. Physique maintenance and muscle building is an art, everybody can’t get it like getting a job or a girlfriend. It needs dedication and energy. It is like a soldier’s death. U have to experience it than providing motivational boost up to lazy guys, who doesn’t have time for anything.
Regards,
Damie
Hi…. ok… i can’t.. no se hablar en ingles… =), lo unico que puedo decir y que me entiendan es que amo a Matthew MacConaughey…. LO AMOOOOOO!!!! ES MI IDOLO!!!!! MATTHEW I LOVE YOU!!!!
People that agree to this article are slaves to Corp. America and have a 9-5 job.
Im a computer engineer making 6 figures a year, I work out every day, and have a girlfriend.
Working out is for MEN that are dedicated stong and not lazy.
very best you
Personaly, I have to take issue with most of what is written in this article.
Let me begin by saying that in high school, I was rather chubby. Through my early twenties, I was rail thin. Today in my mid 30s’, I can bench 130 percent of my wieght and run 3 miles every other day.
As it applies to women, I can assure you with absolute conviction that I don’t care what any study says. There is NO comparison to the attention I get from women now and the various other stages of my life. The argument could be made that it has more to do with the level of self confidence and general demeanor, but regardless, this articles opening paragraph is pure bunk.
The UFC competitors are NOT good examples of functionaly fit, and there is a huge difference in their body types from one fighter to the next. Comparing Cabbage, Frank Mir, Chuck Liddell, George St. Peirre, Vito Belfore, Huston Alexander and James Irvin reveals a wide variety of the human form while ALL of these Men live exactly the sort of lives that the previous paragraph in the article (about the father figure who was eating beef patties with a fork) speaks so strongly against living.
As to Willpower, that was almost silly. Ones’ personal will power is NOT, is NOT a finite measured dollop of integrity. Like anything else in life, it gets better, bigger and stronger with use.
I love this site, but this article was terrible.
Terrible article. It is so outrageously biased against those with ripped physiques and those who are attempting to attain that height. Using small part of the UFC picture is just disgraceful many of the top contendeds in the UFC have six packs and in professional boxing as well look at Roy Jones Jr. He is ripped regardless of the weight class he fights in.
Though I will concede the hottest of chicks probably aren’t into the biggest of muscles they are more into quality vs quantity. Considerable muscle mass with low body fat will almost always trump excessive muscle mass with double digit BF
This article is one of the most pathetic, biased pieces of work I have ever read. I’m going to steal a very true quote from the Pursuit of Happyness and it goes along the lines of “A person can’t do something so he tells you you can’t do it”… not in the exact words but so true. I was a scrawny weakling as a kid, I am now a competitive bodybuilder…. hmm, guess all my time must be consumed huh?
I’m at the gym one hour per day, five days a week… I could spend that time writing crap online, but I’d rather be improving my physique. That’s FIVE hours per week, that’s NOTHING. Diet? I eat 6 meals per day, what’s it to you if I own tupperware? It takes me 15 minutes to down a meal and I can do so anywhere no problem. That’s it…. my life isn’t consumed by this, I am a grad student, I do lab-work, I volunteer at my local animal shelter, I am in a long-term relationship and you know what? I STILL have time to lounge around and watch some tv. If I choose to eat healthy when I go out… how exactly does this affect my date?? Will we have less of a good time because I ate a lean piece of chicken rather than a greasy burger and fried?? I hardly doubt it! The only difference is I may not have as much gas to hold in the rest of the date, but aside form that I can have just as much fun.
Trust me, from someone in the fitness industry, telling people they can’t achieve the look of a Men’s Health model is like telling a drag racer that it’s impossible to do the quarter mile in under 15 seconds…. it’s RIDICULOUSLY easy and very much attainable for anyone without some sort of illness.
I saw one guy reply claiming he was at 5 percent bodyfat yet looked like James Dean and had no abs… uhmm…. wow. It can’t be that hard to use a bit of judgement…. if you have a body like James Dean, I promise you, you are NOT at five percent bodyfat…. I compete at 4 percent bodyfat and I can see striations in my glutes at that point, believe me if you were at 5 percent bodyfat you would NOT look like James Dean! Your doctor/trainer is lying to you or you can’t use calipers worth a damn buddy!
The guy at Red Robin… hmmm so, because someone is a bodybuilder and eats healthy meals, he can’t take his family to a fun restaurant? Well, looks like I have to tell my girlfriend that from now on we have to stay locked inside our house because some guy from the internet looks down on me for going out, paying for a meal with MY money, and eating it the way I please. Worry about yourself, to some of us, food is not the most entertaining thing in the world! For all you know that man went home and had some amazing sex with his wife, which could have been just as good as your silly burger.
The “limited willpower” excuse is the most pathetic thing I have heard in my life. Look up Layne Norton (biolayne.com). This guy is a top notch NATURAL bodybuilder, pursuing a pHd, member of a supplement company, is recently married and is a trainer and diet consultant, he also has a team of people he trains for bodybuilding competitions. Great guy, well educated, well rounded, loving his life, hasn’t reached this so called “limited willpower” yet…. BUT just because YOU find it too hard to achieve a good body while doing other things in your life you would probably give this guy a negative label huh? Hey, how about this, next time, actually look into a group of people before you blindly judge them!
*Claps* for Robs comment, so true. This guy reaks of insecurity, “I can’t figure out how to get a nice body and juggle other things in my life, so I’ll just make excuses”…. it’s basic psychology, we love to make excuses for things we suck at. I guarantee you, if you had nice abs, you would be taking quite an opposite stance!
Look, if you can’t achieve something, don’t go around saying it’s impossible… it might be for you, but that’s your problem. Let’s be honest, what’s more pleasing to look at? A girl with a slim waist, big boobs and a firm butt or a girl with a figure that goes straight up and down? That works both ways! As a woman I will be the first to admit, that while it’s not everything, a nice, muscular body (even if non-functional) is very nice to look at.
Lastly, my male friend is a MMA fighter and his life revolves around training and dieting, just because those guys in the UFC don’t look like models doesn’t mean their whole lives don’t revolve around the sport. Any athlete who has made it to the top is consumed by his sport.
A real man doesn’t have a limited amount of willpower no matter what your study shows. Perhaps real men where the outliers in that particular study. A solid gym routine could easily take less than 4 hours a week! If four hours a week is detrimental to your study, work or relationships then you really need to find some “me time” in your life.
And another thing- most men who see any progress in the gym are doing it for themselves rather than to impress women. In my experience I have also found that those who also succeed in any physical pursuit are usually of good character and succeed in other areas of their lives.
Yes a great body is not the be all and end all of life but it’s a great thing to have and to pursue!
Haaaaahahaahaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!! That’s funny. You mean we should want to look like John Wayne or James Dean? Ugh! Pathetic, and the only reason either one of those guys could “kick ass” is because they read the script. Neither one would have the stamina to last in a real knock down drag out…just look at the pics. You say get on a program like Cross fit, have you seen pics of the serious Crossfitters? Ripped man, ripped. It takes toughness to push through the pain required to gain strength and muscle,even “fuctional muscle” ( which is the best and most usefull kind) this article is to make those who don’t have the toughness for such activities feel better about themselves. “If it don’t hurt it don’t work”. Oh, and you don’t have to “organize your life” around fitness to get a good body,or gain lots of strength, it takes 30 super intense minutes a day… hardly obsesive. This sight has some good stuff, but sometimes wants to “go back to the good ‘ol days” because they guys writing can’t keep up with the times. So take off your sissy bow tie, drop the freakin top hat, and hit the gym, the ladies will be grateful…Pilgrim!
Girls don’t necessarily go for 6-packs abs, but they don’t go all too often for fat blobs either…
Apart from that, getting, or having 6 pack abs is such a great motivation which gives an incredible feeling good about yourself and THAT shows even WITH your clothes on. That confidence is what will attract girls… so build your personality one way or the other (and yes, six packs CAN help with that, but are not the end all)
girls want humor, intimacy, security, freedom, attention, care probably more and more..as this society gets more complex the list will go longer. In some asian countries like South Korea. Girls don’t get chance to take their pick for their husband, parents of two parties would formally meet up in a classy place. Yea. That’s the arranged blind-dating. It’s not of my business to judge, I certainly and thankfully don’t/won’t need to go through that kind of process.
It really doesn’t matter whether you are a bag of bones or a young Arnold especially in asia. Girls just don’t care about the physique much. They care more about your facial features more than anything in terms of appearance. I was a bag of bones, I’d been training my body to get to a normal non-thin physique. It’s a long process since my body isn’t made for a magazine cover. I did look up to a lot of movie/tv stars try to get to the shape i want. I’m still trying, it’s possible to attain that kind of body, with enough rest and healthy diet. Put your imagination into action. Don’t be so obsessed with the results after each workout session. And heck, stay healthy don’t use drugs to help you. Girls want health guys not drug addicts.
Well its obvious that many guys are pissed by this article as they feel talked down to, assuming the autor is looking for ways to avoid exercising and eating right.
I guess the author left too much room for interpretation, as he was rather condemning obsessive, narcisstic behaviour regarding our physique than the persuit of fitness.
However we can see in the comments sparked by the article, what an emotional and important looks looks are for us men.
Having been fat, not too long ago, in high school and fully admiring my new body in the mirror I can see both sides.
The Key to Happiness, as with most in life, lies in the Balance between excessive exercise and lazy couch potato.
i think matthew has the most cutest almost outie belly button i have ever seen on a man every time i see it i want to see it more and more and the most handsome so called wash board abs on him the gorgeous pearly white smile the biggest bluest eyes the sexy shiny blond hair and the tallest boy in the world he is the most sexiest man next to matthew damon to bad matthew cant gain the weight and keep it on instead of losing it right away they both would look good with weight on them
Well, I was running for a cross country team, then I noticed that I was starting to get a six pack (I ran and did push ups + sit ups to achieve this). And now my main goal of working out is to get in shape for sports. I run cross country so you could say I am skinny as hell, so lifting is just to stay at a normal weight and stay in shape.
Anyone else think Rob, Elaine and JustAman and some others have the SAME style of writing and putting things, two of them on the same day with little time gaps between their posts.
Looks like some troll who is sore about the facts that the article talks about, must be an avid bodybuilder, an obsessed one. Or maybe they are in it for the chicks and they dont like it being pointed out??
As for people talking about psychology, elaine-rob-anonymous whatever blurb your real name is,
Two things:
1) If you don’t know psychology, its safer to keep it zipped.
2) I am a psychology minor in Health Sciences: so news for you, its human psychology to defend something when you know you are proven wrong and you realize you have been doing exactly that. Like you all have obviously.
Hows that for taste? You see this works both ways, so dont try that little trick again. Its old plus uninformed.
And to all those who have in here spouted complete and utter nonsense about “anyone being able to get a 6 pack”, stop disinformation and stop acting like you practice medicine. You are all just proving the author’s point that muscle men are dumb.
Of course they are not dumb but your collective nonsense (or one person depending on how many names he is posting under in here) is making the author’s case.
So coming back to genetics, the reason why genetics plays into all this is because some people do not have digestive systems that can absorb enough proteins to build extra muscle than what their natural body functions permits. Futhermore, many have cases of excessive metabolic activity compounding the lack of extra proteins and carbohydrates needed for body building. But that doesn’t mean they are not fit or stronger. They just don’t have the body make up for building on extra muscle like some others can. But without bodybuilding as their main agenda, they are perfectly fit and healthy individuals but when they try results never come. This is a biological condition, trying to sound smart with deductive reasoning without any pedigree in medicine is foolish.
And the assumption that everyone can simply burn off fat and build the abdomen muscles can gain 6 packs is as rubbish as suggesting just about anyone can become smart with an Intellect that rivals or matches some of the greatest scientific minds the world has ever known.
It seems like the people who are sore about the article are really ignorant hot heads who just don’t seem to apply some common sense before they assume their own personal fancy versions of fictional biology and other hilarious concoctions about ‘all people getting 6 packs’
Did you know some people have other reasons for which no matter how much work outs they do they cant burn off all their body fat without getting critically ill? Not only that there are conditions where people tend to break down muscle glycogen and burn less fat when they work out. A serious problem for such individuals, but if they do not pursue these heavy activities they are just fine.
To chirs, karmazon and all others who have come up with their own laughable ‘theories’ as to how ‘all people can get 6 packs’. try going to university and get a PhD in medicine, Because what you are suggesting is challenging established facts and knowledge carried out researchers.
Or are you telling that you know more than them? Dont try, it only makes one look even more stupid.
So what say you all? Hmm? Care to try doing a PhD on a new discovery? Entitled “All humans can get 6 packs regardless of their genetic and other biological factors” This could be the discovery of the century.
Whats pathetic is that behind the computer anyone can come online and type away a lot of nonsense and pass it off as “oh i know it possible by so and so method you can attain abs”. Well guess what when people from the academia and from the field with experience and knowledge come along these liars are caught and exposed.
Remember this, dont chew off too much than what you can handle, and its always a bad idea to act as if you know the subject because sooner or later someone is going to expose your disinformation charade.
Its not for you people to form opinions that everyone can attain 6 packs, this is a medical fact that not everyone can. If you want to challenge this go to university. If you cant, keep a lid on it and accept the fact that most of you are indeed doing it for the chicks or whatever trivial desires. Its no wonder why there is such a stern and almost belligerent reaction to the article
Its pretty easy to see where these people are coming from
Martin,
University of Texas, El Paso.
Abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym… which defeats the entire argument of this bogus article. anyone who really knows anything about working out and nutrition would agree. if you don’t agree then you don’t know what you’re talking about. ARTICLE FAIL.
@martin-
You certainly try to make yourself sound like the expert. Notable considering you are still pursuing your UNDERGRAD degree ( an uncompleted undergrad degree with, OOOH, a MINOR in Psych). How about you, yourself get PhD in medicine (i.e. a doctor) before you keep on blabbering. You aren’t exactly one to talk like the expert you try to come off as.
Considering your credentials and my apparent absence of education and life experience, I humbly submit to your argument. You are correct and the bottom line is that 95% of us will never have ripped abs, will never be able to change our physique, and are slaves to our genetics and metabolism. There is minimal hope for 95% of non-sick or injured adults to ever attain a fit physique whether it be lean and fit or bodybuilder huge. There is simply no point in even trying. Don’t. You most likely all have the ‘fat gene’ and will never overcome it. AND, should you actually succeed in your fitness goals, you will be labeled as an asshole for telling other people they can actually do it too ( clearly a massive lie). So for you, 95% of the non- sick, uninjured masses I decry: GIVE UP!– I mean, EVERYONE KNOWS that :
“no matter how much work outs they do they cant burn off all their body fat without getting critically ill. Not only that there are conditions where people tend to break down muscle glycogen and burn less fat when they work out. A serious problem for such individuals, but if they do not pursue these heavy activities they are just fine.”
The above statement, it must be noted, is directed at the afforementioned 95% of non- sick, uninjured individuals. There is only a miniscule 5% of people that actually show a dramatic benefit from exercise. Hell, I even learned that during my undergrad at a university in Texas. I reiterate, GIVE UP! There are simply too many reasons and excuses to not even try. Way to go Martin! You hit the nail on the head. You are better off not even trying since only 5% will respond to a fitness regimen.
*sarcasm*
quote of the day: “Remember this, dont chew off too much than what you can handle, and its always a bad idea to act as if you know the subject because sooner or later someone is going to expose your disinformation charade.”
— a round of applause for our undergrad at the fine institution of the University of Texas.
my personal quote: ” you can put a man through school but you cant make him think”
ASS
But, then again, what do I know? I only have a “Phd in Medicine” from the University of Colorado. I really wish I would have found more excuses to give up sooner. All that work…….UGH.
Wow. I wouldn’t have thought people were still commenting on this article. I just came across it after googling “Matthew McConaughey” (try typing that three times fast) and seeing the author call him a pretty boy. Hmm. Men will laugh when their wives or girlfriends express dislike for another woman simply because she’s attractive, but when a man sees another man who’s considered attractive, he’s a “pretty boy” and they don’t see how it’s the same thing. I bet there were some in Dean’s day who considered him a “pretty boy”. Good-looking and not much of an actor. I’ve seen Rebel Without a Cause. I was not impressed. Don’t get me started on John Wayne.
The comparison of James Dean and MM up there is unfair. Dean’s sitting down and slouching and McConaughey is posing for maximum effect. I can’t see what Dean’s physique looks like in that picture. HIs pecs look somewhat developed there, though. Hard to tell.
In any case, I’ve seen UFC types that I thought were attractive, actors I’ve thought were attractive, pro wrestlers that I thought were attractive (usually the ones who are obviously not using steroids) and everyday joes who I thought were attractive. And, horrors, I do like to see some muscle, though not muscle-bound. The first time I saw Johnny Depp without a shirt it was a turn-off. Jack Sparrow’s kind of hot. Johnny Depp, not so much. But that’s just a physical thing. I don’t know him personally.
I do like Matthew McConaughey’s physique. I love his voice. It’s his hair I can’t stand.
I used the Abs IQ six pack abs program by Bogumil Gizewski and found it to be very easy to follow and very effective. In Abs IQ Mr Gizewski teaches you have to work smarter not harder to get nice abs. http://www.absiq.com
the stupidest article i have ever read
wtf
that man with big biceps is the one that should be pitting you for eating that crap
whats the point of exercising if u are going to eat crap all day
Man, the comments on this post are so moronic that they unfortunately add weight to the stereotype of the dumb meathead. They apparently need to be spending less time at the gym and more time reading books. All this dude is saying is that making six pack abs your goal is not a good goal. And really, it’s not. An above commenter mentioned that no one yet had answered the question of why-why make six pack abs a goal. It’s not related to your fitness or health level, so why? I work out 6 times a week for an hour and I don’t have six pack abs. I’m just an average looking bloke and I’ve had no problem with the ladies.
Came across this article today-it basically says the same thing-the obsession with six pack abs is just a recent cultural thing-
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article5959893.ece
I so agree. Guys who are not athletic but having huge muscles are disgusting. muscles are useless meat if you don’t have places to use them (e.g. in sports). Girls are looking for athletic guys, not gym nerds. If you’re not athletic, then stop trying to get buffed just to impress people. it’s not impressive at all!!
If I knew this was going so stupid I wasn’t going to read it.Of course having muscles is very important.This is just to calm the fat guys that can’t even walk to think that they are not useless.
Why did you make this website so difficult to scroll through. Urgh.
Alessandro…but Rambo was a Green Beret. Kinda like the Army version of the SEALS.
This is actually sad to read, the idea is not to get ripped, getting ripped comes with the loving ability of exercise. I play hockey, I am in the type of shape that those guys at the top are in, I like to eat healthy because it makes me feel great, not because I am giving up my six dollar burger at Carl’s, If I want to go have one I’ll go get one, the point is I don’t want one. Sounds to me like you have no willpower at all my friend, and the girls do like a six pack, it’s true, it’s true.
I did not read a single word of this article beyond the title and I won’t.
I agree that there is much more to life than 6pack abs. I have a strong inclination that this article is making that statement in attempt to comfort the men who don’t have great genetics in regards to body fat storage or simply choose not to dedicate themselves to strict diets, can’t commit to aggressive workout routines, have a problem only sleeping with hot women, and want to be one of those guys who wears a tshirt at beach.
Don’t have it, don’t fret, life isn’t over. But that doesn’t mean you should try and put the washboarded population in a class that would make them seem like they don’t have their priorities in line.
-RVS
no ryan no
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