Do You Think Bulking Is Pressured Amongst Men?

[4294991]

Not to say that the average guy is doing this, but do you think guys feel pressured to bulk themselves up for the sake of being viewed as more masculine? There's clearly a lot of guys that bulk up, a lot of guys on here, but do you really think it's all about fitness? I want to looks strong, want to be cut, but I feel perfectly fine being the ectomorph within all of that. Being an ectomorph is made to seem like a bad thing with these articles based around how to build into another body type. It's not my preference to build up like that, what I have, I want it to be natural.

Again, I'm not knocking anybody who wants to bulk up, my curious ass just thought it was an interesting question.

 

[DSF140]

Not to say that the average guy is doing this, but do you think guys feel pressured to bulk themselves up for the sake of being viewed as more masculine? There's clearly a lot of guys that bulk up, a lot of guys on here, but do you really think it's all about fitness? I want to looks strong, want to be cut, but I feel perfectly fine being the ectomorph within all of that. Being an ectomorph is made to seem like a bad thing with these articles based around how to build into another body type. It's not my preference to build up like that, what I have, I want it to be natural.

Again, I'm not knocking anybody who wants to bulk up, my curious ass just thought it was an interesting question.

From my somewhat limited experiences talking with the big guys, it seems like the more novice a guy is, the more likely he is to recommend bulking and then cutting. The more experienced guys will say that it's better to stay leaner and let your growth come slower. I've heard one bodybuilder-trainer who said that the proponents of bulking are simply guys who for whatever reason wish to be fat. In essence what the bulker is doing is that he starts at his best shape, gets fat while working out like crazy, goes through an insane cutting phase, and ends up being marginally bigger than before. Eating correctly while working out like crazy will give you the same results, minus the insane cutting phase.

 

[4301491]

Bulking is always more fun than cutting for me: eat more, lift more and easily watch gains on the scale. The cut involves more cardio and more patience.

As an ectomorph I always had a bias for the bulking and it's been hard to break out of that mentality. Maybe I've been programmed to think the best athletic look is an NFL or NBA player. The best thing for me was to get started in Thai kickboxing. Watching MMA showed me what great athletes are out there with very lean and light builds.

 

[4294991]

Bulking is always more fun than cutting for me: eat more, lift more and easily watch gains on the scale. The cut involves more cardio and more patience.

As an ectomorph I always had a bias for the bulking and it's been hard to break out of that mentality. Maybe I've been programmed to think the best athletic look is an NFL or NBA player. The best thing for me was to get started in Thai kickboxing. Watching MMA showed me what great athletes are out there with very lean and light builds.

Yeah, muay thai and mmm fighters are in amazing shape. That body frame is more ideal to me as well.

 

[palmer]

When I was in college and knowing nothing about proper nutrition I ate everything and lifted heavy and had a decent bench. But I was also 245# with a 44 in waist.
Now I'm in my late 30s with a 36/38 waist and in way better shape. I figured my body is naturally comfortable around 216-220 and other than a thick core I'm pretty proportional.
Would I like to be cut and more muscular? Absolutely, but my wife isn't into guys like that and I don't have the time to maintain that physique. But I do appreciate and applaud the guys that do.

 

[276992]

Constant and repetitive bulk/cut cycles are likely not the healthiest approach to gaining size and strength. If looking to grow simply eat at a moderate caloric surplus consistently. As for aesthetic, thicker guys who show muscle definition are more attractive to both men and women, as are taller man, and often men who show masculine traits such as body hair and generally what is considered a large frame. Although I appreciate smaller guys and the fact that they can look very athletic, I think we have been conditioned and appreciate much more a larger man. Could be why shorter guys have a complex and anger about them all the time.

 

[headjohnwhite]

Not to say that the average guy is doing this, but do you think guys feel pressured to bulk themselves up for the sake of being viewed as more masculine? There's clearly a lot of guys that bulk up, a lot of guys on here, but do you really think it's all about fitness? I want to looks strong, want to be cut, but I feel perfectly fine being the ectomorph within all of that. Being an ectomorph is made to seem like a bad thing with these articles based around how to build into another body type. It's not my preference to build up like that, what I have, I want it to be natural.

Again, I'm not knocking anybody who wants to bulk up, my curious ass just thought it was an interesting question.

No, I see more people being pressured into "cutting" rather than looking like a bloated peacock.

Also, do you train at a hardcore gym? Maybe that's why.

 

[4294991]

I guess it just depends on where you are.

No, I'm not a gym guy. It's in what women say, it's in conversations with guys about exercise and stuff. It all refers to this big guy, this muscular guy.

 

[headjohnwhite]

It's in what women say,

Huh? I find they like ripped dudes more than the big bulky dudes. I rarely hear women say there ideal body type is a big muscular dude. They like the CK model over the linebacker and trust me, I'm built like a line backer with low body fat and it's a specific kind of lady that likes my body type. The only guys who like my build is other guys. I get more compliments from men than women.

 

[4294991]

Huh? I find they like ripped dudes more than the big bulky dudes. I rarely hear women say there ideal body type is a big muscular dude. They like the CK model over the linebacker and trust me, I'm built like a line backer with low body fat and it's a specific kind of lady that likes my body type. The only guys who like my build is other guys. I get more compliments from men than women.

For example, the girls at work see me and be like, "I need a man with some bulk, you too skinny," Or "you need to gain some weight." They not particularly referring to a big muscular dude (or they could be), but from who they say it, it's regarding a guy with some size to them. I don't hear that from men though, I'm like this trophy or some shit, lol.

 

[headjohnwhite]

"I need a man with some bulk, you too skinny," Or "you need to gain some weight."

Are they 200+ pounds? Morbidly obese?

They not particularly referring to a big muscular dude (or they could be), but from who they say it, it's regarding a guy with some size to them.

Well you must work with some sows. The only women I hear talking shit like that are morbidly obese women who want men who weigh more than they do.

 

[4294991]

Lol, this is a big girl, lol. Yooo, lol. She not obese though. But that's a good point, it would seem a lot of girls don't want a guy that's close to their size, they want a guy that's bigger than them.

 

[headjohnwhite]

Lol, this is a big girl, lol. Yooo, lol. She not obese though. But that's a good point, it would seem a lot of girls don't want a guy that's close to their size, they want a guy that's bigger than them.

But also in muscle not in fat .They can be 40% body fat but of course the requirements for their boyfriend is to be less than 8% body fat. My guess is they are single and if they do have a boyfriend he is probably fat sow like they are

 

[4294991]

But also in muscle not in fat .They can be 40% body fat but of course the requirements for their boyfriend is to be less than 8% body fat. My guess is they are single and if they do have a boyfriend he is probably fat sow like they are

Right, lol.

 

[DSF140]

For example, the girls at work see me and be like, "I need a man with some bulk, you too skinny," Or "you need to gain some weight." They not particularly referring to a big muscular dude (or they could be), but from who they say it, it's regarding a guy with some size to them. I don't hear that from men though, I'm like this trophy or some shit, lol.

That's the sort of stuff that I almost always hear, too, @AI93JR . Maybe because we're both in the southeast US where football rules, or maybe because we're both low in fat and all that passes through our filters is that the chicks want the big, bulky guys and we're thinking, WTF.