How much does being muscular actually help with attraction?

seduction-ModTeam · 2026-03-21T00:44:31+00:00

This post/comment has been removed because it violates Rule #5: The topic is too broad, has been covered a lot already, or involves the assumption overly limited by race, age, physical limitations/appearance, and/or other inborn external qualities.

Put in some reading & work before asking questions that have been addressed, like: * How do I approach? * How do I get a number? * How do I talk to girls at college? * How/When do I kiss a girl? * Does this really work?

As for the last one, it is an answered question. There have been many posts on physical limitations over the years, including this one. No need to re-ask it.

IdeaLonely · 2026-03-20T03:21:08+00:00

It definitely gets your foot in the door, women will tolerate alot more autistic shit from you then you think they can handle.

BigDReggie · 2026-03-20T03:17:06+00:00

Get jacked bro. Idk what these comments below are swaying you not to be lmao.

To put in perspective for you, I got a mild bald spot and hair everywhere else and a hairline intact.

Men are the only ones who make fun or comment, while I still get attention from beautiful women.

I’m jacked. Men will find any reason to try to attack your confidence while women will be mesmerized and wonder why is that guy walking so confidently? He must have other good qualities

National_Echidna1834 · 2026-03-20T03:32:39+00:00

Usually guys who hit the gym and have a decent amount of muscle are more confident and the confidence is what’s attractive. Also being more fit increases your sex appeal. Doesn’t have to be anything too crazy. Hit the gym for your own health and fitness and let the benefits carry over to attraction. But if your goal is to just get laid then having muscle is not needed. Just play the numbers game as bars/clubs and refine your approach as you go.

innit2improve · 2026-03-20T02:32:04+00:00

Would probably help but I doubt that's the main issue you're dealing with. A lot of skinny guys can pull

Othrtt20 · 2026-03-20T07:46:48+00:00

From own experience? It makes you way more of a sexual target. Ive always been told i was cute and had girls looking at me, however since I have very muscular chest/back/arms (v-shape, natty , as girls dont like bodybuilders). It was never this easy really. When going out they go from looking to orbitting around you and if you still dont bite they literally grind against ur d*ck to get attention. It is the best thing you can do, especially if you are seen to be “cute” and have a babyface, it makes you hot in an instant

BurnItDownSR · 2026-03-20T03:17:31+00:00

Theres a level of muscularity where you'll be at your most attractive. The example most people go to is Brad Pitt in Fight Club.

Getting bigger than that brings you to the point of diminishing returns and you'll start to see attention shift from women to men.

But regardless, even at the most attractive level of muscularity, it's hardly a game changer. I used to be a fitness model until only a few years ago and yes I would have women check me out from time to time and get approached occasionally, and it makes the initial approach easier, but if you're awkward, can't flirt, or even if you're normal but just don't know what to do after breaking the ice, your physique still amounts to nothing.

When I was younger I used to think being muscular was everything. I got numbers left and right but guess what, I never saw those girls ever again. Most of them didn't even reply to my first text, including the ones who approached me.

There's more to seduction than just being muscular, telling her she's cute and then asking for her number within a minute.

It looks impressive in the moment, but if you follow up on guys that do that, you'll realize all those girls are just ghosting them.

valll_blt · 2026-03-20T07:36:19+00:00

5 Years of gym, decent physic , What's striking is that you attract more men; women will never come up to you directly, it will be more subtle. There will also be men who will try to put you down, like, "What's striking is that you attract more men; women will never come up to you directly, it will be more subtle. There will also be men who will try to put you down, like, "Just because you do bodybuilding doesn't mean I can't beat you up...""

Obviously it increases your chances of being attractive tenfold, especially because you gain confidence in yourself, but you shouldn't do this sport only for women.

lavenderthiefs · 2026-03-20T12:03:03+00:00

he’s not wrong, being jacked just makes life easier and you carry yourself different whether you admit it or not

also your clothes start fitting way better and girls get way more touchy feely when you hug them which never gets talked about

it’s not magic but it definitely moves you out of the harmless skinny friend box real quick

georgeofthejungle71 · 2026-03-20T14:25:21+00:00

I think it changes as we age.

Im 6-2 and used to be an extremely powerful 400 pounds and had zero interest. Dropped to low 200s in late fourties, with excess skin to show for it. Still there mid fifties. Been grey for ten years. Balding is getting worse and I struggle with my self image. So, while I see myself as pretty average on my very best day, women 45+ or so, I seem to have no issues whatsoever. I just wish I knew why. So... Clearly something changes as we age.

confused_8357 · 2026-03-20T03:15:37+00:00

so have you ever pur your ego on the line and complimented a girl and asked her out ?

i would suggest going direct and learning to grow a thick skin.

remembers the best players have the highest rejections and also higher success becoz their volume is high

Discopotatoz · 2026-03-20T03:18:27+00:00

Gym chicks want mass, most girls want aesthetic. Slim and handsome is the cheat code

KevinLuWX · 2026-03-20T03:23:00+00:00

Girls like to touch my emotional support biceps.

nelsne · 2026-03-20T03:15:49+00:00

Women usually like guys with a beach body. They like muscle (but natural looking muscle) not so much muscle that they look like they're going to be in a Bodybuilding.com add. They don't like the guys with like extremely veiny looking guys with ridiculously low body fat percentages. They don't look like the guys juice steroids hard. Go for more of Matthew Mccaughnahey 2000s Beach Bod look or if you're husky, just go for the muscular but not bodybuilder look.

Pjayyyy368 · 2026-03-20T10:19:55+00:00

I mean it can help but it’s not the reason you’re a virgin

Disastrous_Affect742 · 2026-03-20T02:50:33+00:00

If you wanna attract women build your personality!! I've been skin and bones all my life and pulled no problem. If you wanna attract dudes sure get big

SuperPoop · 2026-03-20T11:49:09+00:00

I’d put on some mass if i were you. As a former fat guy who’s starting to become muscular, the gals like in shape better than skinny or fat.

dismalprognosis · 2026-03-20T13:29:17+00:00

Anyone who says getting jacked and lean "just gets you in the door" or "only works because it makes you confident" are just lying. It's the biggest thing you can do to increase your attraction. There's a reason why women squeeze your biceps and rub up on your pecs when you're hooking up with them, it's not because you're so confident

Obviously, if you're socially inept or turn into a powerbuilding meatball, you might have trouble. Look at physiques of people like Austin Dunham, Shaymaxx, and Jordan McCloud. All lean with muscle

StopElectingWealthy · 2026-03-20T03:49:23+00:00

Being strong/muscular is something that gives you confidence, and forces other people to show you respect in public because they don’t know if crossing you will get their ass beat. Your height enhances this.

This coalesces into women respecting you (and ideally you respecting yourself)seeing you as a prospective protector as well. Top it off with a clean hairstyle and you are headed straight to pound town

CannaChris817 · 2026-03-20T04:06:25+00:00

Get into a martial art and get fit. It’ll help with confidence with the ladies and being able to defend yourself

qtdd · 2026-03-20T05:07:48+00:00

Honestly if your skinny you can probably get to a point where there are real benefits in like 6 months of a consistent program of working out and eating just a bit more to put on a little weight

SonyHDSmartTV · 2026-03-20T08:58:51+00:00

If you're physically attractive, generally a nice person and not a pushover then you're free to be the weirdo you were meant to be and women won't mind, in fact they'll probably like you for it.

throwaway-research1 · 2026-03-20T09:06:02+00:00

I am sorry but I feel like guys are such losers these days, like how are you around women, 6ft, get occasional compliments and never had a kiss?

What do you think is going to happen after you put on some muscle? Do you think women are going to undress infront of you because you are muscular? Lol you have to be the one to make a move dude

niajahi · 2026-03-20T09:09:45+00:00

What you described is essentially you're a good guy, a nice guy. Women feel comfortable being around you. Muscles *may* help but attraction is a state. Are there any women that you talk to that you're physically attracted to? Then why not flirt with them? Flirting rather than having a safe/normal conversation will build that attraction for you. Go to the gym for you, not for anyone else.

Jironasaurus · 2026-03-20T11:00:49+00:00

Having muscles help. Looking strong has always been favored. I will go as far as to say this is not really debatable. BUT... your problem is not that. You mentioned that:

"I rarely get the traditional signs of attraction from women"

That tells me you're reactive and potentially very passive when it comes to showing your interest around women.

You also said:

"... but I doubt it means they think I'm attractive."

This suggests that you lack the confidence, and don't believe women can actually want you as a romantic partner. So if you ask me, your issue is mainly your mindset and attitude.

So to answer your question, yes... you will see clearer signs of interest if you have a muscular build. But because your attitude is too reactive/passive, the likelihood is, women will quickly find out that you don't have the conviction/belief in yourself (which is an indicator of strength) and lose interest eventually. Also, you've pretty much conditioned yourself not to act/show your intent around women. Which means when you finally get into a situation where you have to show your intent, you may end up holding yourself back as a result of old habits.

fireqwer · 2026-03-20T11:42:03+00:00

with some girls, yes. Attraction (success) from cold approach is about her thinking you are hot. If a girl thinks muscles are hot, getting ripped will help a tonne with that girl

Yanksrock615 · 2026-03-20T13:58:36+00:00

Undoubtedly helps. It’s not only about how it looks, but what it says about you as a person. It shows you have immense discipline and respect in yourself which is huge.

ProfitisAlethia · 2026-03-20T16:14:35+00:00

You should be in the gym, but not for women, but for health. I started for women, so if that's gotta be your motivation, then do it. It'll definitely help. I'm 6 foot 1 and weighed 130 so I get where you're coming from. It sucked.

Like others here have said, your physique is not the problem though. I would recommend hiring a coach or having some brutally honest conversations with guys in your friend group because there's probably something obvious that you're doing wrong that you just can't see.

Pbake · 2026-03-20T17:45:20+00:00

Making more money will always get more results than building more muscles.

PrinceDestin · 2026-03-20T18:12:38+00:00

[ Removed by Reddit ]

MrRoidsen · 2026-03-20T20:31:40+00:00

It helps a lot

star_wars_the_501st · 2026-03-20T22:10:32+00:00

S&R Value improves and it definitely helps when you’re in bed undressing when your body is attractive.

In the pickup itself not that important since you’re wearing clothes.

Being fat is definitely a disadvantage tho

pointofyou · 2026-03-20T22:36:29+00:00

Hit the gym for yourself my guy. The actual sequence of events is as follows:

You hit the gym consistently 3-5 times per week, eat clean and sleep well. This will lead to all sorts of improvements: mental health benefits, you will see your body change, social encounters at the gym, a healthy daily routine.
You start to feel better about yourself and adopt the identity of a fit guy, someone who goes to the gym, exerts and pushes himself.
This inevitably makes you more confident, because you're not faking shit, you're doing shit. The new confident and more jacked version of you starts to exude a natural draw on people around you.

You're not going to the gym to get jacked and get women. You're going to the gym to celebrate your body, push yourself and grow into the guy that women happen to find attractive. But you're doing it for you. Because you are most important to yourself.

Good luck!

I_AM_ZOIDBERG · 2026-03-20T23:40:55+00:00

My experience was: When I was young I was very fit, 8 pack with the V, but I had no game at all, so it was almost impossible to get women and I was expecting them to approach because I was shy(They didn't much).

Now, I gained some weight my body is average, but I learned game, dress better and groom better and I'm getting much more attention, so I think it doesn't matter this much. The most important thing is to not be obese and know how to talk to them!

NamelesInternetDude · 2026-03-20T04:13:54+00:00

For women, a nice body is more of a cherry-on-top than a cake. Focus on you presence, agency and emotional intelligence more than on your physique.

Don't get obsessed with the gym unless you have a particularly bad physique like being excessively skinny or fat.

A good little rule of thumb that i came up with: If you can carry a pregnant woman upstairs you have an attractive body

Diligent_Tutor9910 · 2026-03-20T04:37:03+00:00

A lot.

Whatever your current attraction lvl it's like a +10 buff.

You still won't get to bang any girl you want but you'll get a lot more takers. A lot more.

Average guys are weak and out of shape.

slim_shadyyyy_ · 2026-03-20T03:51:12+00:00

Muscle helps, but it won’t fix “no attraction” on its own. It just gets you noticed faster.

Right now you’re giving friend vibes. You need a bit of edge + flirting.

Gym = +points Flirting = the switch

the_monkey_knows · 2026-03-20T14:28:31+00:00

The trick is to be fit enough for clothes to look well, that’s it. Not too muscular, not too skinny

Incubus-311 · 2026-03-20T14:53:13+00:00

other posters nailed it

muscles are the cherry on top of a women is already attracted to you for another reason.

men truly don't understand that women REALLY view physical characteristics SO MUCH differently than men.

its actually insane.

here's a hot take - when I'm chiseled in the summer - 6 pack, arms, broad shoulders (About 10% bodyfat at 178 pounds at 5 11) - I'll go on a run / beach and notice that barely any women notice me at all. basically zero.

when I walk towards them, no looks, nothing.

it's because these women truly don't care about a good physique that much unless they already find something else attractive. it does nothing for them.

why? I'm average looking in the face - nothing special. there is nothing else to "hook" on - I just look like any average guy in the face.

a 6 foot 2 handsome man with the same body as me WILL get the looks.

however, if I make conversation/flirt then they will start complimenting my body. that's where I have to 'hook them".

and the hilarious thing is once I do, they find me very attractive physically and compliment me on it.

ExcellentPlace4608 · 2026-03-20T02:41:32+00:00

Muscles are for other guys. Women do not care nearly as much as you think. Obviously you should be at a health BMI and fit but so few women care for the guy with 11% body fat. I started having much better results when I stopped bodybuilding and switched to martial arts. I lost the big bulky muscle but gained way more functional strength and confidence which reflects in the way I carry myself. That kind of thing is hard to fake.

Also, I think you underestimate how many women like skinny dudes. We all have our types.

JohnnyBlazex · 2026-03-20T07:59:13+00:00

If you only want an athletic body just to attract more girls I have news for you. It won’t work for you.

I train because I love it and it’s a way of life. Yes, woman are attracted to my body but I never intended to workout “just because I want to look hot”.

undyingly · 2026-03-20T04:15:24+00:00

DO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL THE MOST YOURSELF. there are a lot of conflicting comments in here, so I’m saying do what makes you happiest.

my boyfriend IS a cross country runner. he used to rock climb so he sorta has abs but mainly muscle mass in his forearms and some lean mass in his biceps/shoulder area, but not a lot, and he has chicken legs. his legs are so skinny. and i love his chicken legs. if for no other reason, i have plenty of room to get comfy laying in between his legs, and ive felt suffocated in the past when guys have thicker thighs. i’m extremely attracted to my boyfriends body. i have dated very muscular men, and im not personally a fan. of course many women are, but we all have preferences, and your personality and confidence matters a lot too, so do what makes you the happiest and feel the best about yourself. don’t do it just to attract women.

Sea_Independent_9511 · 2026-03-20T04:30:08+00:00

Algo que nunca te dirá esto de la seduccion en parte es el dimorfismo, asimétrias, biometrias. Y eres feo no lo digo yo ablan tus experiencias por que hay flacos con novia lo tuyo hay dos te hablar más, o tienes una neurodibergencia. Por las iniciales del masculino es tu ropa actitud, confianza seguridad, liderazgo, coqueteo y con un foto o propósito hipergamia con dinero para tu estilo de vida objetos en donde vives qué carro tienes abla es después que ayas echo eso por que ellas ven que tienes o eres alguien importante si no te beneficia la skin pero como dije si tienes neurodibergencias te va a afectar más y la hipergamia te va a descargar ellas saben identificar las micro expresiónes y tus problemas y no eres único virgen más de 25 hay estudios estadísticas. Pero por no vas con una Trabajadora, en lugar chido y buena y ya si eso crea una inseguridad por que si me dices que la seducción es diferente a eso por que aplica a ti no te valió. Y esos son esquemas ponzi los que pagan abajo suben el dinero y estatus de arriba y vende más cursos y tiene a más gracias a los gusanos. Pero información mate no eres el único haci de casto asimétrias, redpil, libros. Estudios te van decir. Lee o escucha el varón domado y la psicóloga de la mujer de Helena deischt.

BayesianBits · 2026-03-20T06:01:58+00:00

If you do it for you, it's attractive. If it's to looksmax for girls, it's cringe.

count_saveahoe · 2026-03-20T09:44:13+00:00

As a woman, for me, I won’t even flirt with a guy unless he’s clearly huge & muscular. I also swipe left on all profiles unless there’s a shirtless pic. I will even go as far as to say everything else (personality, skills etc) don’t matter at all compared to career + huge muscles. But I also pretty much live in the gym and diet and have abs myself. But I know plenty of girls who like lean guys skinny guys and even dad bod and what they describe as “meaty men” … Hope that helps.

LogicalCondition9069 · 2026-03-20T12:13:15+00:00

If they're comfortable talking to you and you're comfortable talking to them you're probably friendzoning yourself and it has nothing to do with your looks.

Imscubbabish · 2026-03-20T14:27:13+00:00

I know a guy who was jacked but no girl liked him. Its because underneath those muscles was a giant piece of shit. Muscles could get you far but if theres nothing underneath just shittynees then yeah youre not going to have any luck. Confidence and being yourself helps alot more than muscles

Wonderful_Tip_2023 · 2026-03-20T15:12:19+00:00

To be honest its not gonna change your main interactions its a little cherry on top that cna maybe make you seem a bit better but theres so many guys without anything close to that who still pull. It does help you build self confidence and socially grow so that may be the main thing that comes with it, but if you dont practice pulling now, approaching with muscles aint gon change a lot

Reddit_is_Racist_888 · 2026-03-20T20:14:30+00:00

Muscles don't talk

Whole_Caramel_7279 · 2026-03-20T03:30:04+00:00

Only hoes care about muscles, especially gym girls, which are just masculine girls anyway trying to build bigger biceps and huge quads

Title	How much does being muscular actually help with attraction?
Author	tin8374
Upvotes	105
Comments	99
Date	March 20, 2026 2:23 AM UTC (4 months ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/seduction
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/seduction/comments/1ryk3gs/how_much_does_being_muscular_actually_help_with/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/seduction/how-much-does-being-muscular-actually-help-with.1575954 https://theredarchive.com/post/1575954

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