I started cold approaching about 2 months ago on a consistent basis with a goal of doing 3–10 approaches per day whenever I have free time throughout the week and weekend.

I wanted to share a recent win because this community is a big part of why I finally started. I got tired of relying on dating apps and wanted to test my social skills in real life.

I approached an older woman at Whole Foods who was very attractive (model body, cute face, etc.) using a situational opener. She was holding a bunch of groceries, so I offered to help her. We ended up talking for about 10 minutes, and the conversation flowed really naturally. At one point another woman nearby randomly complimented my tank top, while I was talking to the older girl, which unexpectedly turned into a funny little “wingwoman” moment.

We exchanged numbers, went on a date two days ago, had a great time, and kissed. We went out again yesterday, and things progressed from there to a lay at her place. One thing that stood out was that she said she admired the fact that I approached her in the first place. She mentioned that hardly anyone does that anymore and that it takes guts, which was nice to hear.

What surprised me most is that I rarely match with women like her on dating apps, so this was a reminder that cold approach and real-life interactions can be a completely different game. This was also the only approach I did that day, so I definitely got a bit lucky.

I’m still new to cold approach, but I wanted to say thanks to everyone here. Reading posts in this community is what pushed me to get out of my comfort zone, and so far it’s been a much better experience than relying only on dating apps.

For anyone who’s on the fence about trying it, my biggest takeaway is that it really comes down to practice, practice, and more practice.

For context, I’m 5’9”, 30 yo, self-employed, and live in San Diego, CA. I’m in decent shape, but I don’t consider myself some male model (MTN to HTN range). If I can make it work, I think most guys can improve with enough reps.