How does fitness culture affect dating and relationships?

No-Rough-7390 · 2023-08-16T14:17:14+00:00

Been to a US airport lately? Look around, there’s anti-fitness culture if anything lol.

But, to answer your question, I think there are two “fair metrics”.

Either your standard is that the person your with cares about fitness as much as you, or you’re both dedicated to look the same or better for one another (body type) throughout the relationship.

And because there’s always one, there are time lapses for things like pregnancy, sickness, and I’m not referring to seniors.

DoctorWinchester87 · 2023-08-16T15:48:29+00:00

America is very much a dichotomy in respect to fitness. I've noticed that the two ends are growing further and further apart - the people into fitness are really into fitness and take that lifestyle very seriously, and the people not into fitness are really not into it. You have the fitness crazy people at the opposite end of the obesity crisis. There seemingly isn't as much room in the "middle" as there used to be. Looking back at my dad's generation (baby boomers), it seems that most of them followed a pretty general trajectory throughout their life: thin as children/teenagers, average to slightly built (almost always from physical work and rarely from the gym) as adults, and beer belly dad or mom bods as older adults. I don't have the statistics on it, but I'd imagine that gym membership in my dad's day was a lot lower than it is today. Now we have a culture where a certain demographic (typically upper middle class professionals living in metropolitan areas) who are very concerned about fitness, and most other people don't think much about it and just go about their life.

I'd imagine this makes more people less attractive, because fit people will always be more objectively attractive than unfit and they almost always date among themselves. It would be a pretty big imbalance to have a couple where one was fit and active and the other wasn't. Most millennial couples I know are really into things like yoga, biking, hiking, and jogging. They aren't always peak fitness, but they like to be active. And for guys (especially gen z and beyond), there has been a big emphasis via social media to use the gym to achieve a sculpted physique rather than an average or lean physique (like what was common during my dad's younger years). I think this has a lot to do with looks becoming more and more important for young people today.

SeveralSadEvenings · 2023-08-16T15:06:42+00:00

I recently read a book about the evolution of fitness culture for women, and there was a section in there about how the gyms and health clubs in the 80's-90's also functioned as No Stings Attached pick up spots for young professionals who grew up under the shadow of the sexual revolution.

I think echo's of that attitude still exist today in 'fitness culture', but its been heavily watered down and sanitized by the hoi polloi who've recently joined a gym to out run their T2 beetus diagnosis.

Anyway, wherever young hard bodied single people congregate, they be fuckin'.

Lift_and_Lurk · 2023-08-16T14:21:03+00:00

The fitness culture in America is bigger than ever BUT it’s still very much a niche culture. Only 13 percent of men in America are in shape. It’s great once you get there cause now look in shape in a country where 87 percent of people aren’t. That also means you are either limited to the 18 percent of women in shape, or you run the risk of dating someone who doesn’t have the same passion for fitness as you.

MistyMaisel · 2023-08-16T15:28:54+00:00

I think this is really simple honestly:

Fit people tend to date other fit people.

Unhealthy people tend to date other unhealthy people.

Inactive people tend to date other inactive people.

Whatever type of active you are tends to date someone who is that same type of active (weight lifters with weight lifters, runners with runners, martial artists with martial artists).

Is this always the case? No, but in general, yes.

Mobrowncheeks · 2023-08-16T14:18:03+00:00

Fitness culture is low key an attempt to move the needle in your level of attractiveness despite your genetics and despite your educational/ economic backgrounds.

Outside of that. Y’all wealthy educated men and thin wealthy educated women will still remain the top of the social structure.

RonMexico432 · 2023-08-16T14:39:30+00:00

I wish there was a fitness culture here, where I live in the US. I'm more into functional fitness. Not just moving heavy things with unnatural movements with no real world application.

HighestTierMaslow · 2023-08-16T16:08:21+00:00

I was once very fit and had a hard time when single because the views and morality of very fit men didn't match mine but those were often the men seeking me out online, theyd say "youre one if the few attractive athletic women on here". I married someone not quite as into it. Now, he is more into it than me, so we switched (probably temporary I'm exhausted having a toddler)

Sad_Top1743 · 2023-08-16T23:55:57+00:00

Way more men are into it than women.

Women prefer group exercises and they’re generally less consistent

dumbbitchcas · 2023-08-16T16:04:45+00:00

I don’t know it’s weird here. Men who are fit don’t want to date women who are fit, but more so women who are just naturally extremely thin. Because of this environment as an active woman I absolutely detest “gym guys” and refuse to associate with them. I find their lack of any hobbies or interests beyond the gym quite pathetic. I will say lots of inactive men can be scared off or intimated by a highly active woman. I don’t consider myself that active, but if I do the math I probably “work out” around 14 hours a week and ive gotten the impression from guys who don’t work out that that makes them feel bad abt themselves even though I couldn’t care less

lolthankstinder · 2023-08-16T18:28:30+00:00

I entered college in the US as a very cardio-fit runner, 5’9”, 128lbs. But, I only got attention from obese women. So, I spent the next 3 years at the gym slowly working my way up to 155 lbs. However, a lifting hobby became a lot more time consuming after college without access to an unlimited college meal plan so I stopped going as frequently. Thankfully, around late twenties women’s priorities began to change and I started getting attention from attractive women without needing to be super muscular.

AutoModerator · 2023-08-16T14:11:36+00:00

Attention!

You can post off topic/jokes/puns as a comment to this Automoderator message.
For "CMV" and "Question for X" Threads: Parent comments that aren't from the target group will be removed, along with their child replies.
If you want to agree with OP instead of challenging their view or if the question is not targeted at you, post it as an answer to this comment.
OP you can choose your own flair according to these guidelines., just press Flair under your post!

Thanks for your cooperation and enjoy the discussion!

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

bottomLobster · 2023-08-16T20:57:06+00:00

I see it the other way around - if you do any kind of regular physical activity, you are already ahead of most people. Now for the appearance/sport it's highly subjective I believe, but I do find funny the guys with big chest and no legs.

HTML_Novice · 2023-08-17T12:01:05+00:00

I’m in a major city, fitness doesn’t really help at all unless you’re trying to attract some MSM. Some women like it, but they don’t drool over it like I wish they would

GodspeedHarmonica · 2023-08-17T13:00:26+00:00

I've been to both USA and Singapore and I agree that there is a massive difference when it comes to dating.

But I disagree that USA has a fitness culture. Americans are not fit. Most are fat as fuck. They might go to the gym, but they are still fat. Being big is a good thing and a part of the culture

In Singapore few people are fat. The culture is more about being in good shape. Cardio and rock climbing fits those ideals much better.

I don't think the dating culture is effected too much.

Flightlessbirbz · 2023-08-17T15:05:46+00:00

I think there are more very fit/muscular people now and also more obese people, whereas in the past most people were anywhere from thin to slightly overweight. For men being fit meant more of just an athletic body, and women wouldn’t have touched heavy weights, diet and aerobics/cardio exercise were the fad. So I wouldn’t say average fitness level has gone up, it’s just that for those who are into it, there’s more of an emphasis on lifting.

NonTakenNameThatIUse · 2023-08-17T17:03:40+00:00

Women think having 10% body fat is the new average for men.

Women also think being skinny is the only thing guys want. Meanwhile the chubby nerdy chick can lock down 7/8/9 guy by wearing something just a slight bit more showoffy than her usual and caring about his interests.

Weird_Perception4166 · 2023-09-14T22:20:29+00:00

Looking for fitness dating sites. Recommendations?

Title	How does fitness culture affect dating and relationships?
Author	passportbro999
Upvotes	12
Comments	63
Date	August 16, 2023 2:11 PM UTC (2 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/PurplePillDebate
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/PurplePillDebate/comments/15sr19t/how_does_fitness_culture_affect_dating_and/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/PurplePillDebate/how-does-fitness-culture-affect-dating-and.1228668 https://theredarchive.com/post/1228668

Comments