When is a man too fit?

corkgsxr · 26-12-2013 02:23AM

When he has trouble shampooing.

CM24 · 26-12-2013 03:10AM

http://media.joe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/BoweTommy-beach.jpg Tommy Bowe ticks all the boxes! Speed, strength, endurance, skills and aesthetics. Comes across as a bit of craic also.

Daveysil15 · 26-12-2013 09:21AM

CM24 wrote: »

http://media.joe.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/BoweTommy-beach.jpg Tommy Bowe ticks all the boxes! Speed, strength, endurance, skills and aesthetics. Comes across as a bit of craic also.

The women in that photo aint bad either.

GreeBo · 26-12-2013 05:50PM

He was probably injured soon after that photo though...

FizzleSticks · 26-12-2013 06:27PM

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YFlyer · 26-12-2013 06:33PM

Oregano_State wrote: »

Don't believe the hype.

I'd have to say the closest thing to what you're describing would be the World/Olympic decathlon champion, Ashton Eaton. The dude is a freak.

Eaton has power Froning strength.

Itwasntme. · 26-12-2013 06:43PM

FizzleSticks wrote: »

Oh yah someone replied to me on this by saying well that is an extreme example of fitness.

Sure isn't that the whole point of the thread what is too fit.

For me being too fit, fat or skinny is pretty extreme when it comes to being a barrier to me liking someone, like really extreme. I feel like the way a guys body is really isn't a big deal to me or a deal breaker but not so much the case with a lot of men are they just pickier when it comes to their partners body or am I just oblivious :P

Does that mean that you can be physically attracted to any body type? If that's the case, then you're lucky.

I've occasionally fallen for guys I wasn't initially physically attracted to but I've learned along the way that I can't trick myself into wanting someone because I think they are nice people. Physical attraction is not the be all and end all by all means but that raw chemistry needs to be there as well. And for me raw chemistry depends on not just how nice I think a guy is but also how I react to him physically and I have definitely have a type.

SV · 26-12-2013 06:46PM

Duck's hoop wrote: »

Nobody's mentioned rowers. Arguably the toughest and fittest of all the crazy fit nuts.

Rowers are the one group that other Olympic competitors look at and wonder why they'd want to do it.

A senior club level orsman might train 15 hours pw for an event topping out at 7 minutes.

Used to do rowing, extremely tough sport and the lads who win most things are incredibly fit.

This quote springs to mind

"Marathon runners talk about hitting 'the wall' at the twenty-third mile of the race. What rowers confront isn't a wall; it's a hole - an abyss of pain, which opens up in the second minute of the race. Large needles are being driven into your thigh muscles, while your forearms seem to be splitting. Then the pain becomes confused and disorganized, not like the windedness of the runner or the leg burn of the biker but an all-over, savage unpleasantness. As you pass the five-hundred-meter mark, with three-quarters of the race still to row, you realize with dread that you are not going to make it to the finish, but at the same time the idea of letting your teammates down by not rowing your hardest is unthinkable...Therefore, you are going to die. Welcome to this life." -- Ashleigh Teitel

Itwasntme. · 26-12-2013 07:27PM

SV wrote: »

Used to do rowing, extremely tough sport and the lads who win most things are incredibly fit.

This quote springs to mind

"Marathon runners talk about hitting 'the wall' at the twenty-third mile of the race. What rowers confront isn't a wall; it's a hole - an abyss of pain, which opens up in the second minute of the race. Large needles are being driven into your thigh muscles, while your forearms seem to be splitting. Then the pain becomes confused and disorganized, not like the windedness of the runner or the leg burn of the biker but an all-over, savage unpleasantness. As you pass the five-hundred-meter mark, with three-quarters of the race still to row, you realize with dread that you are not going to make it to the finish, but at the same time the idea of letting your teammates down by not rowing your hardest is unthinkable...Therefore, you are going to die. Welcome to this life." -- Ashleigh Teitel

Wow, that was so beautifully articulated, I felt all the needles, splitting muscle and the fear of death by success!

SV · 26-12-2013 07:33PM

Itwasntme. wrote: »

Wow, that was so beautifully articulated, I felt all the needles, splitting muscle and the fear of death by success!

It's pretty accurate, the indoor rowing champs are particularly good for showing it as you're out on your own and the option of quitting is there, but you can't/won't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4OflmzVdOI

Pretty good video which you get to see the pain that they go through, these guys are(were) top class olympic gold medal winners.

FizzleSticks · 26-12-2013 07:35PM

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cantdecide · 26-12-2013 09:08PM

FizzleSticks wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

IME, men aren't as picky as we're led to believe. Everyone's dream love interest is hot in most or ever way, that's the way it's always been and probably ever will but in real terms, I've seen many of my friends stepping out with all kinds of girls and be glad to do so. Extremes are always going to be controversial of course.

Itwasntme. wrote: »

I've occasionally fallen for guys I wasn't initially physically attracted to but I've learned along the way that I can't trick myself into wanting someone because I think they are nice people. Physical attraction is not the be all and end all by all means but that raw chemistry needs to be there as well. And for me raw chemistry depends on not just how nice I think a guy is but also how I react to him physically and I have definitely have a type.

I think it's unfortunate. I consider myself lucky to not have a 'type' and I love that I that feeling like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to the opposite sex. Blonds, redheads, long hair, short hair, skinny, curvy, short, tall- it's all good. Physical attraction is a prerequisite for most people but the shorter the text in front of that box for ticking, the easier your life will be. The hottest body or the prettiest face in the world goes from ten to zero if she's mean or shallow.

Wibbs · 26-12-2013 10:21PM

cantdecide wrote: »

IME, men aren't as picky as we're led to believe. Everyone's dream love interest is hot in most or ever way, that's the way it's always been and probably ever will but in real terms, I've seen many of my friends stepping out with all kinds of girls and be glad to do so. Extremes are always going to be controversial of course.

Yea, going by similar experiences I'd agree with that CD.

I think it's unfortunate. I consider myself lucky to not have a 'type' and I love that I that feeling like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to the opposite sex.

Funny I used to think I didn't have a physical type and would claim this loudly, but looking back all the longtermers/luuurves were of a very similar body shape. On the other hand their personalities were very wide in range.

The hottest body or the prettiest face in the world goes from ten to zero if she's mean or shallow.

Very true. "Hot" only goes so far and it's a surprising short distance too. Personality, brains, fun, emotionally objective, lack of being a pain in the arse etc are where it's at.

Itwasntme. · 26-12-2013 10:51PM

cantdecide wrote: »

IME, men aren't as picky as we're led to believe.Everyone's dream love interest is hot in most or ever way, that's the way it's always been and probably ever will but in real terms, I've seen many of my friends stepping out with all kinds of girls and be glad to do so. Extremes are always going to be controversial of course.

I think it's unfortunate. I consider myself lucky to not have a 'type' and I love that I that feeling like a kid in a candy shop when it comes to the opposite sex. Blonds, redheads, long hair, short hair, skinny, curvy, short, tall- it's all good. Physical attraction is a prerequisite for most people but the shorter the text in front of that box for ticking, the easier your life will be. The hottest body or the prettiest face in the world goes from ten to zero if she's mean or shallow.

EDIT: This is incredibly OT.

You're lucky you don't have a type. What does that mean exactly? What does attraction entail for you? Is it the same as Fizzle? I have a hard time wrapping my head around it.

You could drop me in a sea of blond male models and my pulse would remain steady but put me in front of a line up of regular people with redheads or very dark skinned black men and I am instantly aware of my surroundings. It's just how I am wired. Of course, if the person is mean or shallow, then it doesn't matter how attractive I thought he was initially. This doesn't mean I could never be attracted to blonds or light skinned black men but the chances are very, very slim.

It definitely really narrows down my options but I would rather be single than date someone I thought of as being really lovely but didn't fancy in that way. I've done it before - in fact, I convinced myself I liked him in that way because I was so emotionally attached to him. In the end, I wasted both my time and his but I came away with a valuable lesson. You can't wish attraction into existence. Of course it would be lovely if I could date the lovely guy who is also my friend but if thoughts of my friend don't make me want to go stand in the naughty corner, then he is going to remain just that, my friend.

Da Za · 26-12-2013 11:01PM

The face is the first thing that'll obviously attract me before evening knowing the person.

Then personality, completely honestly, that's the most attractive thing next to none.

I do love Katy Perry though lol

FizzleSticks · 27-12-2013 12:50AM

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It wasn't me! · 27-12-2013 01:16AM

I've spent some time thinking about what my type might be. In terms of a romantic history, it's pretty broad, from light to dark hair, very thin and athletic to busty, broad hips, curvy, short to tall. If I were to find a common characteristic it would probably be enthusiasm for good health. That might be exercise, diet, outdoor life or whatever, but they all had good outlooks, wanted to go places, do things, see things, to be involved and to live well. I like exercise and good healthy food in moderation myself (the last few days aside - oof!) and I like to meet people with whom I might share a common drive. That's pretty cool. I've never met anyone I thought was too fit. Now, for me, fitness means capability to do whatever they want. Obviously certain physiques are going to suit different things (the powerlifter/marathon runner comparison for example) but if they're fit for their purposes, that's awesome. If they're fit for a purpose I share, that's better for me, but the same drive is still attractive.

Daveysil15 · 27-12-2013 10:52AM

I don't really have a type as far as physical characteristics are concerned, but I almost always seem to attract the same type of girl which would be the bigger/curvy type, even though I'm quite slim myself.

I'm the same as Da Za though, in that I'm always attracted to the face first and then the personality. A great body is a bonus but as long as she's not really big or really slim I don't mind.

Wibbs · 27-12-2013 01:22PM

ASIDE Thinkin more on the steroid stuff referred to earlier in the thread, it occurred to me that the dangers associated with their use in the media don't seem to pan out in reality? Given how many people have used them you'd expect to hear more about illness and even deaths from it. It has been alleged*ahem* that all high level bodybuilders are chugging them and given the size of the results using them in very high doses, yet you don't hear of them dropping like flies. Stallone was caught with human growth hormone and the like a couple of years ago and his physique is not normal for other near 70 year olds, yet he's looking good on it. Other actors, particularly older guys are a tad suspish too.

Then take the pro cyclists. Yes there were examples of those guys dying because the blood doping was turning their blood to sludge(at the time it was amazing how many "headaches" they suffered going by the amount of aspirin they were taking...). Even there it was a small minority of the overall and again these guys were taking big doses and hammering their bodies into near physical failure on a daily basis.

So, it appears like we have a pretty large survey sample of guys taking "additives" to perform better or look better, or age better, with it seems very few of them showing problems. Could this be applied to normal people more who would take smaller doses and improve their lives, especially as they age?

Wibbs · 27-12-2013 01:25PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

I don't really have a type as far as physical characteristics are concerned, but I almost always seem to attract the same type of girl which would be the bigger/curvy type, even though I'm quite slim myself.

Could that be a numbers game too D? There would be more curvy women overall compared to skinny or fat women, so unless you were specifically looking for a body type at either end of the scale, you'd on average be meeting/going out with the curvy type?

Dravokivich · 27-12-2013 01:37PM

Wibbs wrote: »

ASIDE Thinkin more on the steroid stuff referred to earlier in the thread, it occurred to me that the dangers associated with their use in the media don't seem to pan out in reality? Given how many people have used them you'd expect to hear more about illness and even deaths from it. It has been alleged*ahem* that all high level bodybuilders are chugging them and given the size of the results using them in very high doses, yet you don't hear of them dropping like flies. Stallone was caught with human growth hormone and the like a couple of years ago and his physique is not normal for other near 70 year olds, yet he's looking good on it. Other actors, particularly older guys are a tad suspish too.

Then take the pro cyclists. Yes there were examples of those guys dying because the blood doping was turning their blood to sludge(at the time it was amazing how many "headaches" they suffered going by the amount of aspirin they were taking...). Even there it was a small minority of the overall and again these guys were taking big doses and hammering their bodies into near physical failure on a daily basis.

So, it appears like we have a pretty large survey sample of guys taking "additives" to perform better or look better, or age better, with it seems very few of them showing problems. Could this be applied to normal people more who would take smaller doses and improve their lives, especially as they age?

That's because the media always presents generalised and bias info in relation to anything taken by bodybuilders/weightlifters/athletes. They very rarely go into specifics unless there's some product recall, because said product was either contaminated or didn't go through the proper health and safety checks before being put up for sale. And all of a sudden a tonne of stuff that aren't steroids, gets miss labelled and associated as such.

A lot of the problem with knowledge about'em and their benefit/risks is that's it's generally kept hush hush, because the perception is they are generally a bad thing. Enforcing ignorance is the problem as far as I'm concerned.

Daveysil15 · 27-12-2013 01:45PM

Wibbs wrote: »

ASIDE Thinkin more on the steroid stuff referred to earlier in the thread, it occurred to me that the dangers associated with their use in the media don't seem to pan out in reality? Given how many people have used them you'd expect to hear more about illness and even deaths from it. It has been alleged*ahem* that all high level bodybuilders are chugging them and given the size of the results using them in very high doses, yet you don't hear of them dropping like flies. Stallone was caught with human growth hormone and the like a couple of years ago and his physique is not normal for other near 70 year olds, yet he's looking good on it. Other actors, particularly older guys are a tad suspish too.

Then take the pro cyclists. Yes there were examples of those guys dying because the blood doping was turning their blood to sludge(at the time it was amazing how many "headaches" they suffered going by the amount of aspirin they were taking...). Even there it was a small minority of the overall and again these guys were taking big doses and hammering their bodies into near physical failure on a daily basis.

So, it appears like we have a pretty large survey sample of guys taking "additives" to perform better or look better, or age better, with it seems very few of them showing problems. Could this be applied to normal people more who would take smaller doses and improve their lives, especially as they age?

Well with regards to steroids, the long term affects would at least appear to be minimal. Many abusers will tell you the doses they take aren’t harmful because they “cycle” (come off of steroids for a period of time and then begin again) or they only take a certain “good” steroid or not enough of a dose to harm them. It could be a bit like ecstasy though. Some people can take ecstasy regularly and get away it, but others can die just from taking one tablet.

Daveysil15 · 27-12-2013 01:51PM

Wibbs wrote: »

Could that be a numbers game too D? There would be more curvy women overall compared to skinny or fat women, so unless you were specifically looking for a body type at either end of the scale, you'd on average be meeting/going out with the curvy type?

Well most of them would have been plain fat tbh. I was just trying to be PC about it, and I know the term 'curvy' has rather broad definitions these days. But yeah I see what you mean about the numbers game - that's a fair point.

GreeBo · 27-12-2013 01:56PM

Lol.

To see the new definitions try online dating.
" a few extra pounds" is my favorite.
It means anything from super fit but with nice soft bits all the way up to obese.

I would say too fit, for either sex, is when it's the dominant part of your life, excluding almost everything else.

b_mac · 27-12-2013 02:05PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Well with regards to steroids, the long term affects would at least appear to be minimal. Many abusers will tell you the doses they take aren’t harmful because they “cycle” (come off of steroids for a period of time and then begin again) or they only take a certain “good” steroid or not enough of a dose to harm them. It could be a bit like ecstasy though. Some people can take ecstasy regularly and get away it, but others can die just from taking one tablet.

Steriods are hormones, not chemicals, so you cannot compare them to ecstacy and other drugs. From my own personal experience I know steroids can be used quite safely BUT can have serious problems that come with messing with your own body's homeostasis.

b_mac · 27-12-2013 02:10PM

i.e gynecmostia, testicular atrophy, hpta suppression etc

Oregano_State · 27-12-2013 02:11PM

Daveysil15 wrote: »

Well with regards to steroids, the long term affects would at least appear to be minimal. Many abusers will tell you the doses they take aren’t harmful because they “cycle” (come off of steroids for a period of time and then begin again) or they only take a certain “good” steroid or not enough of a dose to harm them. It could be a bit like ecstasy though. Some people can take ecstasy regularly and get away it, but others can die just from taking one tablet.

Everything in this post is wrong.

Daveysil15 · 27-12-2013 02:12PM

GreeBo wrote: »

Lol.

To see the new definitions try online dating.
" a few extra pounds" is my favorite.
It means anything from super fit but with nice soft bits all the way up to obese.

I would say too fit, for either sex, is when it's the dominant part of your life, excluding almost everything else.

Well actually there are a lot of people on Plenty Of Fish who have 'athletic' down as their body type even though their photos would suggest otherwise. Everyone seems to be a gym junkie these days too. Although in fairness, there are people who train a lot but don't really have the physique to show for it.

I remember Richard Hammond from Top Gear did a documentary about fitness and body types. He went head to head in a fitness test with a top British fitness model. The results showed that they were both about the same, (at least in terms of aerobic fitness anyway). Obviously the model had lower body fat and a lot more muscle definition, but it just goes to show that some people aren't as fit as they look and vice versa.

Daveysil15 · 27-12-2013 02:16PM

b_mac wrote: »

Steriods are hormones, not chemicals, so you cannot compare them to ecstacy and other drugs. From my own personal experience I know steroids can be used quite safely BUT can have serious problems that come with messing with your own body's homeostasis.

I know they're a lot different, I was just using the ecstasy as an example as how some people can get away with taking something, whereas others aren't quite as fortunate.

beks101 · 27-12-2013 02:25PM

I guess as with a woman, if his fitness has become such an obsession that it detracts from his quality of life, or reached such a point that it's a disorder (exercise bulimia etc), it's probably "too fit".

In terms of attraction, it's about lifestyle compatibility to me. I couldn't be with someone who permanently sacrificed a social life to be able to get up at 4am & put in a marathon gym session every morning, just as I couldn't be with someone who downed ten pints a night & couldn't run for a bus.

I've been with all kinds of guys - tall and very slim, average height & athletic, short and built - the one thing they all had was an interest in their health and in keeping fit and enjoying life without going to any extremes.

When is a man too fit?

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