I'm sure quite a few men on this board who like myself, are currently working hard on the path toward self-improvement might have experienced this as well. In keeping with my regular, three-days-a-week, workout schedule at my gym since last spring, I have noticed not only that my muscles have significantly grown-biceps, especially...including chest, shoulders and triceps. I am regaining confidence in myself very steadily and have made it a practice to always think positively about myself no matter what the outcome may be. I am determined never to let any form of failure or rejection to cause me to develop insecurities about myself and wallow in self-pity. Rather, all experiences, positive or negative, will encourage me to appreciate myself more.
However, with this transformation, I have noticed a surprising outcome that I wasn't thinking about initially. Aside from getting more attention from women be it on the street, in malls or when I walk into a room, I now get frowns and unfriendly stares from many men, who I have chosen to call "the haters" for purposes of this post. When I wear any piece of clothing (T-shirts, turtle necks, muscle shirts, dress shirts) that show off my muscular and toned definition, there are always groups of men be it at my school's computer lab, in bars and restauratns who look at me funny. I normally don't pay attention to them, but I've noticed that most of them tend to be skinny guys. The same thing happens at my gym.
One night at a club several months ago, a woman with her boyfriend on the dance floor, after noticing me, pulled up her arm to her boyfriend and pointed at my biceps. I had been holding a glass of beer at the time, so I guess she got a chance to get a good look at it then. The impression I get from this men is that they look at me and think that I probably get with a whole bunch of women and that I'm unfriendly and unapproachable, whereas I too am hustling with the dating game just like other men out there trying to improve themselves. It's almost become like the same thing women do when they feel threatened by the presence of another woman or someone they think is their competition. I guess the same goes for the animal kingdom, where perhaps the less masculine ones feel threatened by the others. Nonetheless, I'm grateful that my hard work seems to be paying off. I began going to the gym consistently since last February, and I make it a habit. I just wish men out there who for whatever reason may feel the need to be insecure in my presence would also make an effort to improve themselves. None of us is perfect. We can all learn from each other and we should encourage and help each other rather than fight amongst ourselves.
However, with this transformation, I have noticed a surprising outcome that I wasn't thinking about initially. Aside from getting more attention from women be it on the street, in malls or when I walk into a room, I now get frowns and unfriendly stares from many men, who I have chosen to call "the haters" for purposes of this post. When I wear any piece of clothing (T-shirts, turtle necks, muscle shirts, dress shirts) that show off my muscular and toned definition, there are always groups of men be it at my school's computer lab, in bars and restauratns who look at me funny. I normally don't pay attention to them, but I've noticed that most of them tend to be skinny guys. The same thing happens at my gym.
One night at a club several months ago, a woman with her boyfriend on the dance floor, after noticing me, pulled up her arm to her boyfriend and pointed at my biceps. I had been holding a glass of beer at the time, so I guess she got a chance to get a good look at it then. The impression I get from this men is that they look at me and think that I probably get with a whole bunch of women and that I'm unfriendly and unapproachable, whereas I too am hustling with the dating game just like other men out there trying to improve themselves. It's almost become like the same thing women do when they feel threatened by the presence of another woman or someone they think is their competition. I guess the same goes for the animal kingdom, where perhaps the less masculine ones feel threatened by the others. Nonetheless, I'm grateful that my hard work seems to be paying off. I began going to the gym consistently since last February, and I make it a habit. I just wish men out there who for whatever reason may feel the need to be insecure in my presence would also make an effort to improve themselves. None of us is perfect. We can all learn from each other and we should encourage and help each other rather than fight amongst ourselves.
