Post: #1

I came across this interesting article - it was sent to me by a friend who I used to lift weights with.

http://www.esquire.co.uk/culture/feature...rnosexual/

Sure there are more and more of these types as portrayed in the media but at the same time, the obesity rate is increasing.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/1...RA20120918

I'm trying to digest this information but I'm not sure what it foreshadows...obesity reversal due to rising societal expectations? more obesity because people just take one look and give up? increase in hypergamy-driven dissatisfaction from women because men on average don't measure up?... Thoughts anyone?

Post: #2

(01-20-2015 03:29 PM)StarcraftGG Wrote:  I'm trying to digest this information but I'm not sure what it foreshadows...obesity reversal due to rising societal expectations? more obesity because people just take one look and give up? increase in hypergamy-driven dissatisfaction from women because men on average don't measure up?... Thoughts anyone?

No, that article was in GQ back in June 2014. It was just an excuse for GQ to post half naked guys for their gay readership.

Post: #3

Dupe

Post: #4

I can't say call it first hand, but RVF guys from the UK don't really rave about their women hitting the gym and staying off the chip buddies.

So if a bunch of men who are largely underemployed turning into Zyzz clones, it's NOT a reaction to the sexual marketplace.

Could be about the idea that a man needs a mission. So for a bunch of guys, getting jacked is the mission.

WIA

Post: #5

I think it ties back into "the beautiful ones" that Milo wrote about in the sexodus. Poor economic and sexual prospects leaving men to just focus on looking their best instead of actually trying the be their best all around. Unfortunately, this spornosexual phenom does not appear to be spreading to females. And if you've ever read about the thirty dudes overt at bodybuilding.com, you know this is going to lead to even more distortion in the SMP.

Post: #6

Just so as I understand it - men are becoming leaner and more chiseled and put together while women are becoming fatter and more frumpy?

This ain't gonna end well.

Post: #7

(01-20-2015 03:52 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  I can't say call it first hand, but RVF guys from the UK don't really rave about their women hitting the gym and staying off the chip buddies.

So if a bunch of men who are largely underemployed turning into Zyzz clones, it's NOT a reaction to the sexual marketplace.

Could be about the idea that a man needs a mission. So for a bunch of guys, getting jacked is the mission.
WIA

For someone who's very frustrated in their career or dating, or anything really, lifting and changing their physique gives a great feeling of control, and really re-affirms self-belief.

Also, it's 'butties'.

Post: #8

An attractive physique does get you noticed and like the article pointed out, if you don't get noticed, you might as well not exist. That said, you still gotta consider the whole. If you don't have a sharp mind that can hang in the game or a sophisticated sense of style , looks will only get you so far.

Post: #9

(01-20-2015 05:06 PM)Dusty Wrote:  Just so as I understand it - men are becoming leaner and more chiseled and put together while women are becoming fatter and more frumpy?

This ain't gonna end well.

Sounds like Australia to me!

Post: #10

I'm impressed how the author got into that kind of shape in only 12 weeks. I must be doing something wrong...

Post: #11

^That's what I thought too. In 12 weeks (48 sessions), he transformed from being in worse shape compared to me to being in the kind of shape I've never been in. Either I'm doing something wrong, or something's wrong with me or both?

Post: #12

Isn't much of gym work the type of labour-intensive activity that most men did in the fields up to very recently?

Post: #13

(01-21-2015 12:00 AM)Brodiaga Wrote:  ^That's what I thought too. In 12 weeks (48 sessions), he transformed from being in worse shape compared to me to being in the kind of shape I've never been in. Either I'm doing something wrong, or something's wrong with me or both?

Why not send contact him through the magazine and ask what he did?

Post: #14

Props to the author. Incredible transformation. This trend is definitely leading to a huge disparity in SMV, but if you want to compete, you have to participate.

Post: #15

(01-21-2015 12:00 AM)Brodiaga Wrote:  ^That's what I thought too. In 12 weeks (48 sessions), he transformed from being in worse shape compared to me to being in the kind of shape I've never been in. Either I'm doing something wrong, or something's wrong with me or both?

I've seen transformations happen like that.

The key is just getting everything right; exercise, diet, rest etc.

Most people don't have the time, knowledge, motivation or money to do it though.

Post: #16

The author hasn't gained much size to be fair, he has mostly just cut down his bodyfat % massively - which is making him look more muscular. He did quite well for himself but notice he mentions only 4 cheat meals over the entire period. If anyone devotes themselves properly to training and diet for a 12 week period the bodyfat should melt off, especially with newbie gains from someone lifting for the first time ever.

The 'sponrosexual' workout phenomenon is definitely highly visible in places like the UK & Australia though. I always find it interesting that historically guys in the U.S. were generally bigger than their Anglosaxon cousins, due to a minority culture of weightlifting over there. But the whole Zyzz culture has resulted in that stereotype being flipped on its head. If you go out to certain clubs in Essex/Sydney if you haven't spent years lifting weights you'll be part of the definite minority.

It's such a shame that women's fitness culture hasn't caught up, though. American women still work out far more than British/Australian ones...

Post: #17

1. Black and white photos

2. Studio lighting

3. Photos taken to prove the point the article was commissioned to make.

No doubt the guy has lost a bit of fat, but even in the first picture, he's a toothpick, and not exactly overweight. It doesn't look like he has added all that much muscle (not surprising for 12 weeks in a calorie deficit), and he has certainly leaned out a bit.

The effect of lighting quality and angles, and high quality photography (plus possible photo shopping) really can't be over emphasised. Depending on the lighting, and whether I'm flexing (he is in the ripped picture, not in the unripped one), I can look like both of those pictures in the space of 20 seconds, let alone 12 weeks.

Not trying to hate on the guy, or say he hasn't made progress, but I suspect that the actual progress is probably a lot less than it would appear from those photos and the article.

Post: #18

(01-21-2015 08:56 AM)H1N1 Wrote:  1. Black and white photos

2. Studio lighting

3. Photos taken to prove the point the article was commissioned to make.

No doubt the guy has lost a bit of fat, but even in the first picture, he's a toothpick, and not exactly overweight. It doesn't look like he has added all that much muscle (not surprising for 12 weeks in a calorie deficit), and he has certainly leaned out a bit.

The effect of lighting quality and angles, and high quality photography (plus possible photo shopping) really can't be over emphasised. Depending on the lighting, and whether I'm flexing (he is in the ripped picture, not in the unripped one), I can look like both of those pictures in the space of 20 seconds, let alone 12 weeks.

Not trying to hate on the guy, or say he hasn't made progress, but I suspect that the actual progress is probably a lot less than it would appear from those photos and the article.

I 100% agree with all of this too.

I'd be more curious to see the author's actual stats: height, weight, bodyfat measurements (caliper) before & after the program, maximum lifts before and after the program for bench/squat/deadlift. These figures won't lie the way the photos can. They're the way you should really measure gains.

Post: #19

"Spornosexual" is a retarded term probably invented by a gay man to describe his latest fetish.

(01-21-2015 08:56 AM)H1N1 Wrote:  Not trying to hate on the guy, or say he hasn't made progress, but I suspect that the actual progress is probably a lot less than it would appear from those photos and the article.

If he was having the before pictures taken for an online dating profile, he would have sucked in his gut and stood up straighter. That would give a much more realistic comparison.

He got a lot leaner, but if you overlay the pictures from the top of the story, he's gained very little muscle mass, just preserved what he had while on a strict cut. Impressive, and something almost anyone can (but probably won't) do over a few months with a little effort.

"I'd hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak." - Arnold

Post: #20

I see a lot of shorter guys going for this look; which I think is a mistake. Yeah, they look good in naked photos without anything to scale against but it makes them look absolutely tiny in a real life, physical space taken up sense.

The same is truer to a lesser extent with taller guys too.

A couple of such short lads were in the gym this morning; I honestly felt I could have broken them in half they looked so scrawny.

Maybe it's a generational thing (possibly inspired by social media where abs photos are the must have) like the author says; at 33 I prefer get out of my way sheer size.

Post: #21

(01-21-2015 09:33 AM)Benoit Wrote:  "Spornosexual" is a retarded term probably invented by a gay man to describe his latest fetish.

Google research complete. All signs point to me being 100% correct:

http://groomingguru.co.uk/2011/07/18/ins...k-simpson/

Quote:After all, it’s a block-buster movie about male hair gel. Pretty much all the men in that film look fabulous, darling – even when they take their helmets off after a long, hot, sweaty dogfight.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Simpson_(journalist)

Quote:Books:

Male Impersonators - "Simpson also 'outed' what he saw as the homoerotic subtext of masculinity itself."

Anti-Gay - " Led by Simpson, various 'non-heterosexual' contributors voiced their criticism of the gay 'one-size-fits-all' identity and the gay media's intolerance of anything that wasn't 'glad' and 'clap happy'."

It's a Queer World
The Queen is Dead
...

You get the idea.

"I'd hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak." - Arnold

Post: #22

Goddamn that guy went hard for a few months.

I'm surprised people are so critical of his physical transformation. Seems really impressive to me, in only 12 weeks. I'm trying to copy that transformation really, I've been gyming for too long without looking anywhere near that.

Post: #23

Looks like the author had a little chemical help

Post: #24

(01-21-2015 05:43 PM)civpro Wrote:  Looks like the author had a little chemical help

No. If you can't get that lean over a 3 month period you're either seriously fat or not even trying.

Women can (mostly) stick to a diet with a bit of reinforcement, so there's no reason a man should struggle when the positive results are so obvious.

"I'd hate myself if I had that kind of attitude, if I were that weak." - Arnold

Post: #25

Sept to Nov last year...

[attachment=24229]

Gymed six times a week. About hour and a half session. No cardio except five minute skipping warm up.

Ate clean. No sugar, milk or alcohol.

Slept well.

No special supplements. Only took protein shakes every odd day.

If you have a good base, gym hard (and consistent) while eating well you can see good gains very fast.