Why do guys want to be muscular

[Spiral]

Hi, guys. More often than not, I find myself thinking like a typical guy rather than a girl. However, there are times when I fail to understand guys and think that maybe I'm not masculine enough after all. One of these is that I don't understand guys' desire to be physically strong. So could you guys tell me do you want to be muscular? If so, is it because you perceive it as being aesthetic? Or is it because you think it's sexy? For me, it's aesthetic, but I think the later reason would be a much more stronger drive. The difference between aesthetic and sexy is probably illustrated by the example that a straight woman may find other woman aesthetic, but not sexy. And are there other reasons? Thanks.

[Fencesitter]

- looks good
- attracts potential partners
- more strength means you can do more stuff  without needing help
- muscles consume energy so you can eat like a glutton without getting overweight

[Sharky]

I don't understand why people are ok with being weak. I wouldn't want to rely on the help of others and having strength is safer.  It makes daily life easier too. As an example my mom will only carry in a few grocery bags at a time and makes a bunch of trips. I will grab the majority of them and only make a couple trips.

[Shang]

I don't want to be overly muscular.  I'd like to just be trim and slim because I find muscular guys gross and disgusting, and I don't want to be what I don't like.  Strength is nice, which is why I want some muscle but not a whole bunch.

[Silver]

- looks good
- attracts potential partners
- more strength means you can do more stuff without needing help
- muscles consume energy so you can eat like a glutton without getting overweight

Yeah, this. There's the whole power of being able to do more (that's all power is lol.)

And also, if you are interested in defending yourself or any kind of fighting it is useful to be strong. Males have an advantage over females in this department so it's another symbol of manliness. And if you do anything physical at all, it's generally better to be stronger.

[Matt Chase]

I'm not sure if i'm misinterpreting the question, but for me, it's not about appearances but about physical strength... I'd rather be generally powerful than 'buff.' I guess that's just because i want to be able to defend myself & do stuff that requires said strength... Not so much to impress people or anything, just in case, and for self-satisfaction

[xAndrewx]

For me it's simply because the stronger I am the healthier I feel. Besides I need to loose fat and the best way in my mind to do that is gain muscle because it burns fat faster. Also, I like the muscular look.

[Alexmakenoise]

This

- more strength means you can do more stuff  without needing help
- muscles consume energy so you can eat like a glutton without getting overweight

and this

For me it's simply because the stronger I am the healthier I feel.

I hate asking for help, and I enjoy helping other people.  I like being the one who lifts heavy things for other people, not the other way around.  When I'm in good shape, I have more energy overall.  And I really enjoy athletic activities.  A sedentary life would be dull.

[ilanthefirst]

I'm not sure if i'm misinterpreting the question, but for me, it's not about appearances but about physical strength... I'd rather be generally powerful than 'buff.' I guess that's just because i want to be able to defend myself & do stuff that requires said strength... Not so much to impress people or anything, just in case, and for self-satisfaction

Yeah, this is how it is for me, too.  I don't think the stereotypical bodybuilder look is necessarily attractive, but I feel more comfortable in my skin if I'm strong enough to not need help with simple things.  The confidence boost from being muscular enough to make people question the assumption that I'm female doesn't hurt either.

[Theo]

I'm not into having huge muscles but I feel better when toned and I can see some definition. I like having the strength to accomplish tasks as it just saves time if you can carry several things at once rather than going back and forwards making extra trips.  It makes things like vehicle repair that much easier and you can manage on your own better.  Also if you are competitive you at least start on a level playing field with other guys or if you enjoy physically demanding solo sports it takes less effort and you don't tire as quickly. I think some muscle definition shows that you are keeping fit and that's sometimes equated with good health. 

[Carson]

I don't necessarily want to have huge muscles, I want to be strong. If put in a dire situation I want to be able to save myself and others. I also don't want people to look at me and think that I am some kind of body builder I don't want to attract people who are into huge muscles. I would rather go out with a girl and have her look at me and see that I am fit or rub against me and feel how fit I am.

[Robert Scott]

Personally, I want some bulk!  I find a man's chest that is a six pack looks hot & I want to be that guy.  I don't want to look like a body builder but I want to look like I am strong.  I want men to know that I can protect my wife.

[Farm Boy]

I don't know.  I've never wanted to be one of those big muscley guys with beach arms, but I'd like to be strong enough to get through daily life easily enough, without having to struggle with carrying a bag of dog food from the store.   And as Carson says:

I don't necessarily want to have huge muscles, I want to be strong. If put in a dire situation I want to be able to save myself and others.

But no, I personally don't find muscles attractive (I prefer the scrawny nerdy ones myself) so it's not one of my goals to have a six pack or anything.  Just to be strong enough to get through the day.

[Fencesitter]

There's also a difference between muscles and muscles.

One thing is long-term strength, meaning being able to carry weights etc. for quite a while. Over time, if you specialize in this, it gives you the slim, toned, muscular body type of a marathon runner or marathon cyclist. Their maximum strength is not great, but they have lots of endurance.

The other thing is short-term strength. That's what makes lift-weighters and wrestlers look the way they look, all bulky and bull-like. Bad endurance, but great maximum strength.

You can specialize in one of these extreme body types, or find a compromise if you want to have muscles. Karate guys and swimmers, e. g., tend to be in-between the extremes.

Therefore, I think it's useful to differentiate here.

[Bluetraveler]

I'm a girl and I'd like to be muscular too. I have very bad metabolism, so muscles help, I like being strong, exercizing and not feeling tired, I like the fit look and I think they might help me break the "cutie" image I so desperately want to shake off.

[Wolf Man]

I am fascinated by male strength in general. Then with Olympic gymnasts (m/f) and people involved in aerial arts, specifically tissu (m/f). I personally would also like to reap the benefits of strength, endurance and health. I have asthma and general bad health along with a strong family history from my father.

So these are my reasons for wanting to have decently sized muscles that aren't too bodybuilder, but bigger than that other guy's 

[Fencesitter]

I'm a girl and I'd like to be muscular too. I have very bad metabolism, so muscles help, I like being strong, exercizing and not feeling tired, I like the fit look and I think they might help me break the "cutie" image I so desperately want to shake off.

There's a lot you can do there. One of my uncles used to be a professional mountain-climber, and he often brang home male and female colleagues of his profession. The girls were very sportive and muscular without looking like female body-builders, they were strong, sportive women with a kind of female leopard-like "aura", which can be very attractive. As elegant as ballerinas in their movements, but with more body mass and not seeming frail, rather the natural peasant-like type or like some of the letter carriers. Anyway, the mountain-climber scene was quite alternative and much into natural looks etc., and the girls there usually did not use any make-up or uncomfortable clothes etc. At best, they had rasta hairstyles.

I'm sure you'll find some sports which suit you. Different sports create different physical shape, so go for the sports which seem most fun to you, are okay for your body and create a body shape you'll like. You needn't be a girly girl to be a woman comfortable with herself and her body, that's just a cliché.

[Alessandro]

One thing is long-term strength, meaning being able to carry weights etc. for quite a while. Over time, if you specialize in this, it gives you the slim, toned, muscular body type of a marathon runner or marathon cyclist. Their maximum strength is not great, but they have lots of endurance.

This is the type of muscle I would like to aim for.  I need to bodybuild a little now, and on T to bulk up some but I am a runner and am more interested in being athletic and toned than in big bulk and heavy lifting.

[Tad]

I dont want to look like those guys that just lift weights and go to shows as their careers.. but i want to have a good well defined, muscular look about me. Hence why I go to the gym lots now.. trying to get there.. and it's paying off.

Why do i want this? Because I think it looks good.. and I like being strong. I work with my body and play hard.. so being strong is always a bonus, and I like being able to hold my own when things come down to it.

[Bluetraveler]

There's a lot you can do there. One of my uncles used to be a professional mountain-climber, and he often brang home male and female colleagues of his profession. The girls were very sportive and muscular without looking like female body-builders, they were strong, sportive women with a kind of female leopard-like "aura", which can be very attractive. As elegant as ballerinas in their movements, but with more body mass and not seeming frail, rather the natural peasant-like type or like some of the letter carriers. Anyway, the mountain-climber scene was quite alternative and much into natural looks etc., and the girls there usually did not use any make-up or uncomfortable clothes etc. At best, they had rasta hairstyles.

I'm sure you'll find some sports which suit you. Different sports create different physical shape, so go for the sports which seem most fun to you, are okay for your body and create a body shape you'll like. You needn't be a girly girl to be a woman comfortable with herself and her body, that's just a cliché.

I have no natural grace, I walk like a cowboy. So let's strike that part out (and I'm not interested in that either ).
I know I can have really impressive calves, I did have them when I run like 50 mins a day (now I run less but they are still well developed), I wonder if the rest of me can muscularize so well. If someone looked at my legs only, with hair and muscles, I doubt they'd think about any shade of cute (unless they are into bears lol?), but it's my face my main culprit and I don't know how much I can do on that area. Haircuts don't seem to help much and I never wear makeup.