Psychology of Showering

[Integer]

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/.../steroids.html

First off, hi to everybody Check out the link above. I found that article when I was searching for information about a study I learned about from another post here. Apparently, college guys want bodies with 30 pounds more of muscle than they had at the time. However, supposedly women want bodies with 15-30 pounds less muscle than those bodies chosen by the men. The end result? <b>The reporter concludes that women want the bodies that men currently, already have!</b>

What do you guys think? My objective opinion is that many women could be afraid to set their sights on muscle builders--many women could feel too inadequate around strong men. Secondly, women could be uncomfortable and inexperienced in dealing with these guys, if important males in their life in their household did not lift weights. Thirdly, women might feel insecure in that they might never be fit enough to maintain their figure over the years as the already-muscular guy, and might not want to avoid feel inadequate ten years from now. Forthly, many women could feel they are unworthy of strong men. Also, many women could just simply be nice, choosing 'smaller' male figures to be nice and show that 'they don't care about size' when, in fact, they would instinctively, glance twice at a strong man. Finally, they may also justify their beliefs with reasoning that strong men are self-centered, but what is bad about men with good genetics and/or self-esteem, work-ethic, who are goal achievers?

I think that as time moves on, people will jettison off the junk food jet (you like that one?) and take care of themselves more. Doing some sort of weight training will become the norm for all males. And, females will use the gyms along with the guys, and feel more confident about themselves. Weight training will become a standard procedure, like attending gym class. Kids would see the potential in themselves and in others, and have enough self-esteem to avoid picking on others and to stand up to bullies for other students and themselves. Therefore, I don't think anybody should worry about that study. Don't listen to it. Most people train for themselves, anyway. And when people are more comfortable around big guys ten years from now, we'll be in the running EVEN MORE and those skinny guys won't be

I have another question. What made me post this was the shower comments. I noted that at my gym, young guys don't shower. I do shower after the pool, but most people don't use the pool. The article is right, younger guys are insecure of being not-clothed around other men. And if a young guy were to shower and change before leaving, he would stand out because he would be the only guy doing it. So, my question to all of you is what age group are you are in (under 20, 20-30, etc.), and do you shower at the gym? And what do you notice about other guys or females? I'm also interested to know how it is in other locations (Canada, Europe?). The article (from 2000) demonstrates serious psychological effects on body image.

EDITED:: Look this wasn't an insult to women. Because of society, women are unfairly told they are sluts if they want more/smarter/stronger males. That's why I said that women might not be realistic when they say they want a weaker guy than what a man thinks they want.

Today, on MSN, I read another study at http://www.msnbc.com/news/946836.asp that shows what I mean.

This study demonstrates this clearly: Guys were polled on how whether they masturbated (+1 pt) , watched softcore porn (+1) or watched hardcore (+3). So a score of 0 to 3 is possible.

Guys on average said 2.4. This didn't change whether guys had to hand in the slips, put them in a box, or have guaranteed anonimity in a locked room by themselves. But when women were polled, and asked to HAND IN THE SLIPS, the average of the women in the first group was 0.9 -- meaning many or most women said they did not do any of those... When another group of women were asked to do the same but to PUT THE SLIPS IN A LOCKED BOX, instead of the test supervisor, the average jumped to 1.5 points! And finally, when another group was guaranteed anonymity by taking the test alone and putting the results in a box, the average score for the women was 2 points! Which is pretty much same as what guys said!

The point of this exercise is to show how social stigmas affect responses, since women are more sensitive on the topic of partners or this because of society, while society accepts this as normal for guys. There are hundreds of other studies that show this. THAT'S WHY I thought, "wow that harvard body study doesnt take into affect that a woman might not be comfortable talking about what kind of body she would really want to see in a boyfriend." I'm not saying all girls like huge overmuscled guys, but I'm SURE most females actually would want guys to be stronger than the average college guy so they could all have a piece of the cake. Not necessarily huge body builders, but healthy athletic males.

[Proto]

I think this post contains too much intelligence for the roid heads in this forum.

[Alex(AJ)]

too much reading.....grrr......AJ mad now....AJ SMASH!!! SMASH YOU GOOD!

anywho, you should be doing this for yourself. screw what women find ideal and whatnot. do what makes you happy.if you want to be cut, become cut. if you're like me and want to become a walking mass freak, train heavy and hardcore.

personally, i like being massive (5'7, 225)......all my shirts are XXL, and it's funny because the bottom of the shirts comes to almost my knees when not tucked in, and the sleeves (for t-shirts) hang well past my forearms, almost to my wrists, lol.

[Jock]

Originally Posted by Proto

I think this post contains too much intelligence for the roid heads in this forum.

I prefer 'juice monkey' thank you very much!

Jock

[Steve]

I'm 42 and I shower in the gym...I don't care who is in the bathrooms

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Proto

I think this post contains too much intelligence for the roid heads in this forum.

Are you saying that people who use steroids are less intellegent than non-users?

[mixtic187]

Originally Posted by Alex(AJ)

too much reading.....grrr......AJ mad now....AJ SMASH!!! SMASH YOU GOOD!

anywho, you should be doing this for yourself. screw what women find ideal and whatnot. do what makes you happy.if you want to be cut, become cut. if you're like me and want to become a walking mass freak, train heavy and hardcore.

personally, i like being massive (5'7, 225)......all my shirts are XXL, and it's funny because the bottom of the shirts comes to almost my knees when not tucked in, and the sleeves (for t-shirts) hang well past my forearms, almost to my wrists, lol.

HYSTERICAL *lol* I dunno if it's entirely the age or gender thing.. I think most young people (including guys) would rather shower at home, not in the gym.. why would i shower somewhere else when i have my own bathroom at home with all my stuff there?? Besides.. usually i need time to chill out before i shower.. or else I'm still sweating when I get out.. Unless I gotta go somewhere straight after the gym, there's no real reason to shower there..

[Symzie]

I used to hate rugby at school for that reason, when I was 15 - 16 I was just a child and many guys of my age group were grown men (physically).

I used to find any excuse not to shower, sometimes I would make my hair wet in the sink so the teacher wouldn't send me back in lol Luckily I grew into a great big hunk of manliness jk/

As for steroids being a gateway drug, wouldn't that depend on the personality of the user, it's one reason I don't take steroids, I'd probably enjoy it too much.

[corteztk19]

I'm 21 and I usually shower at the gym right aftem my workout. Usually I just do it to rinse off the sweat before I go out and do anything else. Only time I don't shower after a workout is if I am in a hurry, or if our Gym manager is walking around in the locker room (He's gay and it freaks me out that he might try to check me out lol)

[Un F A T]

i don't think anyone at our gym ever uses the showers. It's a small town so everyone can pretty much get in the shwoer when they get home. Perosnally i'll never shower cuz i live like only 3 minutes form the gym!

[trooper619]

Yea, I live really close to my gym too. I just ride my bike there and back. Takes about a minute.

[Timbers]

I workout at home so I shower at home

By the way, this is just silly, IMO:

What do you guys think? My objective opinion is that many women could be afraid to set their sights on muscle builders--many women could feel too inadequate around strong men. Secondly, women could be uncomfortable and inexperienced in dealing with these guys, if important males in their life in their household did not lift weights. Thirdly, women might feel insecure in that they might never be fit enough to maintain their figure over the years as the already-muscular guy, and might not want to avoid feel inadequate ten years from now. Forthly, many women could feel they are unworthy of strong men. Also, many women could just simply be nice, choosing 'smaller' male figures to be nice and show that 'they don't care about size' when, in fact, they would instinctively, glance twice at a strong man. Finally, they may also justify their beliefs with reasoning that strong men are self-centered, but what is bad about men with good genetics and/or self-esteem, work-ethic, who are goal achievers?

No one likes a self centered, cocky and concieted person - man or woman, it's a turnoff.

[Shmackey]

I like this forum because it's not filled with idiot 'roid-rage teens like the others.

That said, I want to see AJ smash something GOOD.

[gramalyn]

Shmackey you brought tears to my eyes ROTFL!

Now assuming for the moment this is somewhat ligit. A lot of people do not shower in gyms because they are afraid of getting things like platar warts and such. Of course there are those who are lacking self asteem, those that flaunt and others still who don't give 2.........s about what your doing or looking at.

My guy is massive with muscle and I am 50lbs overweight. Do I feel I can't handle a guy this big? No way baby!

[brakes]

Originally Posted by Integer

[url] So, my question to all of you is what age group are you are in (under 20, 20-30, etc.), and do you shower at the gym? And what do you notice about other guys or females?

I'm 38, and i dont shower at the regular club i go to, they have the old style prison type showers. Personally i feel wierd standing there washing my dork as others around you are doing the same or the dreaded, "lets have a conversation here in the shower" . I just wanna yell "hey buddy, can i wash my crack in peace!!" . If the club has single stalls im more inclined to shower afterwards if need be.... otherwise ill wait till i get home or to the hotel... and does anyone know why the older men must walk around with thier wrinkled ole johnsons hangin out and towel around the neck, stop by and talk to you about anything from the current socio-politico situation to the mating ritual of the monarch butterfly while not bothering to cover themselves up...