In cinema, the overweight, lazy guy rarely gets the girl. But it seems in real life, too,
he is less likely to get the girl, the job, the promotion, the raise, the better insurance
rates, or even better GCSEs. Yes, adding muscle and losing fat will
increase your likelihood of success with the opposite sex or make your wife or girlfriend
find you more attractive, and its health benefits, such as improved strength, sexual
performance and increased longevity, are undeniable. What is less known is the mounting
evidence of how
getting in
shape can have a significant positive impact on your bottom line. But first you’ll have to spend. Getting in shape costs. It costs time and it costs
money. Gym memberships, clothes, training, running shoes, and bicycles all take a chunk
out of your paycheck and your day. Then again, feeling and looking better, plus adding a
number of higher quality years to your life are priceless. But in strict financial terms,
does the investment generate a positive return? Hell yes, it does.
Firstly, let’s focus on the looking better aspect. Vanity is a
powerful motivator, it can't be a bad thing if having people embrace the desire to improve
their physique prompts them to action as long as they don’t go off the deep end and
start injecting, waxing, tanning, Speedo-ing, and posing. So keep it
real, and reap the benefits.
Pretty from the Neck Down
Dr. Gordon Patzer is the world’s leading authority on societal biases towards
people who are more physically attractive than others. We’re a bit shallow. It's a
fact of life.Patzer, who has an MS in psychology, an MBA and a Ph.D, is the
author of six books on physical attractiveness. When I spoke to him, I figured that when
people think of being pretty, they’re mostly talking about the face, so I was
curious about the effect
slimming down has on
how we look from the neck up. “Slimming down will certainly make
their face more aesthetically pleasing,” Patzer told me. “If their features
are well-defined, then this is considered to be more attractive. Weight loss creates a
more ‘chiseled’ look.” No one wants that third helping of Sunday Roast
filling out their cheeks. Dr. Patzer also said that slimming down
gives the face “a look of health and youthfulness which allow people to judge them
as more physically attractive.” But we’re men. We're not
expected to be pretty, right? Not so fast, informed Patzer. The time for letting ourselves
go is gone.Dr. Patzer told me, “The increase in the importance of men
being physically
attractive is growing much faster for men than for women. This is due
to a whole change in society, but could be related to women having higher earning
potential"
Women are picky
See, it’s not enough to be the rich stereotype anymore. If she’s making
money, she’d rather have a pretty boy than a rich one. And if
you’re handsome
and rich, your life's probaby like a Lynx advert.All of this is making things more competitive for guys, and sales of stuff like
cosmetics for men are taking off. Personally, I’ll do a bit of
manscaping,
but that’s where I draw the line. Patzer says, “Beyond
the effect on the face, an impressive physique makes a man more physically attractive,
which makes them more likeable and appealing. The reason is evolutionary biology.
Historically, these individuals were the ones who could bring food back and defend against
attackers. We are more attracted to these people because of their ability to provide more
resources and comforts.” So I guess all that time spent on the
bench press makes me more accomplished at mammoth stabbing. But
Patzer warns that it’s important not to go overboard. “We want them to be
naturally attractive. We don’t judge them as favourably if they had to do it through
surgery, lots of cosmetics or taking a physique to an extreme like a bodybuilder.”
So, we know there’s an expectation to not be a
pot-bellied gargoyle, but what about that return on investment stuff?Find out
what you get out of staying in shape next...
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