In a (not-so-surprising) study conducted by Western Illinois University, women rated abs as the sexiest muscle on a man's body, ThePostGame.com reports.
They found that women were most attracted to muscles that are harder to develop, primarily the abs and biceps. Interestingly, the muscles women found most attractive were, in this order: glutes, biceps, abs, pecs, shoulders, obliques, triceps, and quads.
Delts (Shoulders)
The "delts" are the big, compound shoulder muscles that include the front, middle and rear deltoids. They go nicely with the chest, arm and back muscles to give that powerful upper-body look. Bulk them out with overhead presses, front raises, upright rows, or an incline press.
Late teens and early twenties are the perfect age to start bodybuilding. Puberty and bodybuilding are closely related because this is the fastest time for muscle growth. Between, 17-25, you will experience testosterone driven growth burst in your muscles.
Muscles attract attention.
Both women and men take greater notice of men who look strong. Researchers have found that, with all else equal, people spend more time looking at individuals who look more formidable (strong, able to impose physical costs).
Exercises that target your biceps and triceps are essential for building bigger arms. Try to work these muscles at least two to three times a week, and work toward doing more repetitions and sets with each exercise as you build your strength.
A primary way to look and feel more masculine is to build up muscles, especially in the upper body. Many of us use moderate weightlifting to produce a moderate increase in muscle mass.
The muscles that stand out the most and make you look bigger in a shirt are the delts. These are the front, middle and rear deltoids located around the shoulder. Having large delts gives a strong and powerful look and is the most noticeable part of a muscular physique in any shirt.
Felix's team took a survey for the most attractive body parts of men and women and here's what they found: Men cited women's faces as being their most attractive attribute by 46%. In second place, women's butts came in at 18% followed by hair at 11%. Legs, breasts, eyes, and others composed the remaining 26%.
The stereotypically attractive female body shape is an hourglass figure, which includes wide hips, a narrow waist, and broad shoulders.
A strong upper body is the most attractive body shape or type on men, research finds.
If you're seeking to build a wider back, then the primary muscle that you're going to want to develop are the lats, as growing this muscle will help effectively add the width to your back that you're after.
The V-shape or line is located where the obliques meet the transversus abdominis muscles. This line can be a physical display of hard work in the gym and discipline in the kitchen. To develop V-cut abs, target your lower abs and obliques.
Why? Well, you may feel bloated after a workout if you've been breathing hard or gulping too much water, which may cause you to swallow air. You may experience abdominal dissension if you overhydrate or drink too little, and physical exertion can cause bloating in and of itself.
Male-specific factors. Women, on average, tend to be more attracted to men who have a relatively narrow waist, a V-shaped torso, and broad shoulders. Women also tend to be more attracted to men who are taller than they are, and display a high degree of facial symmetry, as well as relatively masculine facial dimorphism.
Their study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, suggests muscles in men are akin to elaborate tail feathers in male peacocks: They attract females looking for a virile mate. “Women are predisposed to prefer muscularity in men,” said study author David Frederick of UCLA.
Muscularity is sexy.
Tests of the Fitness Indicator Hypothesis,” researchers Martie Haselton and David Frederick asked 141 women to rate different male body types. In a separate study, women reported that their short-term sexual partners were more muscular than their other partners.
Building muscle mass when you're over 50 can be difficult. It's a good idea to check with your doctor and a fitness trainer before you start any endurance training.
“Muscle mass peaks around age 40. [Then it] begins to decline due to sarcopenia,” explains Pete Rufo, a performance coach at Beast Training Academy in Chicago. “A major contributor to muscle mass decline is lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyles.
Values of upper and lower extremity muscle strength across ages identified three periods in life: an increase to peak in young age and early adulthood (18–24 years), preservation through midlife (25–44 years), and a decline from midlife onwards (45+ years).