sleepxswl
Iron
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2026
- Posts
- 50
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- 31
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit and it doesn’t seem to get talked about enough.
When I was more bulked up, I had a much greater level of respect from dudes. I could kind of just feel it not like anyone made actual comments.
Once I cut hard I got a lot of comments on appearance. Women began commenting on my face and telling me how much weight I lost, and I remember on a couple of occasions getting the “you look different” comment. I had a similar frame, less bulk and density. Photo-wise, I’d never looked better. Real-life presence, not so much.
It would appear there’s an optimal range at which you’re lean enough that the face holds and the V-taper is visible through clothes, but where you haven’t gotten so lean that you’re lacking the fuller body that would give you presence in real life.
There also seems to be gender differences in signals. Men look at density and mass first and foremost. Women pay attention to definition, but “you look skinny” means you’ve gone beyond. I went too far for a week and my face got a sort of sunken look which triggered some of my friends to let me know. This also makes me think there is the same sort of blindness you get when your fat happens for the cut.
What body fat percentage would you say is best and realistic long-term and at what point does being lean start working against you?
When I was more bulked up, I had a much greater level of respect from dudes. I could kind of just feel it not like anyone made actual comments.
Once I cut hard I got a lot of comments on appearance. Women began commenting on my face and telling me how much weight I lost, and I remember on a couple of occasions getting the “you look different” comment. I had a similar frame, less bulk and density. Photo-wise, I’d never looked better. Real-life presence, not so much.
It would appear there’s an optimal range at which you’re lean enough that the face holds and the V-taper is visible through clothes, but where you haven’t gotten so lean that you’re lacking the fuller body that would give you presence in real life.
There also seems to be gender differences in signals. Men look at density and mass first and foremost. Women pay attention to definition, but “you look skinny” means you’ve gone beyond. I went too far for a week and my face got a sort of sunken look which triggered some of my friends to let me know. This also makes me think there is the same sort of blindness you get when your fat happens for the cut.
What body fat percentage would you say is best and realistic long-term and at what point does being lean start working against you?
