Looking good (having good aesthetics) is an essential part of being the strongest man that you can be. If you’re really going to debate this it just means you’re out of shape or ugly and instead of addressing those weaknesses (yes being ugly and out of shape are weaknesses) you want to hide from them and pretend that they’re are not there. I don’t think men really get how critical this is to such much in life. There is no excuse to be ugly and out of shape, ever, for any man. And any man who doesn’t address them is going to run into issues at one point or another.
Yeah go ahead and say all the bullshit about how masculinity is defined by looks and this and that but we all know it’s B.S. designed to keep our egos from getting hurt. How you look sure as hell is related to your masculinity. So now that we got that out of the way let’s talk about these things relate and what you need to do to ensure that you’re addressing what you need to be addressing as a man. Part of being a man is having a high level of muscle mass. Not only does this work to be a more convincing tribal leader but also to intimidate enemies among other things as well (and that’s just off the top of my head).
Aesthetics & Optics
No one wants to follow a pencil neck dweeb no matter what they say, that’s just a fact. Same applies to a fat guy. Men are not inspired nor intimidated by a scrawny twink or a fat fuck and women do not respond viscerally or want to be led by them either. Anyone who pretends that building muscle and looking damn good doing it doesn’t have a part to play in manhood is delusional. I know there are certain things that many let slide because to call others out would expose their own weakness and this is one of them.
I want you to try a thought experiment. Let’s say the apocalypse has happened and you are holding out in a city of sorts where some semblance of “civilization” had returned. Not much law but trade and barter and a basic order. Not being an idiot you know you need to join up with a crew soon or you’ll become prey. Anyway you’re sitting in some bombed out bar when three men approach you. They’re all wearing leather biker gear and covered in tats. One can’t weigh over 120 lbs. The other is fat with a neck beard. And the middle one has scraggly matted hair and talks with a lisp. Are you going to join them? Most likely not unless you’re extremely desperate.
Now let’s say that another group approaches you. This one is wearing the exact same type of outfit and covered in tats as well. However these guys are all heavily muscled, their clothes fit better, they keep themselves trimmed, and speak with a deep voice. Are you going to join them? Most likely hell yeah. Though we don’t like to think it that’s how others perceive us as well. Here’s the thing if you’re fat, scrawny, or ugly (from lack of hygiene and laziness not genetics) not only are you a disgrace and embarrassment to yourself and your blood but also to any group that was pathetic enough to be associated with you. You bring them down.
You Don’t Have A Choice Anymore
If you want to call yourself a man you better be have some muscle and not look like a bitch. What I encourage men to do (aside from learn basic hygiene and how to dress) is train with weights for looks as the primary focus and strength as the second while training directly for combat for altercations. Look a guy who’s boxed for 3 months is going to crack the shit of the dude who can deadlift 600 lbs. Not saying strength doesn’t matter of course but there is a difference between gym strength and real combat strength. I think the best use of your time in the gym is doing it for aesthetics and then strength.
You may not agree with me and hey that’s fine. Maybe you’d prefer strength first and aesthetics second and that’s fine so long as aesthetics is on there and something you train for consistently. If you’re skinny, weak, or anything associated with those things you’re embarrassing yourself (and insulting your own pride) as well as embarrassing any group that you’re a part of. This is why the fat and ugly are often ostracized in high school because they are a liability to anyone and any group who associates with them. You might not like that but hey that’s life.
You have to look as good as you perform. You have to be a manly badass and also look like one. It’s not an either/or thing it’s a synthesization thing. Train for combat and train for looks. Don’t try to do both at the same time, keep them separated. For example I’ll do bodybuilding style weight training in the mornings and boxing/jiujitsu/combatives/shooting later at night (which one depends on which night). Don’t compromise one for the other as they both need to be developed to a high level and cannot be done by trying to squeeze them both together which just results in you sucking at both. You can’t just be something or just look something, you must both be and look something.
Look Good, Be Good
As humans we’re an incredibly visual species. People are constantly sizing each other up (even if just on a subconscious level) and so much is decided from this first sizing up. Looks matter tremendously. And as a man seeking to be the strongest man that you can be (aka the baddest motherfucker you can be) looks are going to play a key role in this. How much muscle you have, how little fat you have, and how you dress. All of these things matter and are part of being a man. Don’t be weak, don’t be soft, don’t be ugly, and don’t be stupid. Remember you must declare war on any and all weakness, not just weaknesses of one type or another but all. And ugliness is a weakness as is not looking like a man (if you are one).
If you have any questions you would like to see answered in a future post send them to me at charlessledge001 (at) gmail (dot) com. If you found value in this post then I would encourage you to share this site with someone who may need it as well as check out my books here. I appreciate it.
-Charles Sledge
