Is muscle growth a mainstream fetish?

[Frankly]

The addition of the thank you button (an excellent idea by the way and thanks for doing that) got me thinking about how many people are into muscle growth but are too afraid or ashamed or simply quiet about saying it.

How many people are into muscle growth and do you think it is a fair sized community?

I was at a fetish fair and a kink party, all showing off and selling paraphanalia for different forms of fetishes but not once have i seen anything related to muscle growth. I'm curious if im just in the wrong city

[howardbeatman]

No, it's not. Relatively few people are attracted to muscle, much less muscle growth. This website is great because it allows a small number of people - most of whom live too far apart to meet in person - to share our interest in different ways.

[mutador]

I don't know if we should call it a fetish, I've talked to a friend who is a psychologist about it and he doesn't think it classifies as fetish. In my case I think it's a masculine trait that I appreciate.

[dodoria21]

I sometimes think it's more widespread than we think, but most just won't say so.

However, it's also true that the mainstream is pushing this skinny, pretty boy image and it seems that's the trend that everyone is latching onto. Therefore, muscles are getting that "ew gross" label placed on them, which I think is stupid.

I do think a lot of guys have some level of interest in muscle though, whether they have it or not. Those that workout definitely have it. I've even began noticing it at the gym with how other guys act at times. You can just tell they love getting their muscles pumped up, and who can blame them? It's a great feeling. One of the best feelings a guy can get really, in my opinion. There are even guys I follow on youtube or other places that share their workouts and fitness tips, and some of them have even gotten a little bolder in saying they love getting muscular, or they want to get bigger, or even that the workouts get them horny.

So I definitely think a fair share of the male population has an interest in muscle. Maybe not all so far as to call it a "fetish", and I too kinda shy away from calling it a "fetish", but I'm sure plenty are into it. But it's not talked about cuz of the mainstream image of the pretty boy, and also cuz I feel society likes to label everything a person does as being "straight" or "gay", and a guy expressing interest in muscle is automatically gonna get "gay" stamped on them, whether they're gay or not.

Kinda went on tangents there, but yea, I think the community who gets into muscle is larger than we think, but you're just not gonna hear about it.

[MuscleHintz]

Muscles aren't a "fetish" in themselves; they are generally considered an attractive trait in most societies. A fit, muscular body is always a beautiful thing.

However, some of the themes prevelant in stories do fall under fetishes. Muscle growth (especially over a short amount of time) and impossible huge muscles are both fetishes, since most people don't find a guy who magically grows into an eight-foot tall giant with muscles bulging on his muscles to be an attractive sight. Nothing wrong with that, but yes, that sort of muscle definitely falls under fetish, not mainstream.

[Jaypat]

I think a lot of people, members of this forum included, have trouble differentiating between being attracted to big muscles and a muscle growth fetish.

There are a lot of people out there, of both sexes, attracted to big muscles. That?s pretty common.

The growth fetish however requires someone to change from skinny to huge and muscular, weather in seconds Hulk style, or slowly over the course of time in a more conventional manner.

Personally, I believe it has something to do with empowerment. Power, as you know, is one of those time tested, iconic aphrodisiacs. And big muscles are a basic manifestation of personal power. The idea of someone going from weak and feeble to hugely powerful and dominant just stirs something visceral and primal within us. And for those of us with the fetish, this translates into sexual arousal.

But it doesn?t work without the before picture. The guy has to start skinny and get huge. Just showcasing photos and stories about hugely muscular men is not the muscle growth fetish; it is being attracted to big muscles, which, while it may be related, is not the same thing at all.

I do occasionally see examples of muscle growth in mainstream media, usually kid?s programs, which makes me wonder if maybe the fetish isn?t more wide spread. It would be interesting, for example, to know just how many members this forum has.

[arpeejay]

What Jaypat said (as usual!)

And if you do enough looking around it becomes clear that a lot of really muscular people (men and women) are that way partly (mostly?) because of the feelings of power and dominance Jaypat describes. Ditto, it's clear that some of them get a sexual thrill from it and I can't help but believe that the inevitable transformation (no one starts out looking like Brad Hollibaugh, even Brad Hollibaugh, who is a prime example) is part of it.

The Charles Atlas cartoon of the skinny guy who grows his big muscles after having sand kicked in his face worked as well as it did (and it worked very well indeed) for a reason.

xoxo

Richard

PS:

None of which quite gets to the question, i.e., is it a mainstream fetish? I think probably not but only because -- unlike corsets and whips and chains and hot wax -- it's really hard to externalize. If you want to see physicalization of the fetish, go to something like the Arnold Sports Festival, where every conceivable manifestation of physical culture is on sale (and there are thousands of bodybuilders present to buy and sell all of it...)

-- R

[Yachirobi]

Frankly, we are among the strangest of the strange. as Hintz and Jaypat have alluded to (intentionally or not) we have people on the board who post frequently who I suspect do not have a muscle growth fetish. They like big muscles and bodybuilders, yes, but the idea of someone hulking out--even in the real-world way of training and dieting--doesn't really do it for them. Our world gets even smaller when you realize that most of the muscle growth lovers out there seem to prefer growth in women. Oh, and I hope you like furry stuff because, if not, then your world gets even smaller.

Is it a big deal? No. I wish the world was filled with people who got off on the sight of a man transforming from average to awesome but most people get off on other, more common things.

That said, there are a whole lot of people who think they're the only one who likes what they like, even if it's something as simple as red hair. So don't feel too bad about it, Frankly. You're not different from everyone else. You (and we) are different like them.

[raven79]

Are you referring to me Yachirobi? To answer your question, you are wrong about me not having a muscle growth fetish. That happens to be the one stickler with me and the guys that know me are aware of that.

[musclegrowthdm]

I agree with Jaypat and Arpeejay.

The idea of muscle growth and big muscle are different. One is a fantasy that one would like to see happen, and the other is something that they like to look at as an aesthetic.

I like both, and hell... even my blog would tell you that. I wish I were bigger, but that is neither here nor there. That is just a work in progress.

I do wish there were more people into muscle growth that weren't so judgemental about smaller guys. I understand that when you get big you might want another big guy. That is nice. However, for me, I would want a smaller guy so I would be the bigger man. It is that fantasy (which I am working on the reality) that I find masculine and appealing. It is probably the hottest thing I can think of! SERIOUSLY!

It is good to know there are MG guys out there! It's good to have this community. I like sharing it with the others that love all kinds of muscle. It's a good mix.

[Yachirobi]

Originally Posted by raven79

Are you referring to me Yachirobi? To answer your question, you are wrong about me not having a muscle growth fetish. That happens to be the one stickler with me and the guys that know me are aware of that.

Where in the world did you get the idea that I was referring to you?

[Frankly]

I understand there is definitely the distinction between muscle admiration and muscle growth. But lumping them together as a muscle fetish so to speak, why is it such a hidden community?

There are huge numbers who show up to the Bodybuilding competitions, whole businesses built on the concept of muscle suits, tons of muscular guys making their livings off of cam shows and flexing videos.

So why is the muscle fetish community so hidden?

I agree that there is the stigma that some straight people might find of automatically being assumed to be gay(i have a problem with that being a stigma, but thats another topic) but I assume there are enough women and gay men into muscle that could make up a visible community.

[raven79]

It just seemed like you were referring to me Yachirobi when you said guys posting vids quite often. I get defensive sometimes when it seems like someone is insinuating things. I guess I read too much into it.

[muscl4life]

Muscle Growth per se is actually mainstream, just look at most of superhero stories have the classic scene where the character goes from average to superpowered physique, even those whose abilities are not that physical (I have an old X-men issue that shows Prof. Xavier laid on a bed and he's got thighs bigger and much more ripped than a freaking bodybuilder ). Cartoons, animes, 3d shows, most of them have the classic "muscle inflation" episodes.

However, I think Muscle Growth as a sexual fantasy is actually something that is most frequently enjoyed by male individuals.

Since men are undisputedly more active consumers of porn, in any avaiable form, my great surprise was to find out that FMG erotica (stories, comics, animations) is actually "more commonly" avaiable on the internet.

I guess the reason behind it is that most of people associate being sexually aroused by the idea of muscular development in a character of the same gender as a homossexual trait.

It is "okay" to get boned up with a girl getting hugely muscular, but even a story dealing with a straight man getting more muscular and still being attracted to girls could be perceived as "weird" by the peers.

That being said, I actually believe MALE muscle growth is not a mainstream fantasy because of missconcepts about strength, power and gender roles.

[Ender]

Sorry my network link burped

[Ender]

I think that muscle, muscle growth and muscle theft aren't a fetish in themselves... the fetish comes from the reaction to the muscle and how it is used. The having and appreciation of beautiful bodes with or without being massively muscular is a matter of personal taste.

In my opinion, most of the fetish around muscle is related to power and control. And muscle is the medium in a domination/submission fetish is being expressed. A big guy being serviced by a little guy (willingly or not) is clearly Dom/Sub... But a taking away someones muscle or making them so monstrously huge they can't operate in the normal world is a same kind of power trip, and the muscle itself is only the way by which the control is expressed...

Personally I have never understood the desire to control or be controlled by another person... The companionship of an Equal has always seemed to be preferable a Master or Slave

Ender

[Curiosity]

Originally Posted by raven79

It just seemed like you were referring to me Yachirobi when you said guys posting vids quite often. I get defensive sometimes when it seems like someone is insinuating things. I guess I read too much into it.

But Yachirobi didn't even say post vids frequently, he just said "post frequently," which includes a very large number of members on this forum. If he had mentioned vids, it still would have included anpuZA, Jaekel, Berzerkerjoe, and several others. So, maybe you were just feeling particularly vulnerable to anything you could perceive as a personal affront, which we're all entitled to feel once in a while. Nothing wrong with that.

However, there's also nothing wrong with not being a muscle growth fetishist. The way I understood Yachirobi's post was "some of our members just like big muscles and aren't all that interested in how the guy got there," not "anyone who doesn't jizz in their pants when a guy hulks out better GTFO."

[Curiosity]

And on that note:

Super, gigantic bicep rip a tight shirt - YouTube

The Lonely Island - Jizz In My Pants - YouTube

[raven79]

Touche curiosity, touche.

[falseyedee]

whether or not admiring big muscle or muscle growth in yourself or others is or is not a fetish is entirely dependent on your response to it and if it's presence determines your sexual response.

for me big muscles and muscle growth are both fetishes. turns me on big time. if it isn't a fetish for you, or if you chose not to see yourself as having a fetish even if you do, that is no business of mine.

are these two fetishes main stream? probably not. there is a subculture of straight men for whom muscular women are fetishistic objects, just as there is a subculture of gay men for whom muscular men are fetishistic objects. there being fewer gay men than straight, the numbers of us who like this kind of thing in a sexual context are very limited.

but i will say that i am surprised by the continuing sales of my books in countries all over the world although they are only available in english. the numbers are higher than just the hundreds on this site.

is there an interest in muscle and muscle growth in general in the general population? i think so. it was greater in the 70's when bodybuilding was more mainstream. but it still exists.

i think there are fewer people participating in the activity now because the sport has been twisted by chemicals such that people who would be interested in body building avoid it because they either don't want to be tainted by the association with those chemicals, or the belief (misguided) that it is ONLY by the use of those chemicals that they could achieve results.

my 2 cents.

[arpeejay]

Not mainstream?!

Today's NY Times begs to differ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/he....html?hpw&_r=0

xoxo

Richard

[arpeejay]

Well, poop! I was going to do something, y'know, SPECIAL, for my 4000th post! But then I forgot! I guess the NY Times article will suffice! :-)

xoxo

Richard

[dodoria21]

Originally Posted by arpeejay

Not mainstream?!

Today's NY Times begs to differ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/he....html?hpw&_r=0

xoxo

Richard

I was thinking about that. How it seems a lot more teenage boys these days are getting to the gym, becoming obsessed with becoming huge, and unfortunately some turning to steroids and abusing them to make it happen.

Of course, does that fall under the umbrella of muscle or muscle growth? That depends on each individual I guess, but I do think a lot more kids these days get themselves in a mindset where they need to grow their muscles. That's most likely due to cartoons that have muscle growth scenes. I know as a kid myself those kinda cartoons played a big part in me getting attracted to muscle and muscle growth. I'd see bruce banner hulk out and would get excited and want that for myself. Dragon Ball Z does a lot of the muscle growth and muscle building stuff as well, and that's remaining pretty relevant despite it being an older anime now. I even see it in my little cousin who's about to be 8 and he's acknowledging muscle as a source of power. He's seen me working out and wants to do the same to get big. He's asked me to flex and said he wants his muscles as hard as mine, so it's in kids' heads.

But that doesn't mean it's a fetish for all of them, cuz who knows which ones are actually sexually aroused by it, or simply possess a desire to feel the power depicted in cartoons and kids shows that feature some form of muscle and/or strength. I know for me it became a source of sexual arousal, and even though I love women and want to be with one, get married, all that, I can't deny that muscle is what turns me on the most and fuels my desire to grow my own.

My earlier post steered off the fetish part too much for me to make a good point. I think there's a desire to have muscle that's become pretty mainstream, but a fetish for it... well, the only way to know for sure is for each person to admit it one way or the other, and I do think there's many who won't admit it even if it's true, so this could be a fetish that we just won't know how mainstream it is or isn't.

[Curiosity]

First, let's all take a moment to weep for any human being who idolizes The Situation. They all could have been much better creatures.

But seriously, I'm not really that surprised that pre-teen boys are starting o exhibit the same body issues as girls. Our society puts so much pressure on everyone to look perfect, which is really hard to do without your morning photoshop. Pair that with the amount of obesity in the U.S., and young people (myself included) will tend to polarize their potential bodies as either ripped (skinny, muscular, slender, etc.) vs. morbidly obese. I'm exaggerating to a certain extent, but I don't think I'm particularly far off.

Now, I don't think teens and pre-teens should be allowed anywhere near steroids--if you want to do them later in life after you've fully passed puberty, then whatever--but the guy who wrote this article seems to be sensationalizing it maybe a step too far. It sounds to me like he's condemning teens working out at all:

"Over all, 90 percent of the 1,307 boys in the survey ? who lived in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, but typify what doctors say is a national phenomenon ? said they exercised at least occasionally to add muscle."

Gasp. I mean, as a member of this forum I'm definitely biased, but for a 14 year-old to give that response is not unhealthy in itself. The article brings up some very important issues in the too-early exposure to steroids that mess up development, but it also feels like it demonizes bodybuilding and muscle growth. And with the way American parents are prone to paranoia, I wouldn't be surprised if people reading this article forbid their sons from even touching dumbbells.

^rant.

Anyway, to the extent that it doesn't lead to teenage boys ruining their bodies by pumping them full of steroids too early, I'm all for the mainstream aesthetic swinging back away from skinny toward built.

[raven79]

The Situation's body is not proportional. His arms are way too big for his body. They just don't look right with such a small chest.

[Curiosity]

Originally Posted by raven79

The Situation's body is not proportional. His arms are way too big for his body. They just don't look right with such a small chest.

Also, he's just generally unattractive in every way.

[umlerian49]

I guess we're going to find out whether or not the genre has broader appeal. My story The Wide Prairie Sky and the sequel Big New World was picked up by Extasy Books, under the Growing Boy series.