For me the right combination was decent muscles (especially arms) with look leaning more to athletic then bulky, and lower body fat (lean, not shredded).

Too jacked did not worked out good at all, even worse then being just regular guy.

I've never been super buff but I went from 130kgs to about 100kgs a few years ago, I did plenty of simple calisthenics since I couldn't afford a gym,I also jogged for a bit. I got all that weight back during the pandemic thanks to being jobless and a sedentary lifestyle,still working on it,never give up.

After all,I think what helped me the most was living a very active lifestyle. I woke up early (7-8am)for work, took a bus back home after work where I stood for about half an hour waiting,worked on my feet for 8-10 hours,then had enough energy to get home and do a bit of jogging and a simple calisthenics routine (squats, some variations of push ups,leg raises,jumping jacks and other stuff). I ate a bunch too, eggs with oatmeals with peanut butter and some spinach,yogurt with oatmeal and honey, low carbs on lunch and no carbs on dinner, had some snacks between meals of a handful of peanuts and a banana.

A couple years later I found fasting and took it up for more esoteric reasons, but my diet didn't change much, usually no carbs at lunch and skipping dinner. I wasn't working out much, but I was working as a waiter standing up 8-9 hour shifts. I was in great shape even without working out as much, and people told me so,my diet was on point and some friends were even amazed at the habits,they couldn't pull off a healthy diet full of spinach,chards,watercress,peanuts,beef chicken,sometimes plantain,oatmeal and eggs.

I insist, knowing some basic nutritional information helps,but the active lifestyle is key.Sedentism is shit

Been going to the gym (weightlifting) for about a year now, did everything scientifically (DEXA scans, bloodwork, whole foods etc.) and I have gained 15kgs of muscle weight. I have also taken up boxing as well for the last 6 months and now I am doing some sparring.

Life completely changed, you are instantly respected, girls notice you and you feel much better about yourself. But the gym has become almost an obsession, for my whole life I was constantly put down or belittled but serious gains have made there has come respect with it.

I've been lifting for 2 almost 3 years and have reached intermediate-advanced level strength in most lifts and look aesthetic but I got diagnosed with depression recently so I wouldn't say its a natural depression cure. But who knows, maybe I would be even more depressed if I didn't lift

I couldn't get any results with anything other than high intensity workouts. I'm pretty sure it's genetics. So I just do Muay Thai 3x/wk and call it good. Even 8wks of boot camp didn't do much to change my physique. 2yrs of aerobic conditioning in college didn't do jack either. So I guess if you're from gladiator stock you gotta do gladiator workouts.

Been lifting in the gym since 13; got serious around 14-15; took several years off @ 18 (multiple shoulder dislocations + first shoulder surgery). Went from peak build @ 160lb 8% bodyfat (this was training 8 hours a day in hs; wanted to compete in Olympics lol) to skinny as fuck no muscle 135 prob like 12% bf.

Over covid became a fat cunt no working out 210lb Idek what bf but prob insanely high bc I was sedentary.

Got back in gym Jan 2021 went down to 155 10% bf before other shoulder started popping out like Aug 2022. Surgery 2023; did my time in pt and whatnot and started getting back into it.

Got pretty close to peak physique until like October and then with midterms fell off the wagon; getting right back on it now that I’m done.

Having lived every build: jacked/shredded/diced, skinny w no muscle, and fat cunt I can say 1000% it’s better to be in shape.

hierarchy goes:

1. Jacked
2. Skinny
3. Fat cunt

Fat cunt phase I think I fucked like 2 dif bodies other than my gf at time.

Skinny fuck phase I still fucked hella bitches buuut pales in comparison to being jacked to the tits.

Being jacked is just different brah life on easy mode fr esp for me since im only 5”8 so it all looks that much more pronounced on me

artistic types seem to think You're just a meathead

Same here. I used to be an artistic type (no actual talent, just a fan - still am), and when I got into better shape suddenly I became an enemy or something. It’s like why u mad bro, I’m just trying to get laid - same as you with your guitar riffs. But we’re all apes so envy and so on is just part of the deal of human experience