Dating a Bodybuilder: The 5 Expectations vs. Reality

Dating a bodybuilder might seem exciting—after all, their dedication and sculpted body are impressive! But being in a relationship with one is more than just muscles.

Sometimes, their focus on fitness can create challenges. Some even say bodybuilders aren’t the easiest partners to date. Like any relationship, it’s important to know what to expect.

This guide will show you the reality of dating a bodybuilder so you can be ready for both the good and the tough parts.

Expectation: Your friends will all be green with envy because you’re dating someone hot

Imagine walking into a party with your bodybuilder in tow. Doesn’t it feel great being the center of attention all of a sudden?

With his muscular physique, you’re sure to turn heads wherever you go. Expect your friends to ask you about his toned abs, broad shoulders, and bulging biceps at your next lady’s night out because your man is H-O-T!

Reality: They can be very self-conscious and self-centered

While your bodybuilder boyfriend may exude extreme confidence when he’s out in public, most are actually very self-conscious about their looks.

Some even suffer from a condition called muscle dysmorphia, which causes them to see themselves as 90-pound weaklings instead of the muscular men that they are.

People with muscle dysmorphia usually see a different image of themselves in the mirror, so even if they already have substantial muscle mass, they still see their bodies as small and weak.

Think of it as anorexia in reverse. Instead of them trying to lose weight, they’re constantly working out to gain more muscle.

Expectation: Because of their muscle mass, they’re more likely to help around the house

With your very own live muscle man, you’ll finally get around to doing those major repairs around the house.

Plus points if your bodybuilder boyfriend is into manual labor (as many of them are), so you know that he can be quite handy in the home.

You won’t have to lift another finger next time you need to rearrange some furniture or open a jar of pasta sauce because your bodybuilder can cover that for you. It’s a damsels-in-distress dream come true.

Reality: They are either too tired or sleepy to do chores

Because sleep plays a crucial role in muscle recovery, most bodybuilders would rather sleep than do anything else. Chores, hobbies, even sex.

The body undergoes massive stress while building muscles, so it’s just natural for your bodybuilder boyfriend to want to get a good night’s sleep after a grueling workout.

It may come off as insensitive, but once your boyfriend lays his weary head, nothing, not even incessant nagging or bribery for sex, will tear him off his bed.

The only thing that you can do at this point is let him have a good night’s sleep and talk about it the next day.

And even then, you can’t really take ‘his need for sleep’ against him because his body needs it. Remember, it’s not personal, it’s physiological.

Expectation: You’ll be eating tons of nutritious food

As the old cliche goes, “abs are made in the kitchen, not the gym”.

And if there’s a specific people group in the world that swears by this saying, it’s bodybuilders.

For a muscle to grow, you need to feed it with the proper nutrition. With that said, it’s just natural to think that once you’re in a relationship with a bodybuilder, you’re going to be eating healthier than ever.

Say goodbye to those pizza and beer binges because you’re going to be having steak and vegetables instead. If you’ve ever had a tough time following a strict diet plan, then dating a bodybuilder who knows his food should help keep you on the right track.

Reality: It’s the same food all day, every day

But because eating healthy will cost you more, you might find yourself eating the same food all day, every day, with your bodybuilder boyfriend.

Eating the same meals every day not only takes away the guesswork out of what your boyfriend should be eating, but it also makes food preparation a lot easier and cheaper.

Since you’ll be buying mostly ingredients that you already know works, you’ll be able to cut down your food expenses when you make the same food week after week.

It may seem boring in the beginning, but once you get used to it, you’ll realize that this food hack will also help save the most precious commodity of all – time.

Expectation: They treat their bodies like a temple

Building muscle takes a lot of hard work so it’s not surprising that most bodybuilders turn out to be health and fitness advocates.

Your bodybuilder boyfriend has spent months, maybe even years, understanding the science behind muscle growth, making him an expert in keeping the body in top shape.

Having a bodybuilder for a boyfriend will not only inspire you to become fitter, but it might also push you to quit harmful lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking, and partying all night.

Reality: The possible drug abuse

Since bodybuilders know all too well what works and what doesn’t in building muscle, most resort to anabolic steroids to grow their muscles.

While there are no exact figures that show just how many bodybuilders use performance-enhancing drugs, this study pegs it at 18.8% of their participants.

Even though there’s already a lot of information on the dangers of steroid abuse, many bodybuilders still choose to dabble in the drug in the hopes that it will help them gain muscle faster.

The sad reality is that a majority of anabolic steroid abusers simply ignore the side effects of these drugs for the sake of increased muscle strength and a bulky physique.

Expectation: Their discipline and self-control to keep a consistent work out schedule is unbreakable

For bodybuilders, pumping iron at the gym is more than just a hobby; it’s a lifestyle.

In order to build muscle, they need to develop unbreakable discipline and self-control.

You’ll find them pushing their physical capabilities, as well as their mental capacities to get to where they want to be.

They’re not afraid of commitment because they’re aware of the sacrifices they need to make in order to achieve the muscle mass they’re aiming for.

If you think they work hard at the gym, observe them in real life and you’ll see that they’re also hard workers in their respective day jobs.

Reality: They would rather spend their free time at the gym than go on dates with you

While this expectation is true, it comes with a price.

Because your bodybuilder boyfriend is so disciplined and committed, he’s ready to sacrifice quality time with you to get his body in shape.

You’ll experience this during competition season especially, where every second lifting weights count. He’s more likely to forego date night during this crucial time because he will want to focus more on his gains.

Want to get his attention?

Then try this ultimate date night workout with your man!

If there’s one major takeaway that you need to remember about dating a bodybuilder, it’s this: always be supportive of his goals.

Whatever it is that he wants to achieve, make sure that you stick with him until the very end.

Whether it’s dealing with the dreaded weight loss plateau or surviving those deadly protein farts, just remember to be patient with him.

Who knows?

You might just end up marrying your very own Superman in the end.