THEGAYUK

Author: Gay FitnessUK

  • Can exercise help with erection problems?

    Can exercise help with erection problems?

    Seems like a valid question right? We posted an article recently about the exercises that can help you to last longer in bed (aka Sexercises), but probably the most important thing to an all-nighter is the ability of your penis to maintain its erection for several hours.

    Now without giggling, let’s look at some of the research and theories that suggest that a stallion-strength boner could be yours with just a little bit of exercise worked into your weekly routine.

    Hopping on the treadmill isn’t likely to have the same effect on your johnson as popping a viagra. However, it’s often helpful in preventing many types of erectile dysfunction (ED) from developing. And more than that, the strength of a man’s erection-his hardness-is the true barometer of his overall health.

    1. Improve circulation = improve erections

    So according to the science, when a man becomes aroused, the brain sends signals to your junk that leads to the relaxation of smooth muscles with blood vessel walls in the penis. This allows for increased blood inflow inside the erectile tissues of the penis. Blood then fills two “inflatable” chambers inside the shaft known as corpora cavernosa. And there you have it, instant boner.

    So it stands to reason that better circulation leads to a stronger and even larger erect penis (in terms of length and girth). This is why when men have heart problems and poor circulation they tend to suffer from ED as well.

    Cardio, and exercise in general, causes the blood vessels to dilate and capillaries to open so that blood can flow more effectively, moving to where it needs to be, including your genitals.

    They’ll even have improved circulation even when your body is at rest. Fun side-note: the increased blood flow to the skin brings with it the extra benefit of greater sensitivity.

    Win-win!

    2. Psychological health

    Free-Photos / Pixabay

    Exercise is well documented at elevating your mood. The release of endorphins during exercise is often connected with an improvement in a sense of wellbeing, often increasing your libido as well as a result.

    Tackling some of the underlying issues such as low self-esteem and body image can help prevent forms of sexual dysfunction developing.

    3. NEVER skip leg day

    fit athlete during training on running track
    Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

    You’ll have heard that you should never skip leg day. As some of the biggest muscles in your body, training your legs burns calories, releases hormones to help your other muscles grow, and can help relax and expand blood vessels in the penis contributing to fuller and harder erections… yup.

    4. Boost your Testosterone

    adventure athlete athletic daylight
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    Testosterone has an important role in both central and peripheral contributors to an erection. Testosterone and Growth Hormone (GH) release is proportional to the amount of muscle tissue working; therefore boost your testosterone by making sure you don’t neglect those large leg and back muscles.

    Cortisol (the ‘stress’ hormone) also has a suppressive effect on testosterone and the effect is more pronounced at night. Cortisol increases if we overtrain (spend more than 90 minutes training hard in the gym) and when we perform steady state cardio (like 10k running and long distance cycling). Therefore, keep your workouts on the shorter, more intense side of the scale (even two 30 minute sessions a day will boost GH and testosterone more than a single 60-90 minute session) and opt for HIIT and interval training instead of the traditional steady state cardio.

    Minimising stress via meditation, relaxation and improving sleep quality and length, will also have a significant impact on your testosterone and therefore boner levels.

    Get help with your exercise

    If you need help with you exercise we can help; getting erections, however, is still your responsibility.

    Speak to one of our gay personal trainers about devising a personalised fitness and nutrition program to help you “firm up”.

    This article was brought you by our partner, GayFitnessUK.com and first published in Feb 2014.

     
  • 10 cheap, basically free ways you can reduce body fat fast

    10 cheap, basically free ways you can reduce body fat fast

    Not only is burning off some fat going to help your self-esteem, but it will also help you live longer. Ignoring all the talk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, lowering your body fat will help you move and sit more comfortably, protect your joints and your back, and can help you feel really good about looking after yourself.

    jarmoluk / Pixabay

    That being said, it ain’t easy. If it were we would all be flashing our 6-packs morning, noon, and night.

    1. Stop drinking so many calories

    Alexas_Fotos / Pixabay

    This isn’t exclusive to alcohol, but we as a nation drink way too many of our calories. Sugary drinks, booze, fancy coffees, energy or ”sports” drinks, even plain old orange juice, they’re all packed with calories and sugar. And since you’re drinking them, those calories don’t seem to fill you up the way food does.

    It may seem boring but stick to water as much as possible.

    2. Drink more water

    congerdesign / Pixabay

    Just to hammer this point home, drink a butt load of water to keep your body hydrated and feeling full at all times. Drink a glass of water with every meal and keep your metabolism online.

    Plus it’s free!

    3. Eat more

    CREDIT: mythja-bigstock

    Oh yeah, we’re telling you to eat more in order to reduce your body fat. By that, we mean more greens… sorry. Add a fistful or two of veg to every meal. Spinach with your omelette, broccoli with your chicken, a load of leaves on your burger; all of these are nutrient-dense but low on calories and will help you feel fuller without being fattening.

    4. Sleep!

    CREDIT: Dmytro-Sidelnikov-bigstock

    Your muscles grow and recover while you’re sleeping, so if you’re smashing out sessions at the gym but burning the midnight oil you’re not going to see the benefits from your hard work. Plus you’ll be knackered, won’t be able to train as hard the next day, and are far more likely to eat more in order to stay awake.

    5. Lift some weights

    CREDIT: Dean-Drobot-bigstock

    A six-pack cannot be achieved by cardio and crunches alone, so you’ll need to pick up some weights in order to rev up your metabolism a bit. Adding 1.5kg worth of muscle to your body can potentially burn an extra 1,050 calories a week, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

    If you’re not bothered about building muscle and getting bigger, then train for strength with big, compound movements such as the power clean and squat. That way you turn every workout into a fat-burner.

    6. Low-intensity cardio

    CREDIT: bigstock-monkeybusiness

    Now I know what you’re thinking, “But you’re always going on about high-intensity training!” And while HIIT is often our go-to form of cardio, don’t discount the benefits of some steady-state cardio.

    Low-intensity steady-state (LISS) cardio lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which has been associated with increased fat storage. It also burns calories (obviously) and can even be used as active recovery the day after an intense training session.

    7. Fill up on fibre

    © yevgenromanenko Depositphotos

    Fibre is great at keeping you regular and is an important part of every bottom’s day-to-day life. But wait, there’s more. Research has shown that fibre can boost your fat-burning by as much as 30%. Add whole grains and fruits to your diet and aim to eat about 25g of fibre per day.
    8. Spice up your life!

    SLAM IT TO THE LEFT! … sorry, got carried away. Developing a taste for spicy food can give your metabolism a serious boost. So add some chillis to your next stir-fry and some paprika to your next batch of homemade burgers to torch some extra body fat while you eat.

    9. Get plenty of D, vitamin D

    CREDIT: ©-Iakov-Depositphotos

    Vitamin D is essential in order to preserve muscle tissue and is best obtained from your food, so we recommend getting your D orally. Giggle. Which is good because depending on sunshine would be frustrating as hell in the UK.

    You can get 90% of your recommended daily intake from a 100g piece of salmon. So eat plenty of fish, eggs, milk and cereals to get your intake up.

    10. Fat-burning workout once a week

    CREDIT: Flynt-bigstock

    Add a fat-burning workout to your weekly routine, something that will have you sweating, burning calories, and building muscle.

    We’ve got a load of ’em, so sign up to our weekly workouts to get them sent straight to your inbox once a week.

    This article first appeared on our partner site, GayFitnessUK

  • 10 ways to losing body fat fast

    Not only is burning off some fat going to help your self-esteem, but it will also help you live longer. Ignoring all the talk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, lowering your body fat will help you move and sit more comfortably, protect your joints and your back, and can help you feel really good about looking after yourself.

    CREDIT: ©-livrakv-Depositphotos

    That being said, it ain’t easy. If it were we would all be flashing our 6-packs morning, noon, and night.

    1. Stop drinking so many calories

    This isn’t exclusive to alcohol, but we as a nation drink way too many of our calories. Sugary drinks, booze, fancy coffees, energy or ”sports” drinks, even plain old orange juice, they’re all packed with calories and sugar. And since you’re drinking them, those calories don’t seem to fill you up the way food does.

    It may seem boring but stick to water as much as possible.

    2. Drink more water

    Just to hammer this point home, drink a butt load of water to keep your body hydrated and feeling full at all times. Drink a glass of water with every meal and keep your metabolism online.

    Plus it’s free!

    3. Eat more

    CREDIT: mythja-bigstock

    Oh yeah, we’re telling you to eat more in order to reduce your body fat. By that, we mean more greens… sorry. Add a fistful or two of veg to every meal. Spinach with your omelette, broccoli with your chicken, a load of leaves on your burger; all of these are nutrient dense but low on calories and will help you feel fuller without being fattening.
    4. Sleep!

    Your muscles grow and recover while you’re sleeping, so if you’re smashing out sessions at the gym but burning the midnight oil you’re not going to see the benefits from your hard work. Plus you’ll be knackered, won’t be able to train as hard the next day, and are far more likely to eat more in order to stay awake.

    5. Lift some weights

    CREDIT: Dean-Drobot-bigstock

    A six-pack cannot be achieved by cardio and crunches alone, so you’ll need to pick up some weights in order to rev up your metabolism a bit. Adding 1.5kg worth of muscle to your body can potentially burn an extra 1,050 calories a week, according to a study by the University of Michigan.

    If you’re not bothered about building muscle and getting bigger, then train for strength with big, compound movements such as the power clean and squat. That way you turn every workout into a fat-burner.

    6. Low-intensity cardio

    CREDIT: Flynt-bigstock

    Now I know what you’re thinking, “But you’re always going on about high-intensity training!” And while HIIT is often our go-to form of cardio, don’t discount the benefits of some steady state cardio.

    Low-intensity steady state (LISS) cardio lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which has been associated with increased fat storage. It also burns calories (obviously) and can even be used as active recovery the day after an intense training session.

    7. Fill up on fibre

    Fibre is great at keeping you regular and is an important part of every bottom’s day-to-day life. But wait, there’s more. Research has shown that fibre can boost your fat-burning by as much as 30%. Add whole grains and fruits to your diet and aim to eat about 25g of fibre per day.

    8. Spice up your life!

    SLAM IT TO THE LEFT! … sorry, got carried away. Developing a taste for spicy food can give your metabolism a serious boost. So add some chillis to your next stir-fry and some paprika to your next batch of homemade burgers to torch some extra body fat while you eat.

    9. Get plenty of D, vitamin D

    Vitamin D is essential in order to preserve muscle tissue and is best obtained from your food, so we recommend getting your D orally. Giggle. Which is good because depending on sunshine would be frustrating as hell in the UK.

    You can get 90% of your recommended daily intake from a 100g piece of salmon. So eat plenty of fish, eggs, milk and cereals to get your intake up.

    10. Fat-burning workout once a week

    Add a fat-burning workout to your weekly routine, something that will have you sweating, burning calories, and building muscle.

    We’ve got a load of ’em, so sign up to our weekly workouts to get them sent straight to your inbox once a week.

  • Is there any right way of picking up a straight guy at the gym?

    Is there any right way of picking up a straight guy at the gym?

    The gays often have a fantasy that fit straight guys are so horny all the time that they’d be more than happy to abandon their heterosexuality in exchange for a quick blowjob in the changing rooms between sets.

    But has this actually happened to anyone? Seriously, we’re asking. If anyone has successfully sucked off a straight guy that was genuinely straight while at the gym you’ve got to get in touch and tell us about it, Dear Penthouse Forum-style.

    What does the internet suggest?

    CREDIT: curaphotography-bigstock

    This article began when I “stumbled upon” an old post about how to pick up straight guys at the gym. In it, the author claims to have successfully stalked picked up plenty of straight guys, and if you follow his tried and tested method you could too.

    This method involves the following steps:

    Step #1: Find out the guy’s name – either by eavesdropping or looking at his membership details when he swipes into the gym (not creepy at all).

    Step #2: Search the Internet and Social Media – once you have his name you can easily search the internet for info and images of him. A good ole fashion cyber-stalk.

    Step #3: Get all muscled up and ask for a spot – a perfectly acceptable practice in the gym that is also the start of plenty of pornos. Be sure to “Dress somewhat sexy but keep it tamed down.”

    Step #4: Say thanks and walk away for that day – you don’t want to seem desperate or crazy at all…

    Step #5: Make sure you say hello next time you see him at the gym – this one I have no problem with.

    Step #6: Repeat step 5 several times with a twist – Remember, your goal is a hook up with your fantasy gym guy, not some random hookup off a phone app. So take your time stalking this guy properly. Like a gentleman. Oh, and be sure he notices you checking him out casually. That’s really important. Straight guys love that.

    Step #7: Make your move – This is when you ask him to “hang out” sometime, he’ll know what you mean. But god help you if he’s actually straight and he ends up inviting you to watch football with the boys. That’s creep-karma for ya.

    What you’ll actually get

    There is no reason you can’t be sociable and make friends at the gym. Granted in cities like London, people don’t really respond well to… well, people, but that won’t be true all the time and in all the gyms.

    The best-case scenario is you’ll strike up a sociable conversation with a straight guy that could eventually become a friend, acquaintance, or workout buddy. Which would be great, even better than bathroom blowies in my opinion.

    Don’t be a creep

    Just don’t do it.

    Hook up culture has made it SO easy to pick up guys, whether they’re gay, bi, curious, or some wonderful mixture of all three. So why not just open up Grindr in-between sets.

    If he’s looking for a hookup the chances are he’ll be on there too. If not then you can get on with your workout without further distraction … other than when he walks past, bends over, flexes or flashes his abs in the mirror. You’re allowed to be a little creepy and perv over that, I mean guys have been doing that to girls for decades so it’s only fair.

     

    This article was first published on our partner site, Gay Fitness UK

  • Want to up your orgasm game? You need to try these four exercise types

    Want to up your orgasm game? You need to try these four exercise types

    From our partners at GayFitnessUK: Our eternal search for an orgasm is important to us both as individuals and as a society. So we’re here to help you get the best orgasm you possibly can.

    Luckily there’s been plenty of research into the topic of how to get more bang for your buck!

    1. Strong abs = a strong orgasm

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    Not only will a great set of abs make you more likely to have sex, but they’ll also make you have better sex. In fact, extreme core workouts have even been known to lead to spontaneous orgasms in the gym (although mostly with women) and working your core to the point of fatigue is a great way to get all those nerve endings firing “down there”.

    2. Boost your testosterone

    CREDIT: Dean-Drobot-bigstock

    It’s no surprise that higher testosterone levels increase your chance of achieving an orgasm, it is the sex hormone after all. So if you’re planning a sexy encounter, then head to the gym and smash out some high-intensity interval training, or lift a load of heavy, manly weights. Compound moves like the bench press or deadlifts have been shown to increase T-levels, and according to researchers at Athens’ Military Hospital in Greece, the more testosterone a man has in his bloodstream, the better his chances of achieving orgasm.

    3. Yoga and meditation

    man doing yoga asanas in the park on the hill at sunny day in the summer

    If you’ve ever been to a sex therapist or read one of their blogs, the key to achieving a full-bodied orgasm is through controlled breathing. Deep regular breaths allow for prolonged lovemaking and a more satisfying orgasm, whereas short rapid breathing tends to increase excitement and push you “over the edge”. Slow and controlled exercise like a yoga class will instil in you the importance of deep breathing and connecting your breath to the movement.

    Which would you prefer, a short, panting pounding, or slow, deep thrusts?

    4.Kegel exercises

    (C) BIGSTOCK

    You’ve heard of these right? You can do your kegals whenever wherever you are. I’m doing mine right now. The pubococcygeal (PC) muscle is at the floor of your pelvis and controls both your urination flow and the spasms during climax. Squeezing as if you were holding back your pee will help to develop your PC power. Try and do 20 squeezes, three times a day.

    First published on GayFitnessUK

  • How to avoid toxic masculinity at the gym

    How to avoid toxic masculinity at the gym

    Don’t let toxic masc bros stop you from getting fit.

    CREDIT: bigstock-sorali

    The toxic masculinity mentality is so outdated it makes me want to puke. However, the gym is one of those places that both attracts bros and then further encourages bro-behaviour. So no matter where you train, from the plushest health club to the most bare-bones 24-hour gym, you’ll encounter these assholes at one point or another. Wearing their backwards caps and shouting at their bros to smash out another rep.

    It’s enough to deter any gay man, woman, or newcomer from ever daring to set foot in the free weights section. To that, we say FUCK NO! The time has come to take a stand against this crap, so here are a few things you can do to combat toxic masculinity in your gym.

    1. Be gay!

    via GIPHY

    Well done, you’ve already accomplished this one. So if you’re gay then don’t be afraid to act it. You don’t have to hide your camp-ness at home, with friends, or at work, and you shouldn’t suddenly have to in the gym.

    Listen to your Lady Gaga full volume, wear unicorn leggings, go to Jazzercise, and just be yourself. This isn’t high school gym class anymore.

    2. Train with a girl-friend

    via GIPHY

    Work to dispel the bullshit male/female divide in gyms and get training with your girl friends. Get them into the weights section and help them feel confident doing pull ups and bench pressing with barbells. Then hop on the elliptical with them and do your cardio. There are no “male exercises” and no “female exercises”, just different training goals.

    Women and men can both work to be stronger and fitter, side by side. #gayfitness [Tweet this if you agree!]

    3. Get strong

    CREDIT: Dean-Drobot-bigstock

    If there is a homophobic piece of shit in the gym, then the best way to show this toxic creep that he’s outdated and obsolete is to get strong. Focus on good form and consistency and you’ll progress in your training far quicker than a loud-mouthed bro who’s just looking to slam some weights around. Just watch him try and call you a sissy when you’re benching what he squats.

    1. Don’t become a jerk

    calibra / Pixabay

    When you do get stronger, don’t fall into the trap of becoming a bro yourself. Yes, you’re strong, you know what you’re doing, and you look great, but don’t start acting like the world owes something because you’re buff now.

    Take your training seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously.

    5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

    CREDIT: Flynt-bigstock

    Whether you’re new to this whole gym thing or you’ve been training for years, don’t ever be afraid to ask for help. If you need a spot or you’re unsure, ask someone for help. If they’re not busy or mid-set, then they’ll probably be happy to help.

    No one knows everything, and only toxic assholes act like they do.

  • 7 stretches you NEED to do before you bone

    7 stretches you NEED to do before you bone

    Like any physical activity, sex is going to take a toll on your body, and whether you’re a top, a bottom, or a flip-flopping vers, there’s going to be a certain amount of work involved.

    Pexels / Pixabay

    This is why it’s important to be as limber and flexible beforehand in order to be ready for action. And so that you don’t cramp up halfway through your all-night-fuck-fest, here are seven of the best stretches before sex:

    Note: Be sure to warm up.

    It’s important that you’re not stretching cold muscles, as they’re more likely to cramp, or worse, snap. If you’re boning at the end of the day, your muscles will have had some activity and are probably fairly warm. Power walking home from work or running up and down the stairs will be enough to get your muscles switched on.

    1. Rag Doll

    You’ll probably notice that you’re especially stiff first thing in the morning… and not in a good way. So start with a simple forward fold to wake up your lower back and your hamstrings. Start with soft knees, not straight, and simply fold down as far as you can go. First thing in the morning that’s not likely to be far.

    Support your weight by placing your hands on your thighs or shins if you can’t reach the floor. Round and soften your back and just let yourself hang there like a ragdoll (hence the name). Roll the spine up and repeat a few times.

    2. Downward dog

    Keifit / Pixabay

    You could even use this one during your boning session ?

    Downward dog is the king of all stretches as it works multiple muscle groups and requires you to be active while you stretch. From a forward fold, place your hands on the ground and step both feet back a comfortable distance.

    Think about sending your tailbone up to the sky, sticking your butt out like a slut dog. Again, keep the knees soft, and spread your fingers and press your hands into the ground. The guy above is super flexible, so don’t worry about getting your heels on the ground straight away.

    3. Low lunge

    Pexels / Pixabay

    Step out into a lunge, drop your back knee down to the ground and untuck your back toes. This will really help to open your hip flexors, vastly increasing your ability to thrust. Think about sending the front hip backwards, and the back hip forwards, keeping your hips nice and square to the front.

    Sink down into the stretch as much as you can without collapsing onto the front hip, and make sure your front knee doesn’t extend past your toes.

    4. Deep squat

    Veex / Pixabay

    It’s as simple as squatting down like you were taking a poop in the desert. Legs nice and wide (giggity), sink your bum down as far as it can go. Put your arms out in front of you for balance if you need it. If that’s easy, bring your hands together into prayer and press your elbows into your knees to open the hips further and deepen the stretch.

    5. Lying deep gluteal stretch

    If you’ve ever had a butt cramp during sex, then you’ll know it’s a real mood killer. So be sure to wake up and stretch those glutes before you get into it. Lying down on your back, bend your knees and rest your feet on the ground. Cross your right leg over your left knee, then grab the back of your left thigh and gently pull your legs towards you.

    Keep your legs bent as your focus should be feeling the stretch in your butt rather than your hamstrings. Repeat on the other side.

    6. Frog stretch

    This one is a killer, but great if you really want to up your game in the bedroom. Not just for power bottoms, the frog stretch is an intensive hip opener. Improved flexibility there will mean you’re able to open your legs wider, but you’ll also have greater range of motion and stability when topping. Hard work, but worth it.

    Start on hands and knees, bringing your knees as far apart as is comfortable. Rock back and forth in that position. Keep the balls of your feet on the ground, with toes pointed outward. Don’t feel like you should be flat on the ground, even ballet dancers can’t always get that deep.

    7. Straddle stretch

    I love a good straddle ?

    This one feels like a throwback to 1980s aerobics classes (for those of you who are old enough to remember the golden age of Lycra and leg-warmers).

    Sit on the floor with your legs spread apart as wide as possible without hurting yourself. Lean forward toward the floor with your arms extended, dropping your head and neck slightly. Don’t hunch over in order to reach the floor, keep your back fairly straight (pointing your toes makes it easier and a little gayer… in a good way). Try not to tense up and keep your body as relaxed as possible. Hold for 15-30 seconds, increasing each time.

  • This Is Why You Should NEVER Masturbate Before Going To The Gym

    This Is Why You Should NEVER Masturbate Before Going To The Gym

    We spent days researching this topic. It’s important to know whether it’s ok to masturbate before going to the gym, or if this is something that’s best left til you’ve showered off. Unfortunately, the results of our research look very inconclusive. There are countless articles, forums, and feeds about each individual lifter’s opinions on the topic.

    Does spanking the money before a workout effect your workout?
    Does spanking the money before a workout effect your workout?

    When asking the question, does masturbation affect your workout, the answer seems to be a resounding… maybe, kinda, yeah no.

    Continuing our longstanding obsession with the male hormone, there appears to be a belief across the world wide web that beating one off will somehow drain the testosterone right out of your bloodstream and into oblivion.

    Higher t-levels are associated with better athletic performance, whether that’s increased muscle growth or high levels of aggression and intensity. Achieving orgasm, either on your own or with the help of another, will increase your prolactin levels, and temporarily decrease your dopamine. However, while both of these hormones are often associated with testosterone, they don’t decrease the hormone itself.

    Having sex on a semi-consistent basis (whatever that means) has shown to increase testosterone levels. And while a study in the World Journal of Urology found that men had higher T levels after abstaining for three weeks, other studies have shown that t-levels peak after a week without ‘release’, and tend to drop dramatically after day 7.

    Does masturbation affect your workout

    For those that choose to ignore the science, there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that shows a temporary drop in performance in the gym after a performance between the sheets.

    Other hormones that affect your training

    While there may not be a drop in testosterone after orgasm, plenty of other hormones are still in play that could affect your next gym session. The release of oxytocin and prolactin into your body after orgasm could significantly decrease your immediate desire to go to the gym and train at all.

    Known as the “cuddle hormone” by the more cutesy scientists, oxytocin combined with prolactin will make you feel good and want to sleep after you jizz; not ideal when you need to go and pick up heavy things or sprint uphill on a treadmill.

    Does masturbation affect your gym performance?

    Short answer, yes it can. Slightly longer answer, not so much that you shouldn’t do it. Just don’t masturbate for about 3-4 hours before you head to the gym and you should be fine.

    Maybe wait until afterwards. Plus, that way you get to take full advantage of the post-gym horn.

    Sharing is caring

    If you found this article even slightly interesting, informative, funny, or ridiculous, then please give us a like, share, tweet, tumble, stumble, flip, or follow. Buttons are floating all over.

  • Do Gay Men Have Less Testosterone?

    Testosterone can be a teste subject…. get it? It’s a popular topic of conversation amongst gay men and gym bros, and especially with gay gym bros. While there are lots of assumptions thrown about, how much actual evidence is there to suggest that gay men have less testosterone than straight men?

    Testosterone and aggression

    Known as the male sex hormone, testosterone is found in higher concentrations in men than it is in women – but it’s still found in women. Higher levels of the hormone have been found to increase aggressive behaviour and so-called “masculine characteristics” such as that “take charge” attitude that’s so attractive in straight guys and so frowned upon in women (barf).

    Studies in which female participants were given testosterone supplements showed an increase in these types of behaviours, however when given to men, testosterone boosters actually inhibited the natural production of the hormone, having little effect.

    This means that any of those so-called testosterone supplements you might be taking in order to improve your gym performance will only inhibit your natural testosterone production, keeping your T-levels (as the lingo goes) the same.

    Testosterone makes you a man

    Testosterone is quite literally what makes us men. During puberty, it’s our increasing T-levels that makes our voices break, promotes muscle growth, makes us grow body hair, and sends our poor teenage sex drives through the roof.

    As an adult, testosterone also regulates important functions like sex drive, muscle and bone mass, muscle strength, fat distribution, and red blood cell production. However, there is still no conclusive evidence to claim that lower T-levels at either stage in life is what makes gay men fabulously gay.

    Adult hormonal theory

    Adult hormone theory was based on the following, somewhat flawed, logic; if testosterone is responsible for driving heterosexual male sexual behaviour, it stands to reason that homosexual men must have a lower level of this hormone.

    German scientist Günter Dörner (the most German-sounding name I’ve ever heard) studied this theory extensively in the 1970s, but it was the research of a neurobiologist at Columbia University, Heino Meyer-Bahlburg, that properly deflated this theory.

    In 1984, a series of studies produced such underwhelming evidence to support adult hormonal theory that it was effectively discredited. While three studies did show significantly lower t-levels in homosexual men, two studies reported higher t-levels in gay men than in straight men – with another unhelpfully showing the levels to be higher in bisexuals than in either gay or straight men.

    All in all, there is still no real evidence to suggest that gay men have lower testosterone levels.

    Gay men don’t want to build muscle… do they?

    In researching this article I came across several fitness “experts” that still managed to shock me with how little they knew about gay men. Some even suggested that, as gay men, our fitness goals would probably be the same as women, wanting only to be lean and skinny rather than putting on muscle.

    … barf.

    Lower testosterone levels in all men

    Due to the ever-changing environment we live in, it has been shown that testosterone levels as a whole are falling across the board, with straight men and gay men alike showing around 60% less testosterone in their system than our grandfathers had 60 years ago. Add to that the fact that most men’s t-levels start to drop by about 2% a year by the time they reach their 40s, testosterone is in short supply with all men, whether gay, straight, or unicorn.

    Gay Personal Trainers

    If you would still like some extra help achieving a pair of perfect pecs or anything else, why not get yourself a gay personal trainer. They can design a training and nutrition program to suit your individual needs, and be on hand to help coach you towards your goals.

    Sharing is caring

    If you found this article even slightly interesting, informative, funny, or ridiculous, then please give us a like, share, tweet, tumble, stumble, flip, or follow GayFitnessUK.com.

    And you can also receive weekly workouts for free by subscribing to the Gay Fitness UK newsletter. Happy gaying!

  • This is why you probably shouldn’t be wearing jockstraps at the gym

    Should I wear a jockstrap at the gym?

    That’s the eternal question. I swear I spend 90% of my time in the gym adjusting my junk, and that’s not intended as a boast. Wedgies, front wedgies, nut smashing; all are potentially dangerous distractions when I should be focusing on my next rep.

    Add to that the desire to have your assets looking their best when you’re squatting, lifting, and thrusting; deciding what to wear under your shorts is a crucial decision when planning your gym-wardrobe. So should I be wearing jockstraps at the gym, and are they really better for my … performance?

    Is it safe to wear a jockstrap when working out?
    Let the jockstrap be the window to your ass…

    Pros and cons of jockstraps?

    Despite being used mainly for fetish websites and bubble-butt tumblr feeds, jockstraps were originally conceived as a purely functional form of underwear to improve athletic performance. Invented for cyclists back in 1874, the purpose of a jockstrap is to hold your boys in place and reduce any excessive movement down there while exercising.

    It has the added advantage of being able to add a protective cup for those of you taking part in sports or other events where your testicles might sustain some heavy impact.

    The major downside of the jockstrap is the stigma that surrounds them. Having your ass hanging out of the back of your shorts is not as socially acceptable as it once was (although that may be part of their appeal). Its bulky front might not be as comfortable as you’d imagine when you’re sprinting on a treadmill or swinging a kettlebell.

    Alternative: Compression shorts/leggings

    In addition to keeping your package in place, compression shorts and leggings support the whole upper leg, your butt, and can help to reduce friction/chafing all over. They keep things in their place and “out of harm’s way” so to speak.

    A study published in the “Journal of Sports Science” in 2003 indicated that compression shorts might also increase performance and help prevent injury to the upper leg muscles.

    However, if you do decide to opt for these, it’s only really socially acceptable to wear them under a pair of shorts. Despite what the afore-mentioned tumblr feeds might suggest, the regular gym-going public will not enjoy seeing your sweaty compressed bulge looking them right in the eye while you’re stretching.

    Do you wear jockstraps at the gym?

    So now we need to know, do you wear jockstraps at the gym? Or compression shorts, short shorts, leggings, joggers, or something we haven’t thought of?

    Need some compression pants? Check out the huge selection on Amazon.

    Let us know in the comments below, or better yet, show us by tagging us @gayfitnessuk on Instagram!