I strongly agree with this. I was talking with a woman about fifteen years older than me about high school reunions recently. She had recently been to her 25th, and I had been to my 10th. We were both taken aback by how different the men look (in an unfortunate way) compared to the women. I'm sure women at a 25th reunion really are showing their age to some extent, but at my 10th it was extremely noticeable that the women all looked the same or hotter than they did in high school*, while the men almost all looked worse. Even at 28, most men had put on weight and had worse skin; many were losing their hair. I don't mean to judge these men too harshly as individuals, but the idea that women "lose their looks" earlier just does not at all track with my experience.
*I know some people will want to refute this with talk of evolutionary biology or peak fertility or whatever, but I really don't think it's controversial that many women truly do look better in their late twenties (or even- gasp- early thirties!) than they do at 18. For many women, it takes some maturity and trial and error to figure out which looks flatter them. Many also become more confident as they age, and that plays a large part in both how they carry themselves and how they choose to dress and groom themselves.
What you're observing with the high school reunions is not naturally-aged good-looks but rather a stark contrast in effort-put-in AND a relative-change in that effort.
TL-dr: Women were always trying hard (in terms of make-up, styling, clothes) but at reunions they REALLY try hard. Men might have tried a good amount in hs/college but at the later ages are in a DGAF-mode and throw on a button-down and say that's enough.
The older the guy, the less effort he puts in in terms of short term physical appearance. In high school, college, and in my 20s, guys/my friends would "get ready" when going out (well dressed, maybe some hair product, grooming, etc). Nowadays, unless its a really formal event, this group opts for t-shirts/sandals. For us now, the work is now getting done professionally and the looks are an afterthought.
For women, particularly at a gathering like a reunion, they will go to the wall in terms of appearance. They put in a strong effort throughout hs/college, but for most, reunions are like their make-up/dresses/accessories Super Bowl.
In terms of BMI, it's a coin flip between the sexes as they age and has more to do with the individual.
A better test would be to put everyone in a white t-shirt and shorts after throwing them in a pool (to clear away all the make-up/day-of hair styling) and then you'll see who the real monsters are.
I really hope this is tongue in cheek/satire, but knowing this site I find it hard to be optimistic. There's a lot of men on this thread telling us far more about themselves than about biology or nature. People tend to underestimate just how major a role culture and socialization play in our attractions; superficial markers of fertility are only part of the equation. The real trouble starts when you begin mixing the two sides up, and that's how you get people claiming biology as justification for the cultural normalization of older men pursuing drastically younger women. By championing this status quo, you are also revealing that your sexual attractions (and thus, you erroneously assume, those of all men) are centered entirely or at least primarily on a woman or girl's proximity to adolescence. I suspect a large part of this is an attraction not to physical optimaztion as a mate, but to a lack of experience, resources, and maturity that creates a power dynamic heavily imbalanced in your favor. Plenty of men with a healthier social outlook are much more interested in and attracted to a romantic and domestic partner, and not just the youngest sexual gratification they could legally lure into bed.
I really hope this is tongue in cheek/satire, but knowing this site I find it hard to be optimistic. There's a lot of men on this thread telling us far more about themselves than about biology or nature. People tend to underestimate just how major a role culture and socialization play in our attractions; superficial markers of fertility are only part of the equation. The real trouble starts when you begin mixing the two sides up, and that's how you get people claiming biology as justification for the cultural normalization of older men pursuing drastically younger women. By championing this status quo, you are also revealing that your sexual attractions (and thus, you erroneously assume, those of all men) are centered entirely or at least primarily on a woman or girl's proximity to adolescence. I suspect a large part of this is an attraction not to physical optimaztion as a mate, but to a lack of experience, resources, and maturity that creates a power dynamic heavily imbalanced in your favor. Plenty of men with a healthier social outlook are much more interested in and attracted to a romantic and domestic partner, and not just the youngest sexual gratification they could legally lure into bed.
You are overthinking. OP’s question wasn’t specific on what “deteriorate” meant. It’s just a fact that many more older men date much younger women than the other way round, which also happens to be consistent with fertility longevity. No one’s claiming that’s all there is to sexual attraction.
I took the original question as physically deteriorate i.e. physical bits start declining, health etc - rather than anything to do with sexual attraction.
I took the original question as physically deteriorate i.e. physical bits start declining, health etc - rather than anything to do with sexual attraction.
That’s reasonable, though I’d imagine most definitions of “physical decline” to be very well correlated with dating potential and fertility for both sexes.
From what my guy friends have told me, women don't peak in sexual attractiveness until their mid-30's. We have a larger window than men, who peak earlier.
I know many men in their mid/late 20's that have already started to go bald or get grey hairs or wrinkles.
It also varies by race to some degree.
I’m a guy and I have never heard any other man claim that women in their mid-30s are more sexually attractive than women in their 20s. A woman in her mid-30s may have a stronger sex drive than a younger woman but the average mid-30s woman is definitely not as attractive as the average woman in her 20s.
Similarly, I've never heard a 21 year old girl prefer men in their 30's or 40's over men closer to her age unless she wasn't well-adjusted.
After 30 men just aren't as virile, energetic, they start getting wrinkles and looking less sexy and I heard many even have trouble getting it up.
Men deteriorate, relative to women, starting from before birth. Mortality rates are higher for males than females at every age including in utero. Actuarially yours, youasked
nah its widely accepted that men prefer younger women. Its been like that forever lmao. Buddy doesn't know history. That's why Leo lets em go after 24....
Most men who take care of themselves can sustain their peak even into 60s.
Probably not without TRT/HRT, or some kind of intervention like that.
The older guys at my gym who are on TRT - and eat a healthy diet, don't drink & work out regularly look phenomenal. If they're not bald & keep clean shaven - they'll pass for 10, sometimes even 15 yrs younger than their actual age.
For me at 62, I'm not on TRT & don't plan on it anytime soon. All I can do is try to be the best version of myself keeping good muscle tone, reasonable low BF% & staying out of the medical system.
The killer for guys my age without a doubt is obesity! There's nothing worse than a sixtysomething obese guy looking like he's a heart attack waiting to happen. And if he's married with children gotta feel sorry for his family.
I'll chime in. I'm pushing 69 and noticed my "deterioration" at 65. Lack of energy, low libido. Lost my desire to train and race. Declining every year. I'm relatively fit and lean. 5'9" 150lbs. Good overall health. Former sub-elite D1, open, master, veteran runner. I now work out regularly, lift weights, and walk/hike, play golf (walk and carry 18 holes), backpack. Just had my annual physical and asked my doc to check my T-level on my labs. Interested to see what it shows. In sort, just tired most of the time. (Good thread for us aging guys.)
I’m a guy and I have never heard any other man claim that women in their mid-30s are more sexually attractive than women in their 20s. A woman in her mid-30s may have a stronger sex drive than a younger woman but the average mid-30s woman is definitely not as attractive as the average woman in her 20s.
Similarly, I've never heard a 21 year old girl prefer men in their 30's or 40's over men closer to her age unless she wasn't well-adjusted.
After 30 men just aren't as virile, energetic, they start getting wrinkles and looking less sexy and I heard many even have trouble getting it up.
You must not know many people... or live in any society on earth. There is not one culture on the earth where younger women are not with older men.
Similarly, I've never heard a 21 year old girl prefer men in their 30's or 40's over men closer to her age unless she wasn't well-adjusted.
After 30 men just aren't as virile, energetic, they start getting wrinkles and looking less sexy and I heard many even have trouble getting it up.
You must not know many people... or live in any society on earth. There is not one culture on the earth where younger women are not with older men.
It’s one thing to be with an older man (like a 21 y/o girl dating a 25 y/o guy). It’s another to be with a wrinkly prune 20+ years your senior when you’re an attractive, fertile woman in her youth that likes to go out and party.
I’m a guy and I have never heard any other man claim that women in their mid-30s are more sexually attractive than women in their 20s. A woman in her mid-30s may have a stronger sex drive than a younger woman but the average mid-30s woman is definitely not as attractive as the average woman in her 20s.
And you wonder why people say Letsrun.com is toxic. Never change, letsrun.com. Never change.
So he is a jerk because he had a different (opposite) statement from yours? You can say women are more attractive in their 30's but a man can't say the opposite and he referenced his sources?
I’m a guy and I have never heard any other man claim that women in their mid-30s are more sexually attractive than women in their 20s. A woman in her mid-30s may have a stronger sex drive than a younger woman but the average mid-30s woman is definitely not as attractive as the average woman in her 20s.
Similarly, I've never heard a 21 year old girl prefer men in their 30's or 40's over men closer to her age unless she wasn't well-adjusted.
After 30 men just aren't as virile, energetic, they start getting wrinkles and looking less sexy and I heard many even have trouble getting it up.
Unless he has a medical issue, a man in his early 30s really shouldn’t have trouble getting it up unless he just isn’t attracted to the woman he’s with. Maybe this happens more with obese men or men over 50
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