Pumping up changes laws of attraction

When you work out with weights, you naturally elevate your testosterone levels (check out this recent post about boosting testosterone). Naturally, raising testosterone levels via weight resistance training can be a very good thing for both men and women unless it causes you to be less attracted to your spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend!

A recent journal publication reveals that women who have higher testosterone levels are attracted to men who have more masculine, "manly," high testosterone-like features -- such as the physical facial qualities that Russel Crowe or Dwayne"The Rock" Johnson possess. Men with elevated levels of the same hormone are more likely to be attracted to more feminine faces like Natalie Portman or Jessica Biel.

This fascinating study was conducted at the University of Aberdeen's Face Research Laboratory. Researchers had male and female volunteers view pairs of photographs of the opposite sex and asked them to choose who they found the most attractive. Each volunteer gave saliva samples to measure testosterone levels during their photo viewing sessions. This process was conducted four times in four weeks with each session one week apart. Face preferences changed as testosterone levels changed. For women, if testosterone was found to be lower, they would choose a less masculine face and conversely, if the hormone was higher, they selected the image of one who had more chiseled, macho features! Men selected more feminine faces when their testosterone was higher. What does all this mean?

Dr. Ben Jones, a psychology lecturer and one of the researchers in this study has this to say: "Since masculine men and feminine women are thought to produce the healthiest children and sex drive is higher when testosterone levels are also high, these findings suggest that men and women in hormonal states where their interest in sex is highest, show stronger attraction to high quality -- or healthy -- mates."

Since our testosterone levels fluctuate naturally and also become naturally lower as we age, if you decide to step it up, join a gym and hit the weights -- you may find the type of people you are physically attracted to change. If your primary love relationship has cooled off a bit, maybe you both need to start pumping iron to raise those testosterone levels! Your sweetie pie may soon look as good as when you first met!

Think about the celebs you find attractive and it may give you a clue as to where your testosterone levels lie!