by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: April 22, 2009   Last Updated: May 29, 2010

There may well be someone out there for everyone, no matter what they look like or whatever their personality traits, but we all have aspects of ourselves that we can improve upon in order to make ourselves more sexually appealing to others, particularly with regard to our physical fitness. There are plenty of men and women out there who prefer members of the opposite sex who are on the hefty side, but physical fitness is more than just about appearances. Individuals' fitness levels can affect their mobility, their stamina and strength, and their overall health. It also can affect their perception of themselves, which thus impacts upon the way they interact with others. All of these things factor into how attractive people can be to potential partners.

If we were to believe the media then only the most stunningly attractive and shockingly thin women would be sexually appealing, whilst men would only be considered attractive if they were slim and muscular. That might be the situation in celebrity land, but the reality is that people find different things attractive. Some people like their partners to be tall and thin, others short and fat. Some prefer blondes, others brunette. It is all down to personal preference. One feature that does appear to be universally attractive, though, is confidence.

If you feel good about yourself, you are more likely to convey this feeling to the people around you which can thus make you more sexually attractive. Being physically fit doesn't necessarily mean that you have to be ultra-skinny or extremely muscular, but when you engage in exercise regularly you are more likely to be able to maintain a reasonable weight, and less likely to succumb to illness. Exercise can also boost your self-esteem and improve your state of mind. If you feel good about yourself it will make it much easier for you to interact with and attract others.

Although most ordinary people don't expect their partners to fulfil the unrealistic ideals propagated by Hollywood, they generally prefer them to be a healthy weight. Obviously superficial expectations, and the desire to have a partner who conforms to a certain standard, play a part in informing people's decisions, but so too does the fact that an extremely overweight person is more likely to have health problems. If you know that a potential partner already suffers from diabetes and has problems with their blood pressure, it might make them seem less attractive to you if you want to be his or her lover rather than their carer.

Being physically fit might well boost your sex appeal, as the healthier you look and feel the more other people will want to be around you. Becoming physically fitter also has many health advantages, but if it is the thought of being more attractive to the opposite sex that provides you with the incentive you need to get more active, then so be it!

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