A Healthy (+ Gay) Community

derekjnichols

Yesterday's chat made me think about a lot of the gay relationships (platonic and romantic) I've had throughout my life.

Currently, I have two great friends, and a loving partner, that are really into the healthy lifestyle. One of my friends, and the reason why I've really made health and fitness a priority, and I trained for a marathon together and ran it in May in Toronto. I don't think I've ever been happier with having these people in my life, and would love to find more people out there like them. One thing I enjoy the most about them is that health and fitness isn't just about vanity for them. Sure, we goof about it, and working out is partially for the abs, but they aren't the type of guys where all they talk about is how hard they worked out or constantly show off their bodies for the attention.

I'm curious how (if) everyone else has fostered other LGBT relationships based on health or fitness. One thing that stuck out in my mind has been social networking. Now, to bring the lesbians up to speed, there are websites or apps that help gay men meet. I dare to say the majority of them are for hooking up/dating purposes, so many of the pictures are the shots of guys flexing or their washboard stomachs. I have approached guys on these sites about their workout routines and asked advice, but nothing every came of it. Has anyone met workout partners or health motivators this way (that have not ended up in hook ups)?

And I'd really enjoy a lesbian perspective on this. Are there similar social networking sites that us gay men have?

Thanks!

bhankiii

I've met gay guys at the gym who became friends and inspirations, but I can't think of anyone outside of that atmosphere that's inspired me to want to live healthier. Usually it's the opposite. Except for Dougie (doug4018) of course, who motivates me with promises of pie.

However, I must say that there are lots of guys on this site who motivate me. Some of you are doing amazing things.

brandiuntz

I'm not aware of any lesbian apps/sites as you describe. But, I've also not looked into it.

I know a lot of fit lesbians because I play a lot of recreational sports on the weekends and those friends have been teammates. Some are personal trainers, others just women who were athletes in high school and college and they stayed active over the years.

For me, it's important to stay active playing sports as a way to stay healthy and be around like-minded women.

jerbear67

I have tried to meet gay men at the gym or what have you to try and foster a healthy lifestyle relationship with it would be nice to have a gay workout partner. Unfortunately because the way the gay men are in my town as is quite typical in gay men they are vain. Not only with themselves but the with the people they choose to be seen with. I, as you can tell don't fit into that "bucket" so to speak. So for me I have not been able to make that connection with other gay men as of yet. Maybe in the future I will but on the other hand I have the attitude if you don't want anything to do with me now during my transformation, why do I want anything to do with you after. I have made it thus far without being my own motivation. To me there is way more to a friendship/relationship (non-romantic) than just appearance. Sadly, the vast majority of gay males don't see that. My hope is that when I make it to my goal I don't fall in to that same mentality. We are discriminated and chastised enough as it is, why not be more encouraging and help one another. I will say that before my gym went out of business having them there was an inspiration to keep going!

As for the social networking apps like grinder, scruff, growler, manhunt, A4A, etc. I'm lucky to get a guy to say hi back. (Though I do have to say have I met a wonderful man on scruff and hope things keep moving forward, even if we are 400 miles apart). They are only on there for one thing and that's to hookup. They don't want to be bothered with chit chat about their workout routine or anything else for that matter.

happygolucky5536

I know there are a lot of gay folks on MEETUP interested in working out. I don't know what exclusively lesbian social networks there are....

I do know that having support is critical. My gf and I are both on MFP. We motivate each other to work out and eat right, even though I'm away in DC for the summer. She's been my biggest motivator. My friends haven't joined MFP yet, but I will be bugging them to when I return home.

dblosmith

Thankfully I have a partner for whom the word "superficial" doesn't even compute. He's happy to kick my *kitten* to make me healthy for health's sake. I couldn't do it without him. I don't have any other real friends to help me through it. I do have a friend that claims to want to, but he's a bad influence on me with all the delicious food near him.