"Some guys are just always going to be skinny. "

"Me too Brian; all age starting bringing me was sag, and boy that does not look good on skinny."

"I'm close to the pointy end of fifty and I still find it hard to gain weight ,so when will it happen ?"

"Thank you, this was the most clarifying advice. Very much appreciated."

"The military isn't going to make you any more of a man than being John Wayne dude. Don't join because you have something to prove to yourself or to fill a void; it is not a proving ground. It's for people that want to serve. There are…"

"Joining the military when you have a son is probably not a good idea. It will separate you two for some time. It has the potential to separate you for a long time. Then you won't be around at all to teach him things.  Take some boxing…"

"Hey, longtime lurker here but first time posting anything. Just had to pop on here to say this is a brilliant write-up, MGM. Short, to the point and seems like a great blueprint to get started on new projects. Thanks!"

"Buddy I’ll shoot straight with you. It sounds like you’re depressed. Depressed because you didn’t live up to your own standard of excellence. First you need to sit down and write down what experiences would make you feel happy and…"

"I know I posted not too long ago but here I go again. It sounds as though you are looking for some exterior indication or acknowledgement that you are a man. Choose a fight to fight, volunteer for something and get on board with it.  Choose to…"

"Well said!"

"Joining the military is always an option, I suppose. Each truly worthwhile profession will have its strengths, though. That is (it seems to me) an academic will be very literate because of his job, whereas a soldier may have to work extra on that,…"

"Do a GORUCK Challenge or something. "

"One of the many things I enjoyed about serving in the military was the other people I worked and hung out with.  Although I was in a technical field there were guys who worked on their cars, hunted, fished, camped, and did all the…"

"Ya gotta provide the source, unless you're the source; but the quotes make me believe that you quoted someone else."

"You are romanticizing  the military.  You chose a different path.  It should not take a particular event to make you a "man".  It is about how you conduct your interactions with people and things.…"

"Well said! In fact, an alternate idea may appeal to you. In addition to the armed forces (and their unarmed branches), there are numerous civilian para-military organizations that can not only provide you with a sense of accomplishment and…"