Dad Bod: What It Is, the Appeal, and 14 Signs & Ways to Get Soft and Sexy

Who says dad bods aren’t sexy? Follow these tips to achieve a bangin’ dad bod and become more confident.

So, you are not ripped, and the only six-pack you have is the one in your fridge. Good thing, though—your body type is now ruling the “interwebs” – the softly round, slightly pudgy dad bod is becoming the world’s most-hyped physique.

It’s not that they are glorifying being out-of-shape. After all, you aren’t out of shape; you’ve exercised your arms and your legs, jumping and cheering on your favorite team. The dad bod is actually a nice break from seeing all the lean, shredded males being idolized and drooled upon by ladies all over the internet.

[Read: Stay at home dad – Why there’s nothing wrong with being one]

What is a dad bod?

A dad bod is a body shape regarded as typical of a dad. It’s a nice balance between softly round and working out.

A guy who has a dad bod is not jacked like Chris Evans, but he’s not unhealthy or overweight. He’s just not under the pressure to make his body look a certain way. The dad bod appears as a body positivity phenomenon as it does not celebrate perfection but rather the lack of it.

[Read: What makes a man sexy? The desirable traits that make a guy irresistible to women]

Are dad bods attractive?

The dad bod has become an overnight frenzy, because it actually gives hope to a lot of men who are not taking shelter inside gyms just to keep their bodies in shape.

The idea is that the barely-there beer bellies and arm muscles of Leonardo DiCaprio, Jason Segel, and John Hamm are actually how most men look, giving people a firmer grasp on reality.

There is really no need to obsess over becoming the next Calvin Klein model. After all, as long as you are healthy and happy, you’re gold—right?

[Read: Overcoming self-doubt – 26 signs & best ways to stop doubting yourself]

How to tell if you have a dad bod

According to The Washington Post, you can find out if you have a dad bod by looking at your Body Mass Index (BIM).

If yours is between 25 and 29.9, you probably have a dad bod. This can be calculated with an online BMI calculator to help you figure out your number.

What is the appeal of a dad bod?

The dad bod is all about the female gaze, which most filmmakers often get wrong. Men think more women would want them if they looked like Chris Hemsworth, but it’s not always about the abs, gentlemen.

[Read: What makes a man attractive? 38 traits that make women desire you]

1. It’s authentic and real

You don’t try hard to follow a certain beauty standard. Many men make going to the gym their entire personality, while you know for a fact that you work out to stay healthy, not to appeal to society.

Instead of focusing on achieving a certain look, you pay attention to more important and valuable things in life.

2. It’s still relatively healthy

Once again, dad bods aren’t unhealthy. If you have a dad bod, you’re not overweight. You’re still strong and go to the gym, but instead of spending all your time there, you have more time for your family.

When it comes to dieting, the dad bod is not overly strict. You can still watch what you eat, but you can happily share a pizza with your kids without worrying about how it would affect your appearance.

3. It is sexually appealing

Many women are obsessed with dad bods. Not only does it associates with a great sense of humor or a healthy balance between work and leisure, the dad bod also shows manliness with imperfections and authenticity, which are extremely sexy.

[Read: How to be more attractive to women – 27 hacks that work like magic!]

4. It prioritizes family first

What makes an awesome dad is how much he cares about his family. The kids won’t admire their parents for their muscles and abs. They’ll care about what their dad can do for them.

And who wants a husband who cares more about the size of his biceps than spending valuable time building memories with his family?

[Read: The subtle signs the guy you’re dating will be a great dad]

How to achieve a sexy dad bod and enjoy every minute of life

So, if you are someone who wants to get in on the craze and get yourself a dad bod, consider these tips. [Read: What makes a guy physically attractive and appealing?]

1. The couch potato

If your couch doesn’t have an imprint of your ass, you’re doing the dad bod workout wrong. The secret to getting a dad bod is clocking some time on your couch as you go on a Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and Star Wars marathon—probably the only marathon you’ll ever participate in.

You can even throw in some Stranger Things for good measure, just to be sure you have that butt imprint on your couch down pat.

[Read: 36 secrets to motivate yourself to achieve anything your heart desires]

2. Choose fried, not grilled

When you go out to dinner, choose the fried chicken over the grilled. Better yet, choose the fried bass *what, it’s fish!* over the grilled pork. Or, if you’re going to have that grilled pork, have some french fries, tater tots, and jalapeno poppers.

Anyone currently pursuing a paleo or vegan diet clearly hasn’t yet tasted the deep-fried blue cheese bacon burger you always whip out when you’re on a cookout with your boys.

3. Your best friend is Mr. Potato

Actually, a real potato. Or potatoes. A whole sack full of them. If there is one vegetable you must eat, it is this root crop.

This versatile veggie is great for breakfast frittatas, a baked side dish for lunch, and a salad for dinner. And if you want some dessert, there’s nothing as fun as dipping a hot, salty fry into a bowl of hot fudge.

4. Meal plans

Speaking of food, it’s all about getting protein, fat, and creamy, cheesy goodness. Bacon, cheese, eggs, and bread are staples in your everyday meals.

If you squeeze in a few workouts on the elliptical trainer, you’ll need to have an extra serving of mac’ n cheese and country-fried chicken and gulp down a root beer float. Then add some fries—because potatoes are your best friend.

5. Keep a well-stocked snack drawer

Any man with a dad bod will be hungry in the middle of the night. Going to the kitchen is a lot of work—work that your dad bod just can’t do. So you have to have a snack drawer as close to your bed as possible. You can even have a Snickers under your pillow, just in case.

Aside from your bedroom, you should also always have a stash of snacks in your office drawers. As a rule, have every drawer equipped with snacks, so you’ll never go hungry again.

6. Be ready for the apocalypse

Stockpile your pantry, fridge, and freezers with food. Lots and lots of food. Fill your freezer with goodies such as popsicles and ice cream.

Meanwhile, your refrigerator should have its own collection of microwaveables and instant dinners. Invest in popcorn, chips, nuts, and dips. And beer, but just not any beer; it should be the micro-brewed kind that you, yourself, concoct in the basement.

7. Never skip meals… or snacks

The secret to the dad bod is to take in more calories than you burn. Who wants to look like Chris Evans, anyway? Have your morning snack, your afternoon snack, and your midnight snack.

If you’re on the go and you can’t grab a bite, make a protein shake and add some chocolate milk. Who needs a snack when you can drink? And of course, there’s always the leftover pizza that you can eat hot or cold, any time of the day.

8. Lift some weights

Everybody knows that underneath all that flab are some powerful muscles, so don’t forget to flaunt it. Carry your remote and your bowl of nachos around the house, play video games, hit some darts at the bar for sport, get some wrist action lifting your bottle of beer, and lift your own weight as you go to the kitchen to get another pack of Twinkies.

[Read: Couple workouts – The best ways to get fitter and feel closer]

9. Be low maintenance

What is a low maintenance person? When a person is described as low-maintenance, they require very little effort, attention, time, and money to look after them.

Men sporting the dad bod are taking the world by storm because they are changing the way men and women think about appearances. Men with the dad bod are low maintenance, so who needs to exercise or have impeccable grooming?

Of course, we don’t have our backs waxed, and we don’t care if we forgot to shave for the past two mornings. What is great about having a dad bod is girls will know what you’re all about, and will not feel guilty if they forget to shave.

[Read: How to be more attractive to women – 27 hacks that work like magic!]

10. Be your own brew

At the backbone of every dad bod is beer. Beer is to dad bod as chia seed fruit squeeze is to organic muscle head. Speaking of organic, your hops are organic, so there is no need to feel guilty about supporting the industry that has made every man joyous during happy hour.

Light, domestic, imported, bottled, canned, or on tap, every man with a dad bod must know his brew. He knows his pales from his ales and can profile the taste of every craft brew he comes across. Of course, his taste is as unique as him, and his personality is just as bubbly. [Read: The most popular alcoholic drinks – How to prepare them to impress anyone]

The rise of the dad bod is putting the spotlight on men who don’t or seldom go to the gym, drink beer more often, have more than two slices of pizza, and generally enjoy a stomach full of food.

But it doesn’t mean they’re lazy slobs; they just don’t obsess over going to the gym or eating bird food so they can flaunt a certain number of packs on their abs. [Read: 15 fast working secrets to sober up ASAP & go from hungover to alert]

Why dad bods are so important

With underwear ads portraying one type of man with six packs, nice hair, and no fat, the beauty standards for men are just as toxic as those for women. Men who fit into those categories are only the minority, yet the majority are beating themselves up every day over these social pressures. 

Our culture demonizes fatness and pushes everyone to follow these unrealistic expectations. And body image is a bigger problem for middle-aged men who are already dealing with the pressure of work and family. 

[Read: 31 secrets to be charismatic & awe and draw people to you in a snap]

The dad bod is a way of saying that society doesn’t get to police the way a male body should look like. Women go insane for men who don’t give a damn about what other people think of them as long as they know their worth and are kind to themselves and others.

And though not associated with fatherhood, per se, the dad bod is how women often think about the potential father of their children. These days, men who are slightly rounded are more attractive to women, as these men are not superficial or stuck up, and already have bodies reflecting the comfort of fatherhood.

[Read: Masculine traits – 21 healthy and unhealthy manly characteristics]

We hope the tips above can help you attain the dad bod of your dreams. However, try them at your own risk and don’t forget to seek advice from a physician—or, better yet, troll the internet.