History Main / MuscleAngst

* Mixed with ACupAngst in an ad manga for Chasteberry E breast enlargement pills: the {{Pettanko}} tries out all kinds of hoo-hah gimmicks to make her breasts grow, including drinking milk, using a suction device, and doing dumbbell exercise... The last one of course does nothing to increase her mammary mass but gives her muscled arms, which she regrets.

* '''Too Much Muscle''': The AlwaysFemale version. A female character, usually an ActionGirl worries that her muscles are [[BrawnHilda unattractive to men]]. This version is similar to NoGuyWantsAnAmazon. Just like WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play in the first version, HotAmazon or AmazonianBeauty may come into play in this version.

* The 2005 UsefulNotes/{{TLC}} documentary ''The Man Whose Arms Exploded'' looks at an extreme degree of male MuscleAngst leading to steroid abuse and (in the case of bodybuilder Gregg Valentino) ''injecting oil'' into the biceps. Can be seen starting [[http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=49645 here]] (warning: some NauseaFuel).

* The 2005 UsefulNotes/{{TLC}} documentary ''The Man Whose Arms Exploded'' looks at an extreme degree of MuscleAngst leading to steroid abuse and (in the case of bodybuilder Gregg Valentino) ''injecting oil'' into the biceps. Can be seen starting [[http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=49645 here]] (warning: some NauseaFuel).

* The 2005 UsefulNotes/{{TLC}} documentary ''The Man Whose Arms Exploded'' looks at an extreme degree of MuscleAngst leading to steroid abuse and (in the case of bodybuilder Gregg Valentino) ''injecting oil'' into the biceps. Can be seen starting [[http://www.poetv.com/video.php?vid=49645 here]] (warning: some NauseaFuel).

* The comedic manga ''Short Cuts'' has a story in which a typical "kogal" gets trapped in a sumo wrestler costume and is forced into actual sumo competition. Eventually, she manages to get the zipper unstuck, only to find out all that exercise has made her unfashionably muscular. Not to worry though, a passing man still wants her... for the military!

* Casca from ''{{Berserk}}'' complains that the [[PimpedOutDress fancy, frilly gown]] she dressed up in for a ball looks weird because she's too muscular. Now Casca is toned, but the fact that [[SheCleansUpNicely every male character though she looked irresistible]] proves her wrong.

* '''Not Enough Muscle''': The AlwaysMale version. A weak or skinny male character angsts about not being muscular. The focus may be on how this affects his [[AllAmazonsWantHercules success with women]], his usefulness in sports/combat, or his attractiveness. If the focus is on his success with women, WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play as a solution/counterpoint. Unlike breast size, [[ACupAngst which is mostly unchangeable]] without surgery, it is possible to build muscle, so whether this trope is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] or not depends on there being a health reason for the male being incapable of doing so.

* A ''{{Volcaloid}}'' [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSQZ4_LsPUs fan video]] by Kagome-P had Gakupo depressed over his lack of muscle mass, and his story of emulating figures such as [[FullMetalAlchemist Alex Armstrong]], [[UltimateMuscle Mantaro Muscle]] and an assortment of anonymous, heavily muscled figures in order to woo the girl of his dreams. [[spoiler: This backfires at the end of the video, when he discovers that she's now into skinny guys and his struggle to get a toned body was for nothing.]]

* Steve Rogers, whose health problems and weak build keep him from joining the army and getting girls, before he becomes ''Film/CaptainAmerica''.

* '''Not Enough Muscle''': The AlwaysMale version. A [[SquishyWizard weak or skinny]] male character angsts about not being muscular. The focus may be on how this affects his [[AllAmazonsWantHercules success with women]], his usefulness in sports/combat, or his attractiveness. If the focus is on his success with women, WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play as a solution/counterpoint. Unlike breast size, [[ACupAngst which is mostly unchangeable]] without surgery, it is possible to build muscle, so whether this trope is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] or not depends on there being a health reason for the male being incapable of doing so.

* Casca from ''{{Berserk}}'' complains that the fancy, frilly gown she dressed up in for a ball looks weird because she's too muscular. Now Casca is toned, but the fact that every other male character though she looked irresistable proves her wrong.

* The first ever CutAwayGag in FamilyGuy showed a skinny and weak AdolfHitler in a gym glaring angrily at a musclebound Jewish Man surrounded by beautiful women.

* '''Not Enough Muscle''': The AlwaysMale version. A [[SquishyWizard weak or skinny]] male character angsts about not being muscular. The focus may be on how this affects his [[AllAmazonsWantHercules success with women]], his usefulness in sports/combat, or his attractiveness. If the focus is on his success with women, WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play as a solution/counterpoint. Unlike breast size, [[ACupAngst which is mostly unchangeable]], it is possible to build muscle, so whether this trope is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] or not depends on there being a health reason for the male being incapable of doing so.

A lot of body-image issues are [[AlwaysFemale related to/centered around femininity]]. Thus, we have tropes such as BigBreastsBigDeal, ACupAngst, HollywoodHomely/[[HollywoodPudgy Pudgy]]/[[HollywoodThin Thin]], FatGirl, and so on. But the same way that thinness and breasts are associated with femininity, muscles are associated with masculinity. Thus, this trope, in which a character angsts about having not enough or too much muscle. There are two versions:

* '''Not Enough Muscle''': The AlwaysMale version. A [[SquishyWizard weak or skinny]] male character angsts about not being muscular. The focus may be on how this affects his [[AllAmazonsWantHercules success with women]], his usefulness in sports/combat, or his attractiveness. If the focus is on his success with women, WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play as a solution/counterpoint. Unlike [[BuxomIsBetter breast size]], [[ACupAngst which is mostly unchangeable]], it is possible to build muscle, so whether this trope is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] or not depends on there being a health reason for the male being incapable of doing so.

* [[CuteBruiser Biske]] of HunterXHunter explains that the reason that she stays in her SleepModeSize is that her regular form is "too bulky".

* The Sports Club Manager Arcana from Persona3 has a case of this. She's tanned and toned, but other girls tell her that NoManWantsAnAmazon. A likely case of TruthInTelevision as the game takes place in Japan, and girls (currently) avoid tans and aim for that "fragile" kind of thin.

* '''Not Enough Muscle''': The AlwaysMale version. A [[SquishyWizard weak or skinny]] male character angsts about not being muscular. The focus may be on how this affects his [[AllAmazonsWantHercules success with women]], his usefulness in sports/combat, or his attractiveness. If the focus is on his success with women, WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play as a solution/counterpoint.

** Some promotional artwork of her leads to InformedDeformity

* ''SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'': Lune Zoldark complains that, regardless of her diet or exercise routine, everything she eats turns to muscle.

A lot of body-image issues are [[AlwaysFemale related to/centered around femininity.]] Thus, we have tropes such as BigBreastsBigDeal, ACupAngst, HollywoodHomely/[[HollywoodPudgy Pudgy]]/[[HollywoodThin Thin]], FatGirl, and so on. But the same way that thinness and breasts are associated with femininity, muscles are associated with masculinity. Thus, this trope, in which a character angsts about having not enough or too much muscle. There are two versions:

* '''Not Enough Muscle:''' The AlwaysMale version. A [[SquishyWizard weak or skinny]] male character angsts about not being muscular. The focus may be on how this affects his [[AllAmazonsWantHercules success with women]], his usefulness in sports/combat, or his attractiveness. If the focus is on his success with women, WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play as a solution/counterpoint.
* '''Too Much Muscle:''' The AlwaysFemale version. A female character, usually an ActionGirl worries that her muscles are [[BrawnHilda unattractive to men.]] This version is similar to NoGuyWantsAnAmazon. Just like WeaknessTurnsHerOn may come into play in the first version, HotAmazon or AmazonianBeauty may come into play in this version.

!!Examples

* Milhouse on one of ''TheSimpsons'' episodes that takes place in the future.
* In ''TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'', Dr. Frank-N-Furter created Rocky because he wanted a man with muscles. Frank insults Brad's lean build, and Brad's fiancée Janet replies that she doesn't like a man with too many muscles. Later Janet sings she is a muscle fan after having sex with Rocky.

* The ad for Charles Atlas where a bully (inadvertantly) kicks sand in the face of Mac and his gal. Allegedly this actually happened to the real Charles Atlas before he started doing dynamic tension.

* The comedic manga ''Short Cuts'' has a story in which a typical "kogal" gets trapped in a sumo wrestler costume and is forced into actual sumo competition. Eventually, she manages to get the zipper unstuck, only to find out all that exercise has made her unfashionably muscular. Not to worry though, a passing man still wants her...for the military!

* Mixed with A Cup Angst in an ad manga for Chasteberry E breast enlargement pills: the Pettanko tries out all kinds of hoo-hah gimmicks to make her breasts grow, including drinking milk, using a suction device, and doing dumbbell exercise... The last one of course does nothing to increase her mammary mass but gives her muscled arms, which she regrets.
* Milhouse on one of The Simpsons episode that takes place in the future.
* In The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dr. Frank-N-Furter created Rocky because he wanted a man with muscles. Frank insults Brad's lean build, and Brad's fiance Janet replies that she doesn't like a man with too many muscles. Later Janet sings she is a muscle fan after having sex with Rocky.
* Saber in Fate Stay Night thinks she's too muscular. Not that you can tell by looking at her.
* The ad for Charles Atlas where a bully (inadvertantly) kicks sand in the face of Mac and his gal. [1]◊. Allegedly this actually happened to the real Charles Atlas before he started doing dynamic tension.
* Super Robot Wars Original Generation: Lune Zoldark complains that, regardless of her diet or exercise routine, everything she eats turns to muscle.
* The comedic manga Short Cuts has a story in which a typical "kogal" gets trapped in a sumo wrestler costume and is forced into actual sumo competition. Eventually, she manages to get the zipper unstuck, only to find out all that exercise has made her unfashionably muscular. Not to worry though, a passing man still wants her...for the military!