I hit the weights early for several reasons.
1) Looks
2) Strength
3) Peers
By the time I was in 7th-grade, I knew I was into guys. I couldn't stand soft, lisping, wimps though. Guys that acted like girls or wanted to get their arse plowed? WTF! Not my kind of Bro!
I had an older cousin who was a total stud. Gym devotee & constantly with awesome guys. Blew my mind when I found out that the guys he was with were warm on guys like him! They just seemed so NOT-GAY! Nobody knew this (except me). He told me stuff -he'd figured me out!
His secrets:
#1) Guys are generally "BI"; -But most aren't gonna admit it! You've gotta 'trick em to confess'!
#2) Guys will "get deep" & talk with a buddy that they respect & know luvs & respects 'em back.
#3) A guy's d1ck has a mind of it's own & can be convinced to come & play with almost anyone who doesn't represents a threat.
#4) Wrestling w. a guy is a way to build mutual respect & show affection in a non-threatening way.
#5) It takes superior strength to keep the upper hand when wrestling.
#6) Hitting the gym gets you in a place where all 5 things are likely to enhance friendships!
Because of my age & growth spurt, it only took about 9 months before people began saying good things. By the time I was 16, women were hitting on me ALL the time & guys who I'd always thought of as "kewl" were beginning to get a LOT more friendly towards me. I began to get invited to parties, camp-outs, -& other 'guy-things' made it clear that there are lots of guys, into guys that can't stomach any association with "gay". Most are indeed: Regular guys who have a deep need to be loved & respected by other guys. I learned to break the social-ice by wrestling with a dude, & because of my strength, I'd try to get pins where I could gently tickle him into a helpless frenzy -slowly removing his clothes as I went. It was always totally respectful play designed to lower inhibitions & raise trust about guy touch'n! See the Related Link below!