4 Things Guys Keep Private

Their hidden habits are embarrassing, so try to be kind when you learn the truth. Plus: You won't believe the mortifying things he tells his buddies.


1. We Masturbate - a Lot
Yes, men think about sex, well, constantly, and that drives us to lengths that might surprise you. Maybe it's in the a.m., while you're showering. Or before you get home from work. Or even while you're asleep and we're still up, watching TV in the next room (thanks, Cinemax!). This isn't due to a flaw in our sex life; it's just part of our routine. "It's a relaxation technique," says Aaron*, 26. "My girlfriend has a glass of wine after work, and I masturbate my stress away."


2. We Enjoy Chick Flicks
Not that you'll find Beaches on our Netflix queue, but "the comedies are genuinely enjoyable," says Andrew, 27. "I'm almost not ashamed to own The Break-Up…okay and Love Actually." Truth be told, many beloved guy flicks, like Wedding Crashers and Old School, are big on the let's-stay-in-love-baby plot points. Now excuse us while we do a shot of whiskey to reassert our masculinity. Find out what chick flicks can teach guys about relationships.


Related: 4 Dating Milestones He Dreads

3. We Google You
Actually, we Google you, Twitter you, Facebook you, and if we had a friend in the FBI, we'd FBI you too. We're hoping to discover anything you like or don't like so we can say the right thing on dates. Of course, Google can doom dates too. We know it's insecurity talking - it's not like we gain some psychological advantage by knowing that you played violin in high school. On the bright side, sometimes our snooping pays off. "When I found out that my crush blogged about indie music, I knew it was the perfect in," explains James, 30. "I bought tickets to a Shins show and asked her out. We had a blast."

Related: His 10 Biggest Love Lies

4. We Have Fat Days
We don't expect to be Matthew McConaughey clones, but we're still not as confident about our looks as we seem. We'll put on a tee shirt and suddenly notice the start of a beer belly. Or we'll pull on those favorite jeans only to find a pair of newborn love handles creeping over the top. "There's no warning," says Dave, 28. "I'll see myself in the mirror and think When did I start looking like that?" Just noticing it is embarrassing - admitting it out loud would make us feel like, well, a girl. It's nearly enough to cause a man to consider giving up his daily bacon-and-cheese breakfast sandwich. Nearly.

*Names have been changed.


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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.