Hey I have improved on a lot of things since May when I started this crusade, but I still have not gotten a date. In a better world, this shit wouldn't require this much effort.

I am in a college town - I think part of the problem is that during summertime pretty much all of the attractive women in town already have boyfriends or fiancees.

I'll say where I'm at, what I'm planning on doing and then I'll ask questions on some things.

Here is where I'm at:

The places I've made approaches at are

- the library
- bars
- coffee shops (or similar establishments)

I'm up to making about 6 approaches per week and am getting more comfortable but at the same time I get less comfortable because I'm being rejected a shitload.

I've only managed to really build a rapport a couple of times and even then it was a bit disjointed/not very smooth but I think that is giving a lot more success than asking "get to know you" questions and it sure as hell seems more effective than going up to a chick in the library and asking her out to coffee cold - that never works (so far).

I'm trying to be as social as I can - I hang out with my "cowokers/classmates" as often as I can which is only about bi-weekly and I recently talked to my neighbor he said I should stop by whenever he's having a party but none have happened yet.

Currently I'm reading "the power of now" to improve my "inner peace" and forget about the past and not let anything bother me and whatnot but it really takes a lot of discipline to apply it.

Plan for coming weeks:

- Make more approaches per week. At least 10 next week.

- Make approaches immediately or almost immediatly. Currently I sit down nearby and wait around a bit until I make a move. This only serves to build up nervousness.

- Get BETTER at approaches - try to build rapport rather than use "get to know you questions" and do some kino other than handshake.

- Join a club (probably the outdoors club or "volunteer club") when fall semester starts to improve my social skills and maybe get close to some social circles that actually have women in them.

- When I go home for a couple weeks in early august, visit some bars and whatnot with friends I know who are really good with women. Hopefully I didn't piss those guys off to the point where the they won't hang out with me now cause - I used to have sort of an anger problem.

Questions:

1) The thought of being 26, approaching 27 and never having had a girl weighs on me a lot if I think about my situation. I haven't missed it have I? I just try not to think about it but pitiful as it is having someone on the internet tell me it isn't over would make things seem better.

2) WHAT ELSE SHOULD I BE DOING TO IMPROVE? WHAT ELSE SHOULD I TRY?

3) Is reasonable good possibility of success at approaching women who are "on the move" (e.g. walking by in the opposite direction on their way to something). How do you do that? I'm thinking a direct approach like "hey you look really pretty! I'm xxx whats your name? *offer hand*" Then ask a few questions with the goal of trying to get out of question asking mode and into rapport mode if she's being receptive. Then try for a date right then after a few minutes or failing that get number.

4) Would having a super-built arnold-like physique make college women flock to me? I'm already a lot more heavily muscled than most guys but I've never done actual BODYBUILDING. I don't have a six-pack because my bodyfat is too high, I have slight love handles, I have thin calves, etc.

The dieting changes required to get super huge and defined are pretty ridiculous so it would have to really be worth it.

1. 26 going on 27 is not too late. It's not even anywhere near too late. You're still pretty young. A LOT of pick-up students are in their mid to late thirties.

2. You should be doing more than 6 approaches per week. 10 is definitely better but 15-20 would be ideal. The biggest thing is just to stick to it. Don't be discouraged that you're not getting results right away. Most students don't get a ton of results in the first 4-6 months of learning. Most people don't realize that it can take many months before you start to see any real results. You just have to keep at it and make sure that you're trying different things.
I would also HIGHLY suggest that you write down every approach you do. Keep a list. Write down how long you stayed in set, the types of things you did/said etc. Once you see it on paper it will be a lot easier to see the patterns and the mistakes you're making. It'll be a lot easier to see what you're doing right and what you're doing wrong, so you can adjust accordingly.

3. Moving sets are not the easiest sets. Don't focus on them. I'm not saying don't do them at all, I'm just saying don't make them the focus of your approaches. The reason is, if you're still getting comfortable doing approaches, and you're doing moving sets, you're gonna have a lot of short interactions that you didn't learn much from. Do more seated sets or girls standing around. If theyr standing or sitting still, you'll have more time to talk to them and you'll learn more. Again, I'm not saying you shouldn't do moving sets, I'm just saying that at the beginning of the learning process, moving sets should not be what you focus on. (and yeah, when you do moving sets, you should go direct most of the time.)

4. There is no need to look like Arnold. Being in shape is always good, but you just need to look toned and have a decent amount of muscle mass. There is absolutely no need to look like mr. Universe. That actually might turn some girls off......and having a six pack is never a bad thing.