Well,


This is my "before" and "after". To be honest with you, when I think about it I believe those stories. I remember that I received MOST compliments when I was skinny with a little bit of definition on my arms when I lost all that spare weight. I remember girls making compliments about my "built" arms (wtf, I had no muscles whatsoever).
Now it's just silence, no one talks about my physique anymore.
I don't think it's all about them being delusional. You can see guys who look like a bag of shit everyday walking on the streets with awesome girls. They are broke, stupid but yet, they attract them somehow. I've been through all stages of "physique" development from fat to skinnyfat, skinny, bulky and now
"average gymrat level". I found out that when I felt and looked the shittiest I had most attention. I won't try to explain this psychological phenomenon but to me it has to do with stereotypical perception based on your looks and personality. I used to be described as "clumsy" and "arrogant", then when I lost my weight everyone told me how much my personality changed and how "friendly" I became and now everyone says I am "aggressive". Truth is, my personality hasn't changed at all.