Bodybuilding and body image issues

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  • Davidsdottir
    Davidsdottir Posts: 1,285 Member
    deercrest wrote: »
    Just came across this post and does this ever capture my struggles. 5 years ago if I thought I would be in this shape at 50 I would have been pleased (coming from the poor shape I was in) but now at 50 I feel like it could be so much better. The more progress I make the more dissatisfied I become. I know this is not healthy and I try not to compare myself to others. But even comparing where I have come from I know I have more to give and gain. Thanks to everyone for their comments. Happy to be an accountability/support partner with those in a similar situation. mpaxvylwrv1o.jpg

    Holy crap, you look incredible!

    I think that about sums it up for me as well... I've been lifting consistently, bulking and cutting, for about five years now. I feel like I should look way better than I do, and some days I feel like I actually look worse. The mind is a funny thing.
  • deputy_randolph
    deputy_randolph Posts: 940 Member
    edited July 2018
    You don't need to have "serious" goals (like pro bodybuilding) to hire a coach. You just need to have goals that are serious to you.

    I have a powerlifting trainer. I'm a nearly 40 year old woman. I've done a few local pl competitions; I'm not setting the sport on fire. I need a trainer (on and off) to push me, encourage me, and occasionally correct me. For me, it's $ well spent, b/c I love powerlifting and want to excel to the best of my ability...with a little help.
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    edited July 2018
    Wow @deercrest you look fantastic... are you sure you aren't 23? :) We can definitely be our own worst enemies for sure. I feel like I look good but I could and should look so much better. And the closer I get to my ideal, the farther away I feel at the same time!


    Yea I always feel like if I had a coach I would drive them BONKERS. I feel like it's a waste because I know what I am doing deep down inside. And I probably wouldn't trust/follow their programming anyhow which IMO would be super disrespectful for them and so then why on Earth am I paying them (so until I am ready to listen to them 100%, I wouldn't hire one).
  • LiftHeavyThings27105
    LiftHeavyThings27105 Posts: 2,086 Member
    deercrest wrote: »
    I think coaches are good for some people but for me I tend to stick with things that I figure out and earn on my own. Part of the reason I keep pushing myself is because it's Hard. It's a challenge and that drives me. The more I learn and the better I become just fuels my desire to get better and better. I respect anyone who is here battling daily for self improvement. You all motivate me.

    Dude, much respect. I am 51, don't look quite as good as you (but getting closer everyday....so you had better keep up!) and I completely understand - the struggle is indeed real. People think that this stuff just happens...that you just write it down on a piece of paper and bam! Six weeks later you have a six-pack and that v-taper and and and. Nope! Sorry to disappoint everyone. Does not work that way. You gotta have a great program, you gotta have a great nutritional plan, and you gotta show up EVERYDAY! I hear all the time "I am just too busy....". Okay, and when they have to amputate your left foot.....you toooooo busy now?

    So, the ladies are not the only ones sitting there going "Dayum". I know the sturggle....like I said....right behind you! Don't slow down.....let's just show them what "Old Man Strength" really means! Shhhhhhh! It is all mental...not physical. It is the strength of our determination and competitive spirtit. Let's not share that with them young bucks! Cool? :-)
  • deercrest
    deercrest Posts: 27 Member
    You got brother! Love the challenge of progressing when others our age are decreasing. I am in the best shape of my life and know I have much more to give.
  • deercrest
    deercrest Posts: 27 Member
    sardelsa wrote: »
    hesn92 wrote: »
    I think this is why it's important to have other goals besides making your body look a certain way. And it's why I do another activity besides lifting weights. I've recently started to get into running and I actually am more excited about running than I am about lifting. I'm excited to get better and run longer distances. I do lift because I want my body to change to a degree but also because I just want to be stronger and healthier. This is why I am not a fan of bodybuilding competitions and bikini competitions. I think they just feed into too much self obsession. There are things in life more important than how you look. When it comes down to it, "looking good" doesn't really give you much joy in life. Being healthy, doing fun activities, spending time with your family etc. do.

    Yea I hear you. But I love looking good... looking good makes me feel good, most of the time. I do understand it should not become obsessive, if it starts to crowd out other joys in your life yea that can be a problem. So far for me it is not there yet, but there are days where I get frustrated. Even if I was training for strength, I am sure there would be days where I felt weak or think "what's the point?" it is like that with anything.

    With you 100%
  • nay0m3
    nay0m3 Posts: 178 Member
    Bumping this thread
  • cupcakesandproteinshakes
    cupcakesandproteinshakes Posts: 1,130 Member
    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1557988318786868

    No firm conclusions, but interesting.

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