Body image disorders

stt43

I was just wondering if anyone has any experience of, or opinion on, eating and exercise based body image disorders such as "muscle dysmorphia" or "bigorexia"?
Some people say such things don't exist, and others say they are a big, and increasing, problem, so I was wondering how they relate to real people, especially those who typically watch what they eat and exercise.

Fithealthyforlife

It definitely exists, but chances are that you or anyone you know don't have it. It's a real disorder. There's a documentary. Search youtube.

livingleanlivingclean

I used to be big. I lost 25kgs of fat, then went in to bodybuilding as a new challenge.

both mess with your head. even when i'd lost the weight I had no idea how small I actually was (aus 14 to aus 6) and saw myself bigger than I actually was - I used to ask my husband if I was bigger/smaller than girls I saw out. most of the time girls I thought were tiny were bigger than me.

I also have the ideal of myself super lean for comps. i'm now a lot fatter, and think i'm close to the same size I was before I lost all the weight. i'm not. I know I can't be comp lean all the time, but it's hard to adjust to "normal". i'm getting a lot better at accepting what I look like, and knowing that i'm not the size of a whale. on the other hand, I know I need to grow and often don't think i'm doing that.

I wouldn't say I have a problem though, i'm just a woman. like most, one with body issues.

stt43

I used to be big. I lost 25kgs of fat, then went in to bodybuilding as a new challenge.

both mess with your head. even when i'd lost the weight I had no idea how small I actually was (aus 14 to aus 6) and saw myself bigger than I actually was - I used to ask my husband if I was bigger/smaller than girls I saw out. most of the time girls I thought were tiny were bigger than me.

I also have the ideal of myself super lean for comps. i'm now a lot fatter, and think i'm close to the same size I was before I lost all the weight. i'm not. I know I can't be comp lean all the time, but it's hard to adjust to "normal". i'm getting a lot better at accepting what I look like, and knowing that i'm not the size of a whale. on the other hand, I know I need to grow and often don't think i'm doing that.

I wouldn't say I have a problem though, i'm just a woman. like most, one with body issues.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It can't be an easy thing to deal with.

livingleanlivingclean

I used to be big. I lost 25kgs of fat, then went in to bodybuilding as a new challenge.

both mess with your head. even when i'd lost the weight I had no idea how small I actually was (aus 14 to aus 6) and saw myself bigger than I actually was - I used to ask my husband if I was bigger/smaller than girls I saw out. most of the time girls I thought were tiny were bigger than me.

I also have the ideal of myself super lean for comps. i'm now a lot fatter, and think i'm close to the same size I was before I lost all the weight. i'm not. I know I can't be comp lean all the time, but it's hard to adjust to "normal". i'm getting a lot better at accepting what I look like, and knowing that i'm not the size of a whale. on the other hand, I know I need to grow and often don't think i'm doing that.

I wouldn't say I have a problem though, i'm just a woman. like most, one with body issues.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It can't be an easy thing to deal with.

I don't think I know any women who don't have some sort of image issue, and wouldn't change something about themselves. I know plenty of guys who think they're small...but that might just be them in their quest of being bigger and better versions of themselves, especially in comps. It comes across more jokingly than a serious issue, although I'm sure there are people who would be more negatively effected. Or maybe we're all just in denial like those with addictions/issues.

xstarxdustx

I used to be big. I lost 25kgs of fat, then went in to bodybuilding as a new challenge.

both mess with your head. even when i'd lost the weight I had no idea how small I actually was (aus 14 to aus 6) and saw myself bigger than I actually was - I used to ask my husband if I was bigger/smaller than girls I saw out. most of the time girls I thought were tiny were bigger than me.

I also have the ideal of myself super lean for comps. i'm now a lot fatter, and think i'm close to the same size I was before I lost all the weight. i'm not. I know I can't be comp lean all the time, but it's hard to adjust to "normal". i'm getting a lot better at accepting what I look like, and knowing that i'm not the size of a whale. on the other hand, I know I need to grow and often don't think i'm doing that.

I wouldn't say I have a problem though, i'm just a woman. like most, one with body issues.

Agreed. Sometimes you don't realize what you're getting into with weight loss. When you've seen yourself a certain way for so many years and then things change-it takes a while for your head to wrap around it. Mine still hasn't. Definitely don't see the 'small' me people keep telling me I am, but smaller clothing sizes help. It'll take time.

stt43

I used to be big. I lost 25kgs of fat, then went in to bodybuilding as a new challenge.

both mess with your head. even when i'd lost the weight I had no idea how small I actually was (aus 14 to aus 6) and saw myself bigger than I actually was - I used to ask my husband if I was bigger/smaller than girls I saw out. most of the time girls I thought were tiny were bigger than me.

I also have the ideal of myself super lean for comps. i'm now a lot fatter, and think i'm close to the same size I was before I lost all the weight. i'm not. I know I can't be comp lean all the time, but it's hard to adjust to "normal". i'm getting a lot better at accepting what I look like, and knowing that i'm not the size of a whale. on the other hand, I know I need to grow and often don't think i'm doing that.

I wouldn't say I have a problem though, i'm just a woman. like most, one with body issues.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. It can't be an easy thing to deal with.

I don't think I know any women who don't have some sort of image issue, and wouldn't change something about themselves. I know plenty of guys who think they're small...but that might just be them in their quest of being bigger and better versions of themselves, especially in comps. It comes across more jokingly than a serious issue, although I'm sure there are people who would be more negatively effected. Or maybe we're all just in denial like those with addictions/issues.

Yeah, a lot of people are suggesting men are now having similar issues to women due to the fact that they are being targeted more by advertisers trying to sell a particular image. I've never really met or spoken to anyone that really seems to have any issues with it though, or if they do it's not been apparent.

Sinisterly

I used to be big. I lost 25kgs of fat, then went in to bodybuilding as a new challenge.

both mess with your head. even when i'd lost the weight I had no idea how small I actually was (aus 14 to aus 6) and saw myself bigger than I actually was - I used to ask my husband if I was bigger/smaller than girls I saw out. most of the time girls I thought were tiny were bigger than me.

I also have the ideal of myself super lean for comps. i'm now a lot fatter, and think i'm close to the same size I was before I lost all the weight. i'm not. I know I can't be comp lean all the time, but it's hard to adjust to "normal". i'm getting a lot better at accepting what I look like, and knowing that i'm not the size of a whale. on the other hand, I know I need to grow and often don't think i'm doing that.

I wouldn't say I have a problem though, i'm just a woman. like most, one with body issues.

Agreed. Sometimes you don't realize what you're getting into with weight loss. When you've seen yourself a certain way for so many years and then things change-it takes a while for your head to wrap around it. Mine still hasn't. Definitely don't see the 'small' me people keep telling me I am, but smaller clothing sizes help. It'll take time.

......this is how I feel. Not about the years part, but about the seeing myself differently. It's hard lol.