Bigorexia
"Hey, I'm skinny and I can't seem to gain any weight. I'm 5'10", 205 lbs. with 8% body fat. I've tried everything to put on weight over the past 6 months. Can you give me any ideas so that I can wear shorts this summer without people staring at my chicken legs?"
Believe it or not, I've gotten emails like the one above. Here's a hint, if you're scale says you weigh 205 lbs. at 5'10", one of two things is going on:
Yep, it's a real term and a real illness, the opposite of anorexia. Its technical name is Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder.
Check this report: Bigorexia: A Muscle Building Obsession.
Long before the shrinks gave this disorder a name, its existence was evident. In every gym, there has always been that well-built guy who always works out in baggy sweats. You sit there thinking, "Damn, if I had that physique, I'd be showing it off." And if you tell them that, they reply that their calves are puny or their delts are practically non-existent.
Bodybuilding and the pursuit of getting bigger isn't a bad thing. It can be a healthy pursuit. But it can definitely work its way into obsession that negatively impacts your life.
Kerry Dulin has a good article on his bout with the disorder, including a list of questions to ask yourself if you feel you may be afflicted.
I'd add one more to his list of questions -- If you think your being stared at because you're so skinny and yet the scales tell you that you weigh more than the average NFL player for your height, you need to step back and consider seeking help.
Bodybuilding should be something you enjoy, not something that controls your life.
JP Clifford
http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com
Believe it or not, I've gotten emails like the one above. Here's a hint, if you're scale says you weigh 205 lbs. at 5'10", one of two things is going on:
- Your scale is broken
- You are not skinny
Yep, it's a real term and a real illness, the opposite of anorexia. Its technical name is Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder.
Check this report: Bigorexia: A Muscle Building Obsession.
Long before the shrinks gave this disorder a name, its existence was evident. In every gym, there has always been that well-built guy who always works out in baggy sweats. You sit there thinking, "Damn, if I had that physique, I'd be showing it off." And if you tell them that, they reply that their calves are puny or their delts are practically non-existent.
Bodybuilding and the pursuit of getting bigger isn't a bad thing. It can be a healthy pursuit. But it can definitely work its way into obsession that negatively impacts your life.
Kerry Dulin has a good article on his bout with the disorder, including a list of questions to ask yourself if you feel you may be afflicted.
I'd add one more to his list of questions -- If you think your being stared at because you're so skinny and yet the scales tell you that you weigh more than the average NFL player for your height, you need to step back and consider seeking help.
Bodybuilding should be something you enjoy, not something that controls your life.
JP Clifford
http://www.gain-weight-muscle-fast.com
Labels: bigorexia, muscle building
posted by JP Clifford at 9:43 AM
4 Comments:
This was pretty funny. To think that the big guys have all the insecurities of a teenage girl inside of them.
LOL. awesome article.
Unfortunately I train with a guy that has a mild case of this. It gets annoying after a while, when he complains about being tiny when he's even bigger than me.
He sees a fat bellied guy with tooth-pick arms, while me an the rest of the world see a slim muscular beast. Haha.
It must be hard to suffer such a condition, especially as it isn't widely known. Self perception can be a very cruel thing sometimes and potentially very self destructive. As you say, I hope that anyone thinking they may be suffering seeks the correct help as soon as possible
Hey JP, I was fascinated by your post on ‘Bigorexia’. Not because it strikes a chord with me or anything, but mainly because it’s something I’d never even heard of.
I never thought it conceivable that fellow athletes might feel that way.
Having said that, the more I think about it, the more convincing it becomes, especially when I read about some of the things pro bodybuilders get up to.
You certainly whetted my appetite and I look forward to reading more of your posts.
PJ Reed
ps Feel free to add anchor text of my link to your links sidebar.
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