Body Dismorphic Disorder

[pinkeraserwm]

Does anyone else have this problem? Lately I've been feeling very uncomfortable in my smaller body. Really, I'm no smaller than I usually am at contest, but it's usually closer to contest date when i'm this size and i'm so excited/stressed about getting on stage, i don't really notice my size. This year, my goal is to make my current size my maintenance size (so i have to do less work to get into contest shape) instead of shrinking to contest shape and then returning to "normal size" which is 15# more than this.
Additionally, I realized that i have several pounds of "boobage" that i didn't used to have and I may have more muscle than I used to have so altho the scale says one number, i'm appear smaller. I never take my measurements, I just rely on how my clothes fit and I'm swimming in them... they're huge! Furthermore, I can't see myself relative to other people. I feel like i look chunky compared to other competitors, then I go and look at pics of myself and don't recognize it as me. My boyfriend says i look fine and my trainer says i'm right on track but I honestly don't have a clue how I look (and I really don't believe them).
It's weird but i just don't feel like myself. Maybe it's just low carbs talking or maybe i just need smaller clothes and i'll recenter...:nuts:

[teri]

I think everyone in this sport/business has BDD...I still have it,and i dont do contests anymore..It can be a blessing or a curse-matters how u look at it.:banghead::D:waving:

[Fitnessdvaa]

i know exactly what you mean! i feel like the goggles i use to see myself and the ones others use are waaaay different...

[Alli]

i know exactly what you mean! i feel like the goggles i use to see myself and the ones others use are waaaay different...

Agreed. I think competitors by nature are WAY harder on themselves then need be most of the time- but we're so tuned in with our bodies and every little change that occurs....so how can we not be?

[jphillips17]

As a former annorexic, its something I don't think I'll ever get over :( I have learned to deal with it though, and am understanding that there are times I will be "softer" and times I will look great.

[teri]

:hug::hug::bench:

[sobe4elle]

I think most physique competitors suffer from BDD. I do!!!
When you are in contest prep mode you never think you look small enough (although your size zero jeans are loose) and post contest you fill out a little & think you look FAT!:nuts:
Before I started competing I had a much "healthier" view of my body. Now that I'm post-contest & have put back 6 lbs I hate the way my body looks. When someone gives me a compliment on my physique I can't accept it as I used to. I feel like I have to explain that I'm off-season & I really did look waaay better a month ago.
It's crazy & I don't really know how to deal with it. I'm sure there's many of us that feel this way. :mad:

[Alli]

I think most physique competitors suffer from BDD. I do!!!
When you are in contest prep mode you never think you look small enough (although your size zero jeans are loose) and post contest you fill out a little & think you look FAT!:nuts:
Before I started competing I had a much "healthier" view of my body. Now that I'm post-contest & have put back 6 lbs I hate the way my body looks. When someone gives me a compliment on my physique I can't accept it as I used to. I feel like I have to explain that I'm off-season & I really did look waaay better a month ago.
It's crazy & I don't really know how to deal with it. I'm sure there's many of us that feel this way. :mad:

I know that I do... and I think the bottom line is you have to work mentally at your body image being in the sport that we're in. I have to conciously remind myself that I'm just fine, and I look just fine, whether on seaon or off. I remind myself that I have an amazing body that can withstand hours of cardio, heavy weights, and minimal caloric intake. I thank God tha tI have the mental strength to diet and train both on season and off. You have to work to appreicate your body PERIOD- whether dieted down or fluffy and happy. For me, I always just try to remember that no matter what I dish out, my body handles it with grace and strength- and I have to be appreciative of that. Whether its a 200 pound bench press or a 600 pound leg press, or walking lunges, or an hour on the stairmaster- my body soars through whether dieting or not:) To me, that's something to be grateful about.

[lil mama]

I know that I do... and I think the bottom line is you have to work mentally at your body image being in the sport that we're in. I have to conciously remind myself that I'm just fine, and I look just fine, whether on seaon or off. I remind myself that I have an amazing body that can withstand hours of cardio, heavy weights, and minimal caloric intake. I thank God tha tI have the mental strength to diet and train both on season and off. You have to work to appreicate your body PERIOD- whether dieted down or fluffy and happy. For me, I always just try to remember that no matter what I dish out, my body handles it with grace and strength- and I have to be appreciative of that. Whether its a 200 pound bench press or a 600 pound leg press, or walking lunges, or an hour on the stairmaster- my body soars through whether dieting or not:) To me, that's something to be grateful about.

I totally agree with Alli.. BTW Alli well said:clap:personally loving the fluff afterall that is what elastic waistands are 4 (jk) but seriously ur right we do have to appreiciate our bodies period just like u said whether dieted down or fluffy and happy.:p

[fitnessjewell]

If you ladies have a chance Scott Abel (he has written great blogs on metabolic damage) www.scottabel.com has written an E book on body image disorder. Definately something competitors should read if you get a chance. The book is called 'the other side of the mirror'.

[Bwhite25]

absolutley..i usually struggle with bigarexia

[wilson6]

Just had that conversation with a former Nat figu competitor I'm now working with, she came from the "just do as your told", low kcal and lots of cardio format. It messed her up metabolically. Asked her to get her thyroid, iron panel, CBC, Vit D and B-12 checked. Something isn't right.

One of the things that I believe is overlooked in this business as I described in another thread a while back, is how energetic stress cycling (cutting and bulking), either kcal/nutritient deprivation, or excess exercise/cardio may screw up, perhaps permanently, high orders of cognitive function, as well as metabolism, body fat distribution (i.e., more gut fat), etc. via its effects on various circulating hormones and neurochemistry. This is esp a problem in those susceptible to it going in and one of the reasons it is very important to hook up with the right trainer/nutritionist/sports psychologist.

Too many get hooked up with what they think will help them get what they want relative to a look, that path in turn, changes their already off balance metabolic/psychological profile into a major train wreck long-term.

If you're hooking up with someone that is just waiting to feed off your already skewed body image, and tell you what you want to hear, not what you really should be hearing, you're in trouble.

W6

[WillBrink]

Does anyone else have this problem?

The real question is who does not?! :o:D:o

Seems a matter of degree, but I think we all do at some level. I used to be a much bigger guy:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b374/willbrink/BackInTheDay.jpg

The bigger I got, the smaller I felt. It didn't get to the point of what might be consider an "unhealthy obsession" clinically speaking, but it sure does for some. It's something one should be aware of at least.

Welcome to the bbing/fitness industry! :o