I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when I saw this piece. They make lifting and proper nutrition out to be some evil bane of the bodybuilder. Its things like this that made my friend’s father (who is a complete D-bag anyway) tell me that creatine was a steroid. After explaining to him that it actually was present in the steak he was currently eating and a little more about supplements, I sternly pointed my finger in his face and screamed “NO!”.
Now bigorexia is a real issue, I don’t discredit the idea, I just think that its more like the strep throat of psychological disorders. Many people are obsessed with their body, but to an end which makes you (front a healthy-living standpoint) improve it? can that be really that bad? I guess if it was such an issue where you caused yourself serious harm then yes I guess so, but come on. I noticed in the video they played very dark music (as if it were a video of teh nazis) in the background as he made a protein shake and put some stupid worried look on his face as he drank it and could not help but laugh out loud.
Call me what you will, but I believe that if someone is that unhappy about their body, then this would probably be a pretty good complex to develop. my favorite line was “food is fuel”… what the hell else is it? fun maybe? Its pieces like this that create some ridiculous hysteria about supplements and the attitude behind training. In response to this I propose a new complex, known as Lazyorexia or I-Don’t-give-a-fuckorexia. This is when a 300 pound, 6 foot tall person at a body fat percentage above 30 goes “I wish i had a nice body, but theres nothing I can do about it.” Nothing pisses me off more when someone blames their endomorphism or ectomorphism on a genetic disorder. Theres nothing genetic about the quarter pounder with cheese you just ate, or the mix and mix frosty you’ll have to finish it off. do something about it.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Sliver wrote:
I wonder if his was verbally abused as a child. I mean, I got my ass kicked up and down the halls in high school and I’m not half as screwed up as this guy is.
How screwed up is he? That whole segment played out like those couples who appear on Jerry Springer. I have no doubt they told him to make that as dramatic as possible. I am sure they had a hard time finding someone to act like that much of a victim because of lifting weights. The only thing I wonder is if he got paid.[/quote]
Even if we assumed for the sake of argument that he was lying (which might not be the case) is it really that hard to believe that there isn’t someone out there that lifts all day and night and look in the mirror and see a toothpick where their body should be?
[quote]Sliver wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sliver wrote:
I wonder if his was verbally abused as a child. I mean, I got my ass kicked up and down the halls in high school and I’m not half as screwed up as this guy is.
How screwed up is he? That whole segment played out like those couples who appear on Jerry Springer. I have no doubt they told him to make that as dramatic as possible. I am sure they had a hard time finding someone to act like that much of a victim because of lifting weights. The only thing I wonder is if he got paid.
Even if we assumed for the sake of argument that he was lying (which might not be the case) is it really that hard to believe that there isn’t someone out there that lifts all day and night and look in the mirror and see a toothpick where their body should be?[/quote]
I’m not saying he flat out lied. I am talking about the spin put on it and his shaky presentation as if his world is falling apart because he just can’t stop lifting weights. Any one of us who actually is serious about this could have our words shaped into making our activities seem a lot more insane than what the reality is. There aren’t any people who just casually look like pro or even most amateur bodybuilders. The drive and motivation it takes to push your body to that level is NOT ordinary and never has been. It isn’t “normal” to gain 100lbs of lean body mass after you finish growing in height. The goal in bodybuilding has never been to be “normal”. It has never been to be average. The HUGE difference is, though most of us will not be SATISFIED with what we see in the mirror (which is WHY we push hard to make changes), that is nothing like actually believing that even though you are wearing a XXXL shirt that you are a really skinny guy. I doubt there are very many people that crazy out there.
I may get a comment on how I look any time someone sees me in a shirt that is half way revealing. That doesn’t mean I walk around all day thinking I’m big and huge. I notice what I need to work on more than someone looking in from the outside. That doesn’t mean I don’t think I am big. It means that I compare myself to a standard that the average person wouldn’t understand…because I don’t compare myself to “average”.
Bottom line, I doubt even a minority of lifters are actually insane enough to think they are tiny and truly skinnier than everyone else in the gym. They may not see themselves as being as big as others do (because they see themselves all of the time and want to be more than that), but that doesn’t make them “bigorexic”.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Sliver wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sliver wrote:
I wonder if his was verbally abused as a child. I mean, I got my ass kicked up and down the halls in high school and I’m not half as screwed up as this guy is.
How screwed up is he? That whole segment played out like those couples who appear on Jerry Springer. I have no doubt they told him to make that as dramatic as possible. I am sure they had a hard time finding someone to act like that much of a victim because of lifting weights. The only thing I wonder is if he got paid.
Even if we assumed for the sake of argument that he was lying (which might not be the case) is it really that hard to believe that there isn’t someone out there that lifts all day and night and look in the mirror and see a toothpick where their body should be?
I’m not saying he flat out lied. I am talking about the spin put on it and his shaky presentation as if his world is falling apart because he just can’t stop lifting weights. Any one of us who actually is serious about this could have our words shaped into making our activities seem a lot more insane than what the reality is. There aren’t any people who just casually look like pro or even most amateur bodybuilders. The drive and motivation it takes to push your body to that level is NOT ordinary and never has been. It isn’t “normal” to gain 100lbs of lean body mass after you finish growing in height. The goal in bodybuilding has never been to be “normal”. It has never been to be average. The HUGE difference is, though most of us will not be SATISFIED with what we see in the mirror (which is WHY we push hard to make changes), that is nothing like actually believing that even though you are wearing a XXXL shirt that you are a really skinny guy. I doubt there are very many people that crazy out there.
I may get a comment on how I look any time someone sees me in a shirt that is half way revealing. That doesn’t mean I walk around all day thinking I’m big and huge. I notice what I need to work on more than someone looking in from the outside. That doesn’t mean I don’t think I am big. It means that I compare myself to a standard that the average person wouldn’t understand…because I don’t compare myself to “average”.
Bottom line, I doubt even a minority of lifters are actually insane enough to think they are tiny and truly skinnier than everyone else in the gym. They may not see themselves as being as big as others do (because they see themselves all of the time and want to be more than that), but that doesn’t make them “bigorexic”.[/quote]
I agree, you hit the important differences on the head.
Anorexia is a problem because it is very unhealthy, and could lead to the death of the person with the disorder.
This “bigorexia” sounds like a load of crap to me. I don’t know of anyone who has health problems from being too muscular. I’m talking about the muscle its self, and not any of the potentially unhealthy ways of getting the muscle.
If it’s taking over someone’s life, it’s an obsession, but at least it’s not a physically unhealthy obsession, like anorexia is.
[quote]Professor X wrote:
Sliver wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sliver wrote:
I wonder if his was verbally abused as a child. I mean, I got my ass kicked up and down the halls in high school and I’m not half as screwed up as this guy is.
How screwed up is he? That whole segment played out like those couples who appear on Jerry Springer. I have no doubt they told him to make that as dramatic as possible. I am sure they had a hard time finding someone to act like that much of a victim because of lifting weights. The only thing I wonder is if he got paid.
Even if we assumed for the sake of argument that he was lying (which might not be the case) is it really that hard to believe that there isn’t someone out there that lifts all day and night and look in the mirror and see a toothpick where their body should be?
I’m not saying he flat out lied. I am talking about the spin put on it and his shaky presentation as if his world is falling apart because he just can’t stop lifting weights. Any one of us who actually is serious about this could have our words shaped into making our activities seem a lot more insane than what the reality is. There aren’t any people who just casually look like pro or even most amateur bodybuilders. The drive and motivation it takes to push your body to that level is NOT ordinary and never has been. It isn’t “normal” to gain 100lbs of lean body mass after you finish growing in height. The goal in bodybuilding has never been to be “normal”. It has never been to be average. The HUGE difference is, though most of us will not be SATISFIED with what we see in the mirror (which is WHY we push hard to make changes), that is nothing like actually believing that even though you are wearing a XXXL shirt that you are a really skinny guy. I doubt there are very many people that crazy out there.
I may get a comment on how I look any time someone sees me in a shirt that is half way revealing. That doesn’t mean I walk around all day thinking I’m big and huge. I notice what I need to work on more than someone looking in from the outside. That doesn’t mean I don’t think I am big. It means that I compare myself to a standard that the average person wouldn’t understand…because I don’t compare myself to “average”.
Bottom line, I doubt even a minority of lifters are actually insane enough to think they are tiny and truly skinnier than everyone else in the gym. They may not see themselves as being as big as others do (because they see themselves all of the time and want to be more than that), but that doesn’t make them “bigorexic”.[/quote]
That is all true. However, I think the biggest reason the video panned out as crappy as it did is because all we had to go on was what we could see. Which is an experienced bodybuilder with an big body. Physically he was fine, and his life wasn’t in danger. Unlike anorexia which can be fatal.
What we didn’t get to see was inside his head. Which is where the problem is.
Then again, there is the subtle connotation that bodybuilding means you’re insecure.
What we didn’t get to see was inside his head. Which is where the problem is.
[/quote]
The question being asked of you is WHAT PROBLEM? Unless this guy has quit any job he has to work out more and thusly is completely ruining his life, there isn’t a problem. Being obsessed is not a mental disorder by itself. If it were, every inventor or eccentric genius would fall into that category as well.
I agree that the underlying connotation was that bodybuilding is an activity only engaged by those who are insecure. That is the exact point that I am trying to counter. Wanting to be physically better and even seeing yourself as far from a physical goal does not mean the same as being insecure about yourself.
Many bodybuilders are also exhibitionists deep down which should erase that notion. How insecure is the guy who jumps on stage in front of a few hundred people in his underwear?
Well, I think the problem isn’t “insecurity” so much as low self esteem because he places the value of himself as a human being on the size of his muscles.
[quote]Sliver wrote:
Well, I think the problem isn’t “insecurity” so much as low self esteem because he places the value of himself as a human being on the size of his muscles.[/quote]
You honestly can not tell that from that footage. In fact, they went into no other details of his life at all. Is he a high school drop out? Does he have two college degrees? We don’t know so no one can tell how much value he places on himself or what any other possible interests he has are. That is one reason why that documentary sucks ass.
Jesus christ
This muscle building freak is obsessed with eating a good breakfast and being strong. What a freak.
I hate these high testosterone freaks.
Take it teddybear.
Wait a minute. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. This isn’t just BDD, it’s a unusual quasi-manifestation of OCD. I remember reading/hearing about this before but they didn’t use the term “bigorexia”.
So when you stop and think about it in those terms this guy is the opposite of a regular bodybuilder, he has no self discipline. He lifts because he can’t not lift. His brain wont let him.
[quote]Sliver wrote:
Wait a minute. It just hit me like a ton of bricks. This isn’t just BDD, it’s a unusual quasi-manifestation of OCD. I remember reading/hearing about this before but they didn’t use the term “bigorexia”.
So when you stop and think about it in those terms this guy is the opposite of a regular bodybuilder, he has to self discipline. He lift because he can’t not lift. His brain wont let him.[/quote]
You don’t seem to know much about bodybuilders or bodybuilding. This clip from You Tube is Vic Richards. Listen to how he discusses lifting weights:
I would say most of the people you see who actually have some real size on them (not people with metrosexual goals in mind) think of lifting in a similar fashion. I would HATE not being able to lift weights. It is simply what I do and what I enjoy. You have made it seem like a negative that someone feels a desire and need to do that. Why?
[quote]SWR-1240 wrote:
This “bigorexia” sounds like a load of crap to me. [/quote]
Yeah. Speaking of which, where the tits did that name come from? Its not like anorexia is called “ribcagerexia;” it actually sounds sicentific, unlike “bigorexia.”
[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
SWR-1240 wrote:
This “bigorexia” sounds like a load of crap to me.
Yeah. Speaking of which, where the tits did that name come from? Its not like anorexia is called “ribcagerexia;” it actually sounds sicentific, unlike “bigorexia.”[/quote]
It’s also completely subjective which means it is complete bullshit. What might seem to be “excessive muscularity” to an 80 year old grandma may not be excessive to most other people.
Problem is the dude isnt happy with himself and thinks he will be once he wins a major title. I think you have to be happy with who you are regardless.
Its like being unhappy and trying to add a girlfriend to your life to make you happy.
"I think his eyebrows are going to turn pro too!
They are juicing tho… too bad. Sad really.
I bet the eyebrows are happy with their size and thickness. "
[quote]Andrew Dixon wrote:
I think you have to be happy with who you are regardless.
[/quote]
I agree, but I also don’t think we were given even 30% of that guy’s real life in that video clip which means everyone is jumping to conclusions based on a comment about how he wants to win a competition. Has anyone ever seen that guy compete in anything? No? Hmmmm.
You don’t seem to know much about bodybuilders or bodybuilding. This clip from You Tube is Vic Richards. Listen to how he discusses lifting weights:
I would say most of the people you see who actually have some real size on them (not people with metrosexual goals in mind) think of lifting in a similar fashion. I would HATE not being able to lift weights. It is simply what I do and what I enjoy. You have made it seem like a negative that someone feels a desire and need to do that. Why?[/quote]
Do not straw man me. I am talking about this one person and him alone. This is the second biggest reason the video sucked. They do absolutely NOTHING to describe the mechanics of his disorder. They lead the audience in the completely wrong direction glossing over significant details and doing almost nothing more then describe what he felt and did, without any reason why. I bet the doctor they interviewed explained the disorder in great detail, but they edited it out and grabbed the sound bites they wanted. The guy in the video on the other hand did have a working knowledge of the mechanics of his disorder. And you can tell by listening to him talk. Count the number of times he used the words obsession and compulsion. Hell compulsion was the FIRST word he went for to describe it.
And there is another bigger difference between this guy and Vic richards. Where in the interview does the first guy ever say he enjoyed lifting? That it makes him feel good? He doesn’t. And THAT is the biggest difference.
