We All Have Bigorexia?

Off Topic
61

[quote]Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
I’ve seen some pretty big fellas worry themselves over shrinking arms, which I suppose is related to the topic. Maybe it should be called Shrinking Arm Syndrome. “Bra, do my arms look small? They look smaller to me.”

This is generally followed up with some flexing while wearing a pleading “help me” look on their face. They tend to need assurance from time to time that their massive frames really aren’t wasting away.

I would hate it someone is judging me like this.

I told another lifter last week that I would like to compete but I want to bring my legs up more. He laughed. I don’t see what was funny. He said, “you got the size right now!” to which I added, “but I know what my goals are and I’m not there yet”.

Apparently this makes me insane.

I don’t think it’s the same thing.

I do. You are judging someone’s mental state by one off the cuff remark.

No, more like remarkS, facial expressions and tone of voice (literally looking and sounding alarmed/depressed).[/quote]

Again, I could ask someone if it looks like I lost some size and that does not mean I have a disease process going on in my head. You don’t know if that person had been dieting, or been sick, or ANY of that. I would feel bad too if I thought I had lost some size considering the effort I put into this.

You don’t know any of the specifics and are still acting as if you think it is a disorder for a big guy to ask if he lost size on his arms.

You do realize the goal is to BUILD size so losing it may just make the person feel bad?

62

Everytime I look into a mirror I still see the 120 pound kid anxiously wanding the free weights room.

But I thought that was pretty standard for people who have real goals.

63

[quote]Professor X wrote:
mrw173 wrote:
Being in the field, though, I gotta tell you, there are a lot of incompetent people out there.

You are preaching to the choir. There are far too many patients in America who are apparently depressed.

From:
NIMH. “The Numbers Count: Mental Illness in America,” Science on Our Minds Fact Sheet Series.
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.

and from a study published in Psychiatric Services, April 2004.
Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. At least four percent of preschoolers – over a million – are clinically depressed.

Preschoolers?

Isn’t there a problem with either our health care system or our society if PRESCHOOLERS are the fastest growing population of clinically depressed patients?[/quote]

I wonder how much of that is clever marketing to a parent population today that cannot tolerate anything aversive happening to their children at all. Though, it is scary to think about any preschooler being depressed, let alone a decent proportion of them.

64

totally true. You have no idea how many times I’ve shown people pics of real bodybuilders, only to have them say “eeew”. Seriously, most people now think that it is not right to have a boatload of muscle; they think that it is disgusting and unhealthy. Where are the people who take one look at guys like Coleman, or Yates in his heyday, and saw “jesus, thats fucking awesome. I wish I could fucking look like that” and not “eeew. Look, he has, like, muscles”

It seems that society’s ideal man has moved from the walking mountain to the nearly anorexic abercrombie model

The only way bodybuilding can be detrimental to your health is if you screw it up.

I’d like to see what the committees for bigorexia sufferers are like. Can you say “pilates”?

65

[quote]zephead4747 wrote:
Everytime I look into a mirror I still see the 120 pound kid anxiously wanding the free weights room.

But I thought that was pretty standard for people who have real goals.[/quote]

I can relate to what you say. There are times when I see myself as the 280 lb football player, or 180 lb dieted down lean guy. I think the mind needs to change along with the physique.

66

[quote]grayman19 wrote:
totally true. You have no idea how many times I’ve shown people pics of real bodybuilders, only to have them say “eeew”. Seriously, most people now think that it is not right to have a boatload of muscle; they think that it is disgusting and unhealthy. Where are the people who take one look at guys like Coleman, or Yates in his heyday, and saw “jesus, thats fucking awesome. I wish I could fucking look like that” and not “eeew. Look, he has, like, muscles”

It seems that society’s ideal man has moved from the walking mountain to the nearly anorexic abercrombie model

The only way bodybuilding can be detrimental to your health is if you screw it up.

I’d like to see what the committees for bigorexia sufferers are like. Can you say “pilates”?[/quote]

I wonder why there is no name for women who jump on 3,000 different diets in a couple of years yet never actually change the eating habits long term.

FAIL-orexia?

Gorge-orexia?

Loves Ben&Jerry’s-orexia?

67

Ive been suffering from bigorexia for over 3 years. If I dont get help soon, I might end up looking like ronnie coleman.

People who dont lift weights will never understand. People who dont use drugs will never understand those who do. People who arent gay will never understand who those are.

68

What ever happened to if you’re having fun and not bothering anyone it’s no one’s business what you do?

I’ve recently developed a gall bladder issue and have cut back on my eating. I’ve lost 6 pounds and I’m now 196 at 5’7". Am I cured now? Or wasn’t I a sufferer of this dreaded disorder before?

69

[quote]Professor X wrote:
grayman19 wrote:
totally true. You have no idea how many times I’ve shown people pics of real bodybuilders, only to have them say “eeew”. Seriously, most people now think that it is not right to have a boatload of muscle; they think that it is disgusting and unhealthy. Where are the people who take one look at guys like Coleman, or Yates in his heyday, and saw “jesus, thats fucking awesome. I wish I could fucking look like that” and not “eeew. Look, he has, like, muscles”

It seems that society’s ideal man has moved from the walking mountain to the nearly anorexic abercrombie model

The only way bodybuilding can be detrimental to your health is if you screw it up.

I’d like to see what the committees for bigorexia sufferers are like. Can you say “pilates”?

I wonder why there is no name for women who jump on 3,000 different diets in a couple of years yet never actually change the eating habits long term.

FAIL-orexia?

Gorge-orexia?

Loves Ben&Jerry’s-orexia?[/quote]

Yo-Yo dieters.

70

[quote]tom63 wrote:
What ever happened to if you’re having fun and not bothering anyone it’s no one’s business what you do?

I’ve recently developed a gall bladder issue and have cut back on my eating. I’ve lost 6 pounds and I’m now 196 at 5’7". Am I cured now? Or wasn’t I a sufferer of this dreaded disorder before?[/quote]

I have fun smoking weed and it dosen’t hurt anybody at all however the government and police want to lock me up with murders and rapist for doing it. On the same note, its perfectly legal to purchase a pack of cigarettes and give them out to your friends to get them hooked. Why isnt there a law banning sex without contraception? Dosent that cause more harm, pain, suffering, and deaths than marijuana?

71

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Ouiser wrote:
I wish people could be a little more honest about arm measurements. When I first started out I thought I had about 5 inches to go before my arms would look decent. Until I figured out most guys claiming 19" arms actually were more like 16" on a good day.

Agreed. I am not sure why he even felt the need to lie THAT much. His arms can’t be much over 16" yet he added what must be 3" to that…as if no one would notice.[/quote]

I’m not sure which guy your talking about, but if its the skinny guy with the long sleeves on, he did say ‘when he’s in shape’ he had 19 inches, it might have just been 10 years ago.

72

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Ouiser wrote:
I wish people could be a little more honest about arm measurements. When I first started out I thought I had about 5 inches to go before my arms would look decent. Until I figured out most guys claiming 19" arms actually were more like 16" on a good day.

Agreed. I am not sure why he even felt the need to lie THAT much. His arms can’t be much over 16" yet he added what must be 3" to that…as if no one would notice.

I’m not sure which guy your talking about, but if its the skinny guy with the long sleeves on, he did say ‘when he’s in shape’ he had 19 inches, it might have just been 10 years ago.
[/quote]

Not that guy.

73

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
I’ve seen some pretty big fellas worry themselves over shrinking arms, which I suppose is related to the topic. Maybe it should be called Shrinking Arm Syndrome. “Bra, do my arms look small? They look smaller to me.”

This is generally followed up with some flexing while wearing a pleading “help me” look on their face. They tend to need assurance from time to time that their massive frames really aren’t wasting away.

I would hate it someone is judging me like this.

I told another lifter last week that I would like to compete but I want to bring my legs up more. He laughed. I don’t see what was funny. He said, “you got the size right now!” to which I added, “but I know what my goals are and I’m not there yet”.

Apparently this makes me insane.

I don’t think it’s the same thing.

I do. You are judging someone’s mental state by one off the cuff remark.

No, more like remarkS, facial expressions and tone of voice (literally looking and sounding alarmed/depressed).

Again, I could ask someone if it looks like I lost some size and that does not mean I have a disease process going on in my head. You don’t know if that person had been dieting, or been sick, or ANY of that. I would feel bad too if I thought I had lost some size considering the effort I put into this.

You don’t know any of the specifics and are still acting as if you think it is a disorder for a big guy to ask if he lost size on his arms.

You do realize the goal is to BUILD size so losing it may just make the person feel bad?[/quote]

I suppose I have a different outlook. At a young age, and through the process of a serious medical condition, you could literally count ribs where my pecs should’ve been. Nowadays, if I get over a flu I don’t get depressed because I’m weaker in the gym, or my shirts seem a bit looser at the arms. I just get back to my routine.

By the way, if you’re seriously entertaining the idea of competition, that’s an entirely different animal, in my mind. Feedback to form a realistic expectation regarding your chances against competitors (who are also going to be large men) is reasonable. I’ve known that type.

But, a 245.lb man to frequently complain about looking or feeling “small” in general? I’ve met the type, too.

74

[quote]Magnate wrote:
pikebinscho wrote:
Reading all this reminds me of a quote I heard on a “Scrubs” once…

" The second you look in the mirror and feel “satisfied” is the second you lose your edge and start slipping backwards into your old pathetic habits"

Pretty sure thats not verbatim, but it gets the point across and I know I’ve found myself repeating that to myself before a set.

This whole talk of this being a disease is BS, IMO

Dr. Cox: The key to my exercise program is this one simple truth: “I hate my body.”
Turk: What!?
Dr. Cox: Do you understand that the second you look in the mirror and you’re happy with what you see, baby, you just lost the battle!
Turk: You should give speeches to teenage girls!

This quote?[/quote]

I always loved that quote (and Scrubs in general) and applied to to myself. I guess that means I have a problem and need serious help.

The thing I’ve always thought was funny was how I remember when I was younger and would read a muscle mag and someone would make a comment along the lines of, “All those guys are covering for some kind of insecurity.” Yet, those type of comments come from some kind of insecurity they suffer from. I just laugh anytime I hear comments like that these days. Most of the time they are coming from someone out of shape, so their opinions mean nothing to me.

75

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
I’ve seen some pretty big fellas worry themselves over shrinking arms, which I suppose is related to the topic. Maybe it should be called Shrinking Arm Syndrome. “Bra, do my arms look small? They look smaller to me.”

This is generally followed up with some flexing while wearing a pleading “help me” look on their face. They tend to need assurance from time to time that their massive frames really aren’t wasting away.

I would hate it someone is judging me like this.

I told another lifter last week that I would like to compete but I want to bring my legs up more. He laughed. I don’t see what was funny. He said, “you got the size right now!” to which I added, “but I know what my goals are and I’m not there yet”.

Apparently this makes me insane.

I don’t think it’s the same thing.

I do. You are judging someone’s mental state by one off the cuff remark.

I get comments on my size regularly. I will STILL ask those who I know are serious at the gym what I need to work on or if they see a difference from the last time they saw me (this is the case if it has been months since I last saw them). Someone like you listening to that conversation from afar could jump to all of the same conclusions…that I think I’m small because I asked about it when that is not the case. Yes, that includes asking if they have lost some size.

My goals are not average. I don’t compare myself to average people. I know I’m bigger than average but that was never the goal to start with so it may seem strange to others that I am looking for any more size at all.[/quote]

OK, but at what point do you consider someone delusional if everyone tells him he’s ready or has the size to do something and he just never sees it.

76

[quote]Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Sloth wrote:
I’ve seen some pretty big fellas worry themselves over shrinking arms, which I suppose is related to the topic. Maybe it should be called Shrinking Arm Syndrome. “Bra, do my arms look small? They look smaller to me.”

This is generally followed up with some flexing while wearing a pleading “help me” look on their face. They tend to need assurance from time to time that their massive frames really aren’t wasting away.

I would hate it someone is judging me like this.

I told another lifter last week that I would like to compete but I want to bring my legs up more. He laughed. I don’t see what was funny. He said, “you got the size right now!” to which I added, “but I know what my goals are and I’m not there yet”.

Apparently this makes me insane.

I don’t think it’s the same thing.

I do. You are judging someone’s mental state by one off the cuff remark.

No, more like remarkS, facial expressions and tone of voice (literally looking and sounding alarmed/depressed).

Again, I could ask someone if it looks like I lost some size and that does not mean I have a disease process going on in my head. You don’t know if that person had been dieting, or been sick, or ANY of that. I would feel bad too if I thought I had lost some size considering the effort I put into this.

You don’t know any of the specifics and are still acting as if you think it is a disorder for a big guy to ask if he lost size on his arms.

You do realize the goal is to BUILD size so losing it may just make the person feel bad?

I suppose I have a different outlook. At a young age, and through the process of a serious medical condition, you could literally count ribs where my pecs should’ve been. Nowadays, if I get over a flu I don’t get depressed because I’m weaker in the gym, or my shirts seem a bit looser at the arms. I just get back to my routine.

By the way, if you’re seriously entertaining the idea of competition, that’s an entirely different animal, in my mind. Feedback to form a realistic expectation regarding your chances against competitors (who are also going to be large men) is reasonable. I’ve known that type.

But, a 245.lb man to frequently complain about looking or feeling “small” in general? I’ve met the type, too. [/quote]

I have met more who are asking for confirmation which is not the same. This is an activity for people who like attention. There is no escaping that fact. Yes, I do this for myself to see how far I can go, but deep down I do expect and enjoy it to some degree when people notice the progress made. If I hear no comments, I assume I have made very little progress.

The guys I know who are serious are who I look to for clear and concise appraisal of my progress. This is a slow process. The eyes of others are often more accurate than our own.

Someone may just be looking for that. This may be hard for someone to accept unless YOU ARE A BODYBUILDER and understand that the goal is not just to be bigger than average or “big to you”.

This is the very reason I avoid even discussing things like this in public. There are far too many just like you who assume that because someone may already be big and ask about their progress that this means they have a problem. That includes asking if they have lost some size.

77

[quote]Professor X wrote:
This is the very reason I avoid even discussing things like this in public. There are far too many just like you who assume that because someone may already be big and ask about their progress that this means they have a problem. That includes asking if they have lost some size.[/quote]

Well, ok.

78

[quote]Airtruth wrote:

OK, but at what point do you consider someone delusional if everyone tells him he’s ready or has the size to do something and he just never sees it. [/quote]

You don’t. Unless someone is clearly thinking they still weigh 150lbs in spite of being 280+lbs, then you let them have their fucking goals. There are many people who thought I was big back when I only weighed 210lbs. Does this mean I am “delusional” because I knew what my own goal was and I knew I hadn’t reached it yet?

Why not ask what that person’s specific goals are if it means that much to you?

79

[quote]Professor X wrote:
Airtruth wrote:

OK, but at what point do you consider someone delusional if everyone tells him he’s ready or has the size to do something and he just never sees it.

You don’t. Unless someone is clearly thinking they still weigh 150lbs in spite of being 280+lbs, then you let them have their fucking goals. There are many people who thought I was big back when I only weighed 210lbs. Does this mean I am “delusional” because I knew what my own goal was and I knew I hadn’t reached it yet?

Why not ask what that person’s specific goals are if it means that much to you?[/quote]

I’m talking from the view of knowing the guy’s specific goals. Speaking of a hypothetical situation set around your example of talking to a fellow lifter. At what point do you say that guy is crazy. He may have just been a lifter but if you were a person working on your size, and 10 bodybuilders told you your big enough to start competing and you never think your big enough at what point do others say he’s crazy?

I don’t think this is what they were defining as Bigorexia though. I’ve noticed that people just don’t understand if you don’t want to sit and do nothing, or sit and watch tv all day.

The same thing is said if I spend too much time playing basketball, “oh he’s crazy he plays every day”. If all I eat is healthy food, “oh he’s a healthNUT”. If it was up to the media and strange psychiatrist everybody would do just a lil bit of everything.

80

[quote]Airtruth wrote:
Professor X wrote:
Airtruth wrote:

OK, but at what point do you consider someone delusional if everyone tells him he’s ready or has the size to do something and he just never sees it.

You don’t. Unless someone is clearly thinking they still weigh 150lbs in spite of being 280+lbs, then you let them have their fucking goals. There are many people who thought I was big back when I only weighed 210lbs. Does this mean I am “delusional” because I knew what my own goal was and I knew I hadn’t reached it yet?

Why not ask what that person’s specific goals are if it means that much to you?

I’m talking from the view of knowing the guy’s specific goals. Speaking of a hypothetical situation set around your example of talking to a fellow lifter. At what point do you say that guy is crazy. He may have just been a lifter but if you were a person working on your size, and 10 bodybuilders told you your big enough to start competing and you never think your big enough at what point do others say he’s crazy?
I don’t think this is what they were defining as Bigorexia though. I’ve noticed that people just don’t understand if you don’t want to sit and do nothing, or sit and watch tv all day.
The same thing is said if I spend too much time playing basketball, “oh he’s crazy he plays every day”. If all I eat is healthy food, “oh he’s a healthNUT”. If it was up to the media and strange psychiatrist everybody would do just a lil bit of everything.[/quote]

By your standards I must be crazy. I have been told I have enough size to compete for years now. I also know what my goals are so what they think is irrelevant. I also don’t really have a desire to jump on stage AT ALL but do want to get in shape as close to that condition as possible.

That guy you speak of may be the same way. I don’t lift weights to compete. I lift weights to get stronger and bigger. Why would it make me delusional simply because other people think I’m big enough?