Body image disorder

pierini · 30-Jun-09, 10:23 AM

How about some discussion about this topic:

http://pierini-fitness.blogspot.com/...y-you-are.html

seriouslyfit · 30-Jun-09, 03:34 PM

Well, I know I will never be big enough, look cut enough, or move enough weight to satisfy my ego. I'm sure I look more fit than 95% of the population, but every once in a while I'll notice someone bigger and more lean and it's helps me realize that there's still work to be done. Some people are obsessed with being thin to a point of health concerns. Some of us are on the other end of the spectrum trying to raise the bar of physical fitness. I don't think either end will ever be satisfied with our physiques, that's just human nature.

bodyshop20 · 04-Jul-09, 02:51 PM

Hi Pierini, if we was satisfied with self image i think we would not strive to gain, rip up and get faster fitter.
Good post topic for sure.
We see better and strive to get better, its the old naked man in the changing room syndrome after swimming in a cold pool lol

CallieDurbrow · 06-Jul-09, 10:08 AM

I agree that no one is ever satisfied but that is what pushes us further and allows us to make small gains even as an advanced lifter. As long as it's not an 'obsession' then I'm all for a little healthy personal competition!

pierini · 07-Jul-09, 01:01 AM

Spending too much time on the body leaves less time for the soul.

BigJohnson · 12-Jul-09, 12:36 AM

Seek enlightenment, gentlemen.

Well, to use to term "seek" is a redundancy, realize it.

12-Jul-09, 12:28 PM

And time spent working on the body can be quite good for the soul. A fit, healthy body that one is proud of can help one be a more satisfied, complete person.

Sophie · 12-Jul-09, 01:30 PM

Here I am! LOL. Before I comment on the blog, I'm going to comment on the comments here.

It seems that most of you are missing the part of his blog that says Body Image DISORDER. We're not talking about wanting to be leaner because you want to be the fittest you can be.

There's no disorder is wanting to improve yourself. I've never heard the term "satisfied" used with self image or body image. I've heard the terms positive and negative. (To state the obvious, positive meaning you have a positive view of your self/your body with negative being the opposite). Whether or you like the way you look, or the way you are, doesn't have much to do with how you SEE yourself.

Anyway, to the blog!

The email you posted is a prime example of a "disorder." A disorder is not simply wanting to look/be better, it's beyond that.

It interferes with your life. You avoid things or people for fear of stares or comments you don't want. It's not just that you want to look "better" (whatever that means to you) but that you currently are inadequate. You strive to appear leaner, bigger, smaller, etc. and you do, to others, but not to yourself.

It's a disorder when an obese person who has lost weight and is now healthy continues to lose weight because in the mirror, they are still obese. It's a disorder when someone starts using drugs as a means to get bigger because they are embarrassed by how small they are, even though they are so big they scare people.

It's a disorder, first and foremost, when it's controlling you. It interferes with living. When others tell you that you're lean, big, small, thin, etc. but you don't see what they see. You see the exact opposite, and usually to an extreme. It's a disorder when you feel you have take extreme steps in order to acheive what you "don't have" (starving yourself, bingeing, using drugs, etc) when in reality, you have to go to extremes because you already have it.

I've rambled enough. I'm out!

2dumb2quit · 22-Jul-09, 12:08 AM

Interesting e-mail... I liked his thoughts on the inner-child looking for validation. It kinda came up in my head a couple days ago.

Basically, as far as I can tell, validation is an eternal search. In early childhood, that validation comes from parents and normally progresses with age to other elders, peers, the opposite sex, and eventually God and the self. As each new group is introduced, the importance of validation from the former fades. I'm not entirely sure whether or not to think that the validations are sequential and inter-dependent: In some cases a neglected child will move onto a new group without any problems, while in others they'll be socially crippled. This is definitely where I've crossed the line into random guessing.

On the subject of body image disorders themselves, is it a disorder only if the image is false (as in the case of your friend, who saw leanness as weakness) or is it considered a disorder even if it is only a negative outlook? I know that negativity and hatred are two of the strongest forces that push me in training. I drag myself to the gym with a headache because I can't handle my own laziness and excuses. I push sets to failure because I can't accept the feeling that I haven't given my all. Happy thoughts are definitely at the bottom of my motivation list in those times.

pierini · 22-Jul-09, 12:10 PM

2dumb2quit, you express yourself with the written word extremely well. It was a pleasure to read and learn from what you posted. Hang around here more often. Thanks!

2dumb2quit · 24-Jul-09, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pierini

2dumb2quit, you express yourself with the written word extremely well. It was a pleasure to read and learn from what you posted. Hang around here more often. Thanks!

Thanks a lot for the compliment

I'll probably be reading a lot more than I post though; I'm a lot younger and less experienced than most everyone here.