MESO-Rx Exclusive Which strategies do you use to manage muscle dysmorphia?

[MESO-Rx Administrator]

@MairUnderwood(Researcher) discussed the differences between how doctors and bodybuilders see "bigorexia" / "muscle dysmorphia" in Part 1.

Now MESO is proud to publish part 2 exploring clinical treatment options and bodybuilders' attempts to manage symptoms.

How do you deal with and/or manage symptoms of bigorexia?

How to Stop the Suffering Caused by Muscle Dysmorphia / Bigorexia: Treatment Options and Bodybuilder Attempts to Manage Symptoms

(Muscle dysmorphia part 2) Muscle dysmorphia, or bigorexia, causes a great deal of suffering. It consumes lives, it ruins lives, it can even end lives. In

thinksteroids.com

 

[Millard]

Do any of you guys use the strategies outlined by @MairUnderwood(Researcher) ?

Are there other strategies not mentioned that you use as well?

 

[Brandaddy]

I feel the reason I started AAS originally and did a few cycles back to back was because of muscle/body dysmorphia. Understanding how fast muscle tissue can realistically be built, how people have different genetics, and finding more objective ways to track my personal progress has helped me no longer really have it. If someone thinks I'm small, cool. They're probably just a really big mother fucker and everyone looks small to them. Lol

 

[Jet Labs]

Who the fuck says I have muscle dysmorphia!?

I follow/live bodybuilding for the discipline, the positive physical and mental health it brings to my life as well as the stability. Looking jacked as fuck is just a byproduct of all of the above and the last reason I hit the iron!

Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic just like not everyone who lifts has dysmorphia.

 

[Silentlemon1011]

I feel the reason I started AAS originally and did a few cycles back to back was because of muscle/body dysmorphia. Understanding how fast muscle tissue can realistically be built, how people have different genetics, and finding more objective ways to track my personal progress has helped me no longer really have it. If someone thinks I'm small, cool. They're probably just a really big mother fucker and everyone looks small to them. Lol

Fair.
But being diced and having probably the highest WILKS on Meso and probably most of your state probably helps brother. hahahaha

But yeah, same with me, I try to mainly compete with myself... PR is called PR for a reason.
Trying to beat my own best is a never ending and fun game.

If I try to compare myself to Jamal Browner, John Haack or Larry Wheels... I'd be blasting 10g of gear and still be disappointed as all fuck

 

[Jstone2]

I just know my head is fucked regardless of what I do. No matter matter how big I have been I always look small. After having a battle with medical problems that made it impossible to lift without possibly become a paraplegic. I can lift again and im working on getting back to where I was, now I just accept I will always be small.

 

[Eman]

I may have had body dysmorphia at one point in the beginning. But, it didn't take long for me to realize that the "perfect body" doesn't exist. Everyone will always want more, it's human nature.

It doesn't matter how far you go, how big and shredded you get or how strong you can be. You'll never cross any kind of finish line with this... To me, that's kind of comforting because the trip is more fun than the destination. I don't really want to arrive at the destination, I just want to have fun and enjoy the sights along the way.

 

[rfan2020]

I remind myself that I want to look good for females (lean UFC either look) not for bodybuilding judges. And remember by staying smaller and leaner I get laid way more than ever bulking or getting my muscles too big.

 

[Pantera]

I am only willing to run my doses so high, and these days I'm only willing to run test, so there's only so big I'm going to be able to get and maintain. I am just enjoying the journey, but I do try to keep other athletic goals in mind.

For example, I'm a former boxer so once in a while when the guys in the gym are getting ready for fights, I'll go in and give them some hard sparring. Those days always remind me that I've let my cardio go too much. So I try to keep up with my cardio while I gain size so I don't gas out in 2 rounds. I guess the boxing training - even though I don't train competitively anymore - gives me a side project to focus on besides bodybuilding. It does help with the dysmorphia a bit.

 

[Millard]

You'll never cross any kind of finish line with this... To me, that's kind of comforting because the trip is more fun than the destination. I don't really want to arrive at the destination, I just want to have fun and enjoy the sights along the way.

This /\ /\

In my experience working with non-bodybuilders who are seeking to improve physical appearance, lose weight, etc., it's the people who actually enjoy the process who stick with it and have the long-term success. The ones who see weight training (or whatever) primarily as a means to an end are the ones who struggle.

Although I think weight training is the most efficient way of manipulating physique, the results will be limited if people don't enjoy the process.

If I am unable to spread the passion for iron, I encourage people to find a physical activity or sport they truly enjoy. They tend to have better long-term results.

Mair asked earlier how to distinguish those who are predisposed to having muscle dysmorphia with those who have healthy relationship with bodybuilding.

Maybe one important variable is whether they truly enjoy traveling the bodybuilding path or they are primarily interested in reaching the destination. Is bodybuilding only a means to an end?

If you have that passion for the actual bodybuilding process, you're fortunate because form tends to follow function and improved muscularity is an inevitable result. So you get the best of both worlds.

 

[MairUnderwood(Researcher)]

Who the fuck says I have muscle dysmorphia!?

I follow/live bodybuilding for the discipline, the positive physical and mental health it brings to my life as well as the stability. Looking jacked as fuck is just a byproduct of all of the above and the last reason I hit the iron!

Not everyone who drinks is an alcoholic just like not everyone who lifts has dysmorphia.

Couldn't agree more. I think Millard was asking "if you have muscle dysmorphia, what strategies do you use?"

 

[MairUnderwood(Researcher)]

I just know my head is fucked regardless of what I do. No matter matter how big I have been I always look small. After having a battle with medical problems that made it impossible to lift without possibly become a paraplegic. I can lift again and im working on getting back to where I was, now I just accept I will always be small.

Nothing you do makes you feel better?

 

[MairUnderwood(Researcher)]

This /\ /\

In my experience working with non-bodybuilders who are seeking to improve physical appearance, lose weight, etc., it's the people who actually enjoy the process who stick with it and have the long-term success. The ones who see weight training (or whatever) primarily as a means to an end are the ones who struggle.

Although I think weight training is the most efficient way of manipulating physique, the results will be limited if people don't enjoy the process.

If I am unable to spread the passion for iron, I encourage people to find a physical activity or sport they truly enjoy. They tend to have better long-term results.

Mair asked earlier how to distinguish those who are predisposed to having muscle dysmorphia with those who have healthy relationship with bodybuilding.

Maybe one important variable is whether they truly enjoy traveling the bodybuilding path or they are primarily interested in reaching the destination. Is bodybuilding only a means to an end?

If you have that passion for the actual bodybuilding process, you're fortunate because form tends to follow function and improved muscularity is an inevitable result. So you get the best of both worlds.

i like this idea. I think enjoying the process should be everyone's philosophy for life! But I think when you feel driven by fear or insecurity, and your behaviour feels beyond your control is when it becomes problematic. There is no final goal for my academic work either, but there have been times when I felt almost possessed by a need to succeed in academia to address some issue I had around worth, and that I feel was problematic. Probably not psychopathological but I could see that it was not dissimilar to psychopathology

I remind myself that I want to look good for females (lean UFC either look) not for bodybuilding judges. And remember by staying smaller and leaner I get laid way more than ever bulking or getting my muscles too big.

this is true! there are studies to prove that women don't want the huge guy - they might fuck him but they won't have a relationship with him as he is seen as too volatile and not reliable enough to stay loyal and help raise the kids

 

[MairUnderwood(Researcher)]

women don't want the huge guy - they might fuck him but they won't have a relationship with him as he is seen as too volatile and not reliable enough to stay loyal and help raise the kids

Millard, this got me thinking - one day we should start a discussion about what the ideal amount of muscle is - that is bound to spark a lot of debate! I'll write a short piece, maybe with some of these studies that look at the place of muscularity in evolution and mating choices, if you like?

 

[RzSco]

If you're just an average guy, you just have to stay objective about the risk Vs reward of doing stronger and stronger cycles with increasing health damage for diminishing returns of gains. For most guys being even at 80% of their max potential with steroids is still going to put them in the top 1% of men and you can get there with just a few good cycles.

If you compete then this no longer really applies. It's just the nature of the game that whoever takes the biggest risks wins (or dies).

 

[Silentlemon1011]

Millard, this got me thinking - one day we should start a discussion about what the ideal amount of muscle is - that is bound to spark a lot of debate! I'll write a short piece, maybe with some of these studies that look at the place of muscularity in evolution and mating choices, if you like?

If you're just an average guy, you just have to stay objective about the risk Vs reward of doing stronger and stronger cycles with increasing health damage for diminishing returns of gains. For most guys being even at 80% of their max potential with steroids is still going to put them in the top 1% of men and you can get there with just a few good cycles.

If you compete then this no longer really applies. It's just the nature of the game that whoever takes the biggest risks wins (or dies).

Solid
And would be a good discussion.

I think one the most "damaging" things is bodybuilding communities... even ones like Meso
(Dont get me wrong, I think it's a positive place and I believe that communities like this do more harm than good.. but bear with me)

I look at the guys here at Meso and think "Holy fuck... I look like shit"

So where we communicate and interact about bodybuilding/Powerlifting and steroids also effects our dysmorphia.

But the clear reality is...
It's not true.

My friends/coworkers also say "Bro, I seriously wish I could look like you"
People stare at me when I lift in the gym...
My ego also kicked in hard the other day... I was out front of Union station ( Downtown Toronto) for an hour, waiting for a guy who was late for a meeting.
In that hour, not one person walked by in better shape/size than me. (I know... pretty fucking egotistical to stand there and think that way lol)

BUT
I look at Meso and see guys like Size28/Mac/Brandaddy/Malfeasance/ Eman/PA (And so many more) and I think I'm small and weak lmfao

Perspective... perspective .. perspective
Hence why I believe it's so important to compete against yourself primarily.

 

[Millard]

I remind myself that I want to look good for females (lean UFC either look) not for bodybuilding judges. And remember by staying smaller and leaner I get laid way more than ever bulking or getting my muscles too big.

What do women want in terms of levels of size and muscularity? I don't know that there is an ideal when it comes to answering this question. Women seem to like every level on the bodybuilding muscularity continuum. It's just that different women are attracted to different levels.

And I would agree with the sentiment above and elsewhere on this forum that somewhere towards the smaller/leaner end of the continuum seems to attract the greatest number and variety of "opportunities".

this is true! there are studies to prove that women don't want the huge guy - they might fuck him but they won't have a relationship with him as he is seen as too volatile and not reliable enough to stay loyal and help raise the kids

For sure, different sizes attract different types of women who are looking for different things.

When you venture further and further towards to bigger levels on the continuum, you venture into territory that seems to attract a disproportionately higher number of muscle fetishists, cuckold couples, strippers, sex bucketlisters, etc. Oh yeah, and lots of gay men and "non-homo" admirers too.

If I recall correctly, many of the studies that you mention where women will fuck the huge guy but not have long-term relationships didn't even depict physiques that were huge by bodybuilding standards. In other words, they were at the smaller end of the bodybuilding continuum. So I think there is a much richer story that what is suggested in the studies.

Millard, this got me thinking - one day we should start a discussion about what the ideal amount of muscle is - that is bound to spark a lot of debate! I'll write a short piece, maybe with some of these studies that look at the place of muscularity in evolution and mating choices, if you like?

YES, Mair I would really love to see you write about the research studies on muscularity/mating choices and relate/compare/contrast with bodybuilder experiences in online communities.

 

[Mac11wildcat]

I’m actually aiming to be professionally body dysmorphic so...

I accept it’s part of the game and don’t root my self worth in daily mirror appearance. Frame it in long term goals and the immediate mental impact dissipates.

 

[Millard]

I’m actually aiming to be professionally body dysmorphic so...

I accept it’s part of the game and don’t root my self worth in daily mirror appearance. Frame it in long term goals and the immediate mental impact dissipates.

You are the most deserving professional body dysmorphic that I know!

 

[MairUnderwood(Researcher)]

If you're just an average guy, you just have to stay objective about the risk Vs reward of doing stronger and stronger cycles with increasing health damage for diminishing returns of gains. For most guys being even at 80% of their max potential with steroids is still going to put them in the top 1% of men and you can get there with just a few good cycles.

If you compete then this no longer really applies. It's just the nature of the game that whoever takes the biggest risks wins (or dies).

It's the staying objective part that I think is tricky, indeed I am not sure objectivity is even possible