Unrealistic Body Image?

[pamalama]

I was thinking: at least 90% of all eating disorders must be deeply rooted in unrealistic body image that we have of ourselves.

Then I realized something else, wouldn't you say that practically all women who are serious about training must have at least a somewhat unrealistic body image, to keep striving for perfection even when everyone around you thinks you are already plenty lean and muscular?

What are your thoughts on this? Maybe this explains why so many of the women in fitness have eating disorders?

[Mloveb]

IDK it's hard to say. I mean there are people who think highly of themselves and have an eating disorder. They just like to eat and therefore binge.

I think this is one of those things that really just depends on the person. Just because someone else thinks your lean and your continuing to work at your body doesn't mean it's a body image issue. I don't think anyway. It's just continueing to up keep, fitness isn't a lifestyle unless it's something that is constantly in your life.

[dbroncofan]

Originally Posted by pamalama

I was thinking: at least 90% of all eating disorders must be deeply rooted in unrealistic body image that we have of ourselves.

Then I realized something else, wouldn't you say that practically all women who are serious about training must have at least a somewhat unrealistic body image, to keep striving for perfection even when everyone around you thinks you are already plenty lean and muscular?

What are your thoughts on this? Maybe this explains why so many of the women in fitness have eating disorders?

I can some what go along with the saying that eating disorders and unrealistic body image are linked. Heck....I often look at myself and think "fat" when in fact I am not fat, but not where I want to be. I may then be frustrated...binge to cope with my feelings. I don't think this is uncommon. Many with eating disorders use food to cope with situations or feelings instead of good, healthy coping strategy's.

I don't however agree with the statement "practically all women who are serious about training must have at least a somewhat unrealistic body image, to keep striving for perfection even when everyone around you thinks you are already plenty lean and muscular?"

When I first decided to become a figure athlete it wasn't because I had a warped body image, it was because I wanted to see how far I could push myself, to see if I had the self discipline and determination it took to work that hard, push through and actually meet that goal. It had nothing to do with thinking I was fat, over weight or not lean enough.
Still I like to be lean and muscular to see the fruits of my labor. It isn't because I believe I am fat.
That being said there are times I make comments my husband doesn't understand like...I am fluffy...etc. In his eyes and lots of peoples eyes I look fine. I find for me there is a big difference between what I feel is lean....figure athlete lean...and what the public does. Yes...there is a bit of a warped body image here...I will admit that. It is not because I am fat...hell I am only a size 4, but it is because I enjoy seeing the outcome of my hard work.
This goes for any women, she doesn't have to be a figure athlete. I think we all want to see results from all the time and effort we spend in they gym and working out.

Do I think the diet it took to get on stage and be a figure athlete helped fuel the fire for binging and unrealistic body image? Yeah...I do. I think having to be as strict and somewhat deprived as it takes for a figure diet it certainly can uncover those demons if they already lie with in.

As for most women who workout and want to be lean and muscular I don't think there are body image issues. I do think that is more a minority than majority still.

[fit mom of 4]

I think it is also a personality thing... some are just not ever gonna be satisfied with the way things are... they will always be striving to be leaner, fitter, stronger, lift more.
My husband asks me now that I am like 3 lbs away from where I think pound-wise I can be, what my next "goal" is. I honestly do not know. I am not a competitor etc so striving to be stage ready doesn't make sense.
My best answer is to continue to lose whatever I can without focusing on the number. I want to continue to add lean muscle and burn any fat off that will come off. I will not go to extremes to get there. I like how I am eating and love how I am feeling and I train hard cuz I LOVE it... so my goal? My goal is to be happy on the inside as well as on the outside. I will work on my mind and my body image that is so warped from years of yo-yo dieting...

[Nic902]

Great post by DB! I totally agree

I think the reasoning behind an ED is different for every person. ...
I had body image issues my whole life and that was well before I ever competed let alone picked up a weight. For me it was part of my poor self esteem, but an even bigger part is my inability to cope with my emotions...I have always turned to food for comfort and then restricted due to guilt. I can honestly say that discovering the gym and competing has lead me down a much healthier, confident and happier road than I have ever been on in my life. The fact that I strive to improve my body and be at my best is not a poor body image, its about setting goals and not only reaching them but surpassing them.

I think ED's are VERY common in the industry for serveral reasons...Yes, I think the competition lifestyle can trigger behaviors in people that maybe werent always there. But, more importantly I think women that have had ED's use competing as another method to control/restrict in a 'healthy' way.

[dbroncofan]

Originally Posted by Nic902

I think women that have had ED's use competing as another method to control/restrict in a 'healthy' way.

I totally agree with that and find I may even be somewhat guilty of that myself.

[fit mom of 4]

Originally Posted by Nic902

I think ED's are VERY common in the industry for serveral reasons...Yes, I think the competition lifestyle can trigger behaviors in people that maybe werent always there. But, more importantly I think women that have had ED's use competing as another method to control/restrict in a 'healthy' way.

Bang on and great post by Nic (as always )! Especially the last sentence...

[Nic902]

Originally Posted by dbroncofan

I totally agree with that and find I may even be somewhat guilty of that myself.

Originally Posted by fit mom of 4

Bang on and great post by Nic (as always )! Especially the last sentence...

When I am prepping I channel EVERYTHING into it, so even though I'm not binging to deal with my emotions, I am still distracting myself from what my REAL issue is.

[babymuscles]

I know I have an unrealistic body image...I was 100lbs soaking wet until I hit 22, and then college/life/intervened and I started my emotional eating roller coaster. I went through 2 emotionally battering long term relationships in my late 20's and the eating got worse and I was up to 130lbs at 5'2" and wearing a size 6...Seriously got into the gym/weights around 28 and have dropped to a size 2 at the age of 30....I competed at 106lbs on July 10th, 2010....I have since gained 6-7lbs of lean mass, and therefore will never see 106 again, and that really messes with my head. I am not fat! But when I compare those comp pics to my current 120lbs/17% body fat I get annoyed that my body isn't that thin anymore...I wrestle with that all the time...I wear a size 2p to work everyday but want my comp body back despite how unrealistic that weight is for anyone to maintain...

[Nic902]

Competition weight is really tough to get a grip on but I find after each show, it gets easier. I am a few months past my 4th show and I am up about 12lbs from stage weight, softer yes but I physically feel better than I do when I am tired, hungry and ripped.

Sure, I wish I still had a six pack but I try to remind myself that its not ideal or realistic to maintain...and that even though I am carrying some extra lbs, I am stronger and my workouts are much better so when I do hit the stage again I will be even better!

[anniemack]

Originally Posted by pamalama

I was thinking: at least 90% of all eating disorders must be deeply rooted in unrealistic body image that we have of ourselves.

Then I realized something else, wouldn't you say that practically all women who are serious about training must have at least a somewhat unrealistic body image, to keep striving for perfection even when everyone around you thinks you are already plenty lean and muscular?

What are your thoughts on this? Maybe this explains why so many of the women in fitness have eating disorders?

Here are my thoughts - in relation to what everyone else said -just my two cents.

I believe we get our body image warped throughout the years. Little girls are designed with a purpose - as we grow we see the way things and the way people treat each other. I have always been curvy - even as a competitor. I started competing because I wanted to but realized I became obsessed with what I looked like.

What competing did teach me is there must be an easier way. I cannot track my calories or my macros - if I do I FREAK myself out when I don't hit them. I learned a lot about myself through the image I had of my body when competing. Do I wish I looked like that - you bet. Do I want to live my life that way - NOPE!

In answer to your question I think severe body dysmorphia comes when the sport becomes completely about what you look like - and not what else you are accomplishing. When your whole world is comprised of what one looks like then the world loses it's meaning if we don't look like that. I do not think it starts that way for a lot of women.