The eating disorder, dieting, and body image thread

[BlueDevil]

Thanks for sharing your story. It sounds like you have had a rough time. I hope that getting this off your chest has been of some benefit to you.

Good luck with your progress.

[knowledge is power]

It seems eating disorders and body image are becoming more rampant amongst young men also.
Reminds me of Insight the other night, about young men becoming obsessed with bobybuilding and going to extremes with supplements and possibly moving on to steroids in order to get bigger. Some of the guys in the audience said they always room for improvement and were obsessive about trainging schedules.
There was a guy there that was 13 I think, and hearing him talk about it was a little scary..

[c2105026]

Thanks again all; midday day 2, going ok; competed in a half marathon this morning, ran a brilliant time (1:45:04 for 21.1k...) going out to lunch soon to celebrate this but will be taking it easy. Did a tiny carb load last night, had a big morning tea of jelly snakes and anzac cookie but needed to up blood sugar after the event.

The proliferation of mens fitness magazines could have something to do with the rise of 'bigorexia'. Each month there is a new training schedule this is garruanteed to burn fat and build muscle. Then there is the nutrition advice in mens health.....completely pointless. Like there was an article about how different cuts of meat/beef/steak have different nutrional characteristics. Like, seriously, who gives a shit? Meat is meat. Just be happy a guy is eating any lean protein, and not shit like sausages and frankfurters!!

In addition like how all fashion mags have a skinny model, all mens mags have an unaturally buff bloke on the front cover; a guy who probably hasn't drunken any water in last 24 hrs to get that level of defenition. IMHO supplements, like vitamins, are frequently snake oil; they are just way too frigging expensive and artifical; and, if you want constipation then protein bars are the way to go. The levels of protein some body builders have is enough to stress the kidneys. In addition even if you have high muscle mass and very low body fat, excess weight can still cause some health issues just as garden variety obesity can.

[the_gelf]

Originally Posted by c2105026

Thanks again all; midday day 2, going ok; competed in a half marathon this morning, ran a brilliant time (1:45:04 for 21.1k...) going out to lunch soon to celebrate this but will be taking it easy. Did a tiny carb load last night, had a big morning tea of jelly snakes and anzac cookie but needed to up blood sugar after the event.

The proliferation of mens fitness magazines could have something to do with the rise of 'bigorexia'. Each month there is a new training schedule this is garruanteed to burn fat and build muscle. Then there is the nutrition advice in mens health.....completely pointless. Like there was an article about how different cuts of meat/beef/steak have different nutrional characteristics. Like, seriously, who gives a shit? Meat is meat. Just be happy a guy is eating any lean protein, and not shit like sausages and frankfurters!!

In addition like how all fashion mags have a skinny model, all mens mags have an unaturally buff bloke on the front cover; a guy who probably hasn't drunken any water in last 24 hrs to get that level of defenition. IMHO supplements, like vitamins, are frequently snake oil; they are just way too frigging expensive and artifical; and, if you want constipation then protein bars are the way to go. The levels of protein some body builders have is enough to stress the kidneys. In addition even if you have high muscle mass and very low body fat, excess weight can still cause some health issues just as garden variety obesity can.

Exploiting people's wish for good health (via anything but hard work and good care) is a lot of dollars.

Supplements are exactly that: supplements. They aren't "replacements". The real one's aren't expensive at all (and much too strong if your body metabolises healthily). Packaging them in massive quantities does not help. My brother at one stage (and as far as I know, still does do a certain degree, eat a large amount of creatine, and I have not seen much benefit to him, other than his arms are huge (not toned), but he has a bunch of low level exercise equipment and would go to the gym often.

[c2105026]

yep, 100% on that one there....remember the goji berry craze we had a few years back? $60 a litre it was for the juice for said berry. People can be so stupid (and I say that as someone who is sometimes stupid...)

I have always been of the belief that if your diet is 100% satisfactory then supplements, be they vitamin or protein related aren't required - I could understand though if you are like a raw food vegan you need b12 shots or something like that though....if you stick to your lean proteins, minimal processed foods, wholegrains and 2 and 5 a day you'd be a long way ahead of most people......

[c2105026]

Anyway, time for an update; had first appointment with nutritionist today. Will be seeing her on weekly basis. The food plan she has put me on is basically what I'd do on a 'good day'. We discussed carb loading for long runs etc. came to conclusion perhaps I should try my training without carb loading. For Canberra marathon aim is also perhaps to lose 3-4kg to make the trip a bit easier; this can be done by eating at my 'maintenance level' whilst running my 70km a week for training.....

[Mjt]

C# glad to hear you now have a nutritionist to help you along. Stick with it, cos if you can run those marathons I'm pretty sure you can do just about anything. Cheers to you

[Lilith]

For a different perspective on body shapes and beauty.. This is one of the blogs I follow.

[c2105026]

Just to update; this week since last appointment have had only 2 small binges with nil purging; albeit with the training they still only bring my daily KJ level to a true maintenance level. Have lost about 1kg since OP. Big training week this week - 91km in total, including 34.7K effort this weekend coming. (BTW did 34.7 last weekend as well) Better success has been gained by going on a form of a de-tox for marathon - i.e. no junk food, tobacco products, alcohol, artificial sweetners and reduce refined carbs and processed foods in general until at least the afternoon of the 15th april. Am sleeping better with better appetite control.

[the_gelf]

Originally Posted by c2105026

Just to update; this week since last appointment have had only 2 small binges with nil purging; albeit with the training they still only bring my daily KJ level to a true maintenance level. Have lost about 1kg since OP. Big training week this week - 91km in total, including 34.7K effort this weekend coming. (BTW did 34.7 last weekend as well) Better success has been gained by going on a form of a de-tox for marathon - i.e. no junk food, tobacco products, alcohol, artificial sweetners and reduce refined carbs and processed foods in general until at least the afternoon of the 15th april. Am sleeping better with better appetite control.

91km is massive :) Keep up the program. I learnt the perils of hangover last weekend, didn't perform very well, brain function at 60%. Cleared up in the afternoon but convinced me to never ignore that voice that say "proceed with extreme caution". Keep the thread updated :)