Dysmorphia

[Dryvrgrl]

Post contest body dysmorphia is killing me!!

I KNOW I have to bulk up a bit inorder to gain some muscle... but for some reason, whenever I step on a scale (which I TRY not to do, but really can't help myself) and it weighs in at over 120lbs... I mentally panic and end up doing like 3 hours cardio.

I can't stop comparing myself to my competition form... I weighed 113.5 at weigh in (weighed myself even though im only in height class) and weigh 118 right now. My trainer says that I'm going to eat like I never ate before this winter in order to get what I need to grow... and it is SCARING the hell out of me!! last year I topped the scale at 124 (also when I could bench quarters) but emotionally I was a wreck... wore baggy sweatpants and sweatshirts for 2 months because I hated how I looked!!

soo... how do you deal with the offseason? does anyone else get this "oh no Im obese" paranoia? I know I lean down fast... and I know I'll lean down again... but it's scarey to have to gain first!

Little leigh weighed in at 111 last weekend and is already sitting 11 pounds heavier... and she still looks good!! am I developing some kind of eating disorder? or is this still normal?

[LIVEHARD]

Post contest body dysmorphia is killing me!!

I KNOW I have to bulk up a bit inorder to gain some muscle... but for some reason, whenever I step on a scale (which I TRY not to do, but really can't help myself) and it weighs in at over 120lbs... I mentally panic and end up doing like 3 hours cardio.

I can't stop comparing myself to my competition form... I weighed 113.5 at weigh in (weighed myself even though im only in height class) and weigh 118 right now. My trainer says that I'm going to eat like I never ate before this winter in order to get what I need to grow... and it is SCARING the hell out of me!! last year I topped the scale at 124 (also when I could bench quarters) but emotionally I was a wreck... wore baggy sweatpants and sweatshirts for 2 months because I hated how I looked!!

soo... how do you deal with the offseason? does anyone else get this "oh no Im obese" paranoia? I know I lean down fast... and I know I'll lean down again... but it's scarey to have to gain first!

Little leigh weighed in at 111 last weekend and is already sitting 11 pounds heavier... and she still looks good!! am I developing some kind of eating disorder? or is this still normal?

Normal insecurities

You have to deal with it stop using a scale in the off season just eat well grow and stay healthy

Its all in your mind i remember your photos from the past so I see how it can affect the way you feel


good luck push through it

[ubcpower]

put it in perspective, take a second and realize that to the normal world you look amazing and your physique is in the top percentile for woman

[LIVEHARD]

Post contest body dysmorphia is killing me!!

I KNOW I have to bulk up a bit inorder to gain some muscle... but for some reason, whenever I step on a scale (which I TRY not to do, but really can't help myself) and it weighs in at over 120lbs... I mentally panic and end up doing like 3 hours cardio.

I can't stop comparing myself to my competition form... I weighed 113.5 at weigh in (weighed myself even though im only in height class) and weigh 118 right now. My trainer says that I'm going to eat like I never ate before this winter in order to get what I need to grow... and it is SCARING the hell out of me!! last year I topped the scale at 124 (also when I could bench quarters) but emotionally I was a wreck... wore baggy sweatpants and sweatshirts for 2 months because I hated how I looked!!

soo... how do you deal with the offseason? does anyone else get this "oh no Im obese" paranoia? I know I lean down fast... and I know I'll lean down again... but it's scarey to have to gain first!

Little leigh weighed in at 111 last weekend and is already sitting 11 pounds heavier... and she still looks good!! am I developing some kind of eating disorder? or is this still normal?


You and ms Man are both super sexy just like FC. CC -& CH69

your all stunning stay out of the mirror and the scale and trust others to judge

We are all vein thats why we do what we do

Im 40 6'4 280lbs less than 15% BF and i worry my ass off that im small

lacking size Its crazy I dwarf most men


dont worry beautiful :sexy

[bigtavi8]

I did the same thing when i finished my show. I gained some weight really really quick. I got down on myself and ended up in a bad spot. But since then i learned yes it is hard to compare yourself to your best (at the show) but keep in mind that gains can not come unless you put on some slight BF at least. So i stop getting so bummed out about it and started to eat big to put some mass on now im feeling top notch.

[countrychic]

DG, I am struggling to ....it is hard to feel clothes get a bit tighter and see the definition disapear. IW keeps telling me to ...you have to put on to grow you need to for provincials next year.

It can be a real mind #@$% that's for sure!

[Felinecougar]

OH girls..let me say I too hate the tiny bit of a muffin cup I have over my size 6 jeans. Gone Gone Gone are my size 0 clothes. Those days were my starvation days, when I didn't gain muscle but looked like a leaf.

I too step on a scale every day now. I don't panic. Women would kill to look like I do at my age,.

I recently read on here that 69 has the same waist size as i do..........post your numbers so we all know we are on the same levels off season.


I'm 5 ft 5 132 lbs
38-27-35 I had a body comp test that said I was 23 % bf.

by the way..how do you girls measure bust..up over the boobs like a man does are out to the front of them?

[Brandi]

NO youi do not have to "bulk" to gain muscle. Thats a myth. You can stay lean and still make gains. The fact is the more you "bulk" the more muscle you have to diet off to get rid fo the fat anyways. You dotn really win that way. If you would like to know more PM me.

[Brandi]

DG, I am struggling to ....it is hard to feel clothes get a bit tighter and see the definition disapear. IW keeps telling me to ...you have to put on to grow you need to for provincials next year.

It can be a real mind #@$% that's for sure!

haha stay the **** out of my division!! ;) Ill take my class, you take yours and then we will flip for the overall. Sound good? :D

[LIVEHARD]

by the way..how do you girls measure bust..up over the boobs like a man does are out to the front of them?
__________________
any way you want me too LOL :sexy

[Brandi]

If your measuring for the size of your pecs its best to measure straight across from under the armpit.

[LIVEHARD]

If your measuring for the size of your pecs its best to measure straight across from under the armpit.

Thanks

[Brandi]

Thats just for women, for men its measured around the nipple line.

[Born2Juice4Ever]

Thats just for women, for men its measured around the nipple line.



LIVEHARD is funny with the way he does his measurements.


Brandi go on and head over to the intro forum:) Check "HEY" thread


B2J

[Dryvrgrl]

well!! it makes me feel better knowing I'm not alone in this...
Livehard... thanks alot! I think after being at Nationals... I just felt sooo puny and weak, then I looked at my contest pics and felt all soft and mooshy... I KNOW if you line me up with 100 random moms I'll be in the top percentile as far as physique goes... but I'm not lining up with 100 random moms... I line up with 10 gymnasts in thier 20's!! and the splits don't get any easier the older you get!! lol

Brandi... what you say goes against everything I have been taught about making gains... I am intrigued to say the least!


weight 118
height 5'3.5"
current measurements 34-24.5-34
(now I'm having fun playing the measuring game!! I have a WHOPPING 11 inch bicep!!)

(I am sure there is at least one guy on here who has arms bigger than my waist)

Anyway... Im heading out to the gym now!!kinda think i really need to grow!! LOL

[steve_d]

NO youi do not have to "bulk" to gain muscle. Thats a myth. You can stay lean and still make gains. The fact is the more you "bulk" the more muscle you have to diet off to get rid fo the fat anyways. You dotn really win that way. If you would like to know more PM me.

I agree with this 100%. IMO, for some people if you are really lean (contest ready) then it is near impossible to gain muscle. For others, it might be hard to gain muscle once under say 10%. But for the majority of people who are competitive, you can easily gain muscle and still be within say 6-8 weeks of being show ready.

There are also so many other factors such as diet, how far away from your genetic potential, "supplements", and so on...but I think its a huge misconception for men to gain 80 pounds in the off-season. I think part of it has to do with the thought that they've actually gained 40 pounds of muscle during that time, when most of it is just fat and water. Same goes for women...I see some female bodybuilders gain 60 pounds in the off-season, and look the same year after year, whereas other look basically contest shape year round and get better each and every year.

Besides, if everything above I said is incorrect, then personally it wouldn't matter. This is a lifestyle - why feel like crap 48 weeks out of the year to have an extra 1 pound of muscle on show day? Kinda like a catch 22 - In the end, feeling awesome about yourself year round is enough to motivate myself to work harder and gain that 1 pound that way.

[Dryvrgrl]

Ok... but for real... Im pretty sure with how small I am, to be competitive, I need to pound on some beef... everyone told me my conditioning was good, but muscle mas wasn't there... (ps... 100% Natural) First place at provincials is 2 inches shorter than me and weighed 10 pounds more

[69challenger]

I agree with steve and brandi.

A few years ago, I gained 30lbs (intentionally) off season in order to pack on some size. I felt like crap (thank god it was winter and I wore baggy sweats all day). When I cut up for the show the following year, I had managed to build size, but definatley not what I had expected. Over the last year, I ate clean, added carbs and stayed within 10-15lbs from comp weight with ease. Dieting for comps this year was WAY easier and there was no rebound. I also did add some size and qualified for the Nationals in 2010:)

[Felinecougar]

All of us women agree that gaining muscle can be done with out gaining alot of fat along with it....does assisted or natural matter?

Before Nationals I put on 10 lbs of lean mass and dropped 15 lbs in 5 months time. For weeks the scale never changed but my abs tightened up, my muffin cup leaned out and everything grew. I just told others it was the fat coming off that made me look bigger.

[steve_d]

Ok... but for real... Im pretty sure with how small I am, to be competitive, I need to pound on some beef... everyone told me my conditioning was good, but muscle mas wasn't there... (ps... 100% Natural) First place at provincials is 2 inches shorter than me and weighed 10 pounds more

you can only expect to gain 2-3 pound per year MAX being natural woman (or man for that matter). I've gained about 25 pounds or so in the last 10 years of pure muscle. Doesn't sound like much, but that is true competition weight increase. If you were to gain 3 per year for the next 5 years, you would be astonished at the difference it would make on your frame.

Don't expect the change to happen overnight. That's part of the mistake people often make. They assume 10 pounds in a year is easy, and keep looking at the scale and assume they've put on that muscle, but in reality they wasted their time bulking up to make the diet that much harder.

If I were you, I would focus on eating enough that training becomes intense and you don't actually feel weak, or dizzy or exhausted after 10 minutes. Once you have enough bodyfat to allow for great workouts, you don't need anymore.

[LIVEHARD]

I agree with this 100%. IMO, for some people if you are really lean (contest ready) then it is near impossible to gain muscle. For others, it might be hard to gain muscle once under say 10%. But for the majority of people who are competitive, you can easily gain muscle and still be within say 6-8 weeks of being show ready.

There are also so many other factors such as diet, how far away from your genetic potential, "supplements", and so on...but I think its a huge misconception for men to gain 80 pounds in the off-season. I think part of it has to do with the thought that they've actually gained 40 pounds of muscle during that time, when most of it is just fat and water. Same goes for women...I see some female bodybuilders gain 60 pounds in the off-season, and look the same year after year, whereas other look basically contest shape year round and get better each and every year.

Besides, if everything above I said is incorrect, then personally it wouldn't matter. This is a lifestyle - why feel like crap 48 weeks out of the year to have an extra 1 pound of muscle on show day? Kinda like a catch 22 - In the end, feeling awesome about yourself year round is enough to motivate myself to work harder and gain that 1 pound that way.


Great post !!!!!!!!!!

[LIVEHARD]

Ok... but for real... Im pretty sure with how small I am, to be competitive, I need to pound on some beef... everyone told me my conditioning was good, but muscle mas wasn't there... (ps... 100% Natural) First place at provincials is 2 inches shorter than me and weighed 10 pounds more

Natty well done gorgeous

[Dryvrgrl]

I really appreciate all the feedback!!

I feel as though I am currently eating enough to lift and I feel pretty good... I am prepared to gain up to 10 pounds lol any more than that and I'll mentally breakdown!!

Steve... if I can put on 2 pounds of muscle i would be THRILLED..

little leigh (also 100% natural) put on 2 pounds from Nationals last year to this year! If she puts 2 more on this year... wow... I think good things will result!!

Luckily we get to train together alot, and push each other (even though she can lift WAY more than I can... I always remind her I'm chasing her!!)

[countrychic]

haha stay the **** out of my division!! ;) Ill take my class, you take yours and then we will flip for the overall. Sound good? :D

lol sounds good :D It will be fun next year for sure, I am looking forward to it :yeah

[countrychic]

10lbs heavier then contest weight is where my trainer wants me to sit. I am good with that :)

[ironwill]

NO youi do not have to "bulk" to gain muscle. Thats a myth. You can stay lean and still make gains. The fact is the more you "bulk" the more muscle you have to diet off to get rid fo the fat anyways. You dotn really win that way. If you would like to know more PM me.
good to, see you here Brandi........CC is bulkin anyway...so watch out girl...lolol...jk...it was nice to see you at the southerns, and im very happy to see you have the bug again, you will do great....again...good work chickie...

[Brandi]

thanks guys, party after for sure!!

[kettlebellbabe]

It's my invisible to the rest of the world pooch that gets to me. If I don't have ripped abs I feel like a cow.