Words by Wilf
With our new year fitness resolutions in place, it’s important to remember we’re all on different journeys.
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” The famed saying is perhaps never more appropriate than in the world of fitness. As we all head back to the gym – clothing gear and protein shake on hand – we’ll be under different pressures to perform. The pressure to be aesthetically accepting, whatever that means, can be the most harmful of all.
Fitness culture is full of ego-centric motivations, with the prominence of photoshopped influencers on social media clear evidence of the issue. Yeah, banter-filled comments such as “I’m trying to be like you” can often feel insignificant – but sometimes, they’re not passing jokes, and you’ll find the passing joke isn’t that funny – it’s a grim reality.
The harmful effects of the competition to be aesthetically ‘pleasing’ can have many negative consequences. For example, muscle dysmorphia. What we know of muscle dysmorphia is fairly new, it was only diagnosed in the 1990s. It’s not gender-specific, can affect anyone (even the confident souls among us) and lead to bad, long-term consequences if it goes unaddressed.
So, let’s talk about it.
What is muscle dysmorphia? First, it’s important to note that it’s different from body dysmorphia: body dysmorphia is a mental health condition that causes the individual to spend excessive amounts of time worrying about perceived flaws with their appearance. Muscle dysmorphia is a psychological disorder characterised by the preoccupation with the idea that one’s body is not lean and muscular enough.
The overbearing feeling of guilt after missing a workout, excessively training (even when your body is showing critical signs of fatigue), taking steroids and body modification are examples of symptoms. In truth, it’s difficult for most to realise those symptoms. Why would you, after all, when a lot of people who we consider as having a healthy fitness life show the same signs? According to research, 1 in 10 men who use gyms in the UK lives with the lines commonly associated with eating disorders. A pretty damning statistic when you consider that could mean 6 to 10 men at your local gym.
The first steps to recovery are accepting you have a problem and proactively seeking help to attack the underlying issues causing it. This provides the best chance of regaining a healthier outlook.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is talk therapy that can be done individually or within a group. You work alongside a therapist to build coping strategies to promote positive beliefs towards your body image. A trained medical professional will tailor your treatment plan for the best chance of success.
It doesn’t make you less of a man or woman.
Maybe this blog, and other pieces, have made you realise you exhibit muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Speak out, seek help, ask more questions, do more research.
With the right treatment, you will develop a healthier relationship with food, exercise and your body. If you want to keep a healthy outlook on fitness, it’s important to remember that. And as we continue on our fitness journeys, it’s important to push the discussion forward.
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