Gym Culture, Bodybuilding and Eating Disorders

Sound of Silence wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "gone south", but generally atrophy would imply that the body has begun to break down the muscle.

When someone fails to exercise for a long period time they tend to experience muscle loss, as the body begins to pretty much ditch what it considers to be an unnecessary drain of energy - unutilised muscle mass.

This can, however, be slowed down a bit when you continue to eat a high calorie and high protein diet. But, as you would expect when an inactive person consumes a high calorie diet, they are pretty much guaranteed to put on some fat. So in that sense, yeah, the progress they've made has "gone south" in some respects. But it's not lost!

Also, you say you couldn't bulk up significantly when you went to the gym? Do you think you were eating enough at the time to allow for muscle growth?

I was just out of my teens at the time!

I would have eaten the side-wall of a house at any given time of any given day.

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

Sharon Ni Bheolain has a wicked set of pecs.

..and a nice face too.:):

Stained Class wrote: »

..and a nice face too.:):

Her hair grows at an alarming rate too. Cut into a bob one week, down to her, eh pecs, the next.

Stained Class wrote: »

Ah shure, youre the type that doesn't look at the mantlepiece when you're poking the fire.:D

All hole is a Goal & all that....

That's very sexist. I for one, am drunk.

KissMeArse wrote: »

Don't think it's a bad thing that more and more people are into fitness/healthy eating.
I myself have got into weights the last year and really tidied up my diet to the point that I'm in the best shape I've ever been.

The problem in this country is that the majority of people are just clueless when it comes to nutrition. Great advice over on the Nutrition & Diet/Health & Fitness forums on this site and the one thing everyone will say there is that no matter what you're trying to do with your body (lose weight, gain weight etc), it all comes down to what you put past your lips.
Too many people fixated on gym/exercise but then having sh!t diets.
Nearly every school student can be seen guzzling down rolls, chocolate, crisps and coke at lunch time every day and these habits stay with them into adulthood.

Sitting at lunch table yesterday a fella beside me was wolfing down a KFC (for I'd say the third time this week), saying "gonna do upper body in the gym tonight". No, he's not on a bulk.
Another time a friend looking for some lunch asked me "hmm what would be healthier McDonald's or KFC? Think subway is the healthiest"

It just feeds into this perception that people just have no idea when it comes to healthy eating IMO.

Sadly, you could be hit by a bus tomorrow, and several fat people will look down on your fit, dead ass. I kinda decided to go with the flow these days.

Was never into lifting weights for vanity reasons,at my best I was fairly ripped,two years in Canada on the noodle diet and not so much as
Looking at a weight I came back built like a chipstick,only recently started back and the feel good factor from it is amazing.

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

That's very sexist. I for one, am drunk.

Me too. Into the second bottle already.

Maybe we should be a superhero duo. The Ageing A-Team?

Or Bad Cop, Worse Cop, a la Tango & Cash. The best movie ever made!:D

I dance , run and go to the gym.

Years ago in dance eating disorders were huge. A couple of generations down the line we are seeing what they do to the body long term. And the mind. In most ballet classes they have a protocol now for dealing with this issue.

I know a couple of girls who suffered long term. I still keep in touch a little. Even after recovery their bodies are crumbling now. Nice girls vulnerable though. Very mentally anguished. One girl's bones did not develop properly because her problem started during her teens and now parts of her skeleton are not normal. Many of these people will never have children. It affects the male hormone system too.

I think the dance world has copped on recently and is trying to change it's culture to FIT.

Humans are not cattle.


I am naturally small /slim/skinny whatever you want to call it. Other women are constantly asking 'what do you do?' I used to answer a little bit of this a little of that now I just say ' I think it's because I pray'.

Some people really hate themselves. It is wrong to take advantage of that. Don't feed it. It is a shame that men are starting to feel pressure now.

Do something everyday anything you like don't eat junk and eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full.

Of course I eat a ton of baaaaad carbs.....I don't eat meat.

It is sad that some people feel they are unlovable unless they look a certain way. The world needs more hugs!

I think a lot of fitness people like the discipline of simply doing it. That's fine.


I find it odd the whole diet war thing. It is so obviously fueled by people who want to sell you stuff.


As for people taking stuff... an older male friend of mine who has been bodybuilding for 18 yrs and looks amazing said it best 'I have always relied on my own testosterone'.

Everyone is beautiful and you can see personality on the surface.

Fitness is for health and FUN!

Links234 wrote: »

Everything in moderation

Extreme moderation!

Stained Class wrote: »

I work with a fair few Eastern-Europeans & some of them are into bodybuilding.

Whenever they stop from injury or whatever reason, the weight piles on.

I sometimes wonder if bodybuilders are trapped in some sort of cycle. Once they start into it, they have to keep going or else it's Fatsville.

Metabolism plays a factor in this as does the level of physical activity. A lot of soccer players gain weight after they retire, and they wouldn't be anywhere near as big as some of the bodybuilders.

I think unfortunately whats happening in Ireland is similar to what has happened in the USA where there decline or shift in the middle ground of 'average' but fairly healthy, towards a either extremely fit/body conscious at one end and those that have given up on looking after themselves at all.

In terms of practical strength I wonder how useful some of this gym built muscle is having done physical work (continuous but not large individual weights) with guys that are fairly skinny that just never got tired but who would have huge veins instead of bulk.