A serious question, im sure some of u can relate to

[Babyfaced Assassin]

I knew it for a long time but only until i actually read that the problem I had was common and even had a name, I never put much thought to it.

My problem is orthorexia and it's killing me slowly.

I know it's good to eat healthily and train hard but it's taking over my life which is no fun anymore
My life revolves around training and what I eat. I make excuses not to go out with the few friends I have left because I know they'll just end up at a fast food joint or a restaurant, I shun family events because of the food or the fact that i might have to miss training etc.
I just seem to be obsessed by getting every little detail perfect and I'm getting sick of this. Yeah i guess im a perfectionist but perfectionist and compulsive excerciser are two dangerous qualities in my books and i am in serious, serious need of chilling out.
For the past 5 ears i've pushed my body to the limits, i've rarely taken breaks other than when im injured and even then i'll try to do something, if not i'll get depressed, binge and get even more depressed about it.

Anyway, what are others thoughts on orthorexia? Has anyone here got any good ideas to help me get out of this mess cos right now im just digging myself deeper and deeper into a hole.
I mean my life is ruled by my training/diet log right now and it's sucky. Yeah i wanna look good and feel great physcially, but it's costing me my mental and social health

I appreciate any positive replies u guys can give

thanks

 

[Stryc-9]

Hmmm...interesting article....

By her standards - most of us on these boards are seriously deranged and suffering mental problems....

I'm not so sure I agree with her though - I see my lifestyle as an indicator of will power - not weakness or disease.

How badly do you really feel about your choices though? Had you thought that something was wrong with you before you came across this article?? What I'm asking is: Do you really feel guilty about your lifestyle?

 

[gonelifting]

You should have a balanced life, Do you care about your family and friends? If so, then you should go out with them and make the best of the food thats available.

If you were a bodybuilder and getting ready for a show then that would change things, but if you`re not, then go out and have some fun. You can`t shun everybody forever, you`ll end up big and ripped and with no framily or friends.

I would try getting my friends into the sport and they will start changing thier eating habits and training, rest etc... I`ve been lucky to have most of my friends that worked out so we were all on the same page so to speak.

Good luck, and these things come in cycles I think. There may be a time in your life that you don`t feel the way you do now.

 

[HANSEL]

well said gonelifting.


If its any help bud...I have been there also. But I broke out and realized doing things with your friends is great and it helps you get your mind off of diet and training and lets you have fun.

I go out for dinner and drinks with a friend at least once a week, go golfing/shooting/hiking with my buddies, go wash my car, go shopping whatever. You have worked hard building a nice body...go out and use it, show it off. Most people dont have the dedication you have and you should be proud of that yet still realize that life is for enjoying, not just working.

find a friend that likes cardio, you can share a relationship with someone and help eachother burn cals at the same time.

You need to find other things that please you, release seretonin, besides eating and working out. Life is great and you only get one shot at it man.

 

[magicalmongoose]

I can sympathize with you. All my friends always tell me I'm insane to train and continue to eat healthy. Once these comments got to me so I started to conform to the bad eating and excersising habits of my friends. Needless to say I have gained a bit of weight now and developed bad habits of taking days off of running, which I can't afford.

My advice would just be to do what makes you happy. Go out when you want to. Live for yourself not for others, but don't take the time with family and friends for granted.

 

[Naeem]

I feel pretty shitty/guilty when I eat from mcdonalds, or eat too much carbs heh, but I wouldnt call myself a orthowhatever

 

[B0ARDIN087]

Im 16 and i feel like i go through the same thing sometimes. I dont know if its bad or good that im like this. I see it as a test of personal will power and dedication. It makes me feel better about myself and since my job is as a lifegaurd i love showing off my body. I think u need to chill tho man, if bodybuilding is a serious thing for you then it should be your work. If you just wanna look good chillout, the people important to you will understand if ur not as shredded as before, most people dont even notice.

Have fun!

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

thanks for the advice guys, i'm gonna seriously try chilling out and enjoy life again

 

[gonelifting]

thanks for the advice guys, i'm gonna seriously try chilling out and enjoy life again

Dude, you get karma just for having an open mind. good work. Actually maybe because your sig is SO DAMN funny. lmao

 

[Babyfaced Assassin]

HEhe yeah about the sig,
i was gonna start a thread called that once cos just seeing some of the questions ppl put about low carb diets makes me wonder why they bother. On another board i read, will chewing sugar free gum kick me out of ketosis?!?

If a diet is that hard to follow IMO it's not gonna work

 

[Senior Woonaki]

BF - you are a young kid, i dont think you have a problem... Alot of my friends are just like yours - i catch so much crap from them for working out and not going out EVERY night... Luckily i do have friends to workout with. Going to the gym is fun for me...

i know the feeling with the diet log... I am at work for the first 10 hours of my day - eating every 3 hours is a pain... To keep things simple i eat the same crap all the time. It is boring but i look forward to the weekend and the variety of food. During the week food is strictly FUEL.

Also you have been dieting for a while and are probaly pretty close to where you want to be... Soon your goals will be met and you can relax the diet for a bit... It is easier to maintain a bf level then to lower it...

ENJOY YOUR HEALTH - it is a blessing

 

[buffedmama]

i just wanted to throw my $0.02 in here...

i read the article. first it wasn't written from a journalistic point of view. (a journalist isn't supposed to take "sides". they are supposed to report the facts of both sides.)

some people that have the lifestyle of being health conscious and who are into weight lifting etc. don't have a "problem" per se. however, there are those who are "disordered" in that way. the "cure" is not as simple as going out and having a good time with their friends. there are many components to it and it is regarded as a type of mental illness.

there's the component of eating, which could be considered a type of eating disorder.

then there's the component of the way you look at your own body. say you've got a low bf% and others think that you look "ripped" and fantastic, but you can't see that... it's a disorder known as BDD. (body dysmorphic disorder) it's hard to deal with the shame and anxiety you feel about your body.

if anyone who's read this article can relate and anyone who can relate to having BDD, the best thing to do is to seek out help from a therapist, a psychiatrist or a psychologist because it will only get worse.

hopefully for Babyface it's just as simple as being more sociable...

 

[AlbinoAssassin]

I think this is something we all struggle with from time to time. What it comes down to is, is it worth it, do you enjoy it? I love the way I am, I truly enjoy it. To me that's what it's all about. If you don't like doing what you do, maybe you are stale and just need to take a little break from training and dieting. Everyone thinks I am crazy because I carry a backpack with food in it everywhere I go. This way there is no stress about having to eat something that is in my eyes compromising my diet. This makes things a lot easier. It's all their for you at your convenience. I think little things like this can go a long way towards making less stressful. At the end of the day if you don't enjoy what you are doing and what you are (there is an identity that goes along with it) maybe you need to re-evaluate what is most important to you. Someone said earlier if you were on a pre-contest diet it would be different (that should be difficult and depriving), enjoy yourself, your body, your life. Life's too short to worry about eating a cheeseburger once a week. I guarantee you the stress from worrying about it is harder on your body that the actual cheeseburger. You have worked to have a great body. Have a balanced life and enjoy it. What one person sees as too strict or anal may not seem that way to another person, it's all about your pereceptions. Good luck bro!

 

[molnii]

totally agree with AlbinoAssassin!!
you need tomake the choice man!you really want itor not?!