The bigger is better mindset

ok guys im going to through something out there.

i know a guy that used to do road cycling until he got hit by a car and stuffed up hes knee so bad that he can not cycle ever again. this happened a few years ago.

so he took up gym. now he weighed about 70 odd kilos and basically almost no fat.
so the guy was very skinny. now he has been in the gym for the last 5 years or so and he is going bananas.
he cycles right through the year an never stops using gear. he might stop for a month or so in december when he is n holiday. hes arms is so big they are going over 60cm now and he keeps on telling me he still feels too small.
it is like he has some kind of problem. he only does upperbody and he looks way out of proportion.

so to the big names out there and the seniour guys out there. what is your take on this and how can i get through to him. i want him to realize he is stuffing himself up.

any help please.

I had the same issue at 122kgs, thought I was to small, its a sickness, after I lost al my size from abuse, and stopped training, it took me close on a year to come right, to deal with everyone and everyone comments, wow, you have lost allot of weight, wow, look how small you have got. It killed me inside but as time went on it started to get easier as I shared my story and made me feel better and made other people understand. I don't know how to get around the issue at the time though, I would seek professional help, unless he is an attention seeker, which allot of bodybuilders are (they love to be complimented the whole time), so he is saying he is small, and you are saying, are you crazy bro, you look massive. So be hard with the guy, listen you know you not small if you do think you are then I would suggest you speak to someone who can assist, as it sounds to me like body dysmorphia

thanks pump. ill try even harder. the thing is hes not an attention seeker. hes very placid and always seem to ditch attention. i have told him he has to go see someone but to no avail. i think maybe should be a bit more firm like you sayd. i also think im the only guy that is trying to get him to stop. i just think it has allot to do with the friends he keeps.

i dont know for real what goes on in his head. but ill try harder. ont want to scare him off though.

Dude say it like it is (once) if he refuses to listen you not going to get through, i've given up patience trying to help people that don't want to help them self, for those that want to listen I will take the time and effort, but not in cases like that. You allot more patient than I am

cool man. thanks.

This is called bigorexia. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_dysmorphia

hi guys i have done some extencive reading on this. sjoewee i am amazed at some of the stuff. what im realising is that there is so many of our guys that actually have this disorder or is walking on the border of this disorder.

this really got me thinking about my own motives.
i think ill chew a bit on this for a while.
i suppose talking more about it and not hiding it from others or lying to yourself wil keep you healthy.

thanks for all your replies.

There were a couple of psychiatrists at the North West University doing sessions with bodybuilders, but I never heard what their findings were and if they even completed the study. I just know that they were looking for bodybuilders willing to participate and they were going to call me but it never happened.

I think that most on this forum suffer from muscle dysmorphia at one stage or another, maybe it's worse for some where others manage it easily.

he he. yip. i just never had an idea how bad it actually was until i did some reading. i for one certainly have got some of the symptoms. i suppose being level headed is what keeps you balanced.

Very interesting tread. I suffer from body dysmorphia as well. I strive on the compliments and looks I get, yet I do not like taking my shirt off in public.

I know it can be very bad - I personally know about a young guy at my gym who exploded in size in a matter of a couple months - I have never seen anyone grow like that. Way too big to be healthy or normal. Sadly he passed away shortly before a competition from heart failure. Very sad story...

sad