Anyone else like me?

[Yanick]

I made a goal for myself over the past month or two of training to lean out as much as i can over the summer and ultimately see my abs for the first time in my life. At first i took it nice and easy trying to recomp somewhat as i was at about 207-210lbs on any given day. I lost a couple of lbs here and there but was gaining strength and felt myself 'filling out' better. Recently though i noticed it wasn't working fast enough and figured my time would be better spent just doing one thing then the other, so i down shifted my diet and picked up the RPM's on cutting. Yesterday morning i jumped on the scale and was 199.5lbs, first time i was under 200lbs in probably 3 years or more. Kinda freaked me out a bit and i instantly got this "i'm getting too small" though/feeling.

I did some psychoanalyzing and realized i tend to do this every time i set a goal for myself. I'll want to cut then drop to a certain point, get scared and start gaining weight. Its why i believe i have yet to ever see my abs in my life, i'm just too paranoid of getting too small. I love being a 'big guy.' Even though i was never lean, when i was around 230lbs i felt great because i was 'big and husky.' I look pretty lean now and people give me complements all the time but i don't look 'big' anymore, just muscular/athletic or w/e. Just had to rant a little bit about my demented psyche and too see if anyone else is like that?

 

[Mista]

I feel like that sometimes. Chest, arms and back all start to look wicked and get compliments but start to lose my abs. But then I cut for a while, feel good about my abs but start to think I am shrinking.

 

[shiznit2169]

I'm the same way

I feel 'big' when i am 195-200 pounds but when i start to cut and my weight drops down to 180ish, i start to get really lean but at the same time i feel like i am getting smaller. I also get scared that i am losing all the hard earned muscle i worked for and quickly end it and start eating more to gain it back. It's a mental thing for me. In the end, i feel like i am happiest when i am big and bulky, although not as 'lean' and 'ripped' as i would be if i was 175-180 pounds. I like being big.

 

[Uthinkso]

I like the feeling of being big as well, though I have a lot of fat to cut yet. I've lost 25lb roughly to date since mid January and I feel smaller and not nearly as imposing as I once felt. I used to train a lot so I've got a pretty stocky look to me, not just a fat slob.

Leave it to the male ego to run away my imagination.

 

[rmcfar]

damn this has been happening to me a lot lately


i've always been the biggest guy of all my friends but now im only 10lbs heavier then one of them. i guess after spending your whole life as the "big guy" of the groups its kind of weird being around the same size as everybody.

i believe there are studies going on right now that are trying to determine if there is a male body image disorder that is the opposite of annorexia. On the TLC show "the man whose arms exploded" they refered to it as bigorexia, but its really called muscle dysmorphia. heres an exerpt

"It isn't surprising that bigorexia is a growing disorder in gyms and health clubs given the hype about six packs, impressive pecs and large lats. Their muscles may be sculptured, bulging and rippling, yet no amount of persuasion will convince them their body is big enough. Rather than their bodies being thought of as functional machines, they become the objects of hate, resentment, fear and loathing."​

 

[AKIRA]

I felt that way last time I cut. Which is why I never met my goal.

Now I am bulking and its slow as shit...but I am already gainging some BF from it...guess how I am feeling.

 

[Double D]

I always feel like crap whenever I get chubby. A good weight for me is about 200lbs. My abs show at that weight and I feel good there. Besdies I have different goals than you, I am an athlete.

 

[katt]

I always feel WAY too small when I'm finishing a cut.... even when everyone comments how big I look...

 

[MeatZatk]

congrats on dropping weight though...

 

[Uthinkso]

Lucky for me I'm pretty shitty at cutting, so I'm still bigger to a point.

Too many party years on my young frame have concentrated weight around the gut for me, and I'm sheding fat by the day too. I'm losing fat everywhere else first and the gut is hanging on. What a PITA.

 

[AKIRA]

I always feel WAY too small when I'm finishing a cut.... even when everyone comments how big I look...

Those comments are an attitude enhancer though. I am really looking forward to them actually, when I get heavier.

 

[DanK]

I know the feeling, I was originally 285 and while I was very stocky seeing older pictures of me I can't help but think... stay puff marshmellow man, my size clearly intimidated a LOT of people and I had no trouble getting around or anything, I was never a fat guy in the sense of not being active, I had no trouble carrying my weight... I figured when I hit 220 I'd have a killer six pack and well... I was wrong... I went right past it to 215 once I finally figured out what worked for me in terms of dieting... the new goal is 195 and I can only hope that I finally achieve my goal there, going to 185 I'd feel small, I've always been big so I never really put a lot of value on size compared to being very lean, but I'm reaching a point where I might start wanting to be bigger more than leaner (I'll get both of course but for now I'd like to be sportin a nice six pack for the summer). It strikes me as weird how the intimidation thing went away as I got leaner, but I guess I'm not too far from being about 1/3 the man I once was (and well... fat or not I wore it well).

I think I'd like to be around 205 and very lean once all is said and done, I will say that every few pounds I drop at this point makes running for any distance so much easier, and I like the practical aspect of being fit enough that if it takes me to 185 to reach my body fat goal, and I find I can suddenly run at a natural pace for me and maintain that for a few miles... that could be hard to resist too. But at the same time I definitely understand the psychological issue with feeling too small as I drop weight.

 

[Yanick]

Good to know i'm not alone. I've been aware of muscle dysmorphia for quite some time now doubt i have it though. Lifting/dieting enhances my life rather than be a detriment to it, which is a big sign/symptom of muscle dysmorphia.

I vow to keep on dieting down until i get lean enough to see some abs, i figure its only for the summer and once the weather starts getting chillier i'll try and get back to about 215-220 but a more lean 220 than i was before.

 

[ivesy191]

Bulking Scares The shit out of me iv never did a serious long term bulk anytime I start to bulk and start putting fat on and see my abs disappear I imminently start trying to cut again ive always had relatively low body fat and always gained strength and muscle but not at a rapid rate although progress is slower im still stronger and bigger than the guys that bulk at my gym. Im so hungry cutting tho I eat bout 100 calories over my required amount and still starve is anyone else like this iv had a idea has any one tried that weight watchers jelly it has 10 cals a packet and they come from protein and a bit of sodium no fat no carbs would any one recommend this so im more full

 

[rmcfar]

Good to know i'm not alone. I've been aware of muscle dysmorphia for quite some time now doubt i have it though. Lifting/dieting enhances my life rather than be a detriment to it, which is a big sign/symptom of muscle dysmorphia.

I vow to keep on dieting down until i get lean enough to see some abs, i figure its only for the summer and once the weather starts getting chillier i'll try and get back to about 215-220 but a more lean 220 than i was before.

I think i'm in the same boat as you. if i were really that worried about having huge muscles i would be taking anabolics, and though the temptation is there i'm more worried about my life long health then i am about having giant muscles.(please dont think im taking a stab at people that use anabolics)

I'm going to do what i can to get me a six pack as well this summer, i've never had one, or even close to having one so i gotta see what its like. Maybe i'll like it more as a big man, maybe more as a lean man. time shall tell

 

[AKIRA]

I am planning on doing a bulk plus the mass rep range method. Ill then try for some high numbers...all while on a high calorie diet.

Then I will cut. You gotta dive in head first in either pool in order to see the full benefit.

Right now, I dont know which one is easier. I was gaining weight, now its tough. Time to double up..

 

[EWI]

I'm 5'11 at look my best at around 200 pounds, 32 waist, and approx 8% Bodyfat... I love abs showing as for me that is the true mark of youth and health... believe me at 5'11, 200 pounds, and with abs showing you'll look better than 99% of anyone else at the beach!