Even the greatest of all times has body dysmorphia.
When a bodybuilder decides to make a change to their physique it can stem from multiple different reasons. For some they simply want to be strong and look the same way. There are those who find that it helps them with depression, that it gives them something to focus on besides their troubles. Then there are the individuals that are even more common and simple to understand. The ones who have self esteem issues. For even some of the most seasoned professionals the battle with self esteem rages on, that feeling of not being quite good enough. Even the greatest bodybuilder of all time faces the same issues
In an interview with Cigar Aficionado, Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed that he’s been battling with body dysmorphia all his life even when he was collecting Olympia championships. Now that he’s retired it seems that those feelings haven’t exactly faded away.
“When I look in the mirror, I throw up,” said Schwarzenegger. “And I was already so critical of myself, even when I was in top physical shape. I’d look in the mirror after I won one Mr. Olympia after another and think, ‘How did this pile of s— win?’”
“I never saw perfection,” he continued. “There was always something lacking. I could always find a million things wrong with myself and that’s what got me back into the gym — because I started out with that mentality.”
Schwarzenegger went on to further explain how he’s dealing with those issues.
“I do lack confidence, but I do the reps and do them enough that the thing itself will be doable when it’s time,” he says. “When I was competing at bodybuilding, I did so many hours of reps — on the weights, practicing the poses — that when I got onstage, I was comfortable and confident. The more reps you do, the more you look smooth and convincing. The more you do it, the better you get. […] That’s how you gain confidence.”
It’s very eye opening to see that a man like Arnold Schwarzenegger is still facing these problems today. But it just goes to show you that even if you doubt yourself you should still strive for something. It’s better to do that than to sit down and accept your depression.
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Source: People
