‘Bigorexia’ is obviously a controversial problem in the bodybuilding world, but this is definitely a situation where the term applies.
Amateur bodybuilder Craig Golias shared a before-and-after photo with fans on Instagram yesterday that showcased his incredible transformation from skinny, meatless student into the shredded mass monster that he is today. You can check out the post in full below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_OJyHsg6Hc/
“Just because your skinny doesn’t mean you can’t! Genetics do play a huge role!” He captioned the post. “But dedication and commitment is what separates the winners from the losers…it all depends on how bad you want it! You have to eat sleep and dream it!!!”
The caption probably echoes what many of us have heard about the bodybuilding lifestyle. And it’s true — a lot of hard work and dedication go into building the perfect physique. But how far is too far? Many bodybuilders suffer from “bigorexia,” meaning they never feel big enough no matter how much mass they gain. For some, the process — the “dedication and commitment” that Golias was talking about — start to outweigh the results. Pushing yourself and taking control in the gym become symbolic of taking control of your other problems in life, and that becomes dangerous. Many bodybuilders go on to abuse steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in their quest for the most massive physique they could possibly have. They aren’t worried about doing things the right way or cultivating healthy habits. The result is that many bodybuilders die tragically young, often times due to illnesses and injuries related to steroid abuse or other gym habits.
You can take a look at the picture and decide for yourself, but it’s hard to deny the physical transformation that Craig Golias went through is overwhelming. On the one hand, it is a massive accomplishment for anyone to change their body in such a dramatic way. On the other hand, you have to ask yourself what went into that to make such an extreme change possible. We all want to push ourselves past our limits in the gym and grow to our fullest potential, but it can be dangerous if you don’t understand that there are limits. Bigorexia is a serious issue for bodybuilders that should not be taken lightly.
It’s hard to know where to draw the line between a dedicated athlete and gym-goer and someone who suffers from bigorexia. An important question to ask yourself is — do I ever feel satisfied with the progress I made in the gym? A regular bodybuilder will feel proud of himself after a powerful workout. Someone who suffers from bigorexia will never feel that it was good enough and will constantly push themselves to train harder in pursuit of a more massive physique. If you find yourself constantly going to the gym but always feeling down on yourself for not “going harder,” you might be suffering from bigorexia. The important thing here is to stay safe. Go for the most massive physique you can — but know your limits.
*All images and media courtesy of Instagram.
