Athletes Who Develop Bigorexia as a Way to Improve Their Physical Performance

Athletes are expected to show their maximum performance every time they compete. Some of them compete more often than others, that is why some athletes try to find an alternative to improve their performance in a short period of time.

Usually high performance athletes find themselves in the best shape that they can be in, but some of them are still not satisfied. They start by over exercising, this leads the athlete to injuries, so they start using steroids or supplements, that is when the dangerous decisions begin, some cases ending in death.

Believing that anabolic steroids can improve competitiveness and performance, uninformed or misguided athletes, sometimes encouraged by coaches or parents, abuse these drugs to build lean muscle mass, promote aggressiveness, and increase body weight.

http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/1210/

Specially in baseball, the doping problem has been growing with famous cases such as Barry Bonds or Sammy Sosa, two of the top ten MLB home run hitters, have hurt the credibility of the entire sport..

Beginning in 1998 with injections in his buttocks of Winstrol, a powerful steroid, Barry Bonds took a wide array of performance-enhancing drugs over at least five seasons in a massive doping regimen.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/03/06/news.excerpt/index.html

The past two cases were not fatal, since the both of them are alive, but Ken Caminiti did not have the same fortune. Ken Caminiti was a baseball player for the San Diego Padres. During the 1996 season he won the National League MVP award. Later after his retirement he admitted that during his winning season, he used steroids to maximize his performance.

In a Sports Illustrated cover story in 2002, a year after his retirement, he admitted that he had used steroids during his 1996 MVP season, and for several seasons afterwards.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Caminiti

Two years after this declaration he died from a sudden heart attack, if we can not prove that it was caused by steroids, one of the steroids’ side effects is heart diseases, the steroid abuse increased his probability of dying from a sudden heart attack.

The sudden heart attack death of former baseball star Ken Caminiti, 41, highlights the potential link between substance abuse among pro athletes and its dangerous effects on health, according to experts.

http://news.healingwell.com

It is true that steroids will result in better performance, than a normal person, in the short term. It is also true that this type of substances will have a negative effect to your body functions, sometimes leading to death.

http://news.healingwell.com

http://www.health.state.ny.us

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Caminiti

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com

Vigorexia’s Victims Require Special Treatments to Overcome Health Problems.

Carlos Gerardo Balderas Campuzano

Vigorexia’s victims require special treatments involving family, friends, and society in general to support them and help them to overcome this disease. People who are victims of this illness generally do not realize it, they believe themselves to be healthy and in excellent condition, while the family, relatives and friends see that little by little they are being consumed and deteriorated by Vigorexia.
The treatments used to control or to remove this constant need of exercising are multidisciplinary, meaning that it takes the contribution of several factors or elements to complete this important task:
1) Balanced diet of nutrient and vitamins required by the body and the suppression of anabolic steroids. 2) Psychotherapy, to understand the behavioral aspect of their individual and the distorted perception of reality. 3) Pharmacotherapy, the use of medications to control anxiety, the compulsive conduct and to reduce stress and obsession to workout.
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://vigorexia-sm.blogspot.com/2008/09/tratamiento.html&ei=OaHoS5ulC43MsgPeoa3QBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ7gEwAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvigorexia%2Btratamientos%26hl%3Den




Vigorexic’s victims rarely accept their disease and the lack of self-steem makes it hard to overcome this illnes:
“A particular problem with the condition is that, rather like anorexics, men rarely see themselves as having a problem and are unlikely to come forward for treatment. The condition itself occurs partly as a response to feelings of depression and lack of self-esteem so coming forward for treatment is admitting defeat”. http://menshealth.about.com/cs/menonly/a/bigorexia_2.htm

The family, love ones, and friend’s support and solidarity during the treatment process play an important role in the victim’s quest to overcoming this illness, helping the affected one to change the perspective they have on their bodies:
“Treatment for vigorexia involves long term psychological care. Counseling is usually recommended, and sometimes psychiatric drugs may be used to manage depression, especially in the early stages of treatment. Support from friends and family members are also critical.”
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bigorexia.htm


All these aspects must be supervised by professionals in each area, and with the family’s unconditional support at each stage to ensure the effectiveness of the program. The main goal is to change the behavior of the subject and rebuild their self-steem.






Bibliography
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://vigorexia-sm.blogspot.com/2008/09/tratamiento.html&ei=OaHoS5ulC43MsgPeoa3QBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ7gEwAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvigorexia%2Btratamientos%26hl%3Den
http://menshealth.about.com/cs/menonly/a/bigorexia_2.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bigorexia.htm

Physical Problems Caused By Bigorexia

Luis Jesús García

Victims of Bigorexia practice sports and train in excessive amounts. Practicing sports or exercising is an excellent way to be healthy, but when exercise is done in extreme amounts it may be very dangerous. The most frequent and known consequences are broken bones, pain of tendons, muscle pain, joint pain, high blood pressure, heart diseases, sleeplessness, irritability, lack of appetite, constant tiredness and difficulty concentrating.

(www.scribd.com).

Most bigorexic people over exercise even when they are tired or when they feel pain. This may lead to diverse problems. “In an article that was [written] after [an] investigation by Dr. Brenda Woods and Dr. Kevin Wandler in 2006 for the organization “Finding Balance”, it was found that people whom had a severe bigorexia problem work out and exercise even when they are injured”. One of the main risks of this mental disorder is “Overuse Syndrome”, which is damage to locomotor system because of long term overload in the body.

(www.casapalmera.com) (www.anorexia-bulimia-binge-eating.com)

People who are training correctly, exercise based on a specific program that is prescribed by a professional physical trainer; this schedule also includes certain resting periods that are considered to let the body rest and recover from a finished exercise. In most cases bigorexic people just start their training and exercise without a specified program. This may cause problems because muscles need a certain amount of time to regenerate and to prepare for the next training session. Bigorexic people continue overworking their bodies without rest, and it may cause pain in the muscles, joints and tendons.

(www.healthyplace.com)

A mix of anabolic steroids, energy drinks and continuous exercise raises blood pressure and heart activity which may develop into heart problems such as hypertension. This dangerous mix may be a way to develop heart diseases because energy drinks and anabolic steroids contain substances that accelerate heart rate and in a combination with a big amount of exercise this puts the heart under a constant work load which can lead to the development of heart problems.

(www.anorexia-bulimia-binge-eating.com)

Bigorexy may cause many physical issues because it is a disease that is mainly focused on the reflection that people see in the mirror. People get obsessed with the idea that they need to get more muscular mass and they do things that lead to physical problems. An important fact is that when somebody is training hard, he or she should be supervised by a professional to avoid future physical problems.

Information Sources:

http://www scribd.com

http://www.casapalmera.com

http://www.anorexia-bulimia-binge-eating.com

http://www.healthyplace.com

Physical Problems Caused By Bigorexia

Victims of Bigorexia practice sports and train in excessive amounts. Practicing sports or exercising is an excellent way to be healthy, but when exercise is done in extreme amounts it may be very dangerous. The most frequent and known consequences are broken bones, pain of tendons, muscle pain, joint pain, high blood pressure, heart diseases, sleeplessness, irritability, lack of appetite, constant tiredness and difficulty concentrating.
(www.scribd.com).

Most bigorexic people over exercise even when they are tired or when they feel pain. This may lead to diverse problems. “In an article that was [written] after [an] investigation by Dr. Brenda Woods and Dr. Kevin Wandler in 2006 for the organization “Finding Balance”, it was found that people whom had a severe bigorexia problem work out and exercise even when they are injured”. One of the main risks of this mental disorder is “Overuse Syndrome”, which is damage to locomotor system because of long term overload in the body.
(www.casapalmera.com) (www.anorexia-bulimia-binge-eating.com)

People who are training correctly, exercise based on a specific program that is prescribed by a professional physical trainer; this schedule also includes certain resting periods that are considered to let the body rest and recover from a finished exercise. In most cases bigorexic people just start their training and exercise without a specified program. This may cause problems because muscles need a certain amount of time to regenerate and to prepare for the next training session. Bigorexic people continue overworking their bodies without rest, and it may cause pain in the muscles, joints and tendons.
(www.healthyplace.com)

A mix of anabolic steroids, energy drinks and continuous exercise raises blood pressure and heart activity which may develop into heart problems such as hypertension. This dangerous mix may be a way to develop heart diseases because energy drinks and anabolic steroids contain substances that accelerate heart rate and in a combination with a big amount of exercise this puts the heart under a constant work load which can lead to the development of heart problems.
(www.anorexia-bulimia-binge-eating.com)

Bigorexy may cause many physical issues because it is a disease that is mainly focused on the reflection that people see in the mirror. People get obsessed with the idea that they need to get more muscular mass and they do things that lead to physical problems. An important fact is that when somebody is training hard, he or she should be supervised by a professional to avoid future physical problems.

Information Sources:
http://www scribd.com
http://www.casapalmera.com
http://www.anorexia-bulimia-binge-eating.com
http://www.healthyplace.com

-Luis Jesús

Vigorexic People Develop Visible Symptoms And Characteristics In Accordance With Exercise Addiction

Carlos Gerardo Balderas Campuzano

Vigorexic victims develop characteristics and symptoms according to the development of the Vigorexia disease. The result of Vigorexia disease can be an irreversible gym addiction.
The principal characteristic of Vigorexia is that its victims have a psychological obsession with looking at themselves in the mirror constantly.
Vigorexics never think they are too muscular or muscular enough to meet their expectations.

According to an investigation of The American Psychiatrist Harrison G. Pope from the Medicine college of Havard, Massachusetts:

“Symptoms of Vigorexia can be noted because of the obsession. The Vigorexics look at the mirror and imagine themselves far from their ideals. This means that they usually spend hours at gyms trying to increase muscular size” http://www.scribd.com/doc/16089992/Vigorexy

Another of the characteristics of Vigorexic people is that they tend to exercise constantly, imposing exercise over family, friends or even work which contributes to a constant need of training.

Another excerpt of the investigation of Dr. Harrison G. Pope states:
“Vigorexic practice sports without caring about physical conditions or, weather conditions, and they feel guilty when they cannot perform these tasks” http://www.scribd.com/doc/16089992/Vigorexy

Obsession with the perfect body often leads to major changes in patient’s eating habits. Vigorexic diets are normally very high in calories and rich in proteins. This is meant to help muscles to recover faster and to produce more muscle mass. The next internet article explains:


“Some Vigorexics can eat more than 4500 calories daily, accompanied by numerous hormone, protein and vitamin supplements, all with the aim of increasing muscle mass” http://www.scribd.com/doc/16089992/Vigorexy

Vigorexics people may be recognized if they fit in the followings points:

1) Obsession with having a toned body that is out of proportion.
2) Excessive narcissism that leads them to continually look in the mirror, and weigh themselves several times a day.


3) They expend several hours a day in gyms and sports, neglecting the daily tasks of a normal person.
4) The consumption a diet rich in protein and carbohydrates to increase muscle mass.

5) Self medication.
6) Lack of proportion between the head and body.



Vigorexic people have personality characteristics similar to those who suffer from other types of addictions. They both have low self esteem and experience extreme difficulties in social situations. They are introverted and reject or have difficulties accepting themselves.


Bibliography-
http://ezinearticles.com/?Vigorexia---The-Physical-Exercise-Addiction&id=1735745
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16089992/Vigorexy

Permarexia and Adonis Complex

Jose Angel Favela

Permarexia and Adonis Complex are conditions that are closely related to bigorexia, they can contribute to the development of bigorexia . These conditions are caused by the victim's insecurities, and created by the society's standards of beauty.

Permarexia is the condition that one finds himself trying to maintain a weight level she considers to enhance her acceptable body image. Permarexia is a permanent state of diet that in extreme cases maintains just enough sustenance to the human body to maintain a waif like appearance.
(http://www.permarexia.com/)

Permarexia is more common in women, especially in models and artists. In attempt to be well seen socially, they become obsessed with diet and more than obsessed with body image. Although it is more common in women, permarexia can also be shown in men, mainly in models.

Dieting for body image not only effects woman but also men, according to U.K. newspapers the number of men being treated for anorexia has increased by 67% in the last five years.
(permarexia.blogspot.com)

Permarexia can be a pre-symptom of anorexia, these people became so obssesed with diet, to the point that they eat just enough food to keep themselves alive. Permarexia can cause malnutrition and anemia.
Adonis Complex can be used as a synonym of bigorexia, since it is a complication of physical and mental problems, with the difference being that adonis complex is just shown in men.

The Adonis complex is a collection of male bodyimage problems that can include compulsive weightlifting and exercising, steroid abuse, eating disorders, and full-blownbody dysmorphic disorder.
(Harrison G. Pope, M.D)1

Unlike permarexia, where the person's goal is to look thinner, the people with adonis complex symptoms overexercise and consume steroids in order to look more masculine. People with this disease, think that they are not strong enough, that people will laugh about their appearance, and sometimes they do not want to show themselves to the world, afraid of what the people will say about them.

Interspersed with results from numerous studies are stories of men such as Eke Kevin, a fit, 230-pound bodybuilder who won'tgo outside for fear he looks too small, and Vince, a massive high school senior who is currently on a treatment of daily injections of steroid formulas including Equipoise, a product intended only for horses.
(psychservices.psychiatryonline.org)

Whether it is extreme dieting or overexercise, as a famous phrase says, everything in excess is bad. These two diseases can only be cured by psychological treatment, since they are constantly fed by the traumas and insecurities that people have.

1-psychservices.psychiatryonline.org
2-www.permarexia.com
3-permarexia.blogspot.com