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[Jude]

I just read that in the U.S.,  90 - 95%  are females.

Ma

[Lyric]

You are definately right on that one Ma.  It kind of astounds me that they still leave out the men in eating disorders though.  

Like it only affects the women.  Sheesh..  Disease aren't gender, etc.. specific.

[Jude]

Hell no,  they're sure not.  Men can even get breast cancer!  

Ma

[REWilson]

We were studying eating disorders in my Advertising and Culture class (yeah, you read that right), and the theory there was that all us girls think we should be pretty and uber-skinny thanks to all the waif-ish images we see in today's advertising.  Men don't get that kind of pressure, because even though the male images in ads are of bodies that would take hard work in the gym to get, they aren't damn near unattainable like they are for women.  Besides, I don't think that men feel such drive to be perfect like we do.

Anyone interested in the subject of the female figure in advertising (and why we're all f*cked up and starving ourselves to look like them) should go read "Provacateur" by Anthony Cortese.  The theory is that advertising shapes culture; we become what we see in ads because that's how we think we should be.

[Dr Sketch]

We were studying eating disorders in my Advertising and Culture class (yeah, you read that right), and the theory there was that all us girls think we should be pretty and uber-skinny thanks to all the waif-ish images we see in today's advertising.  Men don't get that kind of pressure, because even though the male images in ads are of bodies that would take hard work in the gym to get, they aren't damn near unattainable like they are for women.  Besides, I don't think that men feel such drive to be perfect like we do.

I completely disagree.  Is anyone surprised? :twisted:

First, it is possible to look just like those models, otherwise how would they look like that?  Ok, you said nearly impossible... I used to spend an hour a day lifting weights, 5 days a week, at the highest intensity possible.  I did it for two years.  I never got even close to what male models look like.  It is just as nearly impossible for guys as it is for women, unless you are willing to devote every moment of your life to just that.  Those guys eat, sleep, and live in a way that allows their bodies to look like that, and I mean that literally; they plan their meals, their sleep schedule, and their whole lives around the gym.  It is impossible to compete with that, and yes, the pressure is there to try.

[Lyric]

I used to body build amatuer competitive.  I want to hear more about this before I interject...

[Dr Sketch]

I didn't do it competitively, I did it so I could look and feel better... Ok, that's bullshit, and we all know it.  I did it so I could be more attractive, and so I would look good on the beach.  The problem was I never GOT to the beach, as I always found something I didn't like, so I'd say "I'll go after my abs are a little better defined" or "I'll go after my biceps pop more".  Two years of work and I still wasn't happy with where I was, which is partially why I quit.

I remember reading in one of the Weider books the lifestyle that a professional builder maintains, and there is no way the average person could do it!  They lift twice a day, 4 days a week, and plan their entire day around it.  They measure to the gram the amount of fat, protein, etc they intake, so they can burn it back off in the gym.  It isn't (in my opinion) a healty lifestyle to live, even if they ARE in better shape than us...

[Lyric]

You're right..  However.. I'm gonna wait just a little longer, since it is a great lead in for Body Dismorphic Disorder.   Which is both a precursor and a disorder that often runs right along eating disorders.

[Bri]

There's another eating disorder that hasn't even been mentioned yet!  It's Nocturnal Eating Syndrome (also called: Nocturnal Sleep-Eating Disorder or even Sleep Eating)...it is considered both an eating disorder and a sleep disorder.  I have a friend that has this and it causes her lots of trouble...once we're done with anorexia and bulimia can we talk about it?  Do any of you know of someone who has this?  Dealt with it yourself?  Those can be answered later, but I'm really interested in this topic.

Thanks guys!  

[REWilson]

Bri, my best friend is a sleep eater!  It drives her nuts.

Sketch, I didn't say men don't feel that way at all, I was just saying that according to many researchers women are more prone to feelings of inadequacy; it just seems to be the way we're wired.  (Good for you though; you probably understand women better than most!)  Besides, according to a lot of the messages we've ever been sent (I'm speaking from a sociological perspective here) is that as long as men are successful financially, looks don't matter near as much.  If you're a woman, however, you can't be successful unless you're pretty/thin/whatever.

I'm a pretty blonde who used to be thin (I quit smoking and gained the typical 20, and nothing has worked to get it off).  Blonde and pretty should be enough, right?  However, I desperately wish for my figure back, because even though I'm on the honor roll, am successful financially, and have a great marriage, I feel that my looks are still a big part of what defines me as a person!  I think a lot of that is pressure from society.

And if anyone has any diet tips, let me know!  

 :lol:

[Dr Sketch]

At least you girls don't have as much pressure to succeed early!  I'm 24 now, and already past my peak!  Chances are, since I haven't succeeded yet, I'm not going to...

[REWilson]

Whatever, Sketch.  I'm getting closer to thirty.....imagine the pressures!  

[Sanitarium]

And if anyone has any diet tips, let me know!  

 :lol:

I'm not a diet expert, but my wife tried that South Beach diet.. didn't work worth a darn...


 I'm 6-1 230.. so diets ain't my bag..... except the "seefood" diet.

[bdhsnake]

low carb work for me in the short term

[REWilson]

I've never quite figured it out; I eat the same amount of food that I used to, and now I actually eat healthier, but I gave up the smokes.  Even my doctor's confused at why I gained the weight.  I've never even attempted a diet before, so I have no clue what I'm getting into.