¶ … well-built, big, athletic man who is 6 feet tall and weighs 250 pounds. I like being strong, I like how my body is well-proportioned and although I am large I do not feel fat. My weight also reflects a large amount of muscle mass. There is nothing I really don't like about my body, and if there were I would be able to work on it by exercising more.
I usually compare myself with people who look like me. I wouldn't compare myself to someone who was short or who had a totally different body type. Therefore, when I compare myself I am doing it to see what areas I am stronger in and what areas I am weaker in. I might notice that a man has bigger shoulder, chest, arm, stomach or leg muscles. The muscles are often what I end up comparing. However, I also compare things like face features or hair. Sometimes I'll notice a person is a lot fatter or thinner than me and I might compare myself in terms of conditioning too. The comparisons make me feel better about myself if I determine that I have better features such as bigger biceps. However, I will always feel worse if the person I am comparing myself to is better-looking in some department.
I would like to change some of my attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs about what I am supposed to look like, what other people want me to look like, and what society expects from me. The bottom line should always be health: exercise and eating right should be about how I feel more than about how I look.
3. Anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorders are all psychological problems that have physical manifestations. They are behavioral issues and while there is a strong physiological component, the root causes of these diseases is in the emotional or mental make up of the person. Still, an eating and exercise regime that promotes total health can be one way to help people who suffer from those illnesses be more in touch with their bodies. When a person loses touch with their bodies they ignore signals of hunger and satiation.
