Creating Deeper Intrinsic Motivation while Bodybuilding

If your reason for bodybuilding is a maladaptive coping strategy for needs that aren’t being met in your life then it’s likely the satisfaction you get from the sport will be short lived but psychopathological conditions could become worrisome such as aggravated muscle dysphoria, eating disorders, depression…

Last April, a study was published on the “dark side” of bodybuilding where the researchers investigated how unmet psychological needs could be driving the desire for more & more muscle, shape structure, or leanness.

Usually muscle dysphoria can lead to behaviors like using anabolics, working out excessively, checking the mirror constantly, seeking reassurance, disturbed body image, dietary restraints, etc…

I usually take this with a grain of salt bc I think you can be a bodybuilder with positive intentions & I don’t think everyone in bodybuilding is using this as a bandage like some perpetuate due to similarities in bodybuilding behaviors to symptoms of “disorders”.

I believe you can achieve & want more out of bodybuilding even with (& likely more so) when your needs are being met!-this would be an interesting study.

These researchers found that having frustrated/unmet needs, outside of the need for autonomy, led to the setting & pursuit of perfectionist standards & rigid behaviors as a means to shift focus from those unmet needs.

While this can be due to a number of factors like attachment styles exposed to growing up, & other cognitive development influences…

It’s worth noting that the people in the study with high need frustration had more rigid behavior patterns & even when meeting their own physique standards, would just set more if the unmet need was still unmet.

I could drone on about the study but the best way to apply it is through exploration of maladaptive behaviors, creating deeper intrinsic motivation—I recommend exploring your values & getting these needs met in other ways.

This alone might (& in my experience will!) make your bodybuilding experiences healthier & more fulfilling!

For resources or 🧠 mentorship inquiries, DM me @celestial_fit.

#buildmorethanjustabody
📑DOI: 10.1007/s11031-019-09805-6