How to Overcome Body Dysmorphia in the Gym
I have been training for five years now and honestly some days I still look in the mirror and see the same scrawny kid from high school. It is incredibly frustrating because my logbook shows I am much stronger. I have been reading about how to overcome body dysmorphia in the gym but it is a slow process.
One thing I have started doing is wearing baggy hoodies to avoid checking my pump in the mirror during every set. It sounds small but it really helps me focus on the actual lifting rather than how I look. I am also trying to focus on performance goals like my squat total instead of bicep size.
Does anyone else struggle with this? I would love to hear what mental tricks you use to stop the negative self talk when you are at the gym. It is hard when everyone around you seems to have the perfect physique but I know that is often just good lighting and social media filters.