DD getting into bodybuilding and I'm nervous
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Anonymous
| my 19 yr old dd has always been a gym goer and very fit but within the past 6 months she has began focusing on strength and building mass. She is starting to enter competitions and she is getting into supplements. All her competitions are "natural" but I still am nervous how safe bodybuilding is for a young woman's body. She has almost no body fat left and hers muscles look very masculine. However, I keep that opinion to myself as she is an adult and I am proud of her for achieving a goal. Anyone with any insight on the sport? Anything I should look out for? I guess my main concern is this sport seems to have an obsessive culture and I want college to remain her main focus. |
Anonymous
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I can understand your concern since there does seem to be a lot of substance use and abuse in the bodybuilding world. but even though this seems like an unusual problem, it really is just a variation of the standard "my college student child is doing something that makes me uncomfortable." Its not that different from a child getting tattoos, or smoking pot, or converting to another religion, or . . . there are lots of things kids this age do as they are trying to determine who they are. And the answer to the question is that you don't do anything. You really can't. So accept that she is making her own decisions and that she has to learn for herself if it is wise.
My only suggestion would be to offer to make an appointment for a checkup with a doctor familiar with body building who can advise her on a healthy approach. Other than that . . . Arnold Schwartzenager went on the become a big star and governor of California, so who knows? |
Anonymous
| bump |
Anonymous
| Out of all the things your 19 year old daughter could be doing to her body, this really falls on the good end of things. As long as it stays natural and she does not end up struggling with disordered eating or body dysmorphia, I would just try to encourage her. |
Anonymous
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OP:
I was into body building so let me share some things. I got into it because I was in grad school and it was the opposite of that which felt really good. Also, it feels good. I got a runner's high from lifting which helped, again, doctoral studies. One day I was looking at pictures though and I was in my mid-20s and looked...old. I didn't have enough body fat in my face. I also started dating a guy really into cardio-stuff (biking mainly) who hated the gym. we are now married. What I learned while body building has served me well. With a busy life and now second pregnancy, I maintain a healthy body/weight "automatically". I was tempted to use illegal supplements but stayed with legal ones. At 19 you have to trust her. I personally think she will be fine and I'm baking a daughter right now. I hope she is healthy and would be fine with body building...a possibility given her past and both my brothers are into it (got into it AFTER I did...forgot to tell you we all used to be fat). |
Anonymous
| MY past with bodybuilding...above. |
Anonymous
| Body builders have one of the most disciplined diet and training regiments of any athlete. I would be proud if my daughter choose to do this. NO HORMONE SUPPLEMENTS though! Or anything like that. As long as she keeps it natural I wouldn't worry. |
Anonymous
OP here. THanks for all the responses. I agree with avoiding hormonal supplements aswell as how much discipline it takes. It can be hard for this old school italian mom to see her DD bring boiled chicken breasts and an avocado to sunday dinner though 
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Anonymous
| Actually, I would be worried about eating disorders and supplements. Supplements are just plain unnatural, if not positively harmful. And I do think that bodybuilding could be a cover for an eating disorder (or trigger one). I wouldn't go all paranoid and accusing on her though -- just open up the lines of communication about it and let her know you are concerned about her health. (NOT that she has "masculine" looking muscles.) |
Anonymous
OP: The boiled chicken breast phase is a phase that is bland. Maybe you can think of some lower-calorie ways to include flavor in her cooking. For example, tomatoes have no carbs, few calories, and lots of flavor. Same is true for garlic, herbs, onions. Explain to her that 1t of EVOO on a pound or 2 of breasts is nothing. (do some serving math...it only adds 20 calories or something a serving). Also, if she's hi pro, she needs to balance with fiber (or she will get constipated). Introduce her to a good "clean" bean recipe. you can make this work for the two of you. ANy ways you have of making protein taste better without adding calories (or very few) would probably be welcome by her. (I'm the post-bb poster above and I can coax some flavor out of food with minimal calories added). |
Anonymous
You are ridiculously off base. This screams of stereotyping. And the massive generalization of supplements being "just plain unnatural" is really uninformed. I prefer to derive my supplements from food sources but there are definitely other natural, healthy ways in doing so. Do you know any body builders? |
Anonymous
NP and an Italian mom here. I like these suggestions, PP! OP, a few healthy Italian suggestions for fiber-rich foods that are lo-cal and will go with Sunday dinner
- Sauteed spinach or kale with garlic - Okra (steamed) with tomato sauce - Raw salad of shredded carrots and beets with balsamic vinegar - Garbanzo with spinach and tomatoes (stewed) - Quinoa with tomatoes and black beans and lemon juice dressing (goes surprisingly well with Italian food) |
Anonymous
P.S. I have noticed that Italians build muscle quickly and well (if my extended family is any indication!), so I'll bet she does dynamite! |