Wanting to look a certain way is one thing, but taking it too far can become a very dangerous obsession.
Bodybuilder Colm Doyle and an anonymous bulimic, give accounts of their differing relationships with their respective bodies.
Colm Doyle works out in the gym out about four times a week. Over the course of three months he moved from circuit training to free weights. His progression upwards in weights is a personal challenge and he likes to see what the different weights do to his overall physique.
Outside of the gym the positive effects of bodybuilding are awareness of diet and lifestyle. Colm Doyle is mindful to get enough sleep and he cares about what he eats and drinks. He is against taking steroids as the side effects are too risky. Bodybuilding gives him a positive self image,
You'd feel better about yourself, you would feel more confident in your day to day dealing with other people.
Conversely an anonymous bulimic describes the negativity she once felt towards her own body. She always used food as a comfort and began dieting from the age of 14.
I just equated, subconsciously, thinness with being popular and being accepted.
At the age of 17, tired of dieting, she started binge eating and purging. Within the space of two years she was being sick between 15 and 20 times a day. Her self esteem hit rock bottom but it took her another year to seek help.
It got to the stage when I was just sick of being.
She phoned a helpline seeking support. Now,
I now like who I am, which is an incredible achievement.
'Jo-Maxi' was a youth lifestyle programme targeted at ten to fourteen year olds on Network 2, a rebranded version of RTÉ 2 introduced in Autumn 1988. The programme contained features on a broad range of topics including animals, fashion, music, books and profiles of young people voicing their views on various subjects. The original presenters on the show were Ray D'Arcy, Geri Lalor, Clíona Ní Bhuachalla and Antoinette Dawson. It was first broadcast on 10 October 1988. In 1993 it was rebranded as 'JMTV' and continued until 1994.
This episode of 'JMTV Bites Back’ was broadcast on 28 January 1993. The presenter is Brian Graham.
