WEIGHTY ISSUES

A difficulty that impacts male athletes more than women is muscle dysmorphia – basically “reverse anorexia.” Instead of looking in the mirror and seeing a reflection that is larger than life, those who struggle with muscle dysmorphia see in the mirror a weak body when in reality they are ripped or even over-muscled. While there are less obvious examples of triathletes looking like body builders, you can see the concept on the cover of any sporting or men’s health magazine showcasing the uncommon chiselled physique. Many triathletes not only struggle with weight-to-power ratio, but also struggle to achieve muscular tone and lean muscle mass. The quest for this ideal leads to a change in nutrition strategy, taking in more protein and less carbohydrate, which invariably leads to race problems due to a lack of adequate fat stores and available glycogen. After all, you do need fat tissue to train and race-long distance events.