Clayton Echard.Photo: ABC/Pamela Littky
The reality star and former football player, 28, opened up about his struggles with body dysmorphia on the latest episode of the Bachelor Nation podcastTalking It Out. Speaking with hosts and former contestantsMike JohnsonandDr. Bryan Abasolo, Echard said that he worried about how he would look ahead of filming.
“I remember that was a big thought I had — the camera adds 10 lbs. So I’m going to be honest with you — I was kind of scared,” he said. “I was like, here, we’re going to find out right now how I look on camera, I have no idea. And I was afraid that it was going to put me in a little dark spiral, like, you look fat.”
Echard said that “you can never shake that body dysmorphia — it’s always there.”
“You can kind of get it under control in some realms, and I’ve done that through diet. But it’s always going to be there,” he continued.
For the most part, Echard ismanaging his body dysmorphia, he said. But it will also surge back up,particularly with social media.
Johnson asked how Echard has worked tocorrect his body dysmorphia, and the currentBachelorsaid that it helps to keep a steady routine of exercise and healthy eating. But Echard added that it takes mental work.
“I think the tough part about body dysmorphia is it’s so visual. So unless you can change the way you can view yourself, you’re never going to truly shake it because it’s what you see,” he said. “Everyone wants to see a picture, everyone wants to look in the mirror and go, I actually like what I’m seeing today. It’s not a quick fix, it never will be.”
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Echard also pointed out that what may work for him won’t necessarily work for another person.
“Every body is different, and because of that you have to say, here’s what works best for me, and I need to figure that out,” he said. “Put the time in to figure out what works best for you and understand that it just takes time to get there.”
source: people.com
