Interesting article on before and after photos

BunkyBumBum

I just read this article about before and after photos. It's amazing that in a matter of an hour the guy writing it could make himself look so different, and it just drove home to me (someone who struggled with body-image issues) that just because in one picture a fat pouch might be showing through my shirt, or in another I might look like I have back boobs, that doesn't mean that I look like that every day walking down the street.

I guess this just struck home with me because a few years ago I took a "before" picture of me and then an after picture of me 20 pounds lighter. 20 pounds is a big deal, but in my pictures, in my eyes, I looked the same. I couldn't even see an inch of difference because my body shape stayed the same but I was down 2 clothing sizes. That stuck with me because it was so disheartening to think that all of my hard work wasn't noticeable, and I know a lot of people here are going through that or are feeling the same way, especially after looking at all these amazing "before" and "after" photos. The camera lies,
what matters is that you feel your clothes fitting better and you feel healthier and more energetic. Unless you're taking a picture in the exact same lighting in the exact same outfit in the exact same space in the exact same pose, it can sometimes be really difficult to see the difference in the before and after, but that doesn't mean there is no progress.

Here's the article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-dixon/weight-loss-secrets_b_3643898.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular

minizebu

Interesting read. I think that his message at the end about not comparing yourself to others is a good one.

DesireeNL

That's it! I'm going to remodel my home and make sure the lights are all remote controlled so the light always hits perfectly ;-)

The message of the article is a good one. But to me it's common sense not to believe before/after pictures for diet, weight loss and fitness products. They are meant to sell the item, so of course it's all tweaked. Pushing out your belly and changing your posture already makes a huge difference, and then add the lighting, photoshop etc.

But the reason why you don't see a change in your own pictures is not necessarily because it isn't there. You look at yourself differently than others do. You lost the weight and you've taken measurements, so you KNOW your body has changed. It may take some time for yourself to adjust to what you see.