Do Mirrors and Cameras Lie to You or Not?

Qski

I'm very curious about how our brains work in relation to what we see in mirrors. At home we have a full length mirrors on the outside of the cupboard, and usually I can look at myself in them and think yeah ok, there's some extra fat here and there but I am ok. But on the same day if I went to say fit clothes on at a store, in that mirror I look and feel like a hideous lardy pants. Or on the same day if someone took a photo I would also be pretty unhappy with that.

I know that you get nice mirrors and not so nice mirrors and that the camera adds 10lbs or whatever, but I think this is beyond that.

I sometimes feel like it's me? Do I delude myself when I am assessing my body at home, and then out in the world (fitting rooms, store windows, the gym mirrors, photos etc) I lose that capacity and then see what I really look like?
I do understand that some people can have body dysmorphia which would be very difficult to live with (but from what I have read that is rarely related to weight and more about symmetry or blemishes or some other idea of perfection). So I am only talking here about those who don't have dysmorphia.

How do you react mentally or emotionally to cameras and mirrors? Does it change depending on where you are?
Does your brain make you feel better than you should about your size/appearance?
How do you adjust your perception of your own appearance to be more consistent?
What works for you?

acogg

Heavy people look heavy. It is a lot of work to not look heavy.

seltzermint555

I always prefer seeing myself on video to still photos. I think I look somewhat leaner, and much more natural. MUCH closer to "how I see myself". In photos I seem to look overly smiley or morose.

Mirrors are a mixed bag. One thing I have noticed is that for me, as I've gotten a bit smaller (from size 22/24 to 16/18) I feel more like the flaws in the mirror match my actual flaws, and that includes "unflattering" mirrors such as the changing rooms in Target. I avoided those for years because yeah, totalllllly know that feeling of "I was normal at home and here I look 70 lb heavier and my cellulite is glaring!"

Honestly I tend to be harsher on myself. When I see photos of myself taken by others, sometimes I actually wonder if they photoshopped my skin because I don't see all of my spots and things. When I've asked a couple of close friends this they will laugh and say, "Angela you have really nice skin. WTF are you talking about!?"

Now, but ESPECIALLY when I was heavier, I can have 10 photographs taken on the exact same day where I look horrible in 5, decent in 3, and very good in 2. I truly prefer photos that I feel "look like me" and I'm really weird about the ones that I think make me look prettier than I am. For example, I would never use those photos as my avatar on a dating site when I was single and would not even use them here on MFP. I prefer photos that look like me, to me.

mmipanda

There might be something to it beyond lighting and angles. If you're at home you're in a safe space. If you're in a changing room in a shop, you've been bombarded with mannequins and images of perfectly shaped women since you walked in the place. So your self esteem could take a battering, which makes your flaws seem magnified.


idk though, I just made that up.

yellowmochi

It really depends on lighting and types/colors of clothes you are wearing.

Qski

Now, but ESPECIALLY when I was heavier, I can have 10 photographs taken on the exact same day where I look horrible in 5, decent in 3, and very good in 2. I truly prefer photos that I feel "look like me" and I'm really weird about the ones that I think make me look prettier than I am. For example, I would never use those photos as my avatar on a dating site when I was single and would not even use them here on MFP. I prefer photos that look like me, to me.

I'm always cheesy in photos. I dated a guy who was really into photography and another who was a professional photo journalist and standing aside was just not an option, so I got used to it and quite comfortable about getting my photo taken. What I think it looks like in the end is a mixed bag a lot of the time, but I do think I have a visual under-estimation of my weight then I get a fright when I see the photo.

Have you heard about the whole photo vs mirror thing? We see ourselves by looking in a mirror so we are always seeing our mirror image (and almost noone has a symetrical face). So a photo (and video) is a totally different view of our faces than what we know. - In theory this means if you photoshop a direct photo by flipping it horizontally you should like it more.

For a dating profile I usually try for balance, so I will put an uber nice (flukey) photo but I will balance it out by putting in one I hate too. So there is a range, and then hope that I appeal to someone.
When it comes to advertising myself in that way, I was very much, here are all the things about me that suck, or someone may judge me for. If you're still here after all the crap is out in the open, hooray, nice to meet you!

It worked for me - since my current partner of 2.5 years and I met through online dating.
(just as an aside he's headline was "Stop dating D* ckheads!" he had me at Stop)

Qski

Heavy people look heavy. It is a lot of work to not look heavy.

You see that is part of what I have a problem with... it's almost like at home I can convince my brain that I am not heavy - or at least like 10-15kg(25-40lbs) lighter anyway. I never look in the mirror when overweight and think skinny mini... But I think I do delude myself.

I do have vague recollections of being 16 and thinking I looked kinda good in a swimming costume - so I am happy to work toward that, but I'm a little perplexed about me favouring myself now.

Jewlz280

I'm weird, I guess. I feel the opposite most days. I feel huge and then I'll see my reflection or a photo and think, oh she looks nice! Wait a minute... that's me! It's strange! It's like my brain hasn't caught up to the loss even though I've been at this for years. I'm ok with it, though, because it's nice to be shocked the other way. lol

13ftw67

The reflection in the mirror rarely is the reflection I want to see in my head. However, I look at my MFP photo's when I started in July and see a real reduction in overall body fat and mass the tape measure worked best for true accuracy in making me feel better to see 3 full inches disappear was a great feeling. I hate the scale and still feel fat on days. The male mannequins are as perfectly chiseled as the female especially the under armor mannequins of the prototype male athlete. My sodium intake reduction has however helped me from feeling extremely bloated these days. I love the person I am seeing myself become in the mirror but I feel I look like I have down syndrome in certain pictures. especially if I am wearing my glasses. I have learned to love myself in spite of myself.

aphroditesmaiden

Omg, I am so glad this isn't/wasn't just me!!!

From my personal experience:
Before I reached my goal weight, I would not see heaviness in the mirror. I don't know if it was denial or what, but I would not see it. When people took shots that I was ready for, I would usually be OK with them because I'm blessed enough to be camera-friendly. However, when people took candids, I would be mortified. I actually had a friend remove a picture from FB because of how horrified I was by it. I had a similar experience when shopping as well.

Now that I have been maintaining for a few months, I'm at the other side of things. I am not used to the size of my body yet. I sometimes do not realize the true difference in weight loss until I see a picture of myself. I definitely see a difference in the mirror, don't get me wrong, but there is something different about a photo. I will say that clothing store mirrors are a little kinder now.

So there you go! It isn't just you! And I am a bit relieved that I am not the only one who experiences this. Things will become easier as you progress on your journey. Maybe we couldn't see ourselves as large when we are alone because we can see the potential for what we are meant to be?

I'm very curious about how our brains work in relation to what we see in mirrors. At home we have a full length mirrors on the outside of the cupboard, and usually I can look at myself in them and think yeah ok, there's some extra fat here and there but I am ok. But on the same day if I went to say fit clothes on at a store, in that mirror I look and feel like a hideous lardy pants. Or on the same day if someone took a photo I would also be pretty unhappy with that.

I know that you get nice mirrors and not so nice mirrors and that the camera adds 10lbs or whatever, but I think this is beyond that.

I sometimes feel like it's me? Do I delude myself when I am assessing my body at home, and then out in the world (fitting rooms, store windows, the gym mirrors, photos etc) I lose that capacity and then see what I really look like?
I do understand that some people can have body dysmorphia which would be very difficult to live with (but from what I have read that is rarely related to weight and more about symmetry or blemishes or some other idea of perfection). So I am only talking here about those who don't have dysmorphia.

How do you react mentally or emotionally to cameras and mirrors? Does it change depending on where you are?
Does your brain make you feel better than you should about your size/appearance?
How do you adjust your perception of your own appearance to be more consistent?
What works for you?

BinaryPulsar

There are always going to be times when an unflattering photo is taken due to angles and lighting and all that. Generally I am the opposite with photos (these days that I am slim and fit). I usually think I look slimmer and smaller in photos. I see myself from outside of myself, instead of from the inside looking out. I also am surprised by how small I look on video. Or when I am dancing and I glance into the mirror, while standing in a line of people, I am always surprised by how small I look, and particularly how small my waist and rib cage is (although I should know due to how challenging it is to find clothing that fits, but I usually just think that is an issue with clothing availability). That just happened again today. I don't realize I am smaller than people, only when I see myself next to them in the mirror or in photos or video. Or when they pick me up unexpectedly and swing me around (then I realize it).

It is very common to suddenly feel you don't look good in some fitting room mirrors. Maybe because of lighting and being in a bright white box. I don't know why, but it happens to everyone (of every size and fitness level) at one time or another.

At home, you have nice, softer lighting, maybe you aren't wearing your glasses, you could be standing with more of a distance, you feel comfortable and happy and at ease, you maybe pose in sexier more flattering ways. Anyway, it is good that you feel that way about yourself. It's healthy. You should be able to feel good about yourself and ok about having some work to do. And you should feel sexy when you are naked, at home.

There are always going to be times and moments when we feel good about how we look and times and moments when we don't. That's what keeps as actively working on it. But, also allows us to enjoy our bodies... as we all should!

seltzermint555

I'm weird, I guess. I feel the opposite most days. I feel huge and then I'll see my reflection or a photo and think, oh she looks nice! Wait a minute... that's me! It's strange! It's like my brain hasn't caught up to the loss even though I've been at this for years. I'm ok with it, though, because it's nice to be shocked the other way. lol

I have this reaction sometimes too!! Just this AM at work I caught myself in a mirror and even though I still see the unwanted lumps and bumps, I was struck by how tall and narrow I looked to myself (compared to in the past). It's a nice reaction to have!