Best advice I ever got ...

Hodar

A little over a year ago, I went to the local gym. I was warmly greeted by various staff, they were warm and friendly. One of them, a very muscular gentleman in his 30's took a little time to get to know me. You see, I'm fat - I don't have to have custom made pants; but I was in the 46 inch waist range. Big.

He sat down, and pulled out his phone; and said "I too was where you are", and he showed me a picture of himself wearing running shorts. These were deliberatly, bluntly honest pictures. Front, side and rear. Nothing porn, but brutally honest pictures. He said that he always carries them with him, on his phone, on his PC. You see, as you lose weight - there are times when you feel discouraged. He said "It's at those times, I pull my phone out, and stand in front of the mirror - so I can SEE my progress".

He went on to say that he has 2 sets of photo's. One set is for public consumption (his gym shorts) the other is the same shot, but nothing to hide his fat. This second shot is for brutally honest, personal self-analysis. My picture was taken in front of a full length mirror - to emphasize my gut. I want this to be the worst picture I will ever see of myself; and as I lose weight, I look at that picture and I can SEE the progress I've made.

This was perhaps the single best piece of advice I have ever received, thought I'd pass it along.

LimeyTart

If you are like me, that's the best way to motivate yourself!

I took a picture of myself in my underwear the day I started and I keep adding to it. Side by side, every month, in the same underwear. I can SEE the changes and that motivates me to keep going.

Heatherbelle_87

totallly agree my pictures are my best motivational tool. And sometimes motivational for others. They also help when you dont see the scale moving because things are tightening up ect

queen3510

THANKS FOR SHARING. GREAT MOTIVATOR. SOMETIMES WE FORGET WHAT WE LOOK LIKE ONCE WE STEP AWAY FROM THE MIRROR AND LIFE STARTS HAPPENING. THE DAY CONSUMES OUR THOUGHTS AND OUR COMMITMENTS WE MAKE TAKE THE BACK BURNER. THANKS AGAIN AND KEEP THE FOCUS.

sbrown6

That's it. I know what I'm doing when I get home. Been puttin it off for way tooooooo long. Thanks for sharing.

BGabbart

I had a friend take a picture of me so I will have it as my before picture. That is when I realized I am serious about this because I can't wait to have something to compare it to. I know I should probably do one with the underware but I can't stand to see myself that way. So here goes the journey for the rest of my life. :drinker:

EmilySG2011

I have avoided pictures just like the scales for so many years. I'm just now getting used to the scale---I'm gonna have to work myself up to taking pictures!!

Cjrucks

There is a photo from this past year's Christmas with me, mom dad, sister in law, neice, nephew and my brother. Well on seeing that photo I realized if I moved myself I could block out my neice, nephew and sisterlaw if placed in front of them. I started January 17th back doing exercise and watching more what I eat. Two and a half weeks later I got a new phone and found the myfitnesspal app. I starting longing on there best I could. Between when I started and now I have lost only 20 lbs in 6 months wishing it could be more for I was 287 in the beginning.

I never want to see my self like that again. Goal weight of 155 is a long way off but need to get there for my health.

2legit2qwit

This is a really scary thought but I think I need to do it. I had to get my drivers license renewed, and a new picture taken for it last week, along with updating my weight info, having increased by 60 pounds since last time I had my license picture taken. (I've been dodging cameras for several months but obviously couldn't ignore getting this picture taken). I got the new license in the mail yesterday and burst into tears when I saw my picture. It's hideous. No other way to say it. But it's a realistic picture of what I really look like right now and I can't ignore it unfortunately, especially since it will be staring up at me from my wallet every time I open it.

I'm new here, and really trying to face the music and stop complaining about feeling/looking disgusting, and actually do something about it. Next step is taking a stripped down full body pic so I have something to look back on when I leave this horrid body behind me in the dust. Not looking forward to it, but I will thank myself later...I think.

Hodar

I understand the hesitation. Throw on your underwear, and display yourself in all you pre-lifestyle change 'glory'. Don't be shy, don't suck it in, let this picture sit somewhere where YOU have access to it. Don't share it, as it will only humiliate and discourage you. This is your first 'stick in the sand'.

Then, after 1 month of following the MFP plan, put on the same underwear, stand in the same spot, the same mirror, the same lighting - exactly like before. If you take a picture, that's fine. But look at your old picture; and critically look at yourself now. I'll wager a Dt. Coke you will be smiling.

As for me, I set my milestones at 25 lbs apart. I have my 300lb weight; my next picture will be wearing the same shirt, same place, same pants and I will then have a 275 lb picture, then a 250, 225 and 200lb. I want to be able to show friends the 300 lb picture, and hear them say "I can't believe that this picture is really you".

LimeyTart

Not looking forward to it, but I will thank myself later...I think.

You will! Every time I get a bit discourage because I've stopped losing as quickly, I look at the pics. I even share them in my MFP profile at times, to show my friends that it can be done!

myofibril

Have you heard of John Stone? He took a picture of himself everyday for a year during his original transformation back in 2003.

You can see all of them as a slideshow here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_kHGeFn5A8

Periodic pictures are a GREAT way of keeping track and see how far you have come on an objective basis.

TK421NotAtPost

Thanks for sharing that Hodar!