anyone NOT taking monthly pics NOR measurements? Why NOT?

tjmist

I take measurements which I keep track of and post, and I took a before picture but it's not up yet. Once I get my after picture together I'll post both!

lamarnnem

I take pics everyday after my workouts. It's been 99 days since I started and I love looking at them to compare myself to myself. It helps when down to see how far I've come from. But that's just me.

dhiammarath

I don't take progress pictures, per se. Not the standard side-front-back ones anyway. Mostly because I'm lazy. Although, I do take pictures of myself -- in the dressing room, in new clothes, out and about doing stuff, so I have a progression of me in my "natural" element that I use to compare against my "old" self in my former "natural" element. (eg., I used to sit around a lot and now I am walking and more active).

So I have ways to measure progress, but I have never done the standard photo set that's pretty popular, though not for any desire not to but out of sheer laziness.

I think they're good, for sure. I use both measurements and pictures to help me when I'm in a rut and haven't gone anywhere. October was super stressful full of health problems and other problems, so I hit my first real "plateau" ever, so I leaned on the pictures a lot to remind myself that it's still working, it's just slower with lack of exercise, lack of sleep, being sick, being stressed with the SO sick, and other things breaking.

So it definitely helps!!!

TR0berts

I've never taken pictures - not because I'm embarrassed or anything. I just figure between myself and my wife (and other friends/family/co-workers) I can tell when I look different.

However, being in the engineering field, I love me some numbers. Thus, I take measurements of arms, thighs, waist, and neck every 4 weeks. While I can see changes, I like to be able to quantify the changes.

MidsummerNightsDream

I have not even taken a beginning picture, nor did I take beginning measurements. After reading through this thread I am going to take measurements, and a picture.

It never even occured to me to take a picture or measurements of myself beginning this last week.

I do costuming (Victorian, Regency, Edwardian, Steampunk) and I do make my costumes often times draping without the use of a pattern, so I have my body measurements prior to this recent 20 lb weight gain, that I am now eager to lose.

So tonight I get out my trusted tape measure and camera and get to work documenting myself. Thank you for this important tip.

kandilynn03

I had my husband take pictures on the 1st of November. I will probably never post them anywhere, because they are awful. I did one set in my current swimsuit (I usually wear a t-shirt and shorts over my suit) and I did one in a sports bra and shorts. Seriously, they are only for personal reference.

I haven't done measurements yet, because I don't have a tape measure. But I'm going to do them soon. I really feel like I've lost inches as well as pounds and I can't prove it.

LorinaLynn

This is why I take them. 2011's Halloween costume, last year and this year.



I weigh more, but I'm smaller and have more definition in my abs. And it's not just a matter of a more flattering angle... the skirt sits about an inch lower on my hips now than it did then.

The scale is a decent enough tool to measure progress while you're still losing a significant amount every week, but close to goal or in maintenance, it can mess with your head.

hesn92

I don't but I'm not trying to lose weight. Lol. I just took a few pictures of me in a bathing suit to see if my body changes at all (i've been doing some strength training)

NCchar130

I've done both since the very beginning. Even after the first 10 pounds, I still kind of believed it wasn't really happening but the tape measure and the pics convinced me otherwise. It took awhile before I could really see it in the mirror. I'm still not brave enough to post progress pics here, but eventually, maybe.

goldiesgold

I am going to weigh/measure once a month, I find that if I start weighing myself weekly, it gets more stressful, it is added pressure for me (negative self talk). I actually joined mfp 5 weeks ago, and have only been logging my food properly for one week (my first nsv), it has taken me this long to come up with a strategy that I am comfortable with, that doesn't make me want to stress eat , or give up completely.
So on the 30th of each month I will weigh and measure myself, I will measure my progress in other ways in between this i.e clothes feeling looser, fitting through the gap between our office desks more easily, getting in and out of the car, how much lap the cat has when she sleeps on me...lol

ScatteredThoughts

Not me. I think I took a couple of pictures several months ago, but no measurements. I'm just lazy that way.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

This is why I take them. 2011's Halloween costume, last year and this year.



I weigh more, but I'm smaller and have more definition in my abs. And it's not just a matter of a more flattering angle... the skirt sits about an inch lower on my hips now than it did then.

The scale is a decent enough tool to measure progress while you're still losing a significant amount every week, but close to goal or in maintenance, it can mess with your head.

WOW! Looking good!!! I'm proud of you.

Also, I humbled myself and took pics today, in my workout leggings and top :noway: It was pretty, ummmm...I'll not say DISGUSTING, but let's just say I took an extra outside walk this evening on top of the other stuff exercising I've done today.
I didn't take my measurements, because I can't find my measuring tape thingy. I have a steel one (ya know to measure household stuff), but I'll get a cloth one ASAP so I can take them sooner rather than later.

Ya know what, even those my pics look :indifferent: -- I still can see the slim and trim me hiding deeply within. I'll take pics every month and I'm glad I did.

emtjmac

I don't take any pics because I don't care enough to muster the energy to do it. I weigh myself daily and take measurements every two weeks or so.

bodiva88

I'm not. I'm losing weight to get healthier and fitter. I can see the results. And as long as I'm following my plan (which is really just fewer calories in, more out) I'm happy. I don't need daily feedback except on the page. And I went through a month-long plateau, but could feel my clothes fitting differently. They're my measuring tape. Now I'm losing again, so clearly my body has decided not to hold on. It's safe to keep losing. And it is.

TinaS88

Nope. I don't want to get obsessed with the weight loss. It's coming. I can notice when I take pictures just to take them.. that is enough for me

pstaceyca

No pictures. None. I am too ashamed of myself for letting myself become so over weight. I do not want the reminders. Embarassed :embarassed:
I started doing measurements about 3 months into my journey, and do them once a month.
I do weigh in weekly and have since the beginning.

Really? You have lost 108lbs...you should be so proud of yourself!!! WTG!!!!!

wnwilli05

I took a picture but it was after I had already lost 25 pounds. After I had taken it, I wished that I would have taken one in the same outfit to begin with. Don't plan on taking another picture until I drop the other 25 pounds I want to lose. I have maintained my 25 pound weight loss for 4 months and at that point kinda took a break from everything. Don't really know why I did it, but since school has started and I have my workout buddy back I have kicked myself back into gear. Hopefully the other 25 pounds will start melting away soon.

GossInABox

I take measurements, but not pictures. Mostly because I live alone so there's nobody to take pictures of me. XD

Crochetluvr

I took pics at the beginning and at my halfway mark (thats the one in my avatar). I will take more when I reach my final goal. And thats it.

I measure myself every 2 weeks. I usually find something has changed. I just added my BF, WW and MM numbers to my progress reports. Wish I had been able to do that from the beginning but I just got the new scale.

Celeigh12

I didn't take my measurements, because I can't find my measuring tape thingy. I have a steel one (ya know to measure household stuff), but I'll get a cloth one ASAP so I can take them sooner rather than later.

You can use something flexible like string or ribbon and then hold that up to your steel measuring tape if you don't find your fabric one.

JenKillough

I occasionally take pics whenever I feel like it. But usually months apart. And I do take measurements, yes. Measurements more often than pics. I also still use my scale.

MaryJane_8810002

I do take monthly measurements but I refuse to take progress pictures. I think before and after is enough.

SarahtheJillianfanatic

I don't. Don't want to remember myself all flabby and whatnot when I'm fighting fit and 58kg.

citizencrp

I would if I had a full length mirror that I could stand far enough away from. I only have a little 4 inch wide x 4 feet tall one that I use to make sure my clothes match and that's about it. I'm hoping to take some pics at Thanksgiving when visiting my parents.
I'm not thrilled with the idea of these pics existing, but I do believe it's important to see the change. I've lost 43 lbs in just about a year and I see some changes but I think I need some "apples to apples" images to be able to really notice the differences.

sskitka

At this point I am so big and hate they way I look so much that I just can't bring myself to take any pictures... Dude I am not even attractive to my boyfriend that lives in the same house as me. IDK maybe soon just now now

Senabun

I just started taking my own bi-weekly progression photos about a month and a half ago. I haven't really compared them all too well, but I have noticed back fat slimming down and even though I can't see it in the photo, my tummy is shrinking in size. I've even taken measurements as well, but they don't seem to show much of a progression.

So what do I do? I know that my body is gaining muscle and losing weight, but everything is also shifting around a bit as I tone my body. I try to find clothing that are my "progression clothes". When I fail to see progression in measurements, on the scale (which I never check unless at the doctor's), or from my photos, I slip on the clothes that just barely, if at all, fit me! I bought a cute button-up top...only problem was that it was rather tight in the stomach, chest, and arm area. Within 2-3 weeks of cardio and weight training, it's pretty much a perfect fit! I also found one of my mother's old beautiful vintage skirts. So far, I can't get it up past my butt/thighs, but before even that was completely impossible! There's different things you can do other than taking pictures or measurements. Whatever works best for you and keeps you motivated in the long run!

Ely82010

I used to measure monthly but soon realised from the random up and down results that I wasn't always holding the tape in the exactly the same place and felt I was wasting my time so stopped. I don't take photos either. The difference in how my clothes fit and always having to come out of the changing rooms for a size smaller than I've picked up when I'm shopping are reward enough in themselves.

Me too. The scale is my friend (I am on maintenance), but the tape shows too many fluctuations because I don't always take measurements in the same place. I just go on how my clothes fits me and what ever I notice in the mirror. But since I am very critical, I am never happy with what I see.

tvanhooser

I don't take pics period. Pics are for showing off to others and I'm not really interested in anyone's opinion of my weight loss. I love the support and compliments from my friend group at church that is doing this together and all.....but they can either see it or not (and they do) -- I don't feel compelled to prove it to myself or anyone else with pictures. If I can fit into smaller clothes and from time to time see body changes, on the rare occasion that I actually take the time to notice, plus the scale is trending ever downward then I know I am losing weight. No reason to flaunt it.....for me this is NOT a self-esteem issue so I don't need to fish for compliments. I only take measurements once in a while, very irregularly -- usually when I plateau for a while and need the extra encouragement to keep going that something is actually changing even if it isn't the scales. I am so NOT a fan of exercise no matter how many times people say I will learn to love it....not going to happen. No clue when it comes to people saying they get a "high" from exercise endorphins and don't want to stop....3 years on swim team in high school and at this almost 6 months now (27 years later) and hasn't happened nor do I expect it to nor seek after it. So I need to know that all this effort is actually accomplishing something or I will stop because I have no patience for banging my head against a stone wall over and over and expecting different results when none are forthcoming. That's just me.

sweettalkinggirl

Nope to both - I never have as it never really crossed my mind to do it. I just use the bathroom scales and judge how my clothes sit. I also find I over analyse numbers and if I added the measurements into the mix I won't focus on the scale and non scale victories.

NewLIFEstyle4ME

I didn't take my measurements, because I can't find my measuring tape thingy. I have a steel one (ya know to measure household stuff), but I'll get a cloth one ASAP so I can take them sooner rather than later.

You can use something flexible like string or ribbon and then hold that up to your steel measuring tape if you don't find your fabric one.

Thanks so much! I found a free tailor measuring one on line, but it's a pain and I'll just buy on tomorrow. Here's the link in case someone wants it/is interested in this one:

http://www.atailoredsuit.com/A_Tailored_Suit_Printable_Tape_Measure.pdf