Is taking a before photo really that necessary ?

donyellemoniquex3
donyellemoniquex3 Posts: 2,384 Member
in Motivation and Support
I have a habit of deleting old photos with the "that was the old me" mind set. But do I really need a before photo ? Even if I lost 3 lbs on here, can I take one now as my before ? Or will it not count ?
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Replies

  • jmeyer925
    jmeyer925 Posts: 326 Member
    Haha of course it's not "necessary", but you might find it motivational!

    I did the same as you and deleted almost all of the old pics of me being my larger weight. Now I wish I hadnt. Would've been a great source to keep me going! Now i have to creep on other people's facebooks to find pics of me then.

    3 pounds won't show much progress (but of course it's a great start!) so you can take a pic now! If you're brave enough to do it in a bikini (or bra and boy shorts) then I'm sure you'd be amazed at the difference later on!

    Best of luck!
  • sh4690
    sh4690 Posts: 169 Member
    I didn't take my before photo until I had lost over a stone, because it did not dawn on me to be motivational as such. I have one now but only because I personally cannot see the progress that others can see just by looking at myself in the mirror.

    I know the weight loss is there looking at the scales, but when I look at my body it still looks exactly the same.

    So no, I wouldn't say it's ever to late to take a beginning photo for comparison if you think that it is the right thing for you :) x
  • stacey1981
    stacey1981 Posts: 39 Member
    Take a before picture now....you will be glad that you did!
  • NoExcuses2012
    NoExcuses2012 Posts: 33 Member
    Do it! Save them and never look at them until you are at your goal. You will be SOOOO GLAD YOU DID!!! Trust me!
  • ohmariposa
    ohmariposa Posts: 372 Member
    I have a habit of deleting old photos with the "that was the old me" mind set. But do I really need a before photo ? Even if I lost 3 lbs on here, can I take one now as my before ? Or will it not count ?
    YES!!! You will be amazed as the pounds melt away. The photo I kept on here is me after I had lost 8 lbs...I still cannot believe I let myself get that big
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I have a habit of deleting old photos with the "that was the old me" mind set. But do I really need a before photo ? Even if I lost 3 lbs on here, can I take one now as my before ? Or will it not count ?

    Not count? The picture is for you and not us
  • BarbellApprentice
    BarbellApprentice Posts: 486 Member
    Yes. You will regret not doing it.
  • Weebs628
    Weebs628 Posts: 574 Member
    I'm soooo glad I took before photos. It motivates me when I need it. Looking back at them, I can see a huge difference and it makes me so proud of myself.
  • IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym
    IpuffyheartHeelsinthegym Posts: 5,573 Member
    no, but I can't tell you how exhilarating it is to watch the transformation. Sure, before pictures make people want to cringe, but comparing them to current and/or goal pictures is such an amazing feeling! I always tell people to make sure to take progress pictures all along the way, because your eyes (picture) and mirror count more than your scale ever should.
  • gypsybree
    gypsybree Posts: 218
    Absolutely you can still take one with three pounds lost! I took one with 29 pounds lost!
  • mrsogden259
    mrsogden259 Posts: 18
    k
  • pixtotts
    pixtotts Posts: 552 Member
    not necessary at all but putting a start pic next to a progress one and being able to see the difference might be great motivation, and when you get to the end to be able to say thats where i started look at me now i can only imagine is an amazing feeling :)
    x
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    do it now. also, take lots of measurements now. Jot them down and keep them for later comparison.

    I wish I knew my starting measurements.......I wish I'd heard this advice.
  • bradphil87
    bradphil87 Posts: 617 Member
    Yes. You will regret not doing it.
    It's true....I regret it so much!!!!!! I have some, but they're just regular pictures. Not a full on in my boxers before pic.....I wish I had taken one....I couldn't stand the sight of it, so I just didn't do it....I wish I had just taken one and not looked at it.
  • mrsogden259
    mrsogden259 Posts: 18
    Omgosh.....your ticker is hysterrical!

    Haha of course it's not "necessary", but you might find it motivational!

    I did the same as you and deleted almost all of the old pics of me being my larger weight. Now I wish I hadnt. Would've been a great source to keep me going! Now i have to creep on other people's facebooks to find pics of me then.

    3 pounds won't show much progress (but of course it's a great start!) so you can take a pic now! If you're brave enough to do it in a bikini (or bra and boy shorts) then I'm sure you'd be amazed at the difference later on!

    Best of luck!
  • deb3129
    deb3129 Posts: 1,294 Member
    Is it a requirement? No. But I think it is really nice to have one. I have lost almost 90 pounds, and I have a really hard time seeing it. I would love to have some old before pics to go back and look at. But I was really uncomfortable with how I looked, so I did not allow pics to be taken often, and I did not take any when I started this. Now I wish that I had!
  • mandylindsey
    mandylindsey Posts: 1
    YES, YES, YES it is necessary... for you that is. I didnt think it was necessary at first either, but Im so glad I did. I love looking at my before pictures and how I look now. TRUST me, take the picture and you will be so glad that you did later on. :smile:
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    I`ve got lots of holiday photos stored on my pc before I lost the weight and even when I was just 20lbs down and couldn`t see the difference, I compared photos and wow it made me feel good.

    Now I am down even more I feel amazed that I look so different.

    So yes, keep some `now ` pics to inspire yourself
  • Lleldiranne
    Lleldiranne Posts: 5,516 Member
    The nice thing about keeping a before picture (or even early in the process) is that it is good for comparison. We don't often see the changes as we're going through the process. I don't see myself as looking a whole lot different than I did at the start. But when we see the pictures of then and now side-by-side, we can see that there has been definite progress made. It's good for the days when motivation is lacking or we wonder why we are doing this.
  • snipalicous
    snipalicous Posts: 69
    I would say take a before pic. I did and am so glad because I am able to see the transformation. Take one now even if you have already lost 3lbs. I like to use my pics for motivation, I dont always see a huge loss on the scale but my before and during the process pics, speak volumes and inspires me to keep going because that scale can sure put a damper on things and make you want to give up! GL!
  • snipalicous
    snipalicous Posts: 69
    The nice thing about keeping a before picture (or even early in the process) is that it is good for comparison. We don't often see the changes as we're going through the process. I don't see myself as looking a whole lot different than I did at the start. But when we see the pictures of then and now side-by-side, we can see that there has been definite progress made. It's good for the days when motivation is lacking or we wonder why we are doing this.

    well said
  • Feisty_Red
    Feisty_Red Posts: 982 Member
    OHHHH my gosh..I am kicking myself in the tooshie for not taking..err..I should say DELETING every pic I had of me:sad: :sad: .. I had to ask friends..etc..if they had any....!!

    Just do it...and keep them hidden..no one has to view them but you...but when you want to see a results? People can tell you over and over again its working..but when you do a side by side with an old picture of yourself? Boom! Nothing like it!!!:heart:
  • lmdee73
    lmdee73 Posts: 36
    I would.....and did. I have a friend who is having a difficult time remembering her "before" after losing 70ish pounds. She didn't take before pics and in the long run, I think it's a great tool and you can look back and say "look how far i've come" instead of "look how far I still have to go."
  • lauragoat
    lauragoat Posts: 197 Member
    Totally take a picture now... at all angles.... Even take a picture of your toes... you wouldn't believe the difference once you start dropping pounds!
  • NiSan12
    NiSan12 Posts: 374 Member
    Yes. You will regret not doing it.

    YES AND DOUBLE YES
  • k8bwalsh
    k8bwalsh Posts: 2
    While I have "only" lost 12 lbs. since starting MFP, I have lost 90 lbs all together over the past 2 years. I wish I had taken a before picture. There are a couple out there of me at my largest, but I wish I had specifically posed for one by myself. Absolutely take one now. Put it somewhere only you know where. I did, however, keep one pair of size 26 pants ~ as of right now I am down from size 26 to size 18. When I get to my goal, I do plan on taking a picture of me in those pants :)
  • Sul3i
    Sul3i Posts: 553 Member
    It really helped me when I felt like the goal was soo far away but id look at my before pic (and yes take urs now) n think ok yes 30 lbs later I can def see a diff ect and id keep pushing. It was inspiring to me to look back and still is!
  • jcstanton
    jcstanton Posts: 1,849 Member
    I have a habit of deleting old photos with the "that was the old me" mind set. But do I really need a before photo ? Even if I lost 3 lbs on here, can I take one now as my before ? Or will it not count ?

    No, it's not NECESSARY, but it is extremely helpful when the scale is not moving. Sometimes when you compare a before and after photo, you can see a HUGE difference that is not reflected in the number on the scale. As far as WHEN to take the photo, there's no such thing as "too late". If you're still trying to make progress, definitely take a before photo. It will still be helpful from this point on.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I wish I had more photos. I didn't take true "before" pictures, so it's just photos that survived deletion or wound up on Facebook. I took some at 15 pounds lost, and quite a bit more at 20 pounds down, and loads SINCE then. I think it's the greatest way to track progress. The scale bounces around like Tigger sometimes. It's hard to see changes in the mirror because it's like watching grass grow. And I have a rough time with the measuring tape, too, because my body shape has changes so much. Am I measuring in the same spot? Did I pull the tape a little tighter this time or last time? Am I 1/16th of an inch smaller? And there's been times when my waist and hips stayed pretty much the same, but the space between the two flattened out.

    So... yeah. Big fan of the photo here. Take them now. Don't delete them. You never have to show them to anyone, but you'll be glad you have them.
  • julieo81
    julieo81 Posts: 47 Member
    Wow, I never really thought about it the way all of you have put it. I am now going to search for any pics I may have... I might have one from a body wrap i did before I started this journey, and then Im going to go up stairs and strut my stuff for my first progress photo. I think every 20ish pounds will be good for me. woo hoo can't wait :)

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