anyone NOT taking monthly pics NOR measurements? Why NOT?

I'm currently doing photos every two weeks while doing Stronglifts.

I don't see much change week to week, but if I compare my start photos to week 6, I can see it.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/786496-end-of-week-6-update

I take measurements, but not religiously. There's not a lot of change at this point. I can't tell if I'm really 1/8th of an inch smaller, or just pulling the tape a little tighter. If I measure my abdomen, my stomach is flatter, but my rear is higher, so that's going to seem like a wash by the measurements.

never have. Some days I wish I had the reinforcement of seeing how large my old self was. Like a fear of public speaking,, I shy away from standing out and saying " look at me ". I measure every two months, There is enough of a change at that point to feel an accomplishment. bye..... later

i don't. when i started here last january i took a pic wearing something that i tried to hide my weight because i was embarassed. the pic was dark too so you couldn't see my weight. i didn't realize back then that i should have "bared" all the rolls so that "if" i was lucky enuf to lose the weight i would have a before and after pics to show the progress. i didn't take my next pic til june when i hit the 50 lb mark. i gained 10 lbs thru the summer and am back here now to lose it.

Nope on both but I wish I would have now :-(

For those of you who have chosen not to take pictures, I completely understand the shame and embarrassment. I am one of the heavier people on this site. But I ask you to reconsider. With digital pictures no one other than your self needs to ever see them. Before/progress pictures can be a great motivator and reminder. I truly didn't realize how big I was until I took those first pictures standing there just in my shorts. Something clicked that day and reinforced my need for change. With every set of pictures I take I can see the progress and recommit to my self that I will NEVER look like that again! The changes in our bodies can be so subtle you don't see it on a daily basis. But when you compare before/progress pictures, the changes become more evident. This can be an incredible motivator.

I'm still terrible at measuring, getting the tape measure to give me the same number twice is tough. I do measure when I notice my clothes sliding around more in the waist or hips. I also take pictures when I notice a difference in the mirror or when I get new clothes.

I really need to pester my family to see if any of them have a holiday gathering body shot of me at my highest weight to post, because that will really show the difference and I don't have one.

I took before and after photos for when I did the 30 Day Shred but haven't bothered with pics since then. I take measurements every 30-60 days (or try to remember to take them). I mostly guage progress by the way my clothes fit (since the scale doesn't always play nice).

Nope I supose I should be taking pictures but I am just not that comfortable with pictures. 44lbs down and I can see and feel a difference though... maybe I should have... shrug

I hate pictures of myself, but I've taken some. I only measured my waist when I started. I took all over measurements when I started an exercise program last month, but they move so much slower than the scale for me, that they aren't all that motivating (plus my apple shaped waist never seems to change so I find that more discouraging than encouraging). I don't take pictures or measure with any regularity, though. When the mood strikes I do.

I'm really not losing that much weight that it will be hugely noticeable .. the only difference would be possibly going from a thin and squishy look .. to a more muscular and defined look. Hopefully more toned up in general. But at 46 .. and not going for bodybuilding appearance (at least .. not yet that I'm aware of) It's not so important to me. I've only measured everything from neck to hips, arms, etc.. to get an accurate calculation of my body fat. So when I use the various BMI/BMR calclutors and such - I'll have the most accurate readings.

I generally don't measure myself .. maybe about once a month or so .. it doesn't change a lot for me. Guess I'm more maintenance that drastic weight loss.

No to pics, as am not sure I could get good comparison (lighting, pose, etc.) from month to month; yes to measuring 1x/month. Did that out of curiosity when noticed my clothes were loose. And I also "measure" by a pair of jeans.

I don't need photos of myself to I know I was fat. I see myself in the bathroom mirror every morning so I can see my progress based on that, the number on the scale, and how my clothes fit.

I take a few measurements every two weeks when I weigh in; but only of my waist, hips and chest.

The MFPers who post their success stories are a real inspiration to me, but I'm never going to do it.
I keep a real low profile online and go out of my way not to have photos of me posted anywhere.

Measurements are a better way of judging success. A photo can be manipulated in so many ways. A photo taken at a different perspective will make a person look smaller/bigger. Many people take photos from a slightly high position because it is more flattering but is this the way to truly measure success? Measure, it is the only way to truly know the difference. Pictures are nice to look at for comparisons but pictures do lie.

I took mine when I started, and it was definitely the push I needed to keep myself motivated. I was so surprised to see the person looking back at me from the photos. I was ashamed of what I've done to myself, and I cried. Those photos were horrible. Now, when I'm feeling discouraged, I take a look back at those pictures and remind myself that I'm doing this because I don't want to be that person anymore. Measurements make a big difference too. There are weeks that I don't show any weight loss, but I have lost inches. That keeps me going instead of just giving up because the "number" isn't any lower.

Measurements are a better way of judging success. A photo can be manipulated in so many ways. A photo taken at a different perspective will make a person look smaller/bigger. Many people take photos from a slightly high position because it is more flattering but is this the way to truly measure success? Measure, it is the only way to truly know the difference. Pictures are nice to look at for comparisons but pictures do lie.

Measuring can be monkeyed with too though! Is the tape in exactly the same place as last time? How tight are you holding it? Are you "sucking in"?

Yep. No matter what you use, consistency is key.

It's hard to fudge with photos if you're in the same pose, same clothes, camera on the same tripod at the same height, in the same place. Even if it's a good angle and you're sucking it in, if it's the same good angle and the same sucking it in all the time, it's going to show progress.

Granted, if you're not doing the photos for yourself, if you're doing them to impress others or sell something, you can certainly fudge. But as far as I know, this thread isn't about making an impressive before and after photo so you can wow people... it's how to measure your own progress so you can wow yourself.