Thoughts on Before/After Photos
Lifesauthour
Posts: 10 Member
I'm thinking about taking "Before" photos to help myself stay focused... Not sure though, I hate my photo being taken and I'm worried it'll discourage me more than encourage me. What are the thoughts of others? I have to lose almost 100 lbs, I'm thinking this may help, but I'm scared.
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Replies
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Before and after are awesome! They help you see how far you have come, I have been taking them since I started and I am amazed at the change! Take the leap of faith and do it.
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I took some, and it has really helped me. If I ever get discouraged, I look at my progress pics now and compare to the befores. It helps me stay motivated to see the changes!0
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As much as it sucks, do it. Later on, you'll be very glad you did. All the fabulous, motivational success story posts... they wouldn't have nearly as much impact without those before/after photos.
I take a photo once a month in the same outfit. I hate it and dread it every time, but seeing my body slowly change shape is worth the personal humiliation, in my opinion.0 -
I think they are a good idea, but I didn't take them. Sometimes I wish I had because there have been many days where I feel like I still haven't lost anything. I also highly recommend taking your measurements (which is what I did). It was depressing the first time, but now it's just insane to hold out the measuring tape to what it was and think wow.. that was tight on me. Good luck in your journey!0
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Absolutely take them! I'm taking new photos the 1st of every month in 2013 so that I can see how far I've come... You could always have someone take them for you... then not look at them until a month from now when you have something to compare them to0
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What are you scared of? Take the picture and store it away on your hard drive/SD card/etc. You don't have to stare at it all day.0
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Its awesome to see how far you come, take as many naked pics as possible!0
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If you're afraid of discouragement then take the picture but don't look at them. Then take a picture when you've gotten to your goal weight and look at them side by side then. That way you'll have the before pic and be able to truly see the change.0
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I think you should. Trust me in the end you will be happy you did. It will show proof of the hard work and committment you made to make yourself healthier. You have so many of us here to help encourage you so rely on that support. But yes definitely take a before shot of yourself! Good luck to you hun!0
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DO IT! and remember, there is no law that says you have to post them anywhere. No need to be embarrassed.
Do it for you. You can always change your mind and post them later if you feel confident and are proud enough of your results.0 -
Take some! I regret not having pics of me at my heaviest. We all know why we don't have one, we HIDE from cameras. However, you can take one privately and keep it for yourself for motivation. Later, after all of your amazing, hard work, you can post after pics!
I still keep my fat pic nearby and look at it once in a while, it keeps me going because I'm not ever going back THERE again!
Good luck!0 -
DO IT. You will NOT regret it! Once you are ready to take "after" pictures it makes it that much more awesome to visually SEE how far you've come.0
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I'm glad I took before pictures. I hated how my body looked like, but to see your progress keeps you pushing towards your goal.0
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Do it!! You may hate what you see now, but most of us did in the beginning too.
If you are really worried about being discouraged by them, have someone take the pictures and don't look at them for a month (or until you are ready to take your next round of progress pictures).
When I am frustrated with the scale, I just look back at my before pictures and I am overwhelmed at how far I have come.
You will almost certainly regret not taking them!
My best friend took some a year ago and was complaining recently that she wasn't making much progress (down about 20lbs in a year). When she pulled up her old pics, our jaws dropped! Her body has changed so much and without those pictures she wouldn't have been able to appreciate that.
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Go for it! it is VERY encouraging and motivational to self-esteem! Only my pictures told the true story because I kept seeing the big me in the mirror and not the lady who was becoming smaller. Good luck to you and much success on this journey!:flowerforyou:0
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Do it and I bet you won't regret it. I can seem to figure out how to post. Not asking for help as people have been most generous. If you can then just do it. In the end you will enjoy having the pictures.0
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DO it! It's fantastic motivation and then you have something to compare it to. Although idl looking at the old pics, I sure do like the differences I see between them and now!0
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Do it! I was like you. I refused to take before pics, but I am so glad that I did! Ya they suck, and you don't look very good but when you have that comparison pic it is all worth it!0
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Do it! I just did it and about to post tonight. I lost 17 lb last year in about 4 months and reset my ticker and took new pics for this year. It will be a great motivator and measuring tool when the scale does not show the refected effort all the time. Feel free to add me also.0
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I think it's a great idea! They will give you a real sense of accomplishment. I am so glad I took before pics!0
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Do eeeeeet!!! *pokes with a stick*0
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Take them!! They are a huge motivator when you see the transformation in progress. I would never let anyone take my picture at 285 pounds so I have no before pictures at my starting weight. Wish I had them now for when I get in a rut. Do it!!! 0
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DO IT!!! You may not want to look at the pics now... BUT when you make your full transformation and lose the weight you will wish you documented it better! I made the mistake of not taking enough photos last year when I lost 89lbs. IF I could turn back time I would have documented the journey MUCH better. But on the plus side I am pregnant right now and I plan on taking new BEFORE pictures after this little ones birth so I can at least document my fitness journey after my little ones birth.0
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It sure puts things in perspective.
I did before and am doing the during ones and then after. I started with about 100 pounds to lose and while the before pictures are NOT pretty it makes me look at them and go "nope do not want" it also helps to see the changes as you go - you know when the scale is a d!ck and lies and such.
I say do them, you never have to show anyone if you don't want but for reference sake... do them.0 -
DO IT. You will NOT regret it! Once you are ready to take "after" pictures it makes it that much more awesome to visually SEE how far you've come.
This!
I have before pictures starting from when I was about 20lbs down and kick myself for not having the others.
Take some, don't look of you don't want (if you get someone else to take them) and look back after you have lost some weight.
When I started lifting, I didn't lose any weight for an entire month, and lost few inches. But when I looked at the difference between the two pics, you could see how much I changed in places you can't measure, like my face, arms, the area between my waist (which I measured) and my hips (which I measured).
ETA - not only did I have to take before pics when I started weight training, I had to send them to my trainer (she's a friend and I was training for a bodybuilding competition). That was brutal.0 -
Yes yes yes! Take it today. You will be very happy you did. i didn't until after I had lost 32 lbs. and I'm mad at myself for it. It really helps your motivation. Plus you can post the before and after to inspire others if you choose. It's a great tool. Just looking at yourself daily in the mirror you don't see the changes. Take a photo every month or two and you'll be amazed by your accomplishments!
I find the best photos are if you try to keep the same pose, lighting & distance.0 -
I totally agree with you, I to hate having my photo taken. What I did was took body parts and use a marker to put the inches on that body part and then took a photo. (I keep my face out of it; I don’t need people I know looking up my photos, and my body picks).0
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I didn't take any before photos, because like you, I hated having my photo taken. Now, almost two years later and more than 85 pounds lost I scramble to find any old photo of me before... I really regret not allowing my picture to be taken back then. I just hated so much how I looked and could not stand the thought that someone might have a lasting memory of me looking as I did. Now that I finally feel good about myself I wish I had more reminders to help keep me on track.
My advice, take the photo's. You do not have to share them with anyone but at least you will have them if you ever want to look back! Great success on your journey. The first step is the hardest, but you can do it!0 -
If you take them, you don't have to sit there and stare at them to make yourself go crazy. Just take them, and put them away for future reference. It's hard to see a change in the mirror day to day (I personally can't tell the difference between now and 40 pounds ago). Giving yourself a comparison is the greatest motivator possible, especially if the scale isn't moving. I regret not taking one until I had already lost 20 lbs.0
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My wife and I did it and I think it really is a great motivation to see the change. We are only looking at a few lbs each but wanted to see what the Insanity workout would do for us after two months.0
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