Why do I look thinner in photos than in mirror?

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klackey23
klackey23 Posts: 26
in Health and Weight Loss
I've always heard the old saying that the camera adds 10 pounds, but now that I've lost all this weight, when I see photos of myself or take a quick shot with my iPhone, I feel like I look thinner in the *photo* than when I am just looking in the mirror. Anyone else experience this? Is it some sort of weird body image thing?


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Replies

  • daydream_believer
    daydream_believer Posts: 332
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    i feel the same way! i guess it all just comes down to the fact that we look in the mirror quite frequently and get used or dont notice the changes as much because they are small. we are often in photos less frequently then looking in a mirror so it reveals the changes (weightloss) over a longer time frame.. making it more evident. also looking at yourself through the mirror is a different (and much closer) perspective. hope that helps :)
  • nancycaregiver
    nancycaregiver Posts: 812 Member
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    You need a new mirror! :laugh:
  • triinityz
    triinityz Posts: 146 Member
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    Happens to me too... your mind/emotional self still thinks you are heavier than you are. Trust the camera/clothes and your mind will catch up at some point (still waiting on mine!)
  • kathleennf
    kathleennf Posts: 606 Member
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    I noticed that too. And they say "the camera adds 10 pounds." Weird.
  • 1990sophia1990
    1990sophia1990 Posts: 225 Member
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    I have this too it's so weird!
  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
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    I look fat in both :( But in my mind, I feel that I am thinner than I actually am.
  • foleyshirley
    foleyshirley Posts: 1,043 Member
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    Happens to me too... your mind/emotional self still thinks you are heavier than you are. Trust the camera/clothes and your mind will catch up at some point (still waiting on mine!)

    This!
  • kodom_123
    kodom_123 Posts: 117 Member
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    Hahahashahaha...i was just telling my friend that I think I have reverse body image disfunction, whatever lol.
    I told her "I see people, like on the bigest loser, that weight the same as me or less and I think 'I DO NOT look like that'..."
    I told her that I think my scale must be a filthy liar cuz I do not feel like I look like I weigh 240 lbs! lol
    She told me it was all about confidence and attitude...how you see yourself...
    I told her that I am not sure that's what I wanted to hear hahaha.
  • Neveone
    Neveone Posts: 8
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    I have it the other way around. I am always shocked when I see pictures even though I thought I would look good in the mirror...
  • livitup85
    livitup85 Posts: 231 Member
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    Maybe because when you're looking at yourself in the mirror you are fairly close to the mirror and in pictures you are further away?
  • DanaDark
    DanaDark Posts: 2,187 Member
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    I have BDD. I am fat in everything. >.>

    Our minds play a lot of terrible tricks on us! Go my logic and reasoning rather than simply your own perception when it comes to some of these things.

    P.S. People will remember the photo, not you in the mirror.
  • cassienoe
    cassienoe Posts: 126 Member
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    How funny I have noticed the same thing! I think in the mirror we have a preconceived criticism of ourselves, whereas in photos we're not expecting it so it catches us off guard. Honestly I have no idea...
  • piggydog
    piggydog Posts: 322
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    Angles make up huge part of it....
  • TheNewDodge
    TheNewDodge Posts: 607 Member
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    your mirror is a d1ck
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
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    The mirror moves when you do as well as being at the same angle all the time.

    It may be some sort of self-recognition thing, where your mind overrides the input with its own internal image instead of using what's hitting your eyes. This is what many optical illusions are based on. Much of our perception is warped and not nearly as accurate as we think it is.

    I have always wondered, for people who have body image misperceptions, if covering or blocking out your face/head in the reflection or photo changes your perception of the "body" you are seeing. (Or if you otherwise make it so you don't immediately recognize yourself.)
  • sgv0918
    sgv0918 Posts: 851 Member
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    i feel that way too. I think its a giant mindf*ck
  • brunetteavoxgirl
    brunetteavoxgirl Posts: 88 Member
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    Angles make up huge part of it....
    I read this as "angels" at first.
    Anyway, I look thinner in photos because I stage it that way. haha.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    break up with your mirror
  • CarlieeBear
    CarlieeBear Posts: 325 Member
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    I tend to have the opposite problem...I agree that it's at least partly mental. However, it could also be the length of the lens and/or distance between you and the camera as well as the lighting and angle the pic was taken from.

    My BA is in photojournalism :-)
  • Otterluv
    Otterluv Posts: 9,083 Member
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    Ha! I'm the reverse, I look better in the mirror, pictures are always a disappointment. Maybe I'm just an optimist. Or maybe my mirror is warped and makes me look thinner to myself.

    Anyway, just stop looking in the mirror (I stopped looking at photos, and that seems to be working just fine).

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