Seeing something different in the mirror vs. pictures?

I have noticed this too, very weird! oh, and go with the pictures, they are usually the cold, hard truth.

I felt like that just the other day. So...I took some photos of me. I compared them to the ones I took in April of this year, there was a big difference. I look in the mirror and get disappointed too but like the other lady said...its all mental. We do create this supposedly image of what we think we should look like. But the pictures do not lie. Keep up the great progress! You can look at my profile its open to see for yourself just how far I have come. That's why I take pictures every month or two.

Having been up and down more than once in my life, I have a theory. We develop a mental image of what we look like, and it doesn't always adjust with the gains and losses, at least not quickly. In the mirror, you see that brain image. The picture reflects what other people see. Last time I was at my lowest weight, I used to constantly be surprised when I realized that a random reflection on store front glass was me.. My brain is just stuck on what Imlook like. If I am heavier, it is a powerful tool of denial until I see a photograph.

I agree with this.

I think what we see in the mirror is a combination of the reflection and what we *expect* to see... our preconceived notion of what we look like. And when we see photos, that very slight difference of not seeing our backwards mirror image is enough to get us to look at ourselves with a fresh perspective. And when we look at ourselves in a mirror, it's usually up close. Even if it's a full length mirror, we often look at ourselves as separate parts - hair, face, chest, waist, legs, etc. - not as the whole person. Since a photo isn't life-size, we don't zero in on each individual part.

I'm an artist, and it's the same way when I'm working on a painting. I see a combination of what I've actually painted, and how I want the finished product to look, so it's hard for me to judge when it's actually done. Before digital cameras, I'd have to walk away from a painting for a while, or look at it in a mirror, or even turn it sideways or upside down on the easel to get a fresh look at it. Now, I just snap a picture with my phone or camera and I'm able to see it with "fresh" eyes. And see what else needs to be done, if anything.

I just had a related NSV today... I was going through my photobucket account and saw a thumbnail of a pic of myself where I think I looked great. I'd gained some weight over the last few months (thanks, Depo!), and have been trying to get rid of it. I looked at that photo, sighed and though, "Damn. I can't wait until I can look that good again." Then I clicked the thumbnail, and saw that it was a photo from last MONTH, not last year. :laugh: It *was* how I look now... and I look good now. I'm just unnecessarily critical of myself.

I feel photos are more critical to me than reflections
in mirrors and glass. I walked up to the store doors
today (glass) they used to make me look wide but now
I see a narrow person look back in my reflection. That
was nice but still when posing for my camera, I never
catch the way I actually appear when looking in home
mirrors. For that matter store mirrors I used to look
horrid in, not so now. But I've heard photos add pounds?

I also feel exactly the same, I also thought I was the only one for a while too. I've lost almost 88 pounds in total. I even still pick up the larger clothing sizes and only realise when I'm trying them on I should have picked up the smaller size. Definitely go by your photo's even grab an old photo to help you confirm it in your mind, sometimes this helps me. Well done on your achievements and good luck

I think a lot of it is the angle. I know when I look at myself in the mirror, I'm looking eye-to-eye with my 5'2" self. But when my husband take a photo of me, he's looking at me from his 6'2" self. So it's a different angle (and actually more flattering, often). But then again, when I look at my butt in my mirror, turning and trying to look over my shoulder, I think it's adorable. When my husband takes a pic of me from behind (like if we're hiking) I think my butt looks enormous.

So, I'm no help at all!