Are "before" pictures worth taking?
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Yes. 100% yes. They're great to look at when you're frustrated or needing motivation.0
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I use Photogrid. Or InstaCollage (which allows you to type the dates on the pictures)0
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Yes! I was too embarrassed and discouraged to take before pictures, but now I wish I would have just so I can see how far I've come.0
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Um.. YES! Because there WILL be days when you're frustrated, ready to give up, just see absolutely "no change" in the mirror... and someone will suggest taking progress pics. You won't want to do it, of course, because you just "know" you haven't made any progress an d this is just a big fat waste of your time... Do it anyway and you'll be surprised and find the motivation to keep going.
This, this, a thousand times this! I had a big stall on the scale, and was totally baffled. In those weeks I increased my training (started Body Revolution and upped my running) so I was quite depressed that the scale basically stopped moving. I only lost "2 lbs" in that amount of time, but this was the visual difference:
Mad me feel WAY better and keep my motivation up.0 -
Only if you want to.
I'm not one to take pictures but I have got before pictures for my current journey so that after my final 20lb loss, I can look back and think WOW! and admire my hard work. :happy: I don't like looking at pictures of myself so I don't use the picture as motivation because it just makes me feel bad about myself so I've really only got it to compare to the after picture.
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If you do not take them you will be searching for something to show where you started...0
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I've never really taken "before" pictures prior to beginning a weight loss push/journey. From experience, does anyone find it really helpful or motivating to have before and after pictures? Has anyone been really disappointed?
I'm just looking for some way to really track my progress that isn't subjective, but I'm not really one to take pictures.
it is VERY important to take before pictures. The scale lies, and you can measure wrong, and look like you have not made ANY progress.
this is me in 2009. I weighed about 195lbs. I know I was between 199lbs and 188lbs.
0120100909 by crochetmom2010, on Flickr
this is me in November of last year, same shirt, `196lbs.
IMG00856-20121123-0837 by crochetmom2010, on Flickr
this is me in March and April of this year, 195lbs. same shirt.
march and april 2013 by crochetmom2010, on Flickr
the scale barely moves, despite busting my butt in the gym 4-5 days a week. I measured too snugly about a year ago, so it looks like I am not losing inches either. I haven't lost a clothing size in 15 months...but my pictures show that I am DEFINITELY making progress.0 -
hell yes.
they are the only thing that allowed me to actually SEE my progression. your mind plays tricks on you, pictures do not.0 -
ABSOUTLY!!!! I have tried to loose weight off and on for years and this time around I took pictures this time for my own personal reference. I don't see a change in the mirror but the pictures have a slight change. It really helps on days where I feel like I am not doing good.0
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I don't know........ You tell me???
OP Yes before Pictures are important.... I keep a picture of that guy on the tractor on my visor in my truck and every time I go to the gym or to the park to workout I can see just how far I have come....
Best of Luck
You kick *kitten*. That is all.0 -
ABSOLUTELY - that way you can see how far you have come!!!!
I take pictures every thirty days - I wear my goal bikini - I dont see a tremendous amount of difference right now - but feel it when i wear my clothes!!!!
You dont have to share your pictures - but you will be glad you took them down the road!0 -
Not only does it motivate me, I use photo shop to create an ongoing ticker collage.0
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YES! I wish I had more.
Also, most cameras have self-timers. You don't need to ask anyone to take your photo. Just prop it up on a tripod or a dresser across the room, and no one else ever needs to see them unless you want to show them.0 -
Most definitely. There are even a couple apps that will allow to you to take pics and setup a side-by-side montage to best visualize progress.
I use moldiv and I love it - i have an iphone0 -
Hell yea it is!!!!!!!!!0
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I say yes - I have a special folder on my iphone where I keep them in progression. It's like looking through a flip book from start to current! :laugh:0
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Thus far I have taken pictures about every 10 lbs lost. My boyfriend was looking at some pictures from our first trip to Europe a couple of years ago (just before I joined MFP) and he was stunned at how different I looked. When you see yourself every day it's tough to see changes sometimes but you can't miss it when you look at pictures.0
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I didn't take before pictures. Now I wish I had.
What's the harm in taking them - you can delete them later on if you don't want them. It's hard to get them back though, if you never take them in the first place.0 -
They have definitely helped me on my journey so far. Whenever I get frustrated I just look at my first pic and my current one and realize I've come a looooong way and to stay course to my goal. I keep them on my phone for those days I just don't feel like I can do it. I will say I did take the pics but I didn't really start paying attention to them until after about 6 months.
A small example, a bit over a years progress:
First:
and Current:
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Yes you must take photos or you will regret it, I lost 84 pounds altogether I wish I had more photos when I was bigger.0
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I've never really taken "before" pictures prior to beginning a weight loss push/journey. From experience, does anyone find it really helpful or motivating to have before and after pictures? Has anyone been really disappointed?
I'm just looking for some way to really track my progress that isn't subjective, but I'm not really one to take pictures.
Absolutely! I did a front/side/back one wearing the same outfit and it's hugely motivating. Areas come off differently for people and it's nice to see even the small changes, ie less overhang on the shorts or that pesky backfat disapeering!0 -
THIS is my biggest regret! I never did either and I am so mad at myself. I wish I would have taken measurements too!0
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They have been worth taking for me! I've lost about 25lbs in the past two months, and I can't see it in the mirror yet. I can still wear most of my clothes, and no one else has really noticed that I've lost weight. However, when I put the photos side-by-side I can see major improvement, and that is what helps me step away from the Swedish Fish after dinner.0
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take them! even if you don't ever let anyone else see them, you can look back at yourself and be amazed
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I find it VERY motivating. Since I'm not going for a specific weight I base most things off the pics. I take new pics every month. Pictures catch the changes that you may not notice. I find it almost essential.0
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YES! Not only is it motivating, but there are times when I have felt like I was making NO progress. I would take a couple of pics to compare to my befores and see the changes I couldn't just by looking in the mirror.0
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I0
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I don't know........ You tell me???
OP Yes before Pictures are important.... I keep a picture of that guy on the tractor on my visor in my truck and every time I go to the gym or to the park to workout I can see just how far I have come....
Best of Luck
ED, wow man. Incredible. You are just an inspiration to life. I vote you for MFP mayor!!!
He's got my vote, awesome job!!0 -
No doubt take progress pics, this was the change in 3 months time that I had. Had lost about 40 lbs at this point. Was astonished by the change.
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Why not just take a pic and put it where you don't have to see it? Then, when you've reached your goal you may be very happy to have the 'evidence'. Otherwise, well, you've got zip.0
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