The mirror doesn't lie, but I wish it did

js8181
js8181 Posts: 178 Member
edited November 3 in Motivation and Support
I know it's a long haul, but I have lost 15 pounds since August, and when I sit down I still look pretty flabby. How do you stay motivated?

174 to 159

Current Weight, sitting:
Photoon2013-11-09at1512_zpsfd66c535.jpg

Original Weight, sitting
before8-24-13_zpsd7fa49db.jpg

Unflexed Side, current weight
Photoon2013-11-09at15052_zpsd6cf911f.jpg

Unflexed Side, original weight
unflexedside9-6-13_zps88735f32.jpg


Unflexed front, current weight
Photoon2013-11-09at1505_zpse7442be9.jpg


Unflexed Front, original weight
Photoon2013-10-01at0842_zps12584a49.jpg
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Replies

  • 1longroad
    1longroad Posts: 642 Member
    Wow!! You look great!!! Fantastic job!!! As for motivation, some days are MUCH easier than others!!! I try to remember why I bagan my journey and that usually helps!!
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    Thank you! You are totally right: ya gotta remember you are in this for the long haul.
  • Mistymaam
    Mistymaam Posts: 9
    Omg, there is a very noticeable and positive difference!! I have so far to go at this point. Way to go! I have these days where I feel I've done nothing and it takes a few days to get out of my rut. Take care!
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    Thank you. I honestly do not mean to fish for compliments, it's just hard to see sometimes if there is any visible difference; you need strangers to either corroborate, or disagree!
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    I see progress in your abs and also your chest muscles (would that be "pects", I think?)
    I think I'd be proud of myself if I were you.

    Maybe you just aren't being patient with yourself?
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    Thanks. Yeah, I think I'm impatient to have no more rolls when I sit... that's probably another 10 lbs away, though!

    I see progress in your abs and also your chest muscles (would that be "pects", I think?)
    I think I'd be proud of myself if I were you.

    Maybe you just aren't being patient with yourself?
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    I also think that sitting up straight would help a whole lot. Not trying to be unkind, but your posture isn't the best in the photos. :flowerforyou:
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    no you're totally right about the posture thing.
    I also think that sitting up straight would help a whole lot. Not trying to be unkind, but your posture isn't the best in the photos. :flowerforyou:
  • BennettV72
    BennettV72 Posts: 43
    I think the mirror IS lying to you! I see a huge difference in the before and after pics. You have much more definition along the sides of your body: your pecs are clearly visible as are your abdominals along your 'outline'. You've made a big change to your silhouette.

    Keep up the good work and be kind to yourself! You're making great progress!
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    I can see a difference for sure!! Good progress! Keep it up, lift some weights and you'll be at goal in no time at all!!
  • aimeemarie150
    aimeemarie150 Posts: 354 Member
    I can tell too. Are you doing weight training, or cardio?

    Try a HIIT workout on weights and you'll start seeing a huge difference.
  • HealthyVitamins
    HealthyVitamins Posts: 432 Member
    Don't feel too down about it, I'm in the same boat - lost 15 pounds and cannot see a difference yet, I can just feel it in the way my clothes fit.

    Keep at it!
  • Beckaroo94
    Beckaroo94 Posts: 66
    I think you look much better than you think you do. Just keep going and feel feel loads better for it, you're doing great :)
  • ayalowich
    ayalowich Posts: 242 Member
    Wow!! You look great!!! Fantastic job!!! As for motivation, some days are MUCH easier than others!!! I try to remember why I bagan my journey and that usually helps!!

    Stop it. That kind of fake 'he looks great' stuff is not what he was looking for. There is meaningful improvement but still a ways to go.

    The fact is you can lose weight, and that certainly is a positive, but if you aren't doing the work in they gym or on the road you have only have of the puzzle.

    First off, I would start with daily planks and push ups. Those have done more to tighten up my stomach then anything else I've tried. Plus my running helps a lot, but that may not be for everybody.

    But motivation comes from within. You have to find an activity that works for you. I take a lot of pride in the improvement I've accomplished over the past 5 months, but when my wife told me last week "you are ripped" that was worth so much more than anything else because she has seen the before and after.
  • kowajenn
    kowajenn Posts: 274 Member
    Why in the world do you take pictures of your stomach while sitting down? That's kind of stupid.
  • DamePiglet
    DamePiglet Posts: 3,730 Member
    Wow!! You look great!!! Fantastic job!!! As for motivation, some days are MUCH easier than others!!! I try to remember why I bagan my journey and that usually helps!!

    Stop it. That kind of fake 'he looks great' stuff is not what he was looking for. What is missing here are before and after photos so we have some perspective.

    The fact is you can lose weight, and that certainly is a positive, but if you aren't doing the work in they gym or on the road you have only have of the puzzle

    Huh?
  • ayalowich
    ayalowich Posts: 242 Member
    One other thing that you can do, and ignore it if you choose, but I'd shave that chest hair. I did that in 1997 and have never looked back. It looks so much better and when you start getting some definition it will make a big difference.

    If you don't like the look the hair will grow back.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    No one ever looks good sitting.
  • RunBrew
    RunBrew Posts: 220 Member
    No one ever looks good sitting.

    You could have 4% body fat and do 1000 crunches a day, your relaxed abs would still fold and 'wrinkle' while sitting.

    All those underwear models laid back, chillin on the couch are actually flexing their core from Quads to Traps as hard as they can to look nice for the ladies.
    It ain't you, its photoshop.
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    haha thx but the wife digs the chest hair... ;-)
    One other thing that you can do, and ignore it if you choose, but I'd shave that chest hair. I did that in 1997 and have never looked back. It looks so much better and when you start getting some definition it will make a big difference.

    If you don't like the look the hair will grow back.
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    thanks, yeah, real talk: I had hernia surgery two months ago, and I tried to get right into lifting and planks, but started getting pain. My doctor said to lay off anything but aerobic 'til I can do that with no pain, then ease back into lifting, abs. Should have mentioned that up front!
    Wow!! You look great!!! Fantastic job!!! As for motivation, some days are MUCH easier than others!!! I try to remember why I bagan my journey and that usually helps!!

    Stop it. That kind of fake 'he looks great' stuff is not what he was looking for. There is meaningful improvement but still a ways to go.

    The fact is you can lose weight, and that certainly is a positive, but if you aren't doing the work in they gym or on the road you have only have of the puzzle.

    First off, I would start with daily planks and push ups. Those have done more to tighten up my stomach then anything else I've tried. Plus my running helps a lot, but that may not be for everybody.

    But motivation comes from within. You have to find an activity that works for you. I take a lot of pride in the improvement I've accomplished over the past 5 months, but when my wife told me last week "you are ripped" that was worth so much more than anything else because she has seen the before and after.
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    Thanks everybody for the encouragement!
  • Ed98043
    Ed98043 Posts: 1,333 Member
    My mirror is a filthy liar, but pictures always tell it like it is. There's definitely a difference in yours.

    And chest hair is awesome!
  • Tessyloowhoo
    Tessyloowhoo Posts: 504
    Thank you. I honestly do not mean to fish for compliments, it's just hard to see sometimes if there is any visible difference; you need strangers to either corroborate, or disagree!

    Yes very visible difference you look much healthier now. I would say you have lost a fair amount of midsection fat which is fabulous for your heart. NICE!
  • arathena720
    arathena720 Posts: 449 Member
    Wow!! You look great!!! Fantastic job!!! As for motivation, some days are MUCH easier than others!!! I try to remember why I bagan my journey and that usually helps!!

    Stop it. That kind of fake 'he looks great' stuff is not what he was looking for. What is missing here are before and after photos so we have some perspective.

    Yeah, huh? That's what all the "Original" and "Current" pic stuff meant. Or did you not bother actually reading the original post?

    Ya look great, I drooled.
  • Jewlz280
    Jewlz280 Posts: 547 Member
    The big difference for me is that in the second you look more normal. Before, you looked.... bloated. I don't know how else to put it! No matter how thin you are, when you sit that skin will roll in a bit because when you stand up straight, it is all stretched normally. And it's skin! Yes, you do have some fat left, but you do look pretty darn great after 15. Just keep up with it and you'll really see it. I would gather to say that if you lose anymore and hit 20 to 25lbs. lost, THAT is when you'll really see the difference. I'm not sure what it is about that number, but that seems to be it many times! /RANT/ As for the rude person who said you needed real talk, lighten up dude. She didn't say anything about him being an Adonis and looking perfect! She said he looked great and was trying to be encouraging to keep going because there was a noticeable difference.. So, you stop it with being a jerk. You can be 'real' and not be a butt. Not to mention, sometimes people want to say something short and to the point without writing a novel. /End Rant/
  • rubixcyoob
    rubixcyoob Posts: 395
    I can definitely see a difference!

    Sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated because we constantly have a picture in our minds as to how we want to look and how much is left to do, and we fail to realise that how we look just now (despite it not being our ultimate goal) is still something to be proud of - we worked hard to get to how we are now, regardless of how far we have to go.
  • Kevalicious99
    Kevalicious99 Posts: 1,131 Member
    If I need some motivation .. it is all about that mirror. It tells the truth .. and I can see how well things are working. That is the best motivation .. at least for me. Things like the scale are not the best indicator of success.

    OP you are doing great. Just keep at it .. you will get there.
  • socialdeee
    socialdeee Posts: 87 Member
    Looking great!!! The camera also doesnt lie which is why ive chosen to documen my weight loss on you tube! Crazy but really keeping me focused. Check out my latest video weigh in! http://youtu.be/h5gT1F2y9YU

    But the meror is also a major factor aswell as someone elses point of view.

    People see what you dont!

    X
  • js8181
    js8181 Posts: 178 Member
    Thanks! Yeah, my goal is another 10. Hopefully by then I can start lifting again (had surgery a couple months ago which prevented that)
    The big difference for me is that in the second you look more normal. Before, you looked.... bloated. I don't know how else to put it! No matter how thin you are, when you sit that skin will roll in a bit because when you stand up straight, it is all stretched normally. And it's skin! Yes, you do have some fat left, but you do look pretty darn great after 15. Just keep up with it and you'll really see it. I would gather to say that if you lose anymore and hit 20 to 25lbs. lost, THAT is when you'll really see the difference. I'm not sure what it is about that number, but that seems to be it many times! /RANT/ As for the rude person who said you needed real talk, lighten up dude. She didn't say anything about him being an Adonis and looking perfect! She said he looked great and was trying to be encouraging to keep going because there was a noticeable difference.. So, you stop it with being a jerk. You can be 'real' and not be a butt. Not to mention, sometimes people want to say something short and to the point without writing a novel. /End Rant/
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