How important are 'Before' photos to those who've succeeded?
Eyerin
Posts: 24
I'm always reading about random regrets of not taking or not having any 'Before' photos when weightloss and/or fitness challenges are started. How motivating do you think they are for yourself if you take them? I know other people's photos motivate me.
Many people like to post them publicly (Thank you so much to these courageous people - you are all SO great!) and for those that aren't comfortable with that, they could just be kept in a file for your eyes only. I'm not sure what camp I fall into yet, but I know I'm thinking of taking them this time. At the very least for my own personal diary.
Reading on how motivating it can be and keeping a consistent record of photos and measurements (once a week, once/twice a month, etc.) will have me trying to take the dreaded 'before measurements' and some headless body selfies today, since I have no one to take them for me and despite visiting this site a lot, it's time for me to get serious TODAY. I think we don't notice those small changes that others might and that changing photos can keep us really motivated.
I regrettably destroyed quite a few before heavy pics before my first successful weight loss round a few years ago because I hated them and my emotions got the best of me. I might have one or 2 fuzzy, fat photos left. This time on Round 2, after stupidly gaining some weight back, I hope it'll be different!!
It's not easy to snap different angles of the fleshy flab-fest going on for me right now, so I hope others can encourage me and others to JUST do it and that it IS indeed a good thing. Sports bra and workout shorts, here I *ugh* come.
Many people like to post them publicly (Thank you so much to these courageous people - you are all SO great!) and for those that aren't comfortable with that, they could just be kept in a file for your eyes only. I'm not sure what camp I fall into yet, but I know I'm thinking of taking them this time. At the very least for my own personal diary.
Reading on how motivating it can be and keeping a consistent record of photos and measurements (once a week, once/twice a month, etc.) will have me trying to take the dreaded 'before measurements' and some headless body selfies today, since I have no one to take them for me and despite visiting this site a lot, it's time for me to get serious TODAY. I think we don't notice those small changes that others might and that changing photos can keep us really motivated.
I regrettably destroyed quite a few before heavy pics before my first successful weight loss round a few years ago because I hated them and my emotions got the best of me. I might have one or 2 fuzzy, fat photos left. This time on Round 2, after stupidly gaining some weight back, I hope it'll be different!!
It's not easy to snap different angles of the fleshy flab-fest going on for me right now, so I hope others can encourage me and others to JUST do it and that it IS indeed a good thing. Sports bra and workout shorts, here I *ugh* come.
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Replies
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i didnt take any, and i'm regretting it.
at the time i didnt want any. but i wish i took some. just so i can see the progress.
but even though i didnt take any full body shots before the weight loss, there are pictures of me around at my heaviest and i've found myself looking back at them when that motivation leaves a little. nothing like a good reminder of where you were and where you dont want to be to get your butt to the gym.0 -
I think they are very important - especially as during my journey my brain forgets what heavier weights were like. I have no concept of what it was like to be at my heaviest because I feel exactly the same now. It's really weird. So I need my 'big jeans' and my before photos to remind me how much I've changed.
I did all my 'official' before photos in a goal bikini, which makes me look...dreadful. Those ones are certainly for my eyes only!!!0 -
I really really wish I had taken proper before photos at my highest weight so I could really see clearly how far I've come (and show off a bit!)
There is no reason NOT to take them. They may never be seen by anybody, but you will likely regret it if you don't take them.0 -
I wish I had taken before photos at my highest weight, including full body shots and underwear. Unfortunately the one in my profile picture is the only one I have, and that is after losing my first 20 pounds. I was really camera shy back then so almost no photos exist of me from back then. I wish I had some more comparison photos though!0
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Do it. If you don't, you'll likely regret it when you reach your goal.0
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Go for it! I never did at my highest weight, but I did 10 pounds ago. My progress has been really, really slow. When I hit the 10# down mark, it was nice to take new pictures and see the differences. They're small, but they motivate me
You don't have to post them publicly now, but I bet you'll want to when you've reached your goals!0 -
I didn't take pictures as in this one picture is my before picture but at times I did get photos snapped of me that I thought were nice ones of me. I started doing progress picture 10 lbs in. I think its important cause when weight is coming off slow or I am feeling fat or just want to eat and eat. I can go look at all my pictures. I actually created an album on Facebook so I can look at them easily and every day if I need to.0
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Do it. I didn't take real before photos until I had already lost 50 lbs. I really regret it!!0
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Absolutely, astoundingly, unequivocally required. I found my before from 2 years ago and almost cried. I have "only" lost 40, but have come such a long way. I look like a new person. And it's awesome.0
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Huge !! Take them ...even at my highest must terrible weight especially in pic I never felt That big ...but I was even now I still feel like the same person but those pics say their own words ...so when I look back I'm amazed , ONE because no one said anything lol...and two because the results are CRAZY ! I NEVER want to go back to that so I look and say holy moly ..never again ! Take them and hide them whatever ...but you will want them 0
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It's critical! I wish I had more before I started losing weight....from the last few years. I did start documenting my loss but I wish I had more "befores" for comparison. Take them! You won't regret it AND they serve a great purpose when you are losing by putting them side-by-side....sometimes you can't see your changes until you put the pics next to each other.0
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I think they're very important. I've taken some before I completely overhauled my eating and workout regime. I regret not taking any before that though 0
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Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it.
And in case that wasn't clear enough...
DO IT!
It is a HUGE motivation! I took photos every month. Those months when I felt like the scale hadn't moved like I thought it should, I could look at my Before picture and realize how far I had come.
My before picture(s) also serve as a very real and very powerful reminder to me of where I could wind up if I were to stop making better choices. I can look at those images of me... fat, sick, and nearly dead... and say with conviction, "Never again. Never. Ever. Again."
Yes, looking at those pictures hurts. But you'll never regret taking them. And taking the steps to a better life. 0 -
I think they are very helpful! You see yourself everyday so you don't notice the subtle changes. When you are feeling like progress is slow it is helpful to take them out and see how much you've changed.0
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I took a few photo's about 3 years ago before I lost 4 stone and I don't regret taking them, but it upsets me when I look at them because it reminds me how miserable I felt and I can't help but feel really sorry for the person I used to be. I suppose it's not so much a motivation for me as rather a keepsake.0
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Very, very helpful. Especially for those times when things don't seem to be going well. You need to see how far you've come and it's hard to notice without photos.
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I think they help mentally. Since you see yourself in the mirror everyday, sometimes it is hard to see the changes. If you have pictures to look back on, it helps you realize how far you have come and how much the hard work has paid off. Do it for yourself!0
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I took a few photo's about 3 years ago before I lost 4 stone and I don't regret taking them, but it upsets me when I look at them because it reminds me how miserable I felt and I can't help but feel really sorry for the person I used to be. I suppose it's not so much a motivation for me as rather a keepsake.
I wish I'd taken some before I started, and I'm going back trying to find some. I remember the misery now that I can realize that it was misery, but I use it as motivation, and it feels awesome to see to progress I've made.0 -
They're really important. I wish I still had my before pictures. I took them on my phone and enjoyed looking at my progress until my phone's screen decided to turn blue in June and I couldn't see anything on it. I really wish that I could see myself and how far I've come, I'm still feeling big at times, so a reminder would be nice.0
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It's an unequivocable 'Do It' for me then!
Busting out the sports bra and shorts after this post.
- take complete measurements first and start a committed daily weight loss journal in a notebook and here on MFP. I have this
thing about notebooks.
- figure out the self-timer on my new camera to try to get some full body shots, preferable to a selfie, unless I have to go that route.
- close blinds so as not to scare the elderly neighbors.
- house clean (I'm anal that way), no random clutter.
- Apologize to the dog and give her a treat.
- Take photos, let it hang out naturally and feel no shame. Know that they will be a positive in the long run.
- Workout number 1 today.
- Return to MFP for amazing motivation and encouragement.
Photos
1) Full front with arms slightly out to the sides
2) Full front with the bicep flex pose
3) Side view, arms at side - no slouching, no tucking in
4) Back view - arms at side or flex pose
You'd think I was going to the G7 World Summit or taking a rocket science exam. Lol.
Omma...your before and afters are just wonderful...great job!
Great advice, everyone!0 -
It's never too late to take a pic. If you are doing things right, you will always be progressing. My progress picture does not represent me at my heaviest but it still shows how far I've come. When I get down in the dumps, I look at that picture and it reminds me how far I've come.0
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I didn't think I would make, so I didn't do it.
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I struggled with anorexia as a teen and young adult so taking before pictures was an absolute necessity for me.
I still see myself at over 300 lb. when I look in the mirror and the pictures show me that I definitely look different, even when I don't see it.0 -
I didn't start taking before and after photos or measurements until I had already lost about 25 pounds. I regret it so much because I don't know the accurate inches I've lost!
However, my before and after photos make me cry sometimes. I never really considered myself to be that unhealthy but looking at those photos....I'm not that person anymore.
My photos are so important to me, it's physical proof of what I've done.0 -
I don't find my before photos motivational. They're just a way to compare how far I've come with losing weight.0
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Without taking them, I wouldn't have noticed how much strength training and diet changes alone (without losing more weight) changed my body. Leaning out is hard to see unless you take progress pictures.0
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Add me to the just-do-it camp!0
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It is my biggest regret about the whole process. Of course I have photos of myself from before I lost weight, but I never took any legit "before" or "during" photos. I didn't start taking actual progress photos until I had already lost over 100 lbs. When I started working with my current strength coach, he requested that I take them once a month, so I'm doing that now, and I really wish I had taken them the whole time.0
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I am in the minority, I don't consider them important. I know I've lost weight and I know I feel physically better. I don't need pictures to remind me of the 'before' me. I just need to keep improving the current me.0
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I take a series of photos every week and compare them to my starting point and a previous week or 2. These have really helped me to stay motivated, and it is interesting to be able to see what happens when I go off my diet/exercise routine ("uh oh, I'm back to Week 5!")
I agree with the poster above that taking so many progress pics is overkill. Once a month would probably be just fine! I do find it really motivational for some reason, though.0
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