Realizing how big you are..

Yes - Yes and...YES!

I've always known I was a big guy. I was heads and shoulders taller and many-many pounds heavier than just about every kid I went to school with until I hit high school. The reason I take photos (and I really encourage everyone to do so) of my progress is to remind myself of how I look. I've always been athletic even though I'm a big guy. I don't feel fat, but the pictures don't lie. I need to see those images to remind myself why I'm working so hard to lose the weight. It's about being healthy. It's about adding years to my life. It's about looking good in those pictures and in the mirror. We all can benefit from seeing the truth once in a while. Just don't let it get you down. Use it to motivate, not decimate.

Keep your head up. Use those feelings as fuel and imagine how you'll feel when you succeed!

I used to be the skinny girl until my 4th pregnancy. I was put on bedrest and gained a lot of weight. Then I just kept gaining. I'm 6' tall and used to weigh 150 (which is about what a woman my height should weigh). Now I am well over 200. I avoid getting my picture taken, and try not to look in the mirror. It's gotten better lately...I've lost 17 lbs and am starting to notice a small difference. I still don't like how I look, but I use it to motivate me. Keep your chin up...you can do this!

I had started on the healthy path already when I realized that I would end up like my dad but then I really started working on it when I saw a picture from Christmas. I looked huge, I looked like a slightly smaller but girl version of my Dad. My Dad weighed over 500 lbs. I was way less.

But as soon as I saw that. I knew I had to change. I wanted a figure again. I wanted cheek Bones.!
So i started to work out. Drinking Water. Eating healthy

Had the same type of moment on July 3rd. I took "before" photos (as you can see in my profile pic) even though I had lost 10 pounds before that (because I slacked off and wanted to "begin" again). After I took the pictures, I looked at them and saw the female version of my dad. I love my dad, but I really don't want to end up having the health issues he has because of his weight.... diabetes, heart disease, etc.

My Dad's health issue was death. He died of heart attack from being morbidly obese

I wanted to add something to this thread after reading all the replies and seeing how many people feel the same.

I started my weight loss after a holiday in 2007 when I was ashamed that I couldn't get one nice picture of myself without thinking how big I looked. That was my wake up call. And probably the worst holiday I've ever had. Turned out, I was actually 7 weeks pregnant (with my 2nd) on that holiday so that probably had something to do with my emotions!! Anyway, despite being pregnant, I was aware that I wanted to slim down, but not actively doing anything about it.

Not much happened for a while... I had my baby.... then started doing some limited exercise and cutting out some of the crappy food. Then I had my 3rd baby, lol, so weight never moved much. THEN I got engaged and set a date for my wedding - 16 weeks after my 3rd was born! I had to get into a wedding dress!! That was it. That was my kick in to action. I had a goal. I had to work for it. And bloody hell I did. I lost approx 23lbs in those 16 weeks. I was at my goal weight for my wedding :-)

Now, this was way before MFP and thankfully, myself, I managed to make a lot of changes. With exercise and food. I changed from an 'eat a tub of icecream while watching TV girl' to where I am today.... this weekend I am running my first half marathon, I've cleaned up my eating massively (with choc allowed!!), I workout every day and I am PROUD of my body. Yes, it has taken me around 4 years to get to this point. But I've only been on MFP for a year or so..... and I have 3 kids, so it's not like I can focus 100% on myself. People don't believe I've had 3 kids. I am strong, I am slim and I am now down to 113lbs (from about 165lbs).

I am at my lowest ever weight. I think 'wow' when I look in the mirror. Sure, that may vain..... who gives a f***? I achieved this. Myself.

Those days are out there people........ don't give up. One day you will look in the mirror and be pleased :-)

I had started on the healthy path already when I realized that I would end up like my dad but then I really started working on it when I saw a picture from Christmas. I looked huge, I looked like a slightly smaller but girl version of my Dad. My Dad weighed over 500 lbs. I was way less.

But as soon as I saw that. I knew I had to change. I wanted a figure again. I wanted cheek Bones.!
So i started to work out. Drinking Water. Eating healthy

Had the same type of moment on July 3rd. I took "before" photos (as you can see in my profile pic) even though I had lost 10 pounds before that (because I slacked off and wanted to "begin" again). After I took the pictures, I looked at them and saw the female version of my dad. I love my dad, but I really don't want to end up having the health issues he has because of his weight.... diabetes, heart disease, etc.

My Dad's health issue was death. He died of heart attack from being morbidly obese

I'm so sorry! My dad is still alive, thank God, but he has had one or two heart attacks. It's bad news. :frown:

This is similar to the problem that anorexic people have only in reverse. Doctors call it "body dismorphic disorder" I think. The super
thin look at themselves and think they are fat and we look at ourselves and don't always see how big we really are. So it is easy to get bigger because we are in denial about what we really look like. I too hate having my picture taken. I also avoid full length mirrors. That was last month. Now I will fix the damage that I have done to my body as much as I am able. I will be realistic and honest but kind to myself. We can only move forward if we have a positive outlook. Good luck to all who face the challenge of weight loss.