OMG!

FireTigerSoul
FireTigerSoul Posts: 268 Member
edited November 10 in Motivation and Support
Anybody else feel incredibly depressed after taking your 'before' picture to track weight loss? I just took mine in the bikini I'm hoping to wear this summer and...wow. I can't believe I let myself get to this point. I feel horrible! :(
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Replies

  • kandi810
    kandi810 Posts: 70 Member
    The rest of us are right there with you - just keep on keepin' on. You will get to where you want to be with a little determination! Good luck!
  • Fozzyspotts
    Fozzyspotts Posts: 50 Member
    Completely understand. 7 years ago, I could complete the firefighter challenge, in full gear, on an air pac, in just under two minutes. Now? The thought takes away my breath and I feel tired.

    It will get better, so just stick with it and don't expect miracles overnite. It took awhile for this to catch up with you, it will take awhile to fix things.

    SP
  • KristyGirl8
    KristyGirl8 Posts: 20 Member
    You don't need a "before" pic! Just delete it! I hate the idea of being photographed in a bikini!
  • frosty73
    frosty73 Posts: 424 Member
    Yup! I took pics of myself 3 weeks ago, and again a few days ago. I was very pleased to see a little bit of decrease in my stomach pooch and also my waist. Then I decided to also take a pic of me from the back--- AARGH!!! Frightening, I had no idea I looked that bad from the back. Terribly, terribly discouraging.
  • trixirn
    trixirn Posts: 130 Member
    You don't need a "before" pic! Just delete it! I hate the idea of being photographed in a bikini!
    Don't delete! Just hide it and don't look at it until you feel ready to take your after. You will be amazed at yourself.
  • Well I'm almost 54 and I know that I never be back in one. One way to keep you going is to try it on about every 2 weeks to see your progress and I bet you will like what you see and that the hard work was worth it. Good luck.
  • AnotherJenn
    AnotherJenn Posts: 62 Member
    I haven't done or even thought to do that, seems like a good idea though. May just be the motivation (slap of reality) to keep me moving :-)
  • JenniferInNY
    JenniferInNY Posts: 65 Member
    Did you measure yourself, too?

    As you exercise and work out, be sure to measure yourself as well as weighing yourself. You'll probably see improvements in your measurements more quickly, and it will be motivating. It will help you see that you are moving away from the measurements that were in that "before" photo.

    I never took a "before" photo and now I kind of wish I had. I am proud of my loss so far but worry I may gain it back. If I had an alarming "before" photo that might help me stay on track. I do have just random photos around of me "before," though, and they do not look great.
  • YES!! I did this just last week and the picture almost made me cry, it disgusts me but I can't stop looking at it! I knew I'd gotten fatter, just didn't know it was that bad! I don't look like myself - or the myself that I thought I looked like and I can't understand why I look in the mirror and don't see myself like that, but it's crystal clear in those pictures. I even felt sorry for my boyfriend for having to deal with that (I was smaller when we met).

    It kicked me into gear a bit though, forced me to seek out better foods, watch my portion size and go harder at the gym. Encouraged me to track EVERYTHING on here properly and to start being honest with myself. Keep the picture, it willo be worth it in the end when you can look back and see how far you've come. It could be the thing that stops you from falling back into bad habits :smile:
  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    Don't feel horrible. You are taking the steps to become a healthier you. That's a big deal. Your body will change, and you can look back and see how awesome you did.
  • bahacca
    bahacca Posts: 878 Member
    Take a new one in 4 weeks. I find it really fun to compare and to see where my body is dropping fat (and where it is holding on for dear life!LOL) It helps keep me accountable and actually makes me look forward to taking new ones to see what improvement there is. I'm lifting heavy, so I know the scale isn't going to accurately depict my journey. Pictures don't lie!
  • FireTigerSoul
    FireTigerSoul Posts: 268 Member
    Yup! I took pics of myself 3 weeks ago, and again a few days ago. I was very pleased to see a little bit of decrease in my stomach pooch and also my waist. Then I decided to also take a pic of me from the back--- AARGH!!! Frightening, I had no idea I looked that bad from the back. Terribly, terribly discouraging.

    Exactly! I knew the problems I had in the front...the pictures just exaggerated what I had in mind...but the back was a real eye-opener. :(
  • FireTigerSoul
    FireTigerSoul Posts: 268 Member
    Did you measure yourself, too?

    As you exercise and work out, be sure to measure yourself as well as weighing yourself. You'll probably see improvements in your measurements more quickly, and it will be motivating. It will help you see that you are moving away from the measurements that were in that "before" photo.

    I never took a "before" photo and now I kind of wish I had. I am proud of my loss so far but worry I may gain it back. If I had an alarming "before" photo that might help me stay on track. I do have just random photos around of me "before," though, and they do not look great.

    Yes, I started measuring last week. I've decided to measure once a week every Tuesday. I'm glad I took it because I'm sure I'll be proud of the after results, but...wow they were a shock. :(
  • daphnemoon
    daphnemoon Posts: 216 Member
    I think it is great to measure your progress in as many ways as possible so you have lots of reasons to feel proud.

    I found when I started that while the scale didn't move, the measurements did change because I was doing weight training.
    However, since the weight loss has been more steady, it is taking more loss to make the measurements change, so I only ever measure every fortnight at the very least. So don't get disheartened if the tape measure doesn't move either. I'm finding it is taking in the region of a 5 - 7 Ib weight loss to see even a little budge in the tape measure.

    Good luck!
  • You are not alone-It was seeing myself from the back that got me here. But know that this is the worst it can get and from now on it only gets better.
  • FireTigerSoul
    FireTigerSoul Posts: 268 Member
    You are not alone-It was seeing myself from the back that got me here. But know that this is the worst it can get and from now on it only gets better.

    Very true! I woke up this morning and I was down 1 lb. Woohoo! One step closer to losing that back fat! :)
  • viclee1
    viclee1 Posts: 156 Member
    I totally feel your pain! lol ALthough I try to be grateful (it COULD be wose no offence to anyone here!!)
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    don't worry, that's why it's called a "before" picture.
  • SafireBleu
    SafireBleu Posts: 881 Member
    I feel your pain but at least now when I feel like my WLJ has stalled I can take a current picture to compare to my before picture and I know there have been huge changes. Just keep working towards your goal and you'll get there.
  • You should surround yourself with pictures of pictures of where you want to be. I leave my mine mens helath mag's all over the house and even have stuck front covers on my fridge door. Constant reminders of where you want to be, help you stay positive and focused. You cant change what has gone before but you can change what is to come. :smile:
  • look back at the before when you have got where you want to be, then you can look back and be proud. looking at negative images can leave you feeling negative thoughts.
  • amuhlou
    amuhlou Posts: 693 Member
    When I saw pics of myself from my wedding shower a couple months before hubs & I started counting calories, I was pretty bummed out. All our lovely wedding photos feature us at our heaviest.

    Up until then, I could kinda brush off my unhappiness about what I saw in the mirror by saying maybe I was just being too hard on myself, or maybe it's just that I'm not wearing clothes that flatter me, etc.

    It was rough but also good motivation! And it paid off when we went on our honeymoon about a year later.
  • Mom2rh
    Mom2rh Posts: 612 Member
    Make sure you take measurements too. Sometimes the scale doesn't reflect ALL of your progress.

    Don't delete. You will be so happy you did and you can track your progress.
  • FireTigerSoul
    FireTigerSoul Posts: 268 Member
    You should surround yourself with pictures of pictures of where you want to be. I leave my mine mens helath mag's all over the house and even have stuck front covers on my fridge door. Constant reminders of where you want to be, help you stay positive and focused. You cant change what has gone before but you can change what is to come. :smile:

    I have pictures of when I was skinnier in high school plastered all over my fridge and my computer screen. They're starting to blend in, and I hardly notice them anymore...lol. Guess it's time for new ones. I found a picture of a model in the same swimsuit I bought for this summer, so I think I'll print that out and put it on the fridge. :)
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    You don't need a "before" pic! Just delete it! I hate the idea of being photographed in a bikini!
    Don't delete! Just hide it and don't look at it until you feel ready to take your after. You will be amazed at yourself.

    This! Don't delete it. You'll be happy you have it in a few weeks when you can see the progress. Photos area much better way to gauge progress than the scale.

    I had some candid photos I used as before shots, but didn't start really checking my progress through photos until I was already at my halfway point. I wish I had more. It's so motivating!
  • Tishy78
    Tishy78 Posts: 108 Member
    It was a picture that started me on this journey as well. Here I am, holding my gorgeous new nephew or playing with him on the floor. I was disgusted. And it definitely hurt.

    While I didn't take a full "before" picture, I do look back at those. Now, I wish I had taken one for an even better comparison, honestly. That "tough love" approach is what has caused me to be successful so far.

    So hopefully after the initial shock and hurt, it will have the same effect for you :) You CAN do this. Good luck on your journey!
  • You should surround yourself with pictures of pictures of where you want to be. I leave my mine mens helath mag's all over the house and even have stuck front covers on my fridge door. Constant reminders of where you want to be, help you stay positive and focused. You cant change what has gone before but you can change what is to come. :smile:

    I have pictures of when I was skinnier in high school plastered all over my fridge and my computer screen. They're starting to blend in, and I hardly notice them anymore...lol. Guess it's time for new ones. I found a picture of a model in the same swimsuit I bought for this summer, so I think I'll print that out and put it on the fridge. :)

    well done, i find this really works for me, i don't look at pics of myself, just guys of how i'd like to look.... i find it's the sam e as life really, surround yourself with positive people, positive thoughts, positive images and you will attract positive things not because of any great'secret' but just because been around them things makes you make things happen for yourself :smile:
  • All i can say is that you are not alone :(
  • MrsM1ggins
    MrsM1ggins Posts: 724 Member
    If I had a time machine I'd go back to when I started and convince myself to take a picture a day all the way through my weight loss journey.

    I really regret the lack of 'before' pics, although it has been pointed out to me that I can take 'before' pics anytime since I'm not done yet. :smile:
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    I have them on my profile. I been told I inspire peeps. Does it make me sad? at times. but then I remember how far I've come and no longer have diabetes. so then I stop being sad and start being awesome instead. true story

    stolen from some guy in a suit >.>
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