devastated by my before photo

This may or may not be my place and I truly hope it won't offend you... but I don't think at all that this would be good motivation. (I do know a lot of people do it though). But to me this is a "negative motivation" or what I think of as motivation by punishing yourself. Basically you are making yourself feel bad about yourself as motivation. True motivation comes from feeling better about yourself and feeling that you are WORTH the time, the energy, and all this work that it takes to make the positive changes. Instead of your before picture I'd put a magnetic dry erase board on your fridge with a big # on it of how many pounds you have lost. And maybe a couple of reasons you want to get healthier. A couple of things you are proud of that day like your workout, your water intake, a healthy meal choice. Those are positive reinforcement and positive motivation that encourages you to improve and to also appreciate the good things. I hope this might help. And someday that before photo will really make you smile when it's next to your progress photo.

My sister-in-law is a picture freak and has no editing skills whatsoever. The last bunch of pics she had developed and gave to us had so many horrible and I mean horrible photos of me. I don't think I'd ever give someone one pic of them that looked really bad let alone 5-10. But this is someone who still spells my first name wrong. But, anyway, I am thankful in a way because those pics were the catalyst that got me on here and up and exercising. I'm still pretty devastated by the photos, maybe I'll look at them again, but not for a long, long time.

But when I looked at my before pictures I felt ill. So much so that I printed that nasty photo and put it on my fridge. I look at it everyone I wasn't to eat. It helps me visualize what I am working so hard for therefore I make smarter food choices. What keeps you motivated to make better choices?

This comment combined with your username really makes me just want to give you a hug... be nice to yourself, girl! You are on the right track and you're already down 11 pounds! ) I tried the negative self-talk route and all it did was make me gain weight in the end.

What keeps me motivated?

Seeing my kids and knowing that I'm setting a better example now... my 7yo was following hard and fast on my heels toward being overweight and unhealthy, just like I did with MY mom, and I am trying really hard to break that pattern. And hearing my husband tell me he's proud of me.

Seeing my progress - I track measurements religiously, and every week I'm increasing the weight I'm lifting. AND... the clothes that are in my closet and basement that go all the way down to size 6/8.... I kept all of my clothes even when I was gaining weight because I knew that the day would come when I was ready to get back into them. Now it's here, and I am LOVING that every couple of weeks I can go through the bag of clothes in the next size down and find a few more things that fit. That rocks, and is a big motivator for this girl who has HATED going to the closet for over a year now. )

I say Kudos to OP, it may be negative but the result will be positive. Sometimes we have to recognise our demons, everybody works differently. For me I just noticed that I was getting tight in my hip region & some mornings I was struggling to put my socks on haha. I had previously attended a gym but when the little terror/treasure(my daughter) came along, finances righthly got redirected. I now workout from home & my drive is simply that I think my daughter should eat well, I am by no means a food nazi but good choices are encouraged over short term poor choices.

Russ

If putting your before picture on your fridge motivates you, then leave it up by all means.
But I would challenge you to try to change the way you think about that picture. What if that picture on the fridge was a picture of a friend you cared for? Would you see only the extra pounds she is carrying, or would you think of all the beautiful qualities she has when you look at her? Would you shame her into making better choices, or would you gently steer her in the right direction because you care? Would you berate her if she makes a mistake or would you encourage her to keep going?
You deserve the same care and compassion. :flowerforyou:

I can understand that, I knew I was getting big, but til I saw a picture of me at Christmas, I had no idea HOW big!!!! That was definitely the kick start I needed, but the picture depresses me, instead of motivating, so I refuse to look at it, lol.
I'm definitely a 'positive' motivation person. I have the sign up sheet for a marathon I used to run every year on my fridge for the end of this Summer, it reminds me how much more I loved life when I was able to run and be active. Along with a cute picture of a baby I found in a magazine. We are wanting to start a family, but the dr. said at my size it is a garunteed C-section, I want to be able to have a natural birth.
I look at those thigns and they make me warm and fuzzy inside, and I don't open up the fridge to look for cheese, lol.

I agree with the others about being nicer to yourself, I read a saying last week that said, "You can't take care of something you hate". Even if you don't love your body, at least love it's potential!