Ok.. so for as long as I can remember I have avoided the camera at pretty much all costs. Yes, there are a few pics of me floating around on this memory card or that, but not very many. Anyway, I really want some before pictures... I am coming up on the 250 mark, 13 pounds down so I feel I better do it now before it is too late to get before pictures. I am stalling on doing it though because I know I will litterally cry when I see how horrible I look right now.
Also how should I do them... I thought about like underwear shots, but would never share them with the world I don't think..lol... maybe like a tank top and my stretchy pants that I work out in?
Do any of you keep a photo journal or anything like that of your journey? If so how often do you take pics?
Soprry, I sound like my 3 year old with all these silly questions.. but I really need the push to do this, I want to be able to see the changes I have made, and I don't ever want to forget where it is that I was!
It's really very personal how you choose to do it. You don't ever have to share them with the world. Your tank top & stretchy pants sound fine I would suggest an uncluttered background. (Against a plain wall, etc.) Also, you don't have to even look at them right now if you don't want. Have them taken, and don't look. If you're really worried, wait until you take some updated pictures 25 lbs from now or so to compare them.
I never really shy'd away from the camera, but you better believe that if I could hide behind someone or sit while having the pic taken, I did. I wish I had taken some when I first started, and I didn't. I'd like to see the 40lb weight loss for myself, since I can't really tell. I should take some now, at 240 and go from here. I saw just do it, and have a cry if you need to. But also know that you are working on getting healthier, and those pics will be a way to see how far you have come months down the line.
I also suffer from camera issues, but I wanted to encourage you to do this. I saw another chick's progress pictures recently, and she had taken them wearing the same clothes, standing in the same place, same position and hairstyle, and it made it really easy to see all her great progress. It's too late for me to do it now, but I wish I had done this - it would be great to take a look whenever I felt discouraged or like I wasn't making much progress.
I would not do underwear because I think later you will want to share them.
And if you think it will make you cry to look at them right now, then just don't look. Put them away until you have a progress pic to compare against them. Also, I've seen some taken from the side view and then another from the front on. I think this is a great idea, because sometimes you see progress in different areas and it can be hard to tell if you are not looking from the right view.
I never consciously took before pictures, but used the ones from my vacation to Disney World. So, I was wearing normal clothes and that's how people used to see me on a daily basis. If you find that taking pics in underwear might be too upsetting for you, maybe try taking pictures of yourself when you feel you're looking your best, such as before a nice dinner or just on a day when you think your outfit and hair are really working out for you. People in public don't usually see you half naked, so maybe a casual clothing picture would be good in your case. Is it also possible to have someone else take the pictures of you and not look at them right away? Maybe wait until you feel like you can handle it mentally, after having made more progress and taking new pics?
You've already been making great progress, so all in all I wouldn't worry about how horrible you think you look now, because it's only getting much, much better from here on out with continued hard work!
Last edited by LindseyLouWho; 04-07-2008 at 02:59 PM.
I haven't taken progress pics this time...yet. I'm about 10 pounds away from starting them up. I have tons of progress pics from all the times before when I started losing weight. I figure I still look about the same. I think the don't look at them may be a great idea for you if you think it will discourage you. Just save them to your computer by your weight/date or something so you'll remember where they are. I used to take two sets of progress pics—fully clothes and bikini. I never shared my bikini shots but would have had I gotten lower.
I have taken a lot of progress pics, but don't have all them them for public viewing. I try to take them every 10 pounds or so, or whenever I feel particularly good LOL!
My before pics are just ones that I had laying around. They aren't posed for weight loss comparison, but they sure do show how big I was!! Ugh!
I would also start taking your measurements - right now. Do at least your bust/waist/hips ( I also do arms, thighs and calves). Those have been my lifeline when the scale stalls. You can still lose inches even if the scale doesn't move.
Thanks everyone. Tonight is pretty much out of the question, hubby isn't home to play photographer...lol. I will have him take some pics tomarrow night.
I haven't decided yet if I will look at them or not. We don't own a mirror that I can see anything but my face in.. probably part of how I allowed myself go this long.
Lori~~ how often should I measure? I measured last Monday, but when I measured today my numbers were wayyyy different.. some were higher and some were way smaller so I said until I understand what I should be doing with this tape measure it's gonna stay on the shelf..lol.
I agree with everyone else. I didn't take any pictures and now I wish I did. I think I may have some pics from before but not at my starting weight and probably not full on body shots. Now that I have lost almost 35lbs it would be nice to see a difference.
I think I might take some pictures at this weight and continue on and update every 15lbs or so. I will not be looking at the pics I take until I have a comparison. I think it is a good idea to let someone else take the pic or do a self timer and not check to make sure - just take enough so you know you have at least one good photo. Or look and let us know how you are feeling.
What I use for my before shot is a TOTALLY unflattering (yet true to life!) photo of me in a bathing suit. Even in a tankini I looked awful and it really does help to look at it when I'm down and pat myself on the back for the progress I've been able to make.
I took mine in stretchy leggings and a sports bra, but you can use whatever you feel comfortable wearing. I do encourage you to take them now as you will be grateful that you did in the future. At 30 pounds lost, I started feeling like all of this wasn't worth it....that I hadn't made that much progress yet and I could postpone this until later and start again when I felt stronger and more motivated. Then, I took progress pictures and compared them to my "before" pictures. I didn't think that 30 pounds was much, but I could really see the difference in my pictures! I can't wait to compare my 50 pound, 75 pound, 100 pound and goal pictures. If you want to have someone take them for you and look at them later down the road, at least you'll have them for comparison. There is no reason at all that you need to look at them now....especially if you think it will de-rail your progress.
Lori~~ how often should I measure? I measured last Monday, but when I measured today my numbers were wayyyy different.. some were higher and some were way smaller so I said until I understand what I should be doing with this tape measure it's gonna stay on the shelf..lol.
Once a month is good for measurements. Take note of exactly where you are putting the tape measure, and write it down so that you put the tape in the same spot each time.
Someone give me a push
I would suggest an uncluttered background. (Against a plain wall, etc.) Also, you don't have to even look at them right now if you don't want. Have them taken, and don't look. If you're really worried, wait until you take some updated pictures 25 lbs from now or so to compare them.
TAKE THE BEFORE PICS! 
