I used to think it was silly to take photos of myself to track my progress with my weight loss. I'm old school in the fact that I would keep a little journal with my monthly measurements. But after seeing some of the goal photo albums, I've started to take some photos in my sports bra and running shorts. I print them out and keep them in a little album with the date beside the photo.
It's crazy because I didn't think parts of my body had really changed but the photos are proof positive, lol. I showed them to my hubby and he was even surprised by how much certain areas on my body have tighten up. I guess a picture really shows the true story.
Do you find looking back at old photos helps keep you motivated?
I would be afraid to show them because I'm so much older than most of you Feathers (by at least a decade), lol. I wish I had taken some when I was at my highest weight about 5 years ago but in those days, I was taking care of my terminally ill mom so photos were not really at the forefront of my mind at that time. I probably should post the newest ones when I get a chance.
I have just began taking pictures. I feel like since I am not super heavy to begin with, it will be easier to track my progress through pictures than the numbers on the scale. A good friend of mine who is into body building & nutrition suggested I do that. (Don't get me wrong, I am still going to weigh, lol)
I wish someone had kicked my butt and talked me into taking pictures at the very beginning of my weight loss journey. I'm sure I'd be amazed at the differences I'd see in my body. As it stands, I started taking sports bra/undies pics once a month in mid-March; I was around 132 pounds, and I've lost 4-5 pounds and 2-3 inches off my waist, hips, and butt since then.
I find them really useful, but they're a good barometer of my mood--if I'm in a good one, I see the areas where I've improved (big differences in my waist/trunk, small differences in shoulders/arms); if I'm in a bad one, I see the areas where I haven't had much improvement (the legs! always the legs! ). They're especially useful right now, at a point when movement on the scale has stopped completely and measurements seem to be standing still or crawling down extremely slowly. In my pics toward the end of June, I see very small but real changes--a little more definition in my deltoids, the very faint beginnings of my linea alba (that's the vertical line in the abs that comes down from the sternum)--and that's encouraging me that something is still happening.
I might post pics when I'm at goal, or at least when I've seen more improvement.
I think it's a really good idea to take pics. I often put my ones side by side to remind me that while progress is slow, i am still losing weight. I wish I'd taken more full body ones though when I started losing weight. Doing it now though and still have 38lbs to lose so hopefully I'll still get the chance to see some progress.
In my pics toward the end of June, I see very small but real changes--a little more definition in my deltoids, the very faint beginnings of my linea alba (that's the vertical line in the abs that comes down from the sternum)--and that's encouraging me that something is still happening.
I might post pics when I'm at goal, or at least when I've seen more improvement.
OMG, me too. I can actually see my abs - the uppers have come in, the linea alba, obliques and the v-cuts. It's so crazy to see that, isn't it? Your body fat must be below 20% then because I've been reading online most women have to get their body fat in the teens to see some sort of definition. I started seeing mine at about 19%.
I also noticed my thighs have trimmed down quite a bit. I always hated my thighs. But I definitely need to build some muscle in my arms. They aren't flabby anymore but they need some bulking up, lol.
OMG, me too. I can actually see my abs - the uppers have come in, the linea alba, obliques and the v-cuts. It's so crazy to see that, isn't it? Your body fat must be below 20% then because I've been reading online most women have to get their body fat in the teens to see some sort of definition. I started seeing mine at about 19%.
Alas, I don't think I'm there yet. I've been using the Navy method to estimate my body fat % during my weight loss (and have a rough idea of change in bf% & lean mass over time), and right now it puts me at 24%, which I do think is probably close. And when I say that the line is faint, I mean really faint, and as a pear shape, I still have quite a lot of fat on my thighs, butt, saddlebags, the works, so my trunk is lean in comparison.
But I'm still counting it as a win, lol. Progress is progress. I'd love to have some real ab definition (post your pics sometime, I'll be inspired ) by the time I finish losing weight. I'm aiming for 18-20%, so I think with my body shape, it may be possible.
I've been taking them every 20 pounds and it's been incredibly useful. Much more useful than measurements because it's staring you in the face - me BEFORE... I post them on my blog. When I hit 60 pounds lost, I will start taking the photos every 10 pounds as I think those pounds will show more and more as I get closer to goal.
I took pictures the first day I decided to make changes and wanted to take them daily...didn't happen. haha! Since then, I sporadically decide when to take pictures...it can range from 1 day to two weeks apart. Looking at them can be great motivation when I feel like I'm going nowhere.
Alas, I don't think I'm there yet. I've been using the Navy method to estimate my body fat % during my weight loss (and have a rough idea of change in bf% & lean mass over time), and right now it puts me at 24%, which I do think is probably close. And when I say that the line is faint, I mean really faint, and as a pear shape, I still have quite a lot of fat on my thighs, butt, saddlebags, the works, so my trunk is lean in comparison.
But I'm still counting it as a win, lol. Progress is progress. I'd love to have some real ab definition (post your pics sometime, I'll be inspired ) by the time I finish losing weight. I'm aiming for 18-20%, so I think with my body shape, it may be possible.
Wow, I couldn't see any ab definition when I was 24%. You must be way more muscular than me. I'm so envious. The joys of being a ruler, lol. I'm aiming for 16% body fat but I'm pretty happy where I'm at, for now. I don't think I could maintain less than that for very long IMO. Being between 16-17% is doable, at least for me.
The running really helped me to reshape my lower body. Had jiggly thighs, skinny calves and a shapeless butt, lol. I still have a ways to go IMO but like anything else in life, it just takes time.
I should post some photos, I'm just so busy with the kids lately. Although sometimes my abs like "disappear" in certain lighting but I heard that's pretty common even for bodybuilders. They can't always look "popped out" 24/7 depending on your skin color (I'm really fair) and if you just ate a meal or something like that.
I'd bet you'd look amazing at even 20%. Your abs would really show then. A 4% loss in body fat would make a huge difference in your overall physique. Keep going. We're all in this together.
berryblondeboys: I've seen your pics on your blog--you are doing really well, looking great. You have a beautiful smile, lifts my spirits just to see it.
fitmom: I'm also totally jealous of all the folks here who have more muscle mass than I do--and sometimes it seems like it's practically everyone. I'm committed to trying to increase my muscle mass as time goes by, but as you know, it's a long, long, hard process for us gals.
I confess I am starting to toy with the notion of running. You runners start to get to me with your glowing reviews! I've tried a few times in the past and gave up due to knee & ankle pain. But I'm wondering whether, with the right shoes, gradual training, and with my weight lower, it might work for me this time. I may give this a shot (when the weather gets back into the 70s, haha).
surmise: I 'toyed' with the notion of running all last winter. I must've read every article about running there was on the internet, lol. My hubby got so sick of hearing me "talk" about it that he just said to me, "just do it already!" I had to wait until June when my kids got out of school, it was just easier for me that way. Anyway, DH bought me a good quality pair of running shoes and some cool running apparel. The very next day I started. I don't think you need to lose more weight to start IMO. You're already pretty lean from your numbers. We're only 11lbs. apart in weight - I'm 117. Our height is practically the same too. The knee and ankle pain might have been from the shoes. You have to start gradually. I'm just now able to (after 7 weeks) to run 3 miles without stopping in under 30 minutes. You should totally do it. If I can do it at my age, anyone can, lol.
It does seem like everyone on the board has way more muscle mass than me as well. It's hard not to get discouraged but I'm at the stage in my life that I've come to accept my body type, for the most part. When I was younger, I wanted to look like the actresses on t.v. now I want to look like me, only better.
berryblondeboys: I've seen your pics on your blog--you are doing really well, looking great. You have a beautiful smile, lifts my spirits just to see it.
fitmom: I'm also totally jealous of all the folks here who have more muscle mass than I do--and sometimes it seems like it's practically everyone. I'm committed to trying to increase my muscle mass as time goes by, but as you know, it's a long, long, hard process for us gals.
I confess I am starting to toy with the notion of running. You runners start to get to me with your glowing reviews! I've tried a few times in the past and gave up due to knee & ankle pain. But I'm wondering whether, with the right shoes, gradual training, and with my weight lower, it might work for me this time. I may give this a shot (when the weather gets back into the 70s, haha).
Wow, thanks! Now, i can hardly imagine body fat percentages and showing my abs... one step at a time. I was just happy see I'm getting lower and lower body fat. About now at 31% (supposedly).
Does taking photos help track your progress?
). 
They're especially useful right now, at a point when movement on the scale has stopped completely and measurements seem to be standing still or crawling down extremely slowly. In my pics toward the end of June, I see very small but real changes--a little more definition in my deltoids, the very faint beginnings of my linea alba (that's the vertical line in the abs that comes down from the sternum)--and that's encouraging me that something is still happening.
But I definitely need to build some muscle in my arms. They aren't flabby anymore but they need some bulking up, lol.
, and as a pear shape, I still have quite a lot of fat on my thighs, butt, saddlebags, the works, so my trunk is lean in comparison.
) by the time I finish losing weight. I'm aiming for 18-20%, so I think with my body shape, it may be possible.
I'm aiming for 16% body fat but I'm pretty happy where I'm at, for now. I don't think I could maintain less than that for very long IMO. Being between 16-17% is doable, at least for me. 
