Should I take one or will it just depress me? Then what do I do once I have taken it, just hold onto it until I start losing weight?!

LOL I was debating this very same thing. I'm not sure myself.

YES! Do it Do it Do it!
Even if you don't want to look at it, just file it away. I found it to be a fantastic motivator to see my weight loss first hand through the pictures. Last time I lost the weight I took one every ten pounds. Around 20 pounds I started seeing big differences! Very motivating!

I've seen other folks say, take one (or have someone take one if your camera doesn't have a delay). And put it away in a drawer or something. Maybe take a front view and a side view.

Then, some time down the road, when you feel like you just can't tell much difference from losing weight, have someone take another picture with the same view(s). Hold them side by side, and you'll see that there really is a difference!

Jay

Definitely take one. I didn't and I really regret it. I also didn't take measurements so you might want to write those down as well.

I say do it, yes it may depress you to actually see it, but it will motivate you to lose the weight imo.

Thanks everyone! I think I will take one and if I am feeling really brave I might even post it to help me be accountable and motivate me to stay on track. Honestly it is just depressing for me to even see myself in pictures. I see this fat person and I think OMG is that really me?!

definitely take one! then you have something to compare future pics of yourself to!

it can be depressing, but it can also be motivating! knowing that's the last day you'll look like that! I say take it and just leave it for a few months, take another and compare the two. You'll be glad you did

I know how you feel LizJ.. I would LOVE to be in pictures, but I'm always avoiding them because I'm scared of how big I'll look.

I think you'll be glad that you decided to take pictures.. I know FOR SURE that I am! It's shocking at first, but the good thing is, it will only get better from here!

I'll be honest, I have a before pic only because I won an award at work around my high weight. It's still too painful for me to look at the pic even after losing 60 pounds. I did not purposely take any before pics, I did take some in between pics and even looking back at those are pretty depressing. For some people though it's a huge motivator. Good luck with the decision you make!

Take them, it's great to have pictures to compare to, it really helps to see how far you've come. My before pictures are on my fridge!

By all means, take one!!! No one has to see it but you, and it will help when you have those dark days where you feel like you haven't changed at all (but you have!). I HATE my hideous before picture, but it's motivating because I know I don't look like that anymore and I sure as heck don't want to go back there.

Take one! For a long time I could not see any difference when I looked in the mirror but I could see a difference when I compared pictures. I did not take side shot pictures and wish that I had.

Take your measurements too so that you can keep track as you shrink!

Definitely take before pics. I suggest both front and side views. I have before pics and very frequent progress pics. I have a folder on my computer labeled weight loss pictures and I name each picture file with the weight at the time it was taken and put it in there. They are very helpful to me.