I took before pictures. Sometimes just looking in the mirror you cant see how much you have really lost since you look at yourself everyday. I am down 15lbs and looking at my pictures side by side you can really tell the difference, but if I just look in the mirror I cant really tell except for a bit in my face.
I did not start taking measurements till this week since I have hit a plateau with my weight loss.
I highly recommend taking before and progress pictures, they are a good motivation tool.
Oh yes the dreaded Oh is this really me?!?! I will post mine later-if I can figure out how .... guaranteed to make you feel better(I wore the the shortest short and tightest tank top I own-so I could see it all.) I actually printed s couple copies and put one on the fridge so I couldn't fool myself into thinking it was OK to just eat what I wanted.
And yes... it's amazing how we can fool ourselves into thinking we weren't "that big". Like you saying you always had photos of your smallest point on upwards - that's a 'trick' but we/you see all of you.
We KNOW we are fat, but we just don't let it sink in how far we've let it go. It's amazing really how we can not see the excess weight and then later, the loss of weight - our mind plays tricks with us - but photos don't lie! - especially full body shots.
I took "before" pictures of myself at 307. I've always avoided cameras like the plague, purely because I didn't want to confront how I looked, but believe me they're helpful.
The mirror doesn't tell the whole truth; I don't know why. Just looking at my reflection I was somehow able to fool myself into thinking I wasn't as big as I was. It's a dangerous trap. But there's something about a photograph that makes everything seem real.
I think taking pictures is a great idea. Take some more whenever you feel the need and start comparing them; it's a great way to stay motivated!
And I know what you mean about being bummed. I'm still bummed, lol.
P.S. Congrats on your weight loss so far, that's amazing! And if you want to feel better, visit my blog. My bra-and-undies "before" shots are up there for the world to see. I don't care who looks at them. I'll never again look like I did then, lol.
If I were you I would try to stop thinking of yourself as a "before"... it's sort of a pejorative label. By that I mean negative thinking. Just love yourself with unconditional love and accept the way you are now and see yourself as beautiful.
I think the weight loss journey is easiest when it comes from a place of loving yourself and wanting to take care of yourself because of a desire to find health and well being because you accept and love who you are. If you don't like who you are you won't want to take care of yourself.
There's nothing wrong with how you look. Don't be ashamed. Just find things you like about yourself and celebrate them and find ways to slowly change your habits to slightly healthier ones.
I think taking before pictures is kind of a personal thing. When you take them, you aren't "before". You're "now". And to think of your current body as the before feels really horrible. I kept meaning to take pictures at the beginning but couldn't quite bring myself to do it. It would help me out now for sure but it would not have put me in a good place then. I was just too fragile and would have felt defeated before I began.
I did start to take measurements when I was about 25 pounds down. By that time it was starting to dawn on me that everything I was doing was working and it wasn't a series of flukes. So at least I have something to work with even if it doesn't tell the whole story. And I do have pictures from weddings (impossible to avoid pictures when siblings get married!) at my high weight or near enough it makes no difference.
I definitely did not want to take a full body shot at my highest weight. It scared me bc I had been in denial for sooooo long. But I knew I was fooling nobody but myself, so I took the pics and when I saw the pictures...wanted to cry!
Only after some progress and then eventually when I reached goal, I finally felt glad I took those beginning photos. It is a great reminder of who I was and all the damage done to my body, giving myself the resolve to NEVER be that person again.
Another option is to have a spouse or good friend take the pictures and for you not to look at them. That way when you've lost some weight, you can go back and see the pics from before without feeling bad about yourself because you've come so far.
When I got pregnant, I blind-weighed because I was terrified I would stop eating once I saw the numbers creep up, but I wanted to stay healthy for my daughter. I GAINED A LOT! I didn't know until I had lost all of the baby weight (one year later) how big I actually was. My ex husband recently told me that I tipped out at about 200lbs. It made me appreciate how far I've come, without making me feel down on myself at the time.
Another option is to have a spouse or good friend take the pictures and for you not to look at them. That way when you've lost some weight, you can go back and see the pics from before without feeling bad about yourself because you've come so far....
You beat me to it! I think you might regret it if you don't have them to look back at along your weight loss journey. Now that I am (mostly) where I want to be, I actually wish I had more "before" pictures of myself when I was at my heaviest. People are SHOCKED when they see them, and while it's a bit embarassing to look back and see those, it also helps to reaffirm that the hard work has been worth it. I'm so much happier emotionally and physically, but I still have my off days when I need to dig deep for motivation, and those pictures help for sure.
it's amazing how we can fool ourselves into thinking we weren't "that big".
... but photos don't lie! - especially full body shots.
^^This^^ is SO true!!!! I knew I was fat, no denying it. Looking in the mirror was not a fun thing, but still, I dressed "nice" and took care to always do my nails, hair, make-up. I thought "I looked ok"...
ODG! - when I saw a pic of me at my highest weight of 192, all I could do was stare, mouth agape, tears stinging my eyes. Was I really THAT big? Yes, apparently so. Because... TRUE! -photos don't lie!!!
But even tho I HATE that pic of me, I'm glad I have it to refer back to, because I didn't take any "before" pics on this journey. I would definitely recommend taking before, during & after shots to everyone. Because even now, 39 lb down, and I STILL see myself as "fat" - but when I look at that picture, and then a picture more recent of myself, I do see how far I've come.
This witch I do charity work with posted a picture of me and several other people on facebook. I think I will just use that as my before picture. I look like a wilderbeast in it - huge stomach, flabby fat arms, bloated face. Ugh!
I am looking forward to looking better physically! I am exercising now and feeling a little better.
