I've just taken my before photos...

...and I feel really disgusting. There's something about seeing yourself in pictures that's just alarming, because you don't feel like that's what you look like in real life.

Camera adds 10 pounds? Ok, what about 60? I don't think so.

Anyone got really discouraged when they took their before photos? The only motivating thing is to think that I could have something much better to compare them too sometime (soon) in the future.

iv not taken any iv lost 191/2 pounds so far so ayby a little late

but can i ask how you did it just so i know myself

yes i think it can be hard it was a halloween pic of me that did it for me in the 1st place but i think that its a good thing as it pushes you to become what makes you happy about urself rather than feel awful every time you see urself!

How I did what, take a photo of myself? Put an automatic timer on my camera, yours might have that function too. Didn't really feel like asking anyone to take a photo of me from top to bottom, they know I hate it.

Well done on the weight loss, that's terrific

As for me, it wasn't so much a photo as a realisation. Growing up I had two cousins who were a similar age to me, and we were all big girls our whole lives. We always said we could never be slim since we tried every diet in the book, and used any excuse we could find. I went home for Christmas and saw one of them which I hadn't seen in 4 months and she was tiny! I mean she had just shrunk. She's probably a size 6 or 8 now and about a year or so ago she was easily a size 16 or 18 like me. My face must've changed when I saw her; I was so envious and furious at the same time. I felt like a monster next to her. Everybody was complimenting her and I just felt terrible. So yeah, that really motivated me cos then I knew I could do it too, and other things such as breaking up with oh, being fed up in general, health issues and wanting new things from life all motivated me to do it.

Oops, bit of a rant there. But can you believe that? And she did all that without the help of a forum haha.

to be honest i look at it a bit like giving up smoking

some people like my oh just decide right thats it im done now and thats it they do it straight off dont need help or anything and he hasnt smoked for 41/2 years never used a patch gum nothing!

me well i have tried but am still a smoker and when i do give up know il need the help with it


samee for weght loss although im doing well with it i need the imersssion of w/w and forums to keep me strong about it or i would just have crisps and to hell with it all

il try that with the camera but il be using my phone so nt sure if it will work

thnks for the well done!!

Yeah you're right, I gave up smoking quite easily. I was never a huge smoker but I usually smoked everyday and one day I just got really fed up of everything that came with it and decided that was it. I stopped for a few months and one day I'd had the worst day ever and just bummed one off my mate, lit it, had a drag and gave it right back to him cos I hated it. I had kicked it and haven't smoked since April 2009 now.

Losing weight's such a drag compared to any other habit. You need to eat, you can't just stop and never have it again.

Hey Peachy

I know exactly how you feel about your pictures. I was so upset when I took mine, I almost didn't recognise myself and it made me take a long hard look at myself. But I never regretted it and am now so glad I did. Throughout my journey I would take pictures and compare them. This was so useful if I was feeling low or like I wasn't making any progress as it allowed me to see it for my own eyes. Do make sure you try it as it can be really motivating.

x

Yeah it's a good idea. Thanks for that, you look really terrific by the way, congratulations on your weight loss

Hey Just Peachy, I took my "before" pics on my first day urgh... not a nice image so I know exactly how you feel.
I've saved them in a locked folder so I can't keep staring at them all the time because I know I've thought so many times before oh well look at the size of me, this chocolate bar (or 3) isn't going to make any difference so I might as well have it...
I plan to only look at them after each stone or so I lose, and compare them like porgeous did for motivation.

Porgeous - you look amazing, it's great for me to be able to hear from people who have lost and kept it off too.

Have you had a look at the threads with peoples before and after pictures on? They show me what I could be, and personally I find that much more motivating than looking at what a lump I am at the moment if you know what I mean

Sugar fiend, yeah you're right. For me, looking at those photos is motivation in itself, I don't wanna look like that anymore. And yes, the chocolate bar or three WILL make a difference. Every little bit helps.

I've looked at the inspiration slideshow a couple of times already and I look over the success stories section everyday; it's just a reminder of what I'm trying to achieve. Really wanna put my photos up there sometime in the near future.