Yeah, I've seen the pics and I'm thinking, "that's not me, it just can't be!!"

No one but you will care how you look (the people who actually know you already know what you look like, and the folks here all have weight issues). If it makes you feel better, you could wait for a 2nd set that shows progress, and post both the original and second set at the same time.

Whatever you decide, we'll still like ya!!

Yeah, pictures are always depressing, even after loosing weight.  I just got some pictures taken after loosing 20 pounds .  I am still fatter than I wanted to think.  I had to find an old one to see how horrible I looked before to feel any better.

Put the picture up on the refrigerator or somewhere that you will have to look at it when you want a snack.  Post it.  Just remember that it is your 'before' picture and you are going to look a lot better than that soon.

You guys are great!  It's just the type of motivation that I need.  And you put it in a persepective that I never looked at before.    The one positive of the pictures was that it was definite motivator to keep working out!!  It really does make you feel BLAH though!  And it made me wonder how in the heck my husband thinks I am soo hot...LOL  Men are crazy I tell you!

Well, if it makes you feel better... when I look back on myself 5 weeks ago when I started exercising (I took a photo then), I look scary awful. Now I'm 6 lbs down and firmer.. and my more recent photo is a lot better looking. I still don't look the way I want to obviously (I am still not even at a non-overweight BMI), but seeing the progress does give me hope.

Seriously I think that cc is the best thing that could have happened to me!  Everyone here is so supportive that it is unbelievable!!!!  It really makes you realize that you REALLY aren't alone, there is always someone out there that feels the same way you feel and can totally relate to your situation. 

Doogloose: you just gave me so much motivation to keep going for a few more weeks and see what the difference is.  Ya know you see yourself everyday so the changes aren't so obvious when you are just looking in the mirror so the pics may help...I hope...LOL!

Paintedlady:  I feel you I really do. I look at pictures of myself and I think "Holy God, who is that!" It totally doesn't look like the me I see in the mirror everyday.  And it is so true that no matter how cute you try to look in your pics you wind up looking all crazy and not like you...LOL.  It's kind of funny really.

I felt pretty bad when I took some progress pics a few months ago, but it really helps to look at them later so you can see how far you've gone. Just remember that everybody has to start somewhere!

I think it hurts most that I let myself look the way I do...granted I had a hell of a good time getting here!  I just am not really sure when I stopped caring or trying.  The pics just really drive it home that I let myself go!!

Alright I did it I posted the pics...as ugly as it is they are up!  I am hoping that they give me a sense of accountability.  Now that you all can see what I look like at my worst I have nothing to hide and it makes me want to show you what I can look like...hopefully that is enough motivation!!  NO MORE EXCUSES!!

I know exactly what you are saying Chantees!! In my head i still look like i did at 140/150. It hurts gets me every time i catch my reflection in say a shop window. I just think who is that!! I am angry at lettting myself get this way. I've worked so hard previously to get down to 132lbs!! So how the hell did i get all the way up to 201lb??? But like you said, i did have a hell of a good time getting there. :-)

But there are no more excuses. I have been doing this for 3 weeks and it was the best decision i have made in a long time. And it hasn't been as hard as i imagined so far. As of today i am down 14.3lbs and now weigh 187.4lbs!! :-)

My clothes already feel better, i feel better. And this is only after 3 weeks. It makes me think of where i can be in 6 months if i just stick to it.

You can do it, i can do it. And thanks to CC we've got tons of support and help to get us there!!

PS. You're braver than me. I have my before photos like yours but haven't posted them yet. I think you have inspired me to post them. :-)

oh, i SO understand how you feel. any pics taken always scare me. however, they are also a motivator

Ok kim79my and ka2007 I am going to challenge you two to put up your pics, if I can do it you can do it to.  It is a huge blast to the ego, but I know I will be working hard to get some progress pics up there!! 

kim79my: how in the world have you lost 14 lbs in 3 weeks, that is crazy!  I've been at it for like 3 ish weeks too and I've managed about 5 pounds (which is nothing to scoff at, because just those few pounds have made me feel better!).  I was just wondering what your secret has been so far.  I am getting ready to go back to school in 7 weeks and this is my last semester (also the most stressful) so I want to maximize my weight loss while I am still on summer break.  School immediately puts like 10 stress pounds on me and my eating habits usually go in the toilet and you can just forget about exercise.  I am going to really, really try to make a change this semester.  Damn my skinny friends and their bad influences on me...LOL!

Well I added my pics to my profile, if you all want to go have a look. They're pretty embarassing, but maybe they will inspire somebody.

Doogloose:  Nothing to be embarassed about, you are making GREAT progress!  Way to go!  And good for you for having the courage to post your pics.  I decided to keep my face on there because if someone I know does see me on here I am hoping that any embarassment I may feel will serve as extra motivation!!

Original Post by chantees:

Alright I did it I posted the pics...as ugly as it is they are up!  I am hoping that they give me a sense of accountability.  Now that you all can see what I look like at my worst I have nothing to hide and it makes me want to show you what I can look like...hopefully that is enough motivation!!  NO MORE EXCUSES!!

I just went and looked at your pics, and I have to say, you are really pretty... what I see is a beautiful woman whose body probably looks fabulous in the right outfit, and I'm sure you'll be able to get rid of those few bits of jiggle with some exercise and diet. Then you'll be freaking unstoppable!

There's nothing to be embarrased about. You need to see the progress after all. You gotta know where you've been to see where you're headed.

chantees no secret really, i'm trying to keep it simple. I'm guessing it's mostly water weight and I had my period at the time i was first weighed as well. I have just cut my calories down and started doing a little bit of exercise. I'm so impatient i just wish it could all come off over night!! I'm sure we all do. I will post my start pics now. And i make excuses for my pics now, they were post work out and a bit sweaty and stuff :-)

Thank you for helping me to do this!!

And 5lbs is great. I think anything going down is a success!!! I just think how many pounds i would be up now, if i hadn't have made the change.

And i know what you mean about skinny friends. I have one who just had a baby and went straight back to here skinny body, but is always moaning to me about being fat. She's a max 135lb. And if i even mention wanting to lose weight she's like you're fine as you are, have some wine and pizza. Bless her i love her to death, but he really doens't understand what it's like to be this size :-)

Ok, the pics are up and they look worse than I remembered :-(

I ALWAYS feel that way. If people look at my measurements I seem okay, but for some reason (GENES) my body is a mess *sigh* my mom says that she was 43Kg (about 95) at 5'1'' and she never really looked thin to anyone because of her bone structure. Whatcha gonna do, uh? Gotta accept it *shrug*. I just hope exercise makes me look as I want. Good luck, and look, you're very, very tall, so you probably can lose just a few pounds and look beautiful.

Before/starting weight Pics suck, thats why we take em to have somewhere to start. Mine motivate me a lot even though I'm not as high on the scale, my stomach just looks like a hot mess. When I lost my weight the first time I posted my pics and was so proud now somehow I crept back up the scale and got the fat belly back. I like having my pic right in front of me and everyone else, helps me deny myself the dessert I really don't need.