I just joined and came to this gallery looking for inspiration and motivation... someone like me, starting about 30 pounds overweight, slowly losing until they reach their ultimate goal. I really don't want to be off-putting right from the start, but are ya'll serious? Every picture I've seen is some gorgeous man or woman saying "oh I'm so fat, my ass is huge, I have cellulite, etc" when in reality they all look incredible. Is this just a thread for people wanting compliments, or am I in the wrong place?
These are BEFORE pictures?
- Thread starter aquaholic
- Start date
You have to remember that everything is relative. If the person posting has specific goals he/she wants to attain, then for them, their pic really is a before pic, regardless of how great they may look to someone else. This is what they look like before they start working towards that specific goal.
On this website, you will find that whatever it is you post, and whatever kind of advice you are looking for, you will get it in (usually) a polite and helpful fashion, which is not true about other websites I have been on. So don't compare, stick to whichever reasons have led you to this website. What are your goals?
On this website, you will find that whatever it is you post, and whatever kind of advice you are looking for, you will get it in (usually) a polite and helpful fashion, which is not true about other websites I have been on. So don't compare, stick to whichever reasons have led you to this website. What are your goals?
I propose that you throw your "before" pic up. Be the change you want to see in the world? 
I'm sure there are lots of others who noticed the same thing, myself among them. I don't draw the same conclusion as you do, however. I don't see a community of attention whores. I see a lack of people willing to put their prides where their mouths are. If someone at my ideal is unhappy with where they're at, it doesn't necessarily require any less courage for them to put themselves on display in a public setting. Some choose to take before pictures, and even share them, but only in their own journals (like myself).
In the past couple of months I've spent hours of my time scouring the internet for pictures of others' transformations for inspiration..and some hope that my non-already-very-decent body can make the transition too. (I'm now beginning to realize that I can do it, but it will take much longer than I had initially hoped). I'm fairly sure that most of the "before"s in the "before and after"s you see floating around (of people who weren't better than average to begin with) were posted AFTER the transformation, not during.
In any case, even if they are just fishing for compliments, does their doing so really hurt anyone? A positive body image might be just the kind of support they need. To each their own. As mogwai says, don't let it stop you from doing your thing. Oh, and if you're still around in 6 months, I promise I'll put up my after photos, just for you.
Update: Oh, and just so you know..if you dig around a little, you can find some very inspiring stuff here. Check out falco's before and after here. When I saw that I was like "dayum." Much respect to Sr Falco. It was especially gratifying for me to see that post ..because I went from about where he was at to where I'm at now (erratically, and using some very stupid methods)..but I still have a lot of work to do to get to what I want.
I'm sure there are lots of others who noticed the same thing, myself among them. I don't draw the same conclusion as you do, however. I don't see a community of attention whores. I see a lack of people willing to put their prides where their mouths are. If someone at my ideal is unhappy with where they're at, it doesn't necessarily require any less courage for them to put themselves on display in a public setting. Some choose to take before pictures, and even share them, but only in their own journals (like myself).
In the past couple of months I've spent hours of my time scouring the internet for pictures of others' transformations for inspiration..and some hope that my non-already-very-decent body can make the transition too. (I'm now beginning to realize that I can do it, but it will take much longer than I had initially hoped). I'm fairly sure that most of the "before"s in the "before and after"s you see floating around (of people who weren't better than average to begin with) were posted AFTER the transformation, not during.
In any case, even if they are just fishing for compliments, does their doing so really hurt anyone? A positive body image might be just the kind of support they need. To each their own. As mogwai says, don't let it stop you from doing your thing. Oh, and if you're still around in 6 months, I promise I'll put up my after photos, just for you.
Update: Oh, and just so you know..if you dig around a little, you can find some very inspiring stuff here. Check out falco's before and after here. When I saw that I was like "dayum." Much respect to Sr Falco. It was especially gratifying for me to see that post ..because I went from about where he was at to where I'm at now (erratically, and using some very stupid methods)..but I still have a lot of work to do to get to what I want.
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My goals are to lose about 30 pounds, firm up my thighs and butt and get some definition back in my arms and shoulders. And to get back on track with eating healthy and staying away from "boredom eating". Believe me, I appreciate that everyone has their own goals- I was just very surprised at the before pictures I saw- I wish I looked like that now. I think I'll wait to post a pic until I'm at my "after".
Thank you to both Focus and Mogwai... you shed new light on my assumptions and I appreciate that. Positive feedback is important no matter where you are in the quest to reach your goals, and if I am still around in 6 months, I'll put my pic up, as well. There will be no before pic, however- I'll just describe myself really well.
I always have the utmost respect for anyone posting pictures of themselves at any stage before they have reached their desired goals. It takes a huge amount of courage (I almost never did it). But, there should be no pressure on anyone to do so if they don't feel comfortable with it.
I have a suggestion. Why not take a 'before' picture now but, keep it to yourself. Then, in 6 months time, you will be able to see the difference when you compare it to where you are then. I'm sure it will be a good motivator
An alternative suggestion (and not something I would ever do but, thought I may aswell throw the idea out there) came from Alwyn Cosgrove. He suggests sending a 'before' picture to a close friend and giving them permission to post it publicly if you don't send them an improved picture every month! A bit masochistic perhaps but, I can see the incentive to make progress!
I wish I had done that (the first idea, not Alwyn's suggestion!) but, I didn't have the foresight. All of the pictures I have posted to date have been 'during' pictures.
Anyway, I wish you the very best of luck with your goals.
I have a suggestion. Why not take a 'before' picture now but, keep it to yourself. Then, in 6 months time, you will be able to see the difference when you compare it to where you are then. I'm sure it will be a good motivator
An alternative suggestion (and not something I would ever do but, thought I may aswell throw the idea out there) came from Alwyn Cosgrove. He suggests sending a 'before' picture to a close friend and giving them permission to post it publicly if you don't send them an improved picture every month! A bit masochistic perhaps but, I can see the incentive to make progress!
I wish I had done that (the first idea, not Alwyn's suggestion!) but, I didn't have the foresight. All of the pictures I have posted to date have been 'during' pictures.
Anyway, I wish you the very best of luck with your goals.
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The alternative is to post a journal/diary and put your pictures in there. Like many, I never took a true "before" picture - but happened to find one taken of me that I posted in my diary, along with the then recent photos of my progress.
As the previous posters have suggested - everyone here has some kind of goal in mind - something they wish to change about themselves, and some are closer to it (either just starting out or from working toward it) than others. The only person you have to compete against is yourself, by being able to post better and better during pictures. Using myself as an example - I've already lost just over triple your goal loss, but I also have more than double your goal loss to go. I admit to having the same feelings you did ("those are before pictures?") but I saw beyond the pics to the similar desire for improvement - it's all the same road, we're just at different points on it. (Or like my spinning instructor, who's already fit, talking about her success at dropping a pant size from a new class she's taking.)
As the previous posters have suggested - everyone here has some kind of goal in mind - something they wish to change about themselves, and some are closer to it (either just starting out or from working toward it) than others. The only person you have to compete against is yourself, by being able to post better and better during pictures. Using myself as an example - I've already lost just over triple your goal loss, but I also have more than double your goal loss to go. I admit to having the same feelings you did ("those are before pictures?") but I saw beyond the pics to the similar desire for improvement - it's all the same road, we're just at different points on it. (Or like my spinning instructor, who's already fit, talking about her success at dropping a pant size from a new class she's taking.)
I love you, you love me, we're a happily family, with a great big hug, and a kiss from me to you, won't you say you love me too?
...lol, sorry. It just burst out of me.
Your a very strange man focus...
Lets not bring barney up PLEASE lol...
Not to mention some of the 'before' pictures are not from members who want to lose weight but make a desired change...more muscle and definition for example.
We don't see ourselves as others see us. Most everyone, even when others see them as having a great look will concentrate on their flaws. We all have them. As a result we feel apprehensive about posting our pictures for everyone to see and esentially 'judge'.
I do agree with the fact that a lot of these "fitness" boards are not very friendly. I stuck with this one because for the most part people are encouraging of each other no matter what their goal is.
Not to mention some of the 'before' pictures are not from members who want to lose weight but make a desired change...more muscle and definition for example.
We don't see ourselves as others see us. Most everyone, even when others see them as having a great look will concentrate on their flaws. We all have them. As a result we feel apprehensive about posting our pictures for everyone to see and esentially 'judge'.
I do agree with the fact that a lot of these "fitness" boards are not very friendly. I stuck with this one because for the most part people are encouraging of each other no matter what their goal is.