Was feeling good about my body...and then I saw a picture...

So just needed to vent.
I've been working my butt off at the gym 6 days a week to the point where I'm shaking and drenched in sweat, been logging calories religiously, and thought I was starting to look pretty good when....

someone took a picture of me for an award at my university. I thought I looked fine, but I just realized, I have a long, long, long way to go, not just the 10 pounds I thought I would be okay with. It's SO frustrating, I feel like a blimp.

Has this happened to anyone else lately?

hey oseya,

i just joined this site and i'm yet to lose any weight so i say good for you for working so hard and accomplishing a goal that you set. i can understand that feeling though as i have gained and lost weight on and off in the pass and it is extremely frustrating. Just try to stay possitive and keep telling yourself if you can lose 10 lbs, the rest is going to be easy!

i hope i can accomplish what you have :) dont give up.

-Maria

I do know what you mean.....I got from 210 to 170 and FEEL so much lighter and my clothes have gotten baggy...and I feel like I am fine with this weight...UNTILL I see pictures and realize my goal if 155 is RIGHT ON...and I still have more to go. Sometimes though there are just bad pictures, even people with no double chin can get caught in a photo with one...so be realistic and don't just judge yourself from one weird angle photo :)

I know what you are talking about. But you need to not get frustrated. The little accomplishment is just a stepping stone on the way to the big goal. be proud of yourself for what you have done so far. Find out someway to reward yourself like a spa visit or pedi or mani. Just keep working hard and you will reach your goal. Remember that all the little things add up to the big picture. We have faith in you and we are here to support and help you in whatever way you need to.

Original Post by oseya:

 It's SO frustrating, I feel like a blimp.

I certainly feel that way. i knew i had to lose a bit of weight but it ws only when i took pictures of myself last night i realised how big i was. So disappointted :(.

Used to be so nice now im a hippo

Understand completely how you feel. I feel the same way fairly often. But we are often our harshest critics and, if you look like you do in your profile picture, you really do look stunning so just keep on truckin' and you'll be at your own goal in no time :)

x

It's so comforting to know other people share my frustration! Thanks for the motivation guys, I definitely needed it this morning when I took my weekly body measurement and weighed in, only to find that NOTHING has been lost despite how much more I've been pushing myself, and I've been eating a deficit between 700-1000 each day and avoiding ALL junk food. *sigh* The Master Cleanse is sounding reaaaaally appealing right about now.

Thanks for your compliment mynameismonkey :)

I am 5'3.  130 is a perfectly healthy weight for someone that is 5'3.  Annnnddd then that camera takes pictures and I feel like the 6 days at the gym are doing NOTHING.  Worse, I am totally stuck here.  I have been working out 6 days a week and even got a trainer and I KILL myself, and the scale went UP not DOWN.  I am eating what I should be and I keep getting told, muscle weighs more than fat.  Yeah, I know that but I should be LOSING FAT TOO!  What is the deal?

I hate pictures! My hatred is lessening though. But even skinny folks take bad pics, so that is not all I go by :)

Oh, did I mention I hate pictures?

I saw a picture of myself from about a year ago when I met up with some friends that I hadn't seen in a long time.  I am thinner now, but I had no idea how chunky I was at the time until I saw that picture.  I was so embarrased!

when i feel that way, my husband reminds me of where i came from. i lost over 50 pounds. find an even older pic of yourself before you started working out. you'll be amazed. especially your face and neck area. trust me.

and start working on getting any preconceived notions you had about what you would feel and how you would look when you lost the weight. i thought i would look like i did when i was 25 or even 35. NOT! i look like a fit, healthy 47 year old and that's what i am. i even have come to grips with the 'elephant ass' syndrome - saggy skin from losing weight in your derriere. but that derriere sure looks fly in a tight pair of jeans (smile).

you're on the right path. you are thinner, happier, prettier, but most importantly, HEALTHIER!! and so what if you feel like you've got another 10 pounds to go? you can do it!! trust me! you can! we're all in this together as a human race, and we all support you whether we know you personally or not. every time one of us goes to gym, runs a route, lifts a weight, we are doing it together, for all of us.

I felt the exact same way when i was in a fitting room yesterday with 360 mirrors... =(

*tear*

Original Post by noellekb:

I saw a picture of myself from about a year ago when I met up with some friends that I hadn't seen in a long time.  I am thinner now, but I had no idea how chunky I was at the time until I saw that picture.  I was so embarrased!

An experience like this was what made me want to lose weight in the first place.

i definitely agree tealparadise, it's definitely making me go into panic mode to lose weight, because I KNOWWW I don't wanna look so chunky! at the same time, not seeing changes with a strict regime is also pretty defeating.

Oseya, I think that the reason why the number on the scales went UP and not down, is because of water weight retention (muscles retain some water to fix and repair and so on) and also the fact that you put on muscles from the intense exercise routine you have. Take note that overexercising and not enough eating can also have the reverse effect on your body (Starvation mode).

I am experiencing the same condition as you, running almost every day, but I gained about 2 pounds. However, I feel like my body's more toned and clothes fit me better! At first I was so frustrated (how come I am not lighter?!) but I need to stop thinking that way or else I won't reach my goal... one bad thing about me is that I weigh myself excessively. Like 10 times or more a day.

Gotta stop doing that. Good luck, oseya and the rest! :)

I totally understand your frustration!!! give yourself time to rest too- your muscles need time to repair so they can keep growing- before you know it- you will be dropping the pounds, you could be at that tough plateau people hit around after losing 10 pounds.

I have also realized that as I get older, the pounds dont come off like they used too- also very frustrating

I definitely feel that way. 

Also, when I gain even one pound back, it shows up in my neck and face first.  So even though my body is the same, it looks like I have gained a bunch of weight back.  So irritating.

Just to let you know so you dont get discouraged.... 

muscle weighs MORE than fat!

I hear what you saying. Pictures can be the best motivator, and your worst enemy during  a weight loss journey. But once you reach your goal, you'll want to take so many pictures. :]

I was in the same boat about a month ago. I had joined the school xc team and was running like a fiend and lifting three times a week, eating healthily the whole  shebang.

Then I looked at a picture of me crossing the finish line at one of my races...

My uniform is riding up my stomach, my arm is flabby looking as I reached out to grab the stick. It was just bad.

Sure I was doing exercise, but I looked bad doing it.