Pictures as motivation?

Hi all - I've read that sometimes people put pictures of themselves at a skinnier weight on their fridge or somewhere else visible -- thus giving them the motivation to stick to it.

I've been the same size since I was about 14, and I didn't really think a picture of me from when I was 11 would be such a good idea (ha!) so I thought about getting a couple pictures from magazines -- UH BAD IDEA - anyone use this and have it work?

There was an article on this one actress and her workout so I thought, okay, we'll try it. -

Basically A) it just depressed me way more to think I will NEVER look that good and B) I kind of thought my fridge looked like a 14 year old boy's locker and it creeped me out -

So what do you guys (those who were never really thin, like me) use? Pictures of yourself at your current weight that make you confront your weight every time you see it?

I didn't have any tiny pictures so I put up pics from ads of magazines such as Vogue, Elle, etc. It doesn't really work. For the first two weeks or so I was inspired to stay on track by all the skinny models but there was no emotional connection and so eventually I stopped noticing them. It's much better to use pics of yourself

Yeah that didn't work for me. I put a picture up of myself at my biggest weight with no makeup and morning hair (of course I took it down when company was over as to not scare them out the door). I would look a the miserable me on the frigde and that stopped me from cheated everytime.

Hope that helps.

I use some pictures, both of myself at my goal weight and of my fav celeb...but I find that my biggest motivations are little quotes that I have posted through out my kitchen...things that make me think twice about putting certain foods in my mouth.

"A pleasure to the lips adds pounds to the hips"

"Are you REALLY hungry?"

etc....just little things that make me think about the food choices I make, and question whether I'm eating because I'm hungry, or whether I'm eating because I'm bored.

I have some pics of myself at a lower (not skinny) weight around the house, which don't do much for me.  What I do like to do is cut out pictures of delicious HEALTHY food - like from cooking light - and post those in the kitchen.  I also just pulled out some pics from the SI swimsuit edition and found a couple of girls with body types similar to mine (just in WAY better shape).  As long as it's attainable, I've found it helpful for me - I wouldn't put up a picture of Cameron Diaz, but might of Kate Winslet since I'm pretty curvy.

Well 2 seconds ago I saw a 2 second video that caught my legs in it 23 pounds heavier, now thats motivation!
(thats why i just jumped online to see what my weight was in the video)

Take some - they'll be your trophies when you lose the weight (what I'm hoping for!)

Each person has to find their own motivation...what works just for them.  Some people suggest buying a much smaller sized outfit and looking at it...thus encouraging yourself to get in it.  For me, that would bum me out. 

Personally, I read alot of motivational stories, articles, books etc.  I also remind myself WHY I wanted to get healthier.  Anytime I may feel less than motivated, I look at my data: my measurements and weights from different time periods.  This reminds me that achievement is possible with intelligent, hard work.

Search your soul and delve into what moves you.  You can do it and you can remember HOW to motivate yourself.

I find it's really motivating to keep a picture of yourself at your heaviest (or closest to heaviest) on your cupboard/fridge as a deterrent to bad food "Don't eat me or you'll look like that/ see how far you've come"

I used to have a picture of me at age 15 on my fridge, bikini, flat stomach, pert b cup boobs! I took it down because I am almost 11 years older and I know my body has changed immensely.

Be proud of yourselves, and use your pride as motivation!

I put a "skinny" pic of me from a few summers ago up on my mirror and I wrote on it "Where is this girl?!?!"

I also keep a side shot of me at about 285 on the refrigerator...

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that one gets me all the time

Sounds like thinspo to me. I'd avoid doing either.

How about just stocking some yummy healthy snacks that you don't have to feel bad about eating? If you're hungry, you ought to eat anyway.

xo ari

Hey girls - I've never been skinney either, hovering inbetween 200-230 lbs since highschool (atleast 8 years).

What I've done is put pictures of my mother up. She was 130 lbs after having me, before leaving the air force and having 3 more kids. She was as beautiful as I still can be. Now she's 48, 250 lbs, and hates her image. She doesn't like pictures been taking, and she generally just feels old; with all kinds of dreams, but little motivation. I have always been my mother's daughter, and I can't remember either of us being happy withourselves or our lives. Now I feel differently, and maybe if I can change, I can help her.

If family isn't easy for you to find motivation from, then maybe there's something you've always wanted to do - like skydiving, or rollerblading. Maybe make a collage of activities, or places, or clothes that will help you.

And you've always got us :) We're here, and we're going through the same things you are. Good and bad.

Check out weightview.com. You can upload a pic of yourself and theyll edit it to make you look like the weight you want to be. Its pretty cool.. and free!