Tell me to send my before picture

[Anonymous]

My gym asked me to write a success story and I'm having a hard time sending the before picture. I've lost 45 lbs. this year and I know I should be proud of how far I've come. Still, I hate looking at my older pictures and I'm not sure how I feel about them being public. Am I being ridiculous?

[Anonymous]

I don't think you're being ridiculous, but remember, your previous weight was already public, unless you were a shut-in before. People saw you like that before, and some of them are probably inspired by how great you look now. Find a nice picture where you look happy and think about how your story might inspire others to lose weight and get healthy too.

[Anonymous]

Are you getting some sated for this financially? If not why else would you do this? You're not comfortable with it. Just say no,

[Anonymous]

Compensated.

[Anonymous]

I am getting compensated.

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. I wouldn't. Why do you want to put yourself out there like that? It's objectifying. Inspirational yea, it is, but skip it. If you feel unease than seriously, skip it. Let someone else do it.

[Anonymous]

How is it objectifying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How is it objectifying?

It's using her as a prop to promote the gym, if it's what I think it is.

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean, OP. I've lost over 100 lbs in the last few years and I have a very difficult time looking at the before pics, let alone displaying them in public. It may not make sense but I cant help how I feel when I look at them. That being said, I would do it. They're paying you and it is EXTREMELY inspirational. I have countless amounts of people eating and drinking differently and workout with various people all the time. You are a success story and people like to know REAL people can do it.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I'm really proud of what I've accomplished this year. It is true that my past appearance was already public. I actually don't think anyone realized how much I actually lost, thouhg. I watched a friend transform her body last year and it inspired me to take action. Maybe I was looking at it the wrong way. I shouldn't feel ashamed of how I used to look, I should feel proud of how far I've come.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on you weight loss, PP!

I'm down about 25 - want to lose another 20.

I sympathize with your feeling, because it's hard to revisit that extra weight. Do you think you would be open to compromising, and maybe including only a before headshot, or partial picture?

[Anonymous]

Don't do it. You are uncomfortable for a reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't do it. You are uncomfortable for a reason.

I don't even know what this means.

[Anonymous]

OP, I think you should do it because: you were inherently fine how you were. You were heavier (fatter, if you are fine with that) than you wanted to be and you made some changes. But, YOU were fine. And, really, it's that fat person in the picture who made those changes, she is responsible for getting you where you are today, and she has a lot to be proud of. Put her picture up on the wall and be proud of her!

[Anonymous]

I think before and after pictures of real people are really inspirational. Losing weight and getting in shape is often contagious as you have seen - my brother and sister, their spouses and I have all gotten to a healthy weight in the last few years, largely by continuing to inspire each other. There is a message out there that losing weight and keeping it off in incredibly rare. Providing evidence to the contrary is great.

I assume the pictures are tasteful--- not you showing more of your body than you would be comfortable with regardless of weight? That's the only thing that would give me pause.