I squeezed on my favorite bikini today, the one I want to look great in by the spring, and asked hubby to take a before pic. UGH. They are so much worse than I even imagined. I better have an amazing after pic in the months ahead!!!

I know how you feel! I took my before pic and took my measurements today...surgery is scheduled for Tuesday, the 27th and it can't come fast enough!

Good luck!

I loather looking at my before pic, but already I am fitting into jeans I haven't ever worn and dresses I haven't worn in two years. It gets better each day!

I did my before pics in a bra and panties from front, side and back. I was mortified how I looked especially from the back. I took another set a month later, and it was so much better. I am not planning on posting those online, but it was nice to see the changes. It is a real motivator.

Yes, the back was horrid!

Yep, me too- those darn back rolls! Lol! I took my measurements at the same time as my before pics and they were more shocking than the pics

I just started my process and I'm soooo afraid to take my before pictures!!

I really need to get the courage to do it!

Even though I hated seeing my before pictures, I am thrilled they are "before." I am glad I have them, and I really need them to see how far I have come because the scale and measurements don't always tell the full story. Don't be afraid of them, Mel. The pics will get better! After pics are always best when compared to the before pics.

Well I can't wait to take after pics!!!

I always HIGHLY encourage everyone to take before pictures. You will be *very* glad you did once your journey is well under way. The scale isn't always going to say what you want unless you're the luckiest cat on Earth. Even the inches don't always tell the whole story, for they come off very small at best. But when you do comparison photos, you actually see yourself from the onset and coming through your journey you will get lots of smiles.

Not only that, having the before shots will ALWAYS remind you of where you never want to be again.

All the best!!! This is a must do on the list!

My husband took before pics of me the night before my surgery and didn't let me look at them until I was about 6 months out and already down a LOT because he knew how depressed I'd get over them. It was quite a shock when I finally did see them.

Don't stress the before pictures too much because before you know it, you won't even look like the person in that picture. I went to my brother in law's wedding a couple weeks ago and this week my new SIL sent a link out with the wedding pics for ordering. WOW! I'm actually ordering a few (with me in them!). My absolute best friend since 8th grade told me "Honey you don't even look like you.. you look happier and WAY younger".

It really is amazing how quickly our transformations go with this surgery. I never in a million years thought 8 months out I'd be on the last stretch of my journey and CLOSE. And A New Day? LOL Girl, you better not get too attached to that favorite bikini because before you know it, it'll be falling off you. You may be holding it up around the vital bits come spring time to get your picture if you haven't tossed it entirely

I suppose we should be grateful for technology, digital cameras and the fact that we don't have to torture some poor clerk at the photo center by making anyone have to develop those before pictures!

I too will be taking before shots and keeping them all to myself for progress updates. Good luck to everyone on their journey!

Alright, alright!! LOL I'll take my before pictures this weekend!! I know I need to take them, but I just feel bad enough looking at myself with clothes ON!!!

Disney, I don't know how you did it to not see the pics!! I wouldn't have been able to do that!

And congrats to all of you who are almost there to reach your goal! I'm just beginning and it seems like one of the longest journey's I've ever been on (including the 9 months of pregnancy). I wish I was where y'all are at right now... being able to look at pictures of myself without cringing, wearing clothes i actually look sexy in, and not feeling bad everytime I go out with friends cause guys won't even look at me. BUT, I have faith I will get there someday.

My nieces sweet 16 is next August so I want to loose as much as I can by then, so I can buy the pictures I'm in, too! lol

I'm planning on doing thed same thing good luck with surgery thats the same date i have to meet with my surgeon!!!!

Disney, I don't know how you did it to not see the pics!! I wouldn't have been able to do that!

LOL My husband took them with my camera the night before my surgery and he just didn't let me look. After that I'd forgotten about it since I didn't pull out my camera for AWHILE. It just didn't occur to me. I guess in the back of my head I knew they were on the camera but I didn't want to look.

You will, you will and you will be happy you took before pics