I avoid mirrors and being in pictures as much as possible. Avoiding being in pictures is pretty easy I just volunteer to take the pics. The mirror is not always so easy. I have become adept at just looking at whatever I need to focus on and not pay attention to the rest of me -- like my hair in the morning when I am drying/styling it or the eyebrow area when plucking, etc. If I happen to look in a mirror as I pass it I am always kind of shocked at the person looking back at me lol

Anyway, yesterday my boss showed me some pictures that she had been taking around the office for some online advertising that she is doing...and oh my gosh she has one of me and I can't stand knowing it's going to be out there for people to see. I know I shouldn't feel this way! I guess it's just one of those things I will have to smile and say it's fine go ahead and use it. I just have to keep reminding myself that this time next year I will look like a totally different person.

I don't know...Anyone else avoid mirrors and pictures like the plague?

Edited July 6, 201412 yr by Dreamin Again

One of my big NSV is not being terrified of a camera...I had to make a conscious decision to not hide when photos were being taken. Was so glad I did! I even posed in a bathing suit!

Edited July 3, 201412 yr by SparkleCat

I used to avoid cameras like the plague. So much so that as I started losing and I wanted a "before" picture I had a really hard time finding one! This too, shall pass. You WILL feel differently next year!

I get hiding from the camera, but I'm part of the generation that LOVEs having my picture taken. I may not be a fan of the photo but I like it anyway. I've read that before pictures are really important so that you can look back later and see where you've come from. Definitely stop hiding and embrace it! Once you've lost all the weight you'll regret not having those pictures to compare.

I totally understand. One week into my pre-op diet (and one week before surgery) my brother got married. Of course there were lots of pictures etc. There are MANY I haven't looked at yet because I remember how bad I felt about myself! I got through it by thinking these were all going to be my before pictures and I was truely happy for my brother. But even a month + after surgery I am starting to like looking in the mirrored windows going up to the office etc. Stuff I never did before. Don't be too hard on yourself - in a year you will feel totally different about yourself and that picture!!

I understand the fear of cameras when pre-op. You might like this recent link: http://www.bariatricpal.com/topic/310322-are-you-pre-wls-take-pictures-now/

Now, I wish I had some intentional pre-surgery pics. But I understand about fat pics available for public consumption; you don't want anyone to see you that way, or to even see yourself.

Actually, one picture of me (when I was at my max, and was on a panel as the health expert for a national magazine's event) is what led me into depression; but it also led me to seriously check into WLS.)

Take pictures now; you'll love the comparison later.

You can respectfully ask them to not use your pictures. My office has a horrible habit of taking pictures of people randomly, especially during potlucks and more times than not there will end up being a picture of me shoving food into my mouth and I hate it. I always delete the pictures of me off of the shared drive, however they do still exist. Our PR person started using our random photos for various things such as slide shows she was showing people to advertise what we do, and then wanted to create a collage of photos to put in our reception area and I finally told her that I would appreciate if it was possible for my pictures not to be used and that I knew others felt that way as well. She hadn't even thought about it and emailed everyone and asked them to let her know if she had their permission to use their photos for advertising, etc and several people said they would prefer she didn't. She didn't even realize how insensitive it was to just use our pictures, especially some really bad ones without even asking us.

But yeah, I HATE candid photos of me. I don't spend much time in the mirror except to get ready for work in the morning.

Thanks for all of your comments ladies I hate knowing its out there but I am just not going to think about it lol My boss is my niece and she is just starting her business so I hate to ask her not to do something just because I feel uncomfortable. When I lose enough weight I will just ask her to change the pic

I can't wait until I finish my medically supervised weight loss program at the end of October and really get this journey started.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July! Have a great weekend and thanks again for taking time to post on here. I am glad I am not alone in my feelings about the camera and/or mirror

On another note but still regarding pics (MistyAnnMoon829's comment above made me think of this) I got up yesterday morning and my 53-year-old husband was sitting on the patio drinking his coffee and taking selfies to post on FB. He is just too cute! He was so embarassed when I came up behind him and asked him what he was doing lol.

I used to hate pictures and rarely took them. Had my daughter take my before picture for me because other then a few from my sisters wedding a few years back I had really been avoiding cameras. I feel bad when I think that my kids wont have very many pics with me because of this. I have since started taking a lot more to the point that I think I am annoying my kids with random selfie shots of me with them etc that hopefully they will appreciate someday

JCRSMom I also have no pics of myself and my children except when they were very young - you know when you still had to hold them because they couldn't crawl or walk yet lol Oh the good ol' days I will have to take a pic sometime soon so I have a recent 'before' pic because I want to be able to see the changes.

Anyway, good luck to all of you and I hope you all get what you want/need out of this journey

Take care!

I have had very very few pictures taken the last 15 years. When I look at pictures from the past I realize why I thought I was invisable. I made myself that way. I still shy away from pictures but I am taking pictures ever few weeks in the same outfit to record progress. As for mirrors, I hid most of mine. 45 lbs gone, I am checking out my butt a lot. I am losing in my legs and butt big time.

<p>JCRSMom I also have no pics of myself and my children except when they were very young - you know when you still had to hold them because they couldn't crawl or walk yet lol Oh the good ol' days I will have to take a pic sometime soon so I have a recent 'before' pic because I want to be able to see the changes.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Anyway, good luck to all of you and I hope you all get what you want/need out of this journey </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Take care!</p>

Q

getnhealthyintx I don't think I will ever really enjoy having my pic taken even after weight loss but I do hope to have a professional family pictue taken within the next 2 years. My babies will all be grown up, graduated from highschool, and either in college or just graduating there also...that's a scary thought lol

Good luck with the rest of your journey

Edited July 9, 201412 yr by Dreamin Again

I have a weird relationship with pictures and mirrors. I have to make sure my hair is just so and make up is on and I am stating a certain way.. but I don't hate pictures. I don't mind a selfie either. I can usually make my face look skinny enough. I will post all of my professionally done wedding pictures for anyone to look at because I looked cute. LOL! I don't allow anyone at work to take any candids of me. Those are always unflattering. Nope.

I'm really vain though. I'm always looking in the mirror at my face and pores and wondering if I am starting to get wrinkles and crows feet. Sometimes I will look in a mirror and be all like "Hey girl, you look good" and sometimes I'll look in that same mirror and be all like "No, Andrea, no.. put something else on!"

I've lost over 60lbs and I still see a heffer. Sometimes I feel good. Sometimes I don't. Sometimes I don't recognise myself in the reflection of shop front windows. Sometimes I don't know who I am, physically, any more.

The picture I posted on here recently, I posted on Facebook. The response was fairly overwhelming. People saying I looked 'fabulous' (code for 'sheesh you've lost some weight'). I still can't really see it. I wish I could, but I don't. I feel happy. I know I'm thinner - my clothes say so. I feel healthier, but goddamn it this body dysmorphia thing is a real problem.

Hopefully some time this century I'll finally see the difference with my eyes, rather than blindly recognising it through the numbers on my new clothing.

Photos? I'd generally prefer to be water-boarded.

Still waiting for that elusive 'butterfly' moment....