Distorted Image of Myself

Kandi26 · 10-02-2005, 10:12 AM

I have a really distorted image of myself. I recently got back pictures from a wedding and I look HUGE. I didn't think I looked that bad. I have a friend that is heavy too and she has the same problem. We always talk to each other about this. I look at pics and think I look huge and she thinks the pics look like me. And vice versa.. Well, I want to look at a picture and be satisfied.. so I am sticking to this!

Kandi26 · 10-02-2005, 10:24 AM

BTW, I saw these pics right before my first date with Dave and it did nothing whatsoever for my confidence..

Jennyl · 10-02-2005, 11:50 AM

This happens to me all the time. I think I am looking pretty good at some event and then I see the pictures!! I look terrible! Like I've said before, some cameras put on 10 lbs....mine puts on 40

DiamondDeb · 10-02-2005, 11:57 AM

Oh, please don't go there! It's soo bad for self-esteem. It's much better to visualize yourself as you want to be. It makes your mind guide you to do what it takes to make the visualization become reality. Go around thinking, "I'm HUGE." and you're mind will guide you to do what it takes to make this remain true.

Seriously. It's a fact.

Also, amateur photographers are infamous for making everyone look bad, even when they look their best.

datdog · 10-02-2005, 11:57 AM

I feel your pain. I'm always like this and it doesn't matter what weight I'm at. I thought I looked very fat at 135 last summer. Especially when I went to try on clothes. It never makes any sense and I DO know this! My answer it to avoid the camera at all costs.

DiamondDeb · 10-02-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by datdog

I feel your pain. I'm always like this and it doesn't matter what weight I'm at. I thought I looked very fat at 135 last summer. Especially when I went to try on clothes. It never makes any sense and I DO know this! My answer it to avoid the camera at all costs.

It's not the camera (well, it could be the photographer lol). You need to change your thinking and you will see yourself differently. If you tell yourself you look bad, that is how you will look to yourself, no matter what. It's not an easy concept to wrap your mind around, it feels fake at first, but then it isn't.

datdog · 10-02-2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

It's not the camera (well, it could be the photographer lol). You need to change your thinking and you will see yourself differently. If you tell yourself you look bad, that is how you will look to yourself, no matter what. It's not an easy concept to wrap your mind around, it feels fake at first, but then it isn't.

Thanks for the tip Deb. I should give it a try. My answer has been to avoid the camera and avoiding dressing rooms. I'd rather take clothes home and then take them back if they don't fit. I can't stand the way I look in a dressing room.

I'm starting to sound like a basket case, huh?

It's not that bad really. It's just me....

GinaT1213 · 10-02-2005, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondDeb

Oh, please don't go there! It's soo bad for self-esteem. It's much better to visualize yourself as you want to be. It makes your mind guide you to do what it takes to make the visualization become reality. Go around thinking, "I'm HUGE." and you're mind will guide you to do what it takes to make this remain true.

Seriously. It's a fact.

Amen.

You have a second date thats a good sign, Accept it.

Bubbles · 10-02-2005, 03:21 PM

Everytime I have my picture taken I see a beast (who is obviously standing in front blocking the prettier younger me).

We all go thru that. No one ever likes the way they photograph. That is why magazines spend millions of dollars making naturally beautiful women look completely un-natural.

DisneyPrincess · 10-02-2005, 06:49 PM

I too have a distorted body image but I do work on, so now I have days where I see 'me' and days where I see someone I dislike. Deb is right, start telling yourself you look good and you will see it. It seems hard at first, and it is, but you truley can change negative thinking with patience and practice

lmwestfa · 10-03-2005, 05:06 AM

I agree with the OP.... my motivation comes from being brought back to reality by a photo.... If I can't stand to look at what I see, I need to do something about it...

I know some (eh, many) have low self-esteem, but why would I want to positively distort what I see? i.e. tell myself I look good, when deep down I do not think so? It is the same thing...

I don't want to be model thin, and I am at peace with my body shape. I just want it smaller.

CarolinaRocker · 10-03-2005, 05:53 AM

If it wasnt for seeing a really bad photo of myself...I wouldnt be here. Now I dont mind being in the picture

and you wont either....keep up the good work!

landis · 10-03-2005, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaRocker

If it wasnt for seeing a really bad photo of myself...I wouldnt be here. Now I dont mind being in the picture

and you wont either....keep up the good work!

Wow, me EXACTLY!! Very good advice CR!!!

webgrrl · 10-03-2005, 07:11 AM

Same thing here. I think I look great, but the camera doesn't!

yellowrose · 10-03-2005, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarolinaRocker

If it wasnt for seeing a really bad photo of myself...I wouldnt be here. Now I dont mind being in the picture

and you wont either....keep up the good work!

Amen Sista!

Grif · 10-03-2005, 08:24 AM

Yup.. I have what I call "reverse anorexia" And anorexic looks in the mirror and sees fat where there isnt any.. I look in the mirror and think... ok.. Im heavy but I dont look repulsively fat.

Then I see a photo.

And I just cry and say to myself.. "but that isnt what I see when I look in the mirror"

TRACEY · 10-03-2005, 10:15 AM

This happens to me also. I think I look much thinner and just overall better in my outfits than a picture shows. I have 2 skinny mirrors at home, so that is part of the reason.

Lately, I have had my SO take a picture of me every Monday morning, in my work clothes. Front, back and sides. I print it out and carry it with me.

Trying to use it as motivation for when I am thinking of what to eat for a meal.

It has helped me to see which outfits look better on me than others. Black really DOES hide alot

heidi21062 · 10-03-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by webgrrl

Same thing here. I think I look great, but the camera doesn't!

Amen! When I was 190 lbs., (at 5'3"!), I still thought I looked okay. One day I had pictures developed - I can't even remember what the occassion was - but when I got them back, I couldn't believe my eyes! And I asked DH "Why didn't you tell me I was that fat???" Poor guy didn't know what to say! He just looked at me like, "You really didn't know????"

buffedstuff · 10-03-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heidi21062

Amen! When I was 190 lbs., (at 5'3"!), I still thought I looked okay. One day I had pictures developed - I can't even remember what the occassion was - but when I got them back, I couldn't believe my eyes! And I asked DH "Why didn't you tell me I was that fat???" Poor guy didn't know what to say! He just looked at me like, "You really didn't know????"

your hubby is no fool

10-02-2005, 10:12 AM	#1
Kandi26 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, Ca Posts: 754 Gallery: Kandi26 Stats: 258.8/224/150 5'4" WOE: Atkins Start Date: 04/14/08	Distorted Image of Myself I have a really distorted image of myself. I recently got back pictures from a wedding and I look HUGE. I didn't think I looked that bad. I have a friend that is heavy too and she has the same problem. We always talk to each other about this. I look at pics and think I look huge and she thinks the pics look like me. And vice versa.. Well, I want to look at a picture and be satisfied.. so I am sticking to this!

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10-02-2005, 10:24 AM	#2
Kandi26 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Rancho Cucamonga, Ca Posts: 754 Gallery: Kandi26 Stats: 258.8/224/150 5'4" WOE: Atkins Start Date: 04/14/08	BTW, I saw these pics right before my first date with Dave and it did nothing whatsoever for my confidence..

10-02-2005, 11:50 AM	#3
Jennyl Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: calgary Posts: 24,145 Gallery: Jennyl Start Date: manana	This happens to me all the time. I think I am looking pretty good at some event and then I see the pictures!! I look terrible! Like I've said before, some cameras put on 10 lbs....mine puts on 40

10-02-2005, 11:57 AM	#4
DiamondDeb Fat Burning Machine Extraordinaire! Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 41,758 Gallery: DiamondDeb WOE: Custom	Oh, please don't go there! It's soo bad for self-esteem. It's much better to visualize yourself as you want to be. It makes your mind guide you to do what it takes to make the visualization become reality. Go around thinking, "I'm HUGE." and you're mind will guide you to do what it takes to make this remain true. Seriously. It's a fact. Also, amateur photographers are infamous for making everyone look bad, even when they look their best.

10-02-2005, 11:57 AM	#5
datdog Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Garden State Posts: 3,569 Gallery: datdog Start Date: YESTERDAY	I feel your pain. I'm always like this and it doesn't matter what weight I'm at. I thought I looked very fat at 135 last summer. Especially when I went to try on clothes. It never makes any sense and I DO know this! My answer it to avoid the camera at all costs.

10-02-2005, 03:21 PM	#9
Bubbles Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Live Free or Die Baby!!!!! Posts: 10,100 Gallery: Bubbles Stats: 140 lbs of flabby fun WOE: All the time Start Date: Feb 2003	Everytime I have my picture taken I see a beast (who is obviously standing in front blocking the prettier younger me). We all go thru that. No one ever likes the way they photograph. That is why magazines spend millions of dollars making naturally beautiful women look completely un-natural.

10-02-2005, 06:49 PM	#10
DisneyPrincess Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: N.C. Posts: 20,855 Blog Entries: 48 Gallery: DisneyPrincess Stats: Heavy/squishy/lean WOE: Gluten/Wheat free Start Date: Every day is a new opportunity to make it count!	I too have a distorted body image but I do work on, so now I have days where I see 'me' and days where I see someone I dislike. Deb is right, start telling yourself you look good and you will see it. It seems hard at first, and it is, but you truley can change negative thinking with patience and practice

10-03-2005, 05:06 AM	#11
lmwestfa MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Warren, MI Posts: 1,868 Gallery: lmwestfa Stats: 195.5/174!!below 170 for now	I agree with the OP.... my motivation comes from being brought back to reality by a photo.... If I can't stand to look at what I see, I need to do something about it... I know some (eh, many) have low self-esteem, but why would I want to positively distort what I see? i.e. tell myself I look good, when deep down I do not think so? It is the same thing... I don't want to be model thin, and I am at peace with my body shape. I just want it smaller.

10-03-2005, 05:53 AM	#12
CarolinaRocker Sugar High Hooligan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Crazy Town Posts: 40,326 Gallery: CarolinaRocker Stats: - 25! WOE: LowCarb 7-21-08	If it wasnt for seeing a really bad photo of myself...I wouldnt be here. Now I dont mind being in the picture and you wont either....keep up the good work!

10-03-2005, 07:11 AM	#14
webgrrl Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 5,938 Gallery: webgrrl Stats: 225.5/206.2/154 WOE: South Beach Start Date: Jan. 24th, 2002 (Atkins) Jun. 23rd, 2007 (S.Beach)	Same thing here. I think I look great, but the camera doesn't!

10-03-2005, 08:24 AM	#16
Grif Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Up State New York Posts: 8,363 Gallery: Grif Stats: 260/220/170 WOE: move more/eat less Start Date: 01/01/08 (this time around)	Yup.. I have what I call "reverse anorexia" And anorexic looks in the mirror and sees fat where there isnt any.. I look in the mirror and think... ok.. Im heavy but I dont look repulsively fat. Then I see a photo. And I just cry and say to myself.. "but that isnt what I see when I look in the mirror"

10-03-2005, 10:15 AM	#17
TRACEY MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,275 Gallery: TRACEY	This happens to me also. I think I look much thinner and just overall better in my outfits than a picture shows. I have 2 skinny mirrors at home, so that is part of the reason. Lately, I have had my SO take a picture of me every Monday morning, in my work clothes. Front, back and sides. I print it out and carry it with me. Trying to use it as motivation for when I am thinking of what to eat for a meal. It has helped me to see which outfits look better on me than others. Black really DOES hide alot