Why I’ll Never Post My Weight Loss Pictures Online
Sharing “progress pictures” might be motivational, but it can lead to a precarious position.
If you’ve spent any time reading up on weight loss, you’ve probably seen your fair share of “progress pictures” — the before and after shots that dieters share to motivate, inspire, and show off.
When I was in the middle of my own weight loss, I used to frequently visit a Reddit forum devoted to these pictures: r/progresspics. The forum showcases all types of body transformations — most commonly weight loss, but also eating disorder recovery, increased muscle mass, and more.
I don’t know whether looking at all those pictures actually helped me lose weight, but they did keep me in a positive mindset. I found the pictures truly inspirational, and I looked forward to the day when I’d hit my weight loss goal and could post my own. I wanted to motivate others the way that they had motivated me.
Last year, I did hit my weight loss goal, and I’ve maintained my target weight ever since. Despite this success, I never did post a progress picture of my own. So, what changed my mind?
Photo Theft
I decided against posting my own photos after learning that progress picture communities…
