Before-and-After Photos

So, you've decided to embark on a weight-loss journey. How will you track your progress? For many, the answer is "before" and "after" shots. After all, humans are visual creatures, and there's nothing better than photographic evidence of far you've come. Before-and-after photos aren't just any old pictures, though. If you want to accurately capture your progress, there's a right way to do it. There are many reasons to take progress photos. For starters, it's an excellent form of personalized encouragement. "Before-and-after photos capture the little differences that you [might] miss [each day]

For many people, this can fuel the fire of self-motivation.

"For example, if you're exercising, you may gain muscle and lose fat." As a result, your weight might stay the same as your body changes.

In the end, before-and-after photos mean something different for each person. Whatever it is for you, embrace it—it's beginning of something good.

Feeling nervous? That's Okay.

If you want to take photos but feel uncomfortable, take a deep breath. This feeling is natural. First, pat yourself on the back. "Give yourself credit for being brave enough to walk through the weight-loss process with courage,"No one likes to confront parts of themselves that need improvement, but if you take the time and effort to photograph yourself, it shows real personal investment this drastically improves your chances of success.

As you take that first shot, consider this "Where you are in the [start of] your weight-loss journey is the perfect place to be. It's all positive from here on out, because you can only improve."

Where will you see changes first?

The answer is different for everyone. The most noticeable changes depend on your eating habits, exercise routine and how one affects the other. For instance, if only you improve your eating habits, Frey shares that it's not unusual to see changes in the belly area. This may reflect anything from fat loss to a reduction in bloating or water weight. Alternatively, if you don't change your eating habits but you're doing cardio, the body parts you focus on may show improvement first. "Often, this is the legs—specifically the thighs and glutes—because most weight-bearing cardio activities work your legs pretty hard

For many people, this can fuel the fire of self-motivation.

No matter your goals, taking before-and-after photos is an amazing way to track your progress. It might feel daunting at first, and that's okay. Honor this discomfort. When you look back on the "before" photos week, months or even years from now, you'll be so proud of how far you've come and the success you've achieved.