What I see in the mirror doesn't match what I see in pictures

[MrsScamander]

Is anyone else like this? Just wanted to vent really.

I've lost 4 stone so far (with another 4-6stone to go) and have gone from size 22-24 to size 18-20.

I think I have some sort of reverse body dysmorphia or something--in my head I look OK and might even think I look passable.

And then I catch sight of my reflection in a shop window or see a full body photograph and I see such a huge, ugly mess still. What I see in pictures is what I imagined I looked like BEFORE losing 4 stone. So god knows what I ACTUALLY looked like (I don't think there is photographic evidence of this)

Last weekend I went to a wedding, bought a new dress, shoes, did my hair nicely. I never have an excuse to dress up for a special occasion so went all out. I actually thought I looked fairly pretty.

Then I saw a photo of myself and my partner someone had taken and I looked hideous. It just made me think what the point of it is if even after losing weight I'm still hideous?

Just wanted a rant really, there isn't much of a point to this thread other than hoping I'm not the only one who thinks this way?

I don't photograph well at all! I look in the mirror and think I look passable but in all photographs I look like a troll. I try to escape being photographed as a result.

I work out every day. I like the way i look in the mirror. I avoid cameras like the plague!

Very relatable

Sometimes I have pictures and I like "Ooh I look nice" and sometimes I cannot believe how disgusting I look.

Sometimes in the mirror I look and think "Oh I'm not that fat" and then sometimes in other mirrors or windows or pictures I am shocked how big I am.

Its all lighting and angles.

However, I use my disgusted experiences to try fuel my motivation to lose weight.

You've done 4 stone already, keep going until you feel good about yourself. 4 stone is incredible so you can do it.

I think the frozen nature of a photo does us no favours. In real life we are smiling, moving, showing our personality, and that's what makes us look attractive. We are so much more than a frozen image.

Congrats on the weight loss! Must have taken loads of work and commitment, good for you. The fact you felt you looked better than the photo/ mirror suggested might just be that you feel better generally and have more confidence, which i'm sure people see when they're with you.

Don't let it discourage you, be kind to yourself. People of all shapes and sizes can look terrible in photos, it's not a weight thing. And everyone is so self critical anyway, you probably do look lovely, you just can't help but see the bad bits.