I saw a picture of myself on Facebook . . .

Have you had that moment?  Someone posts a picture of you on Facebook and you are horrified?  But there's no graceful, polite way to remove the picture? 

That happened to me recently.  I'd been to Disneyland with my daughter and a friend and the friend snapped a shot of us on the Tea Cups.  I wore a white button-up shirt that day to protect my arms from sun and to keep cool and, hello, as anyone who has ever been fat can tell you, white is not a flattering color.  That's why most of my clothes are black.

So, I looked horrible in the picture.  And it's posted on my Facebook wall with the sweetest note from the one who took and posted the picture.  Awkward.

I look like a twin-sized mattress covered with a white sheet. 

Okay, not quite that bad, but not cute, either.

I'm so discouraged.  I've eaten wildly in the past week--after having two excellent weeks--and I'm not even sure how I fell apart, but I did. 

And now my husband's going out of the country for ten days and my sister is coming for a week-long visit and school is ending for my kids and WHY TRY?

I'm so sick of being fat and unattractive.  That's one good reason why.

Comments

[Deborah]

I seriously understand what you mean....

What I subtly do.. is as soon as possible - a day or so after (make sure other stuff is posted), I untag myself in the photo!

I'm afraid I'm not one to provide advice on the 'why try?' question.... though I'm trying to do a maintenance thing - the old much-talked about intuitive eating approach. I've got a long way to go so I've decided to take it in steps.

At the moment I'm not-dieting.... so meal-wise I'm eating what I want BUT I'm trying to stay away from my binge-foods if that makes sense. So, I don't feel deprived but I also keep a 'tad' of control!

Best wishes!

[Gastric Bypass Man]

I've been through that stage too, where all your motivation has drained out. But one thing's for sure, if you let that feeling take over you will really lose your goal. Lose weight not for anybody else, but for yourself. Make your family your motivation, lose weight because you want to grow old healthy with your husband, or be able to see your kids get married. Their are a lot of reasons that will motivate you again, you just have to find it. It's normal to feel down sometimes, what's important is you get back in your feet and finished what you've started.

[Tammy]

Oh the picture on facebook thing, yes I know that feeling. I've told my some of my family not to posts pictures of me, but my stepmom "forgets".

If you get back on track now, imagine how great you will feel by the end of summer. Best wishes to find your mojo again.

[rachel]

Totally relate - husband is away, kids finishing school this week, and feels like it is too hard to deal with a diet. Why can't they invent the magic pill already?

[Barb]

Just came across your blog. Why Try? I don't even know you and tell you "Because you are worth it". Trust me when I say, you will feel a sense of pride if you stick with it. You also mentioned that you have a child, she's worth it. I started a new way of eating and lots of exercise this year. I've been overweight most of my life, but I'm bond and determine to lose this weight. I have good days and bad days, but I'm not giving up. I keep amazing myself with my little victories (weather it's diet or exercise). I started a diet blog this year in hopes that it keeps me on track (fattofitat55.blogspot.com). I also have a food blog and I'm adding more and more healthy recipes (bj brinker's home cooking or barbbrinker.blogspot.com)

[cyndi_creativebioscience]

Your post makes me so sad. I hope you can find the strength inside yourself to love yourself no matter what you look like. Although, I do not struggle with my weight, I do struggle with my skin. I am way embarrassed of adult acne. I have been a personal trainer for over 10 years and suggest to make small steps in the direction that will improve your self confidence and self love. If you have any questions, I wouldn't mind offering advice. Take care!

[Sheila]

Don't give up, Mel! Keep at it. You can do it!

I know what you mean about it being hard when your husband is away. It seems I always gain weight when my husband is deployed.

Maybe an accountability partner of some sort? My fitness class is just ending a month-long partner challenge. The food rules were basically paleo/real food. Points for drinking all our water, sleeping 8 hours, and exercise. Having rules and a partner really helped me to do well and maintain my momentum. I will be quite happy though when the challenge is over. I cannot maintain quite this level of commitment for the long haul though anything is an improvement over how I was eating before the challenge. :)

You can do it - I know you can!

[Missy Fatty]

I hate having my photo taken unless it is on my camera, since I always look ginormous. Incidentaly have just started a diet blog this evening. Check me out if you are ever bored lol

[Amanda]

This is pretty much how I opened my blog! Excellent blog. Thank you for sharing your amazing success. I'm going to add you to my blog feed and link your success pics to my "Success" Page

http://beyondthediets.blogspot.com/

[Amanda]

In fact, come and visit my site! It's a great new exploration of why maintenance doesn't work for most people, and what we can do about it.

[Elizabeth]

This has definitely happened to me! I have actually asked lovely well meaning people to take pictures down. Good luck getting your mojo back. I am in the process of doing the same thing.

[Jenny]

You can now set your Facebook so that pictures other people tag you in must be approved by you before they are posted (at least on your wall where your friends would see it). However, the person's friends would still be able to see it. If you really don't like the picture I would contact your friend, tell them it was sweet what they said, but you really don't like the picture and ask them to remove it. I am sure you friend would understand.