Before-and-after photos have become a full-on social media phenomenon. But these kinds of images can never really show you a start point and an end point to anyones weight or health journey. Theyre just part of a storyoften a lifelong one, with ups, downs, and U-turns. Glamour asked three women with widely viewed before-and-afters to share the real deal on their personal odysseys and what they learned that we all should know.
PHOTO: @gofitjo
About four years ago I set out to lose the 20 pounds Id put on during my second pregnancy; my older daughter had told me I looked beautiful, and Id responded, No, Im not. Im fat. (The photo above on the left was taken around that time.) I couldnt believe Id said that to her, and I didnt want to go on feeling like I wasnt taking care of myself. So I started making sure I was moving more each day, I cleaned up my diet, and I lost the weight. I felt good, and I wanted to see what I could do next. I began working out harder, doing more strength training, and eating even less. I didnt take rest days. When I posted my after photo (middle), people said I was an inspiration, which should have been motivating for me. But I wasnt happy, at least not in the way I wanted to be. I had no balance in my life. Its heartbreaking to look back and think that I couldnt enjoy playing with my kids because I was so concerned about the love handles I thought I had. So last year I changed my views. The most important thing, I realized, isnt my weightits staying true to who I am. I have stretch marks. I have loose skin. Im never going to be perfect.
When I shared this part of my story, it turned out that my failure was even more inspiring to people. Sure, on my latest photo, some people have said, So you got fat. But thats OK. I bounce back because I know Im the happiest Ive ever been. I can cope with my anxiety, my marriage is stronger, Im a better mother, and I found a new career path as a health coach. I spend more time with my kids, and Im present for it. To the negative commenters I say: Fitness doesnt have to be one thing. My goals arent to get more and more defined or lose weight; I want to be fitter and happier as a whole. Ive learned I cant evaluate fitness using someone elses definition of health. And you cant evaluate someones health by looking at a photo, either. No ones opinion about my body matters besides mine. I lost sight of whats important: Its not how I look. Its how I feel.
PHOTO: @mandas_muffintop
About a year after I had my daughter, in early 2014, I reached my heaviest weight of 330 pounds. I had back pain, and I wasnt able to be the mother I wanted to be, so under the advice of my doctor, I received bariatric surgery. After about 18 months I lost 150 pounds. I had all this excess skin, so much that I thought Id done something wrong, because no one else was talking about this part of their weight loss. I later realized its entirely normal. Because Id started with unrealistic expectations, I decided to document my journey first on Tumblr and then Instagram (@mandas_muffintop), hoping that my photos, like the two above left, would make other people feel less alone. It was painful: When I was plus-size, people told me I was unhealthy and looked terrible; with these pictures some people made fun of my loose skin (saying things like Your stomach looks like an old man). After I got surgery to remove the excess skin (right), I thought that would be the end of the criticism, but now people come at me asking how I could be body positive if Ive had skin-removal surgery. I did it to improve my quality of life: I dont have to worry about moving my skin around to sit. Of course Im body positive; how else could I put myself out there like this? Sometimes I think it would be easier if I shut down my Instagram, but then I remember the positive feedback Ive gotten. My followers tell me they feel more comfortable in their body because of me. I want people to love themselves no matter what stagebefore, after, or in betweentheyre in.
PHOTO: @chellespindler
Until two years ago, I was a smoker, I drank, and I didnt eat well. I was a crash dieter and would look in the mirror and put myself down. I wasnt happy with where I was emotionally, and Id heard working out could help with that. Then I found Kayla Itsines community online and was inspired by the supportive women there. I signed up for her plan and went from years of not exercising to logging six workouts a week. I was stronger and treating myself with more respect. I was proud of what I had accomplished, so I decided to post some before-and-after photos (far left, from my dieting days, and left, after I started working out). The next day Kayla featured my photos on her accounts. I was ecstaticuntil I read some of the comments. People said I looked better before, I looked sick now, and I must be unhealthy. For two days I obsessed about reading the posts. I was so confused and hurt. I knew I had made healthy changes in my life. I reminded myself that people didnt know that I used to eat poorly, drink, and smoke. I focused on the mental progress Ive made too, something people cant tell by looking at a photo. One person implied I was romanticizing anorexia but later reached out to me and apologized; she said she didnt realize I was a real person. I thanked her. That apology meant a lot to me. People will always say judgmental things. Im not doing this for them, but for me.
This article originally appeared in the August 2017 issue of Glamour.
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The Real Stories Behind Three of 2017's Most Viral Weight-Loss Photos - Glamour
