How to take photos post WLS

After weight loss surgery, one of the best things you can do is acknowledge the non-scale victories. There will be times when you are not seeing movement on the scale, which can be extremely frustrating. Non-scale wins will give you the chance to recognize how far you have come without focusing on the numbers. One of the ways you can focus on non-scale victories is through pictures. You might not see the difference in a single photo, but once you compare it to an older one, you will feel so much better.

I went through a conversion surgery 3 and a half months ago, and lately, I have been struggling with the scale. My weight loss has slowed down tremendously, and it has been really hard on me. However, the other day I decided to take a picture. Out of curiosity, I compared it to a photo that I took a few months before my conversion surgery. I was shocked when I saw the difference. My face looked so much slimmer, and I could even tell the difference with my smile. It brightened up my day and made me remember other things to celebrate on this journey.

You must take pictures of your journey so you can see the progress you are making. So, here are a few tips to help you take good pictures that you can easily compare.

  1. Take pictures of different angles. Make sure you get your front, back, and side. This will help you see what other people see. It made a massive difference for me when I noticed things like my back. You don’t see your back every day, so it was nice to have a picture to look at.
  2. Wear the same outfit. It is such a fantastic feeling when you can see how baggy your old clothes are on you. It might be tempting to throw out your old clothes, but I encourage you to keep some of your biggest size clothes so you can get these awesome pictures. It also makes it easier to compare since some clothes can make us look bigger or smaller depending on the style.
  3. Hold up your old outfit. This is so powerful. I remember the first time I was able to step into one pant leg of my biggest pair of jeans. I took a picture of it, and now it is one of my favorite photos to look back on to see how far I have come.
  4. Make sure you have good lighting. You want to make sure you get the best picture possible, so make sure you are in a place where you can see your body and face well.
  5. Take photos often. This might be hard, especially at first when you are probably a little insecure. However, it is so vital that you have pictures throughout your entire journey. One thing I wish I would have done was to take a photo every single month with the same outfit, that way, I could make a collage of the first year after surgery.

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! I cannot say it enough. You will be so happy you did it. Photos are one of the best non-scale victories, and it is incredible to see the progress you are making. Do not let your insecurities get in the way. You should be proud of how far you have come, and it is so essential that you physically see the changes happening. Keep up the great work, friends!


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.