The Picture Shock

I want you to close your eyes and envision a picture of yourself.

The first thing that comes to mind… just envision yourself in this photograph.

In this photograph…

• Who are you? Like the identity you fully embraced at that point in life.
• How long ago was it?
• Do you still do the same things that you do?
• Are there life changes that have happened?

Think about it.

This is the vision we think of when we think of our best selves. This is possibly a vision of us from when we were playing a sport or graduating from school. On our wedding day maybe. The day that we went to the beach for the first time with a loved one and felt confident.

I like to think of these as like the Polaroids in our head.

The little snapshots of these happy times and how we looked in association to those happy times.

Now… enter in the picture shock.

You see a physical or digital picture of yourself more recently taken, and you’re shocked.

You don’t know who that is.

Sure, it looks like you, but is that really you?

Are you really that person now?

These are the things that I hear from a good amount of the clients that come to me for weight loss. They have seen a picture of themselves that was recently taken, and they are in complete and utter shock. They are in this swirl of a moment filled with disbelief, guilt and maybe even shame. And this moment… it requires a very harsh acceptance of reality.

I’ve had this happen too.

Sometimes we go from those Polaroids in our heads, and we miss the gradual changes because we see ourselves on a daily basis in the mirrors.

We take our selfies in the best lighting with the best angles.

We possibly don’t see our own reality as it’s happening.

Our eyes adapt to who we are constantly.

Until one day we get hit with picture shock.

And we know it’s time for a change because we’re no longer of those versions of ourselves that are in those Polaroids in our head.

And this is when a hard moment comes in the coaching process or the start of a personal weight loss journey… Goal setting.

When we look to set a goal, a number usually comes to mind. This number is generally tethered to something of significance like the weight that they were in that Polaroid that’s in their head. They wanna look exactly like they did back then because of how good they felt about themselves and that time in their life. But the truth is… that time in their life and how they felt at that time it’s just no longer attainable. Not that exact situation.

Sure, we can work to get you back to that weight, but it’s not going to be the same. You’re not that person anymore. You probably don’t do the things that that person did. and that’s OK. It’s time to create a new you.

I know that sounds a little cliché, but it’s true. We’re constantly changing and becoming someone new. That new you can be so much more than that you in the Polaroid was.

So that’s what I have… the advice for the picture shock.

• Know that it’s OK. It happens to a lot of us. We just don’t see it happens because we see ourselves every day and we see the slight gradual changes. You didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t all of the sudden. It’s just that life changed and you changed with it.
• Leave room for the new you. Yes, that old you was that certain weight and you felt a certain way at that time. But those are just two factors. That’s not the entire story. The entire story is something that you cannot go back to because it has already passed. You get to create this space for the new you as you slowly and gradually change. The best way to do this is simply to think about how that new you lives, trains, acts and eats.
• Celebrate Small Wins. Every step forward, no matter how small, is a victory. Every single change that that you make is changing who you are and what your body looks like. Remember the gradual changes that happened that you didn’t notice until you saw that picture. You’re creating that same scenario. Celebrate the little things that you see. It matters. It’ll create little milestones to help you notice things a little bit better this time.
• Adapt & Evolve. Be open to change and adapt your goals as you progress. Life is dynamic, and your goals should be flexible to accommodate new circumstances and insights. You’re probably going to need to do reflection along the way and then revise everything that you’re doing to better fit that moment. And that’s OK. That’s not a failure and what you’re doing. That is learning and growing with yourself.
• Fail Forward. Be kind to yourself. Understand that setbacks are part of the journey, and they don’t define your worth or ability to succeed. Learn from them and keep moving forward. Just work on reflecting, reassessing, and restarting as soon as you can. The sooner, the better. In those moments that failure hits, the time matters. We easily get stuck if we don’t quickly act.
• Consistency is self-love. Consistency is key in any transformation journey. Develop routines that you can maintain in the long term, rather than seeking quick fixes or drastic changes. And just remember that consistency is a self-love practice. You are moving forward and practicing these things on a consistent basis because you want to love yourself into the body & life that you love.
• Build a Support System. Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or a community that encourages your journey. Sharing your experiences and challenges can provide motivation and accountability. If needed, consult with fitness trainers, nutritionists, or wellness coaches. They can provide expert advice tailored to your specific needs and help you navigate challenges. But they can also be the support that you may not be able to have somewhere else. You need somebody in your corner.

One last thing… If you’re struggling on this side (the weight loss/reclaiming you) of everything, maybe try putting up a picture of yourself on your bathroom mirror of when you start this journey or the picture from the picture shock, so that you can consistently see yourself next to that picture. You will consistently see the changes that you’re making. You will consistently have a tether why you’re doing this. When the process begins to get old and you’re tired, seeing that picture every day might be enough motivation to push through another 24 hours.

I hope it helps!

With love, Coach Nik