Why I don’t Believe in ‘Before’ Pictures

With the caveat that I could change my mind at any point, I don’t think I will ever post ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures of clients. However visually appealing they may be, there are several reasons I won’t use them to promote my services as a health coach. When I began my own journey, it never occurred to me to document myself through pictures; one reason being it never occurred to me I was living in my ‘before’ body!  There was no starting gunshot where I began abruptly, it was more of a slow slide into healthier habits that changed me over time. I wasn’t ashamed of how I looked as a heavier person. There were reasons I got there. I might still be there to this day and that would be okay too.  The thing to focus on is how you FEEL.  The heavier me felt tired and weak. The physical changes that came with eating better were a side benefit. 

  I imagine tracking progress with pictures may be helpful to some, because enough people do it, but to ask someone who may be at rock bottom to document where they are at this stage that they are trying to transform FROM... just doesn’t sit right with me. It puts too much focus on the physical.  It might trigger some to overtrain or adopt a starvation diet in order to change as fast as possible due to shame and embarrassment. This would lead to some rapid changes, but when progress slows, burnout sets in, and I would refer you to 2 blog posts back titles Setbacks =/= Failure about how our health is like a garden.   

Although part of me would love to post side by side comparisons of people to highlight their work and celebrate their journey, I just don’t think it is fair to the ‘before’ you.  You are so much more than how you fit in your clothes or a number on a scale.  Never forget that.