A friend sent me a small group picture yesterday of me and a few other ladies. It is the first full-shot picture of myself that I have seen in many, many years. I didn’t even take a “before” picture when I started keto. I never have my picture taken and specifically ask people not to take it. Anyway, when I saw this picture, I was shocked at my appearance. It was really so depressing. I couldn’t believe how I looked. Although I knew I was overweight and at my highest weight ever, I had no accurate image of myself except for fleeting glances in a store window or mirror. I’ve been on keto for just over three weeks and am doing really well, however, this was so depressing. For a moment, I thought “what’s the point?,” which is really destructive and stupid. I have had to keep telling myself that I am working on my food addiction and recovering and it will come in time. If I just keep on keeping on, I will get healthier and lose the weight. Thank God my cravings and hunger are gone. If I were still dealing with that, I’d probably have gone on a major binge and be off and running again. I am really grateful for finding keto and being part of a community of members who know what this like.
Reality check
Please go look at all the before and after pictures on the big thread and you will immediately recognize what the point is! Hang in there. You are not alone.
I love reading the success stories and seeing people’s before and after photos. I have poured over every one on multiple sites, multiple times. It is a great reminder that others understand and have been successful.
And now you have a before photo! Think ahead to a year from now about how you will get to post a before and after of your own!
Definitely - if you feel you have been on team “before” long enough - join team “after”! 
^^This!!! That photo is your before picture. Now put it away and don’t look at it for as long as you need. There will be a day when you want to share that photo next to your new one so that you can celebrate your progress.
As for now, congrats on 3 successful weeks with the Keto WOE. Everybody here is now your designated cheerleader, so keep posting when you need encouragement or have a question.
Soon you’ll start to feel better, have more energy, and all of the other awesome benefits f this lifestyle. Also, as a bonus, your clothes will get looser 
Welcome aboard and I look forward to seeing from you again! 
I enjoy looking outwardly thinner or healthier but that is just one benefit. There are so many other benefits that can pay huge quality of life dividends as we age. Going from overweight to healthy is a long road but so doable. You are just getting started it sounds like, stay strong and do keto for you. Once you settle into keto the only thing left to be done is to start enjoying the benefits.
See, from this quote you already know the path logically, so repeat that mantra as often as you need. Everyone has a starting point. You are already three weeks past yours! It isn’t day one any longer. It is nearly a month. Think of it that way. You’re well past starting. You’re picking up speed and will be cruising before you know it. Keep going. Someday you will look at that image not as how far you were from health, but how far you’ve COME.
I know that feeling all too well. I nearly do army rolls out of the way of cameras to this very day. Its like our brain thinks “well Ive been doing this 3 weeks, I must already look so noticeably hotter”, then some poopy head comes along with a photo and youre left there like “…or maybe not at all”.
Then I begin to question and doubt and get nervous about how long this all is going to take, and I think self-venegeful thoughts about cheeseburgers with buns and fries and cakes. I think a lot of us have dealt with this same situation.
Let your mind be upset about it and keep on doing what youre doing. By gods grace, we will all be here next year at this same time, and if you keep going at it, the picture you hated will be a picture youll celebrate because of how much youve changed internally and externally. The only way to not hate that pic is to keep pressing on, regardless of how your mind wants to make a hash of it.
I second the “go take a look at before and after photos.” See where other people started versus where they are now. It is great motivation!
I second the “go take a look at before and after photos.” See where other people started versus where they are now. It is great motivation!