Note to self…

By On December 8, 2012 · 35 Comments
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Stop obsessing over this photo from the Tough Mudder. You are living a healthy, well balanced, active life. Your body is the result of this lifestyle and this picture just happens to accentuate your least flattering traits.

Don’t let your inner mean girl use this as fuel to feed your insecure side. Don’t let her tear you down and veer you off your current path. Don’t let her bully you!

Just because you don’t look like a super model doesn’t mean all the effort, all the choices, all the energy isn’t worth it. You know better.

When you want to look a photo look at this one…

You are strong. You are determined. You are beautiful. Don’t let one stupid photo take that away from you.

 
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  • Melissa E.

    You are Beautiful, talented, strong and appear to be a great mom. You don’t see many super models doing a Tough Mudder.

  • Casey

    Girl…. You rock. That picture was just at a bad angle. You are a mom of two beautiful boys. AND… You are one tough mother ! Lol. That second picture is awesome. Look how strong you look!

  • Christine

    Bad photos happen to good people.

  • Erin

    You know what I thought when I saw that first photo. “WOW- I would love to look like that- holy shit she just did a tough mudder!!!!!” its not even on my radar right now or something I could even DREAM of accomplishing! You look tough and a little muddy and pretty exhausted…but look at what you just did!! I know to you its not flattering and you are HATING that photo but take a look from the outside…from a girl like me who has 70lbs to lose and can hardly run for 5 minutes w/o feeling like dying…who hates the person she has let herself become …I know you have been there- and you get it…so think back to where you came from…that picture is an incredible shot of someone I aspire to be. You are more than a photo – you are real! you are amazing. keep it up – you are inspiring even on the days you don’t feel up to the title- you are!

  • LisaM

    LOL now you know how the celebs feel when the paparazzi get that one shot that always makes it to the front page of the tabloids! Any gal who looks like photo #2 EVER doesn’t have one thing to worry about!

  • http://www.facebook.com/tricia.bovell Tricia Lightfoot Bovell

    Even a supermodel can have a picture they don’t like.

    It’s one picture, not how you feel nor how you look. It was a moment in time. I love the 2nd picture. You are a strong determined woman! You inspire me!

  • http://twitter.com/darnfood Reinaldo

    I recently took shirtless pics for an online fitness contest. I didn’t win. But I kept looking at the pics and darn it, I just looked so fat in those after pics! Reality: I lost 2 inches in waist and gained an inch on shoulders in 3 months. But no,to my eyes, I just looked fat. No improvement, just fatness.

    Ex fatties like us got our sh*t broken. You know, you look at yourself at morning and you look skinny. 40 minutes later, you look again and bam! you’re fat. 20 minutes later and you look skinny again. Repeat all day. Repeat for weeks. For months. For years.

    The problem with our human bodies is that it bumps when we move. Get a pic at the time when we are bumping all our stuff up (even muscle) while running/walking and yeah, Bad pic time is up. I hate it too.

    But look at the second pic. Same woman. Same body. Same day. So, Wonder Woman in the second pic AND a bad pic in the first??? Unless you can morph (can you?) in hours, you’re still Wonder Woman, just caught in a bumpy pic.

    There is a pic of you (you had it in the site earlier) when you’re living for the hospital to give birth to Ryan. You posted it as your “before pic” at some point. Put THAT and this pic you didn’t like side by side. What a difference. This is why you’re a inspiration to us all.

  • Trixie

    Roni, this is why I read and like your blog. You are one of the only “healthy living” bloggers who actually IS healthy! You are strong and inspiring (and you look great!) Everyone needs to see more of these “bad” photos and be ok with them!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=653026860 Alex Quintana

    I personally like the photo. Somehow my eyes just go to the more flattering traits. ;)

  • http://www.mytinytank.net/ Tracy aka www.mytinytank.net

    Roni, you truly inspire me. Looking at ourselves and accepting what we see in any picture. You know I have been challenging myself this year by looking at myself and being ok with it. You have inspired me to do this. And this blog inspires me to keep doing that. Of course you are a strong and beautiful woman. This picture shows me a story of a woman who has worked hard. Used her body to make it through a challenge! Wow, I can see that! You are making it happen and keep it up. I am following you and learning from you!!

  • Mehgann

    I see that picture, and I totally get why you don’t like it. I would encourage you to not look away, but to look directly AT that picture and see a strong, powerful, confident woman. Someone whose belly held a baby not all that long ago. Someone who is setting the best possible example for that baby and her other little one. Someone who is IN THE MIDDLE OF A TOUGH MUDDER, for pete’s sake!!! I look at that picture and feel inspired. You are not perfect, and that is what makes you amazing to me. I sincerely wish that instead of hiding from it, you could embrace this photo and be proud of all that you are. Warts and all. ;)

    • Kate

      THIS! You’re a badass! I am pretty sure I was in bed or on the couch while you were out FINISHING your SECOND Tough Mudder.

  • Laura

    Roni you look amazing. All these pictures show your strength and what your body is capable of :)

  • Ann

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings so honestly. I think you look amazing in both pictures (though I can see why #1 is less flattering than #2). I too struggle with the back and forth of feeling like I look great and feeling totally disgusted with my body. I have lost 50 lbs so far on my journey (about 40 more to go) but I remember in my early 20′s before I had gained all this weight that I still felt the same way about my body. So I have to believe it’s at least partly a psychological issue. I just wish I knew how to get over it!

  • http://www.facebook.com/lisa.floryshakwindman Lisa Floryshak-windman

    I needed to read that! Thank you!

  • Jodi T

    Roni-You are SO inspiring!! Maybe try taking one of your “before” photos and comparing it to that one and embrace and focus on how far you have come…and for how long you have maintained! THAT is what counts girlie!! I personally think both of those photos are awesome!!

  • Priyanka

    I don’t comment that often but really you should be so proud of yourself. The second image signifies the woman you are, strong with a passion. I wish to set an example for my son the way you are setting for you kids

  • Tina

    I personally like both photos! And PS: It’s the damn elastic in the pants that squeezes us so tight that result in photos we don’t love.

  • Vickie

    sports bras do not create a flattering sihouette. The same shirt, with a supportive, lifting bra would have given you a totally different look with exactly the same body. I tell myself this, often, looking in mirrors at the gym.

    And there are a lot of us maintainers in very good shape/healthy and getting stronger/fitter with each passing year. . .

  • Paula

    You are the reason I’ve made it this far. You inspired me to consider doing the turkey trot next year. You are inspiring me to push myself to my limits. It that photo is distasteful to you, get rid of it. We all have a picture that doesn’t catch us in our best light. I’ve seen tons of other photos of you on this site that makes you look like a model so my guess is this photo is not doing you justice.

  • nancy

    Ok that is the body of a woman who brought two children into this world. I bet those boys will never see what you see in that picture.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kim.loveottobre Kim Love-Ottobre

    Good post. I’ve had the same reaction. I saw pictures of me finishing the Massanutten 100 Race, the first time, with arms raised-and my first reaction, was my flabby arms! Not that I completed the toughest 100 mile race in the east!

  • Sarah B

    Roni! Do not forget how much of an inspiration you are to so many people, including me! You have come so far and are so motivating!! You were completing your second Tough Mudder which is so awesome! I love reading your blog and getting inspiration so thank you for that! I only hope to compete in a Tough Mudder someday like you!

  • Elyse

    This post makes me love you even more. We’ve all been there, but I wish the picture I didn’t like looked half as good as yours.

  • Vicky

    You look beautiful, you are beautiful, and this post really was perfect timing for me. I just ran my first 5k yesterday…and was mortified to find pictures of it online. Instead of being of being proud of this attempt to change my life, I cringed at the pictures! I really didnt know if I should laugh or cry at myself..

    Thanks for being real, honest, and showing me we all have these thoughts about ourselves and that we need to fight hard those inner demons that suppress our accomplishments. Thanks for motivating me to start running! Keep shining as that radiant star you are, and I too will continue working hard to one day take as many good pics as you have on this fabulous website.

  • imacrazymomof4

    there is no doubt about it, we are our toughest critics! i think we always look harshly at ourselves because we know ALL the things about ourselves that we wish we could change or find undesirable. but honestly, do others judge us the same way? i didn’t look at your photo in a negative light until i read what you wrote…but i COMPLETELY understand why you feel the way you do…i would do the same thing to myself in a photograph. heck, don’t sneak up on me with a camera on the beach!!!

    even supermodels have things they don’t like, are critical of themselves, and can take an unflattering photo. this photo shows someone with determination and drive, that is strong and reliable, that won’t allow defeat to enter her mind.

    we’re only human and what you do for others is amazing. keep up the great work!! ; ) YOU ROCK!

  • Amy

    Your honesty is appreciated and reflects what we all go through. I’ve noticed with some bloggers, they at times gloss over the whoopsie moments or bad photos, etc. (eating badly, but not sharing it specifically in their food journal, etc.) and only share what they want you to see. Your sharing this is REAL. And please. You kicked a$$! Ignore that voice, delete that picture and put the rope picture on the wall.

  • Toledo Lefty

    I have to say that I love that you shared this. I have had my share of bad race photos, and I just assumed that’s because I really look bad when I’m competing, so it’s great that someone who is as fit and dedicated as you has the same kind of moments. I love the climbing photo.

  • Angie

    Loud and proud.

  • Laurie

    It is so funny, because I think you look awesome in that photo. I wish my arms looked like that and my middle was that small! It is all about perspective, isn’t it? I look at that and see success in your weight loss, which inspires me to keep trying! Awesome post.

  • http://twitter.com/Cdn_Redhead Carolynne

    This post is amazing. Thank you.

  • Susan

    Roni, you are beautiful. When I see that photo, I see a mother to two wonderful boys. You are an inspiration – have been following you for a long, long time. Through my ups and downs (on the scale and off). We are all human, and I love the fact that you are honest with yourself and continue on! :)

  • Will2Lose

    Don’tyou dare let this photo bring you down. YOU ROCK!!!!

  • Lauren

    I meant to leave this comment when I first read this post but time slipped away from me. Every time you have posted a photo lately I’ve thought to myself she looks amazing! If I followed through better I could look just as amazing. We are roughly the same height but I have about 20 lb on you. I understand why you would hate the first picture but that doesn’t represent who you are or what you do everyday (like inspire me to eat better and get off my but and go to yoga). You are so much more then that photo and I know you know that. Thanks for the inspiration!

  • Melissa Folz

    I needed to see this!!! I did a mud run Saturday and most of my pics are horrible looking, but I need to focus on the fact that I DID IT! Not that I dont like my hips/thighs/whatever…
    THANKS!

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