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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Dallas, TX
    Posts
    2,716

    Taking a pictures. Yes, I'm whining some.

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    OK, maybe some of you can relate. Maybe not. And yes, this is a bit of a whine session.

    So, my dear boyfriend, for my Birthday... trying to be creative and fresh with his gift giving... gave me a session with a photographer. Very sweet of him to think of me and to try to surprise me with a wonderful gift.

    The problem?

    Well, I'm the heaviest I have ever been in my entire life. Seriously. I have never weighed this much, or had this much fat on my body before. I DO NOT feel attractive. So, the thought of having to "look pretty" in pictures is making me sick to my stomach.

    So, the next logical step... is for me to lose the pounds. Which I can do. But, I have to do it when I'm not riding 3-4 days a week, and training for tri's.... because I can't train on 1600 calories a day. And for me to lose my weight... I need to live on 1600 calories a day.

    With that said... living on 1600 calories a day is MISERABLE. I'm grumpy, light-headed, can't think straight... just plain miserable. But I can do it when I need to get skinny again. Of course these days, just living my every day life... I don't care about being that skinny... so I don't try to make myself miserable on 1600 calories a day.

    Basically, the thought of having to take these freaking pictures is stressing me out beyond belief. To get them done I have to:

    1) Diet for 2 months to lose 10 pounds.
    2) Get my hair done.
    3) Find a makeup artist to make me look good in the pictures.

    This doesn't really seem like a gift to me. It's just stress.

    Yes, I talked to him about it... and told him how I felt... and he got really upset that I didn't like his gift and thought I was being silly. Then he told me to just call the lady and see what she can do.

    Well... she can't make me thin... so... whatever. Sure, there is air brushing... but dang... I don't want to not look like me. If I have to air brushed THAT much, what's the point?

    UUUGGGGHHH!!!!!

    I suggested to him that I might call to see if she could refund his money... but again... he got upset.

    Yea... I dread the idea of taking these pictures. DREAD IT.
    "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather, to skid in broadside thoroughly used-up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming: WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Seattle
    Posts
    8,548
    there's no deadline for the picture is there? put it off until you are ready for it.

    btw
    when you get to be my age you're going to look at these pictures and say
    oh, i looked so nice back then. why couldn't I see it?
    Mimi Team TE BIANCHISTA
    for six tanks of gas you could have bought a bike.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    1,046
    KSH,
    So you have to have it done right away? Perhaps you can wait until after the season. Or better yet, plan a photo date months in advance, insist that your BF be in the pictures... and challenge him to lose as much weight as you!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Massachusetts
    Posts
    2,556
    Maybe the photog can take pics of your bike instead of you. Just wipe her down, lube her chain, and she'll be looking real pretty.
    Oil is good, grease is better.

    2007 Peter Mooney w/S&S couplers/Terry Butterfly
    1993 Bridgestone MB-3/Avocet O2 Air 40W
    1980 Columbus Frame with 1970 Campy parts
    1954 Raleigh 3-speed/Brooks B72

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    1,046
    Quote Originally Posted by DebW
    Maybe the photog can take pics of your bike instead of you. Just wipe her down, lube her chain, and she'll be looking real pretty.
    Cool idea, Deb. Maybe an action shot with you on your bike in full gear... pick a nice scenic spot and make sure the photog captures you in all your powerhouse glory!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Dallas
    Posts
    1,532
    Ditto that. I think photos made in a special place biking would be great.

    Do these photos have a particular purpose? Because the other thing is, he likes the way you look. Have the pics made, give them to him, then don't worry about it. It's not like 2nd grade where all your aunts and uncles have to get copies!

    “Hey, clearly failure doesn’t deter me!”

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    2,609
    After a bike tour this summer, I was complaining to a friend that it seemed like we ended up with 200 pictures of my big, fat bottom. All the pictures were taken by my BF of me cycling up ahead of him. She simply said, "Obviously, he liked what he was seeing." Made my day! Seriously, your BF must be liking what he's seeing right now. Take the picture, give it to him and forget about it!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Flagstaff AZ
    Posts
    2,516

    Yeah

    What everyone said! You don't have to be thin to be beautiful! You are beautiful and you are fit and healthy and glowing I'm sure! After all you are a TE girl!

    He must love you the way you are even if you think you could lose a few pounds. I think we woman can always think we cna lose a few pounds

    I really like the idea of the picture on your bike or standing near your bike in a beautiful outdoor setting! IT will be something both you and your BF can like!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    830
    Girl if you look like the photo in your avatar you need to just hush up and say cheese!!!!
    As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence." ~Benjamin Franklin

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    3,932
    KSH, dearest KSH!

    If you are riding 3-4 times a week and training for tris, you must be pretty fit, and who cares if you weight more than you've ever weighted. Although you don't seem to think so, you certainly look fit, too. We're so tough on ourselves, needlessly so. You definitely don't need to put yourself down.

    Getting some outdoorsy pictures also sounds like a great idea to me.

    Another thing: I have had the chance to work with professional photographers (taking pictures of me) a few times in my life. It's always been great, and the results were always impressive, even when I didn't have the best opinion of my looks at a given time. They know how to get a flattering angle, that's their job. Your job is to SMILE.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    2,824
    What everyone else said.
    Jennifer

    “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
    -Mahatma Gandhi

    "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
    -Aristotle

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    East Texas
    Posts
    112
    KSH..I have seen you personally and did not think that you were anywhere what you are saying. I was looking at your legs whenwe were riding and I was thinking how much quad muscle you had. Of course, I do realize, that us women can be the hardest on ourselves..especially with the body.

    But, if you don't feel comfortable with it now, do wait to when you will have a good time on that day...


    Heidi

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
    Posts
    6,763
    How about just a head shot? No body needs to be involved at all, if you don't want it to...

    I agree with the others, though, your avatar looks amazing. Unless you've gained significant weight since that pic was taken, you have nothing to worry about. You are downright hot!

    Emily
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Santa Monica/ NYC
    Posts
    67
    Quote Originally Posted by KSH
    Basically, the thought of having to take these freaking pictures is stressing me out beyond belief. To get them done I have to:

    1) Diet for 2 months to lose 10 pounds.
    2) Get my hair done.
    3) Find a makeup artist to make me look good in the pictures.

    This doesn't really seem like a gift to me. It's just stress.
    Well i think its a cool gift from you partner. Just enjoy the experience of a photoshoot. Its not as if you're intending to build up a portfolio or something to try to land the right modelling agency. Just be the star for the day and have fun thats probably what your partner wanted... so sweet!

    I'm not sure if its a simple photography studio, but most of the time they should have someone who could help you out with simple make-up and styling. Maybe call and find out?

    As for air brushing work, it is super common industry practise so its not as if you're cheating... the idea is to look good right? Seriously everyone does it: remove blemishes, birthmarks, even moley girls.

    Finally, since this is going to be something personal and this time the guy is working for you and not the other way round... don't feel intimidated to communicate with the photographer. Although they say that the camera adds pounds to a person, there are also ways to make anyone look good. Relax, and have fun otherwise your stress would translate into awkward pictures.. but most importantly hear what the photographer has to say... they might have an idea or two.

    Who knows, you might end up enjoying the experience... and come back vying for more next time round

    HAve fun
    Last edited by Melstar; 09-08-2006 at 09:24 PM.
    Muahahahahaha! I know Kung Fu.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    somewhere between the Red & Rio Grande
    Posts
    5,297
    I think he wanted a nice picture of a woman he finds beautiful and important. Real men see us as beautiful no matter the size. DH and I have been together nine years Friday. He married me when I was at my heaviest and said I was radiant that day.

    The other thing is a professional photographer is going to take the pictures at your most flattering angle. When we took our engagement portraits one month before our wedding I was at the biggest I have ever been. I am now a size 6-8 but in these photos I was a 12-14. I weighed 30 pounds more than I do now, 45 pounds more than my *personal* ideal weight a year later. The point I am getting at is these are some of my best pictures. The pictures from our honeymoon one month later look horrible. I look at them and remember how great it was but also marvel at how chunky I was. I think I look about 10-15 pounds heavier than the engagement photos! Never underestimate what having a professional behind the lense and in the darkroom can do for a photo.
    Amanda

    2011 Specialized Epic Comp 29er | Specialized Phenom | "Marie Laveau"
    2007 Cannondale Synapse Carbon Road | Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow | "Miranda"


    You don't have to be great to get started, but you do have to get started to be great. -Lee J. Colan

 

 

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