Episode 98: Facing Facebook!

Good old Facebook. It has many good qualities, such as sharing news, keeping up to date with family and friends etc, but it does have its downside as well. Especially if say, a family member has a particularly awful photo of you, and they decide to share it on Facebook so everyone gets to see you in all your glory…..

Coincidentally, I have just been passing messages with Tonya from Fourth Generation Farmgirl regarding the pic she posted of herself wrapped up against the cold. She told me that her husband had posted it on Facebook as well. I laughed as I have a niece who likes to post photos on Facebook, who me and my sister often tell off, as there is yet another unflattering pic of us posted for all to see.

I remember one of the first pics she posted was of me wallowing about on the beach next to my ex-husband, who had rather colourful and unflattering swimming trunks on! I was not happy, especially as I worked at a secondary school at the time it was posted; some of the kids saw it, and I got a bit of ribbing for it!

She also put one on of me and my older sister doing a bit of karaoke (when it was first popular in the UK, back in the 80’s). It was Christmas time, and I was dressed all in gold! (I always like a bit of sparkle at Christmas, but this was a bit much by anybody;s standards. I think I had recently had my hair done as well as it looks rather curly which it is not normally. Anyway, here for your amusement is said pic. (I have cut out my sister as she would kill me)!

Now my niece is beautiful, (in fact all of my nieces are) and along with that, very photogenic so there is never a dreadful picture of her; she also has a very good dress sense (Thank God she doesn’t get that from her Auntie)! I however look horrendous in photos, particularly now as I have put on a lot of weight in the last few years.

I hate my photo being taken, and I have tried to pick out the best of a bad bunch to put up on Facebook. However, today I have just been on there and I noticed that my niece had put up an old pic of herself, which apparently was her first profile picture. Of course it is a lovely pic, and she has nominated me to do the same!

Well I did find my first profile pic, and I have put it up on Facebook. In fact, I had no objections at all. The reason being is I look a damn sight better than I do now! In fact, when I came across that pic earlier on today, (it was taken just after my 40th birthday) I cried my eyes out! It doesn’t look like me anymore. I realise that I have changed so much in just 8 years.

In fact at my doctor’s appointment today (Still trying to sort out my anxiety), one of the things he asked me to do was to work really hard at losing weight over the next 6 weeks before I go back to see him again. So, I am using that old profile pic as my kick up the arse to get myself motivated to lose that weight, and get back to being me again!

6 Comments

Fourth Generation Farmgirl

January 12, 2015 — 18:52

Fun pictures! Loosing weight is difficult for everyone, especially when you’re feeling stressed. Sometimes the hardest part is just getting started, and you’ve already done that. Remember: it’s not where you are now, but where you’re going. And you’re going in the right direction! Heading toward middle age isn’t always fun, but there’s a quote from the book Little Women that helps me put things into perspective: “If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. I so wish I could give my girls a more just world. But I know you’ll make it a better place.”–Marmee, Little Women, Louisa May Alcott. We are all so much more than our pictures. I love your blog, because your sense of humor, kindness, and courage shine through with every post! Thanks so much for sharing my blog! That was kind of you. 🙂

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edwinasepisodes (Post author)
January 12, 2015 — 19:00

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Thank you so much for your kind words. That quote was very apt as well. Although I know I can’t get back my youth, and God knows, I have got a few more wrinkles since then, I just wanted to get back to a healthy weight. I Think it will certainly help with self-esteem as well as some other health issues. I am pleased that I have got my sense of humour still, as well of lots of good people around me. That in itself is more than a good start! 🙂

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fillyourownglass

January 12, 2015 — 19:24

I dislike having my photo taken, too, and I am not the least bit photogenic. It seems my friends always look like models striking carefree poses while I am caught blinking or with my mouth open or something. I have only recently found out, though, that there are lots of apps now that people use to make their pictures look much better!

I struggle with the weight loss since I quit smoking, so we share that issue. It’s hard, but we need to remember not to beat ourselves up as that only adds to the problem. I’ll be here to cheer you on!

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edwinasepisodes (Post author)
January 12, 2015 — 19:50

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Thanks Karen. I could never use on of those apps as knowing me I would end up do more harm than good! Plus, good or bad, at least it is the real me! (Even if I am wearing tin foil or looking 6 months pregnant)
We can cheer each other on with our weight loss. 🙂

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Muddy mum

January 15, 2015 — 21:00

I actually quit facebook for a while as i was a bit heavier and couldn’t face the photo taking and tagging. I wonder if it will be easier for my children’s generation having grown up in a digital age or if they will have the same issues we face.

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edwinasepisodes (Post author)
January 16, 2015 — 07:00

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I can understand how you feel. It is so disheartening seeing yet another unflattering pic on Facebook.Hopefully our children’s generation will not find it as hard as we do, having grown up with Facebook, Instagram etc….but I’m not so sure.

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