Question about before and after pics

SerenityGrace

I read a couple success stories each day as motivation. I've seen a few posts where the person has lost a decent amount of weight but their pictures look the same. Other people you can tell even if they lost 30 pounds, it really shows. Does anyone know why someone can lose 40 pounds but they don't look different but someone else can lose 30 and it is a huge change? It is baffling me. Especially on the 40 pound loss because this person is short. I'm not questioning if they lost the weight I'm wondering what makes it look like they didn't

evileen99

It's going to depend on their starting weight (the more you have to lose, the less any specific loss will show), genetics as to where the weight comes off first, and what kind of exercise, if any, they're doing. Heavy lifting "tightens" you up and makes you look smaller; cardio doesn't do that.

As a semi-example, here's a pic I post all the time. Same woman. On the left, at her goal weight. On the right, 14 pounds heavier but smaller after a heavy lifting program.

7lenny7

Pictures are 2 dimensional, whereas weight is 3. Somewhere in there forums I saw b&a pictures of a woman who lost 80 pounds. In the front view, there was very little noticeable difference. In the side view, however, the loss was very apparent.

SerenityGrace

Thank you both. Evileen, those pictures are crazy! It is hard to wrap my mind around to be honest. I don't care about weight itself but in how I look. What I saw this morning made me wonder how would keep up my discipline if I never looked different. Of course, maybe I would feel much different and that would help me. I'm just thinking a loud. Thank you both again! Appreciate it!

mysticlizard

I have lost 55 pounds and except for being a little thinner in the face I look pretty much the same in pictures. I can take my jeans off without unbuttoning them, but I look the same. I am 5'7". One of my friends tells me that she usually can't see a difference until she loses 65 pounds. I hope she is right, because I would really like to see a difference.

SerenityGrace

That is rough, to have to lose so much weight without physical confirmation picture wise. I'm really going to have to train myself to focus on health and not pictures or how I see myself. Thanks for responding.

Liftng4Lis

People carry weight differently. I have actually gone up 3 pounds in the last 3 months, but have lost a pant size. Can people tell? Don't know, don't care. I DO care that I'm stronger and I'm taking this!