Are results more noticeable when you are larger or smaller

JaydenC98

I am a 5 foot 9 male and I weighed in at 203 pounds mid June. This was the heaviest I have ever weighed in my life. I was also 1 pound away from being obese. I have currently been on my diet for the past 11 weeks and I have successfully manage to lose 30 pounds as a direct result of sticking to my calorie allowance. I weigh 173 pounds which is still slightly overweight although I have another 20-30 pounds to lose. Despite having managed to lose 30 pounds, I still struggle to see any difference in my body. The people around me, my friends and family also seem to have noticed little change. I have a lot of willpower so I know I can stick to this but I’m wondering if the changes will be more noticeable as I end up weighing less. I just feel a little demoralised knowing that I am 50% of the way there and I still see no difference.

nutmegoreo

The same 10 lbs lost or gained on someone over 200lbs will look considerably different (generally speaking) than on someone who is 170lbs. Do you have some pictures from then and now? I find comparing pictures side by side shows a difference that your eyes may not see.

PAV8888

You are going too fast, well above 2lbs a week which is more suitable for someone who is obese, not overweight, or normal weight.

Your brain needs time to catch up.

People don't always comment.

Yes. Because 2lbs at 200 is 1%; but, 2lbs at 150 is 1.5%. And not only that, but 2lbs of fat at 200 may be 5% of all fat available to be lost. But 2lbs of fat at 150 may be 100% of fat available to be lost.

Of course you don't only lose fat, even though that's what most people want to lose. and size of deficit and amount of protein eaten plus exercise stimulus all contribute to how the ratio is shaped.

FlyingMolly

1) It’s really hard to see your own weight loss. Before and after photos can help.
2) Other people are often reluctant to bring up your weight. They may think they’re just misremembering how big you were before, or worry they’ll offend you by implying you were too big before, or be afraid of putting their foot in their mouth if it turns out you’re losing weight because you’re sick or something. They might feel like they’ll jinx it if they congratulate you. They might just be as self-absorbed as all the rest of us are and not be keeping track of your measurements.
3) The taller you are, the more spread out your weight is, and the longer it takes to notice changes. Variations in weight distribution can also contribute—if you have a round face or carry a lot of extra weight in one spot, for example, it might be harder to tell when you’re losing.

The scale doesn’t lie—not to the tune of 30 pounds. You’re doing it. Settle in and stay the course.

NovusDies

How much weight did you lose in your first 2 weeks and what has your average been from weeks 3 thru 11?

maureenkhilde

You indicate you do not feel there is a difference, can you feel a difference? What I mean is with losing 30 pounds I would think your clothing is going to fit much loser than what they did mid June. For me long before I could really see change in mirror, I could feel in clothing fit. And the starting of face to thin out some.

JaydenC98

NovusDies wrote: »

How much weight did you lose in your first 2 weeks and what has your average been from weeks 3 thru 11?

I lost around 5 pounds in the first week. During the 2nd and third week I lost between 3 or 4 pounds. Since then I lose 2 pounds if I’m lucky.

NovusDies

So then you have probably lost close to 22lbs of fat and 8lbs of water weight which is what I would have guessed based on your first post. Your fat losses may include visceral fat which is inside your abdominal cavity not under your skin. As others suggested you may also not be the best judge of your own appearance.

When your clothes start to feel baggy you will definitely know you showing and feeling weight loss and then it won't be long before people who can't keep their opinions to themselves will start to comment too. Comments are not always great though. There is nothing like losing a huge chunk of weight and the only thing that people say is that your face looks thinner.

2lbs per week is too aggressive for your weight so you have not been lucky except that you haven't done this for very long. You need to reduce your deficit so you don't end up losing too much muscle. Weight loss takes time to do it right. Be patient.

elisa123gal

most people notice more when you are almost at your goal. Don't let it discourage you. you're looking better I'm sure.but people seem to comment to me when I get almost to my goal..then they all of a sudden say something.

you almost feel like no one is purposely saying anything. how could they not notice? I totally understand.

GOT_Obsessed

Be sure to wear clothes that fit properly. At 30 lbs lost I had to buy new smaller clothes and immediately people noticed and commented. Before that I was wearing the same loose baggy clothes and nobody said anything at all.

AnvilHead

Best way I’ve seen it explained is it’s like a roll of toilet paper. When the roll is big/full, it doesn’t look much different if you peel a few sheets off it. When the roll is smaller/near empty, tearing off a few sheets makes a bigger difference.

VUA21

The scale moves faster when you have more excess fat to lose.

You'll notice changes with fewer lbs lost when you have less excess fat to lose.

sijomial

Time to slow down your rate of loss - don't misuse your willpower!
Harness it instead to lose weight the right way if you want to see the body you hope for when you get to goal.

May also be time to go clothes shopping.
It's probably also a good idea to take progress pictures and track changes with a tape measure. What we see in the mirror is seen through an emotional personal filter and small incremental changes can be missed.

The last few pounds can make a substantial difference in the mirror. At 5'9 I started at 198lbs and my original goal was 175lbs but I was a bit disappointed with my appearance when I got there.
Cutting to 168lbs made a huge difference.

Deviette

Honestly, I have nothing new to add to what everyone had said above, except my own experience:

So far I've lost about 16lbs. And honestly, even looking at pictures, I cannot see the difference. However, I can feel the difference. I've gone from not wearing a belt, to 4 notches in (starting to think I might need to move to 5 soon). I never used to tuck my shirt in because it didn't look good, now I often tuck my shirt in because it now does. I had a skirt that didn't fit when I went on holiday in June. It now fits. I'm moving better, and faster, at judo and my training is more intense. I fit into a pair of jeans I physically couldn't put on over my thighs 6 months ago. the shirt I'm currently wearing used to be snug against my skin (not skin tight, but not loose) now it is beginning to look loose on me.

And yet, when I look at myself in the mirror. I don't see anyone who looks any slimmer. I've not had anyone comment on my weight (unless we're talking about weightloss and they know I'm loosing). I know I have lost inches, but honestly I cannot see them.

DrusiliaDD

I second the clothes fit changes mentioned above. I personally don't have much to lose, somewhere in the region of 20-25 pounds overall. I've lost around 12 pounds over the last year or so and I don't really think I look any different, even when comparing pictures. However this weekend I wore a pair of shorts that I purchased several months ago that fit me well, but snugly, and now they fit much more loosely around my waist and stomach and I may have to stop wearing them soon. Scales and clothes don't lie even if our eyes do.

HoneyBadger302

The last time I was losing weight I had to lose over 20 pounds before people started noticing - and I started around 163 (ish). My clothes felt a million times better, I was able to fit into things I couldn't before, but I didn't drop big sizes - just went from having to force on the same pair of pants to needing a belt. I was still in the same clothes though, they just fit a lot better.

M0n1KCR

People who see you daily might not really notice, because weight loss is gradual. But they do notice when they have not seen you in some time. During my first six months, most of my colleagues didn't notice anything (except the two or three who know me better). Then I went on a one-month training course, followed by the holidays. Two months in total. When I met them again... nearly everyone noticed and commented.