If your starting weight was over 200lbs....

PeachyKeene

I still feel I look the same and wear some of the same clothes. Yeah some are way to big and some were really small on me before and fit better now, but I can still wear them. I have lost 36 pounds so far, I am about half way to my goal. Personally, I will always see myself as fat until the rolls are gone.

mommachef

People started noticing around 20 lbs. I started noticing sooner. I had that nice fat overhang that you get after having a c-section I noticed it shrinking.

tramaine81

This is soooo common. Typically most people will not start to comment until they become attracted to you or jealous. So, be thankful that you are healthy right now and that you have some more time to prepare yourself for the drama that is about to ensue. By the way, I am proud of you:)

jocember

I was about 290 in December when I got serious. Since then, I've lost between 15-20 lb., give or take and while I still don't notice any changes looking in the mirror, I can *feel* changes - such as clothes that definitely used to be tight or just form-fitting are looser (gonna need to restock my entire collection of tank tops from Old Navy soon as the XXL is WAY too huge on me now). And my fiance says he feels a difference when he holds me, and since he's the one person that comes into contact with me most often I trust him.

I'm gonna take some pictures when I get to 250ish to compare because then I know I'll be seeing a lot of difference. Also, take your measurements if you aren't already -- that's where I'm seeing the most difference so far; I've lost 3.5 inches on my waist already.

CaraRadz

I started at 223 pounds, wearing a very tight size 14 (for reference, I'm 5'11). I feel like I didn't notice much of a difference until I'd lost about 20 pounds, and I didn't drop a full size until I'd lost about 30 pounds or so. I'm now 173 and wearing a size 10.

How quickly your weight loss shows absolutely depends on your height, frame size, and how much you have to lose to begin with. And as some others have said, how we see ourselves does not always accurately reflect reality. I've lost just over 50 pounds, and some days I think I look awesome, and some days I barely see a difference. It's absolutely a mind game, and it takes time to truly accept and appreciate that there has been a positive change in how you look.

dcbella

Hi ! My starting weight was 217 and now i am down to 213 (4lbs) I've noticed that i'm losing more inches than lbs. Which i've heard its better to loose inches. I have a workout regimen of 6 days a week which includes cycling, swimming, strength training, zumba and kick boxing, plus i'm in HARRA organization training to run or walk my first 5k in January 2012. I try to maintain my 1400 calorie intake however have been under my calorie intake. I am loving every minute of this and keep telling myself that i can do this...MFP has helped alot with all the inspiring stories of success it's been a great motivation. Here's wishing everyone the best of luck in their endeavor. Add me if you like. Thanks!!! LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!

Pangui

I was so heavy that last year I lost 38 pounds and not one person mentioned noticing anything. I only lost one dress size in my pants (24 to 22), not my tops (although they were no longer tight). Sadly, I gained 30 of it back over the holidays.

This year I am back with a new determination, confidence, and a sense of purpose. I am down 25 from last year's high and I feel like my real starting point will be when I get back to the 38 (hopefully around the end of summer).

ABARNHART

It took me 30 pounds before I started noticing and I didn't start noticing until my friends commented. This was during the beginning of my journey last year. To help with that what you need to do is go to a store and pick up a 25lb bag of dog food. Walk up and down the isle with it. Remind yourself of how that felt on your knees. Another thing I did was to take tiny pictures of butter and covered a picture of myself with them. Each 1/4 pound of lost weight got a new stick of butter. It helped my mind keep trying when I had small losses. Good luck to you and keep it up. You will see it soon.:drinker:

stephyy4632

I started at 213 pounds and noticed it at about 10pounds lost but my first 10-15 came off really fact I think it was in part to the fast that I drank a 12pack of pepsie or more a day then switched to Nothing but water when I started out plus added in exercise which before I had just kinda sat around the house all day with the kids. Now that I`m down over 20pounds I can really tell the difference all of my clothing fits loose or I`ve had to switch sizes and I have energy to actualy play with my girls I will never go back I LOVE my new found energy its fabulous

ABARNHART

In case you are confused by my 7 lb loss...I just restarted after having a gain of 6 lbs over my winter. I'm back working at it again.

Jellyphant

My starting weight was 232 and I've only lost 4 pounds and I already am seeing a difference. My face kinda thinned out, compared to how round it was and my waist is smaller.

Valtishia

I noticed after about 20 lbs... cause my now husband kept finding new places he seemed to like to grab onto lol. At first it was my waist, then my hips, and now he can't keep him hands off my butt lol.

carpediem3

I can totally relate! I had lost 20lbs and was saying when is it my turn to see a difference. I was still wearing my biggest jeans, even after 20lbs were gone. As weird as it may sound after 25ish lbs I did a side by side picture comparison and was happy with the difference. My biggest jeans still fit, 42lbs lost now, but are a loose fit rather than a "lay flat suck in and TRY to zip" fit Everyone looses differently, I think my rear and "tire" will be the last things to go But as long as they go eventually, I'll be ok with my progress

Great job on your weight loss!!

abalicious

It usually takes around 30 lbs for others and myself to physically notice, but I can start noticing a difference in the way my clothes fit from the first couple of pounds. I've lost 11 and can fit into my favorite shorts again! (still tight, so not a perfect fit) Especially if you are tall it takes a while to physically see results... I'm 5'11'' and have a big frame, so yeah, it usually takes 30 lbs or so for the difference to be noticeable.

Sauchie

I still struggle to see it and I;ve lost 85lbs. The best way I can see it is in pictures and in my clothes.In looking at myself I dont really see it in my face, or in my body as much. I try so hard too and I think after a while of staring my mind says "Oh yea theres a difference" but that could be my mind playing tricks on me LOL.

Congrats on losing 26lbs though, that in itself is amazing. Dont get discouraged and definitely DON'T GIVE UP!!!! You will see results little by little. It's harder for us to see it because we see ourselves everyday. Be encouraged

Yep this is how I feel most days. Sad but true. Its all how you see yourself.

proverbs31chick

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the responses. In due time in due time.

klabeau

I have now lost over 60 lbs and I have a really really hard time seeing it. I see it in my face and I can see my collar bones now but that is about it. Everybody tells me that they can see it like crazy but I can't. I am still waiting to see it. So hang in there. I am sure we will both start seeing it soon enough. Hang in there! Even if I can't see it...I can feel it!!! :bigsmile: But I have gone from a size 18 to a 12. I started out at 240lb and am at 179 now.

That's great! I wanna be like you!

Newmammaluv

I really think it depends on your body composition... if you have a lot of external fat deposits then you will be able to see changes quickly but if you have more internal fat, around your organs and muscles, then you will have a slightly harder time seeing the differences. Granted by losing weight you will reduce both areas so eventually you will see a change. Also the rate at which your skin bounces back makes a huge difference too. I started at 268.7 and as of this morning I am now 229.2 and SOME areas of my skin have started to firm back up but that is the part that is taking the longest. That nasty skin from yo-yo dieting makes all your efforts go right out the window.

Some people have noticed my weight loss and others are either too self involved or stubborn to say that they see any changes at all. I started to notice as soon as I looked in the mirror one morning and actually saw the me I used to see. My health had been so bad that I didn't even look like myself anymore. No sparkle in my eye, black circles under my eyes, skin discoloration around the mouth, down turned corners of the lips... I just looked unhappy and unhealthy before. Now I feel more like me again.

klabeau

I started at 240 and it took 30lb lost before co workers noticed it. I've lost 44lbs to date.

cheri0627

I started at 217, and I'm now at 183. In the last couple of weeks, I've had other people who didn't know I was doing the whole working out and working with a dietitian thing tell me that I'm losing weight. I still am way overweight, but I know I'm getting there. Slowly, doing things the right way.

I don't remember exactly when I started to notice the difference myself. It was probably when I was down about 15lbs or so. That was also when I started to see a difference in the belly overhang. Then again, I see myself without my clothes on, and there is only one other person who sees that. He did point out the difference in my rear end that I hadn't noticed, right about that same time.

spirit05

I started at around 202, so only just over the 200lbs mark but I still don't see a difference in the 140's. I think that because mine was such a slow process, I haven't seen the changes (although my friends and coworkers etc certainly have). What's worrying me is that I'll never see the change. I can look back on the pictures of me at my biggest and know I'm not that big now but when I look in the mirror I feel it. It's so strange but I hope when I reach my GW I will feel changed.

If you truly cannot see the change, you may want to consider seeking professional help. Many of us suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), it's more common than you might think and can easily lead to anorexia if not addressed. After viewing your pictures, the difference is obvious, congratulations!

randisaucier

I started at 254 prior to giving birth. So far I am down 49 pounds and aside from some smaller clothes I can not tell the difference yet nor has any one aside from my mother noticed. Oh well ........I am doing this for me!

lissypriss

I started at 233.5 in May..I'm now 210. My clothes are loose, but like most people who've been over-weight, you still see the same face in the mirror, day in and day out. I need to get my husband to start taking weekly pics of my face and body, just so I can see the changes myself. I lost over 100 lbs years ago, and even when I was skinny, I still saw a fat girl in the mirror.. For people like me who have been this way the majority of their lives, it's hard to notice changes. You aren't alone! Let's get our sexy back!

risefromruin

Great job on your journey so far!! I started my weight loss at 260...and I would go back and forth with if I really noticed a difference or not. My family was always very encouraging and complimented me a lot, but unfortunately at such a high weight it took awhile for people to really notice I was losing! I think I had to lose about 40 lbs before I really had lots of people asking me about it. I've worked at the same store for a long time and one of my regular customers JUST said something to me about it the other day...after I lost 100 lbs. She said, "you've lost weight" and I said, "uh yeah!!!" hahaha. Just keep going and you will notice it more and more and so will all the others!

SarahJaneDeschamp

I started here in March at 248lbs ive lost 30 and just started noticing a difference in how i look, still dont like it and still have a long way to go, people keep commenting on my @ss waist and legs but they dont see me every single day, keep going you can do this x

nicbic123

i started at 229 and am now 222....so i am still waiting to notice the difference!

Noonoo757

i officially started at 215 pounds i didnt notice until i hit about 195 but when i would send pics of me and my son to my friends on my phone they noticed because my face was shrinking lol

NovemberJune

i started at 229 too and i can tell in my before/progress pics that i take. but it is frustrating sometimes. i wish i could really tell that i've lost TWENTY THREE lbs. lol. that's 10% of my body! good luck!

TessaL221

I have lost 88 lbs (82 on MFP) and some days I still have trouble seeing it. I should have kept some of my fat clothes for a pick-me-up... but I have some of my 3rd string fat clothes that are getting too big, so I guess that in itself should be enough. When I hit 80 lb loss I really noticed a skinnier me.... It was one day in the shower I touched my own *kitten* and realized there was only half as much there (like when you get your hair cut off and run your fingers through it expecting there to be more there). I basked in that for a while, but now have started seeing myself as still fat... not as fat, but still fat. I have 40 lbs to go, so time to step it up!

MsKeelah919

I just wrote about this yesterday...I started at 215 and I'm 202 now...and I see a diff. in my waist, but not much else. My clothes are looser, but through my eyes....there's not much diff.