When did people start to notice loss?

TallGlassOfQuirky

Have you ever heard of the paper towel analogy? I am sure I am going to mess up a bit in the retelling, but here you go:

Imagine you are a full roll of paper towels and each sheet is a pound of fat.
Take one sheet off. Do you see a difference? Probably not.
Take another one. Probably still no difference.
As you get closer to the center of the roll, however, each sheet wraps around the base more often, so each "layer" is more noticeable.

From personal experience? I had a ton to lose and the first 20-30 pounds were hardly noticeable at all. I blogged about it last summer, when I was at my lightest:
http://coryida.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/a-timeline-of-my-progress-with-lots-of-pictures/

alexveksler

I had the same question when I started back in August, 2011. What I did is I took a picture with my phone every time I register 2-3 LB weight loss. Same place, Same distance, Same position. From the time I took my first picture (254LBS) to today (180LBS), I could tell the difference after about 25 LBS weight loss.

Now, it's just fun to watch a FAT-TO-NOT-SO-FAT slide show

KarensCanDoIt

I'm sure everyone's story is different. I started this journey last year around Valentine's Day. I noticed my clothes getting much looser at about 15 pounds down. Other people didn't really comment until I had lost a lot more -- 40 pounds or so. I think part of the reason is because my husband and I are losing weight together. He loses weight very quickly, so his changing body is more dramatic and noticeable. Therefore I think people don't notice the change in me as much. It's a little disheartening, but I'm used to it. As a matter of fact my older brother didn't notice much any change in me until about a month ago. We work together and see each other every day. That definitely has something to do with it. Last month he asked me if I was sick because I was getting so 'skinny'. He was astonished when I told him how much weight I had lost in the past 10 months. lol

olores

My hubby recently (2 months) told me that he definitely has noticed...finally....and attributed that to the fact that we are constantly around each other....while others had began complimenting me in his present, I just guess he had to just take a hard look! lol...he was unsupportive in the beginning but recently has taken an interest in my journey. While others have noticed, they choose not to say anything but their look or double takes speaks volumes! LOL! Last week, while at my sons track meet, and group of acquaintances starting a chat on healthy eating....I spoke about a WW meal I had prepared and all of a sudden, eyes were on me and comments made....I noticed you loss but I didn't want to say anything.....so many people were around.....yes, you look great....all those comments were suspressed until I spoke showing my comfort level, then it was "socially" acceptable to speak up!....Guess it took nearly 50 lbs before comments were made. Humm...32lbs more to go to hit the 100lb mark....should be interesting!

ilovelucy711

I heard that it takes at least 4 weeks for you notice weight loss, 8 weeks for family and close friends to notice it and 12 weeks for everyone else to notice it.

ReclaimingSarah

My husband noticed at about 20. Most everyone else noticed about 30. It took my grandmother until 60 to notice the difference!

xxvogue

People started noticing at about 7-10 pounds for me. I dropped a pants size in approximately 10 pounds. I'm pretty short though!

Bakerchk

I started to notice a difference in my face around 10lbs or so. But the real changes didn't come until I start weight training. After about 6 weeks of lifting, I started to see huge improvements.

squishnfarfel

I'm down 10lbs and I haven't noticed a difference at all. My dad made a comment last time I saw him though than I had "lost a lot of weight" and I see him about once a month.

sylviatx

No comments for me yet.

ToshaFeb268

Most of my family members told me this past holiday that they can tell in my face. My hubby says he can feel a difference when he puts his arms around me and also I have shoulders and a collar bone again. This is after taking off 32 pounds altogether. I started tracking on MFP a month ago. I still have a ways to go. I wish you well!:happy:

saxmaniac

Depends on a lot of things:

Percentage of your original weight (5 pounds on a 100 pound person is noticeable, but not so much on a 300 pounder)
How frequently they see you
Clothes you wear (if you continue wearing old baggy stuff it's harder to notice)
Social issues (do they feel comfortable saying this to you? Are you likely to bite their head off, cry, or call HR?)

I had some relatives comment around the 20-pound mark (about 10%) who didn't see me frequently.
A freind's wife noticed not when I lost the weight, but when I went down 2 shirt sizes.

Still, it's best not to care all that much. I started without telling anyone, and so never expected or desired any comments.

lorcart

Well, I'm down 20lbs and no one notices. Honestly, in the past, at about 50lbs people start asking if I've done something with my hair! lol

13turtles

I am down 55 and people have just started to notice. When you have as much to lose as I do, it takes a lot more for people to realize that you have lost. :bigsmile:

tnichol4

I started at 248 and when I had lost about 25 pounds some people started to notice. When I got to 60 there was a huge notice especially from people I see every day.

SassyClassyandALittleBadAssy

About 2 weeks into the 30 Day Shred people started commenting. My father-in-law insisted that I must've lost about 7 kg (I hadn't lost any weight). No one knew I was doing it. I'm about 6 weeks into modifying my diet and exercising regularly and a lot of people have commented (even people who see me every day). The scale still hasn't budged (but my tape measure is my best friend).

This^^ People are beginning to comment that I've lost so much weight (in reality only 6lbs). My main focus is adding strength, so I've lost a ton of inches, but very little weight.

note: 6 pounds recently (11 over-all per the tracker )

shelliehb

How much is a stone?

rubyjune27

A stone is 14lbs

People started to comment at about 30lbs, but some male colleagues later said they had noticed but didn't want to say anything for fear of seeming odd. I think that as I am a senior manager may also have inhibited the male colleagues. Once I reaced 40 lbsI was getting almost daily comments. What surprised me was being asked if it was intentional, I was quick to tell them yes and it took effort and dedication, I didn't just happen to lose the weight, if only!

CChandler81

It was between the 15-20lbs down mark that people *really* started to notice.

fifteentogotogo

Hello there from Cali!

For me it was about 20 lbs when people began noticing and commenting. I just joined MYP, but have lost 26 lbs. since my quest for weight loss began.

poeco76

The positive, supportive people noticed /commented about 20 lbs in (I have a LOT to lose though). My own mother has yet to notice with 60 lbs lost. I think it just depends, and as others have said, some people just aren't comfortable saying anything at all.

jrauch10

My experience is similar to others. For people who see me every day, around 15-20 lbs is when they began to notice. Some keen people who I don't see that often noticed at around 10lbs.

orangefour

I agree with what others said, some people may notice but won't say anything because weight is a touchy subject. I've had a few people tell me that others have commented on my weight loss to them, but didn't want to offend me so they didn't say it directly to me. I would never be offended for someone noticing my hard work! :bigsmile:

I think my first comment about my loss (besides family that sees me everyday) was when I was at 30 pounds lost.

sarahmonsta

I've lost 40lbs so far and I was able to notice after about 10lbs down and others it seemed like it was after 20lbs. Now people notice a lot though lol. =]

WAnnB

I think it was when I started wearing clothes to match my weight loss.

semhe

people close to me noticed at 20... EVERYONE noticed at 40

Vercell

it took 20 lbs before anyone nnotice, I could tell in 4 weeks

mlegosz

For me it was after 20 pounds and when I got nicer fitting clothes - larger clothes really mask excess weight as much as their hide its loss.

Vercell

Have you ever heard of the paper towel analogy? I am sure I am going to mess up a bit in the retelling, but here you go:

Imagine you are a full roll of paper towels and each sheet is a pound of fat.
Take one sheet off. Do you see a difference? Probably not.
Take another one. Probably still no difference.
As you get closer to the center of the roll, however, each sheet wraps around the base more often, so each "layer" is more noticeable.

From personal experience? I had a ton to lose and the first 20-30 pounds were hardly noticeable at all. I blogged about it last summer, when I was at my lightest:
http://coryida.wordpress.com/2012/05/02/a-timeline-of-my-progress-with-lots-of-pictures/

Vercell

i like that quote.