**Warning, whining imminent** 27 lbs, no one is noticing?

I think most people probably do notice but are afraid to say anything because of the chance of being wrong. There is nothing worse than telling a bigger person you look great how much weight have you lost and them say I haven't lost any. Awkward!!!!

Why is it awkward? I've often asked somebody "have you lost a bit of weight?" and even if they say no, I just follow it up with a "oh - it's just that you look great today", much like you might ask if somebody has been on holiday or changed their hair, or something like that. It has never gone down badly when the ultimate message you have got across is that they are looking their best. In fact, it is usually responded to by them saying, "but I HAVE tried to eat a bit better / get more sleep / exercise a bit more, recently (after all, many people are often in the middle of some kind of improvement plan!) - I don't really see the harm.

You will rarely get the reaction from people that you expect (or want). When I had lost 25 pounds, three people came up to me on the same day and asked if I'd gotten a haircut. Now, after ninety pounds, people come up to me and say, "You've lost enough," or "you're getting too skinny." I'm 6'1" and 220 pounds. I am not "too" skinny. The last time I was this size I was an offensive lineman in college. I wasn't too skinny then. Even though we are doing this for ourselves, we still thrive on other people's compliments. Patience is the key. If you build it, they will come (compliments, that is). As for me, I'm thinking about have my "before" picture imprinted on a t-shirt. Then, I'm going to just walk around in the mall somewhere and see if anybody says anything.

People at work didn't notice my weight loss until I went from 230 to about 190. Then I started getting daily comments on it, and I'm the type of person who does not want people to comment on my weight so I liked the delay and wish it had lasted... forever. lol

You will rarely get the reaction from people that you expect (or want).

This is an important thing to note. You can't control people's reactions, and if you have expectations of how people will react to your weight loss, there will always be some amazing surprises. You didn't lose weight so you would get compliments from your coworkers, you did it to feel better about your health and appearance for YOU.

Do you have an important person in your life who you trust implicitly, and want to involve in your weight loss progress? A mom, sister, friend, boyfriend maybe? Tell them "hey I'm in the process of losing weight and sometimes it's hard for me to notice if I'm making progress. Once in a while, would you let me know if you see any positive changes in my appearance? It would really help me to keep my motivation."

I think it's sometimes hard for people to notice when they see you every day. Since the loss is gradual, they don't realize it. I bet if you ran into someone you haven't seen in months, they would certainly notice.

A couple of days ago I was at my mother-in-law's house. She asked if I was still on a diet, and my husband chimed in "yes, and she's lost about 60# (which he was joking)" I said, "No, more like 10" and her response was, "Well, maybe if she lost 60, I would have noticed." REALLY?! So clearly, she didn't notice I had lost weight, and thinks I need to lose 60#. Which, if I were to do, I would weigh about 100# at 5'7", so that is completely ridculous. I certainly have much more to lose, but I also can tell the difference in the way my clothes fit, etc....

Some people are so wrapped up in themselves, they don't notice others' little victories / accomplishments. 30# is AMAZING!! If you started out around 300, that is 10% of your body weight. What a huge accomplishment!!! And, if you're feeling good about it, then who cares about everyone else? You know things are fitting better, you feel better, your confidence should be getting a boost - that should keep you going. Contratulations!

Hello, well done! Congrats on losing so much.

Think it can also be a case of there being "a magic pound" - there is just a pound where you suddenly look thinner. I know from past experience that I have several tipping points- going under 190, 164, 147 and 136- I just suddenly look a whole look slimmer than I did just a pound or two before. Then I have another plateau where I pretty much look the same til I reach the next tipping point and then suddenly I look thinner again.

Sometimes as well, we are looking for the "biggest loser" moment. Someone steps on the scale, has lost weight and there are gasps and applause. But there is a great big scale with huge numbers pointing that out next to the contestants.

I agree that most poeple probably don't know how to approach you about it. Recently a woman I work with lost alot of weight and I didn't comment because I know how uncomfortable it makes me when someone comments on my weight, negative or positive.

In my teens I did a lot of yo yo dieting. An older lady said to me one time: You looks so good, I hope you can keep it off this time, just stay away from the cookies. I was mortified and of course I gained the weight back like I always did back then. So that's all I could think about was now what she must be thinking about me.

You should be losing the weight for yourself and not others. Seek your own approval and not that of those around you!

I suspect they maybe embarassed to mention it especially if you have not mentioned that you are trying. You (and we) know you have done it as does your partner. You just keep your head high, walk tall and keep focussed on that wedding date when there may well be some OMG faces. So what! You are doing this for you guys aren't you? Well done, keep calm and carry on xx

Yep... I know this is all being done for me, and thats what keeps me going. my personal end goal is to run. I dont even bother explaining that to most people because they just look at me like 'uh... yeah... ok.... you do that...."

It is all for me. I know that. In fact, this honestly is entirely motivated by health, and not looks. I was confident to the point of being cocky, even when fat. I dont need any help there. ;-) However, I was kind of looking forward to when people did start to notice, and then no one did. and i found i was disappointed.

You are all right about people probably being cautious in case im sensitive.

I have not bought new clothes, because i dont want to waste my fiancees money by doing it 4 times, so im waiting for the end...
But maybe getting one or two new things to wear places wouldnt kill me...

I think i just need to recenter my focus to the fact that i want to live longer with my sweetie, and continue on just asi have been.

Thanks all.

Aw, I know just how you feel. When I first started losing, I felt like no one noticed...but then when I got below 180 (down 35 pounds), that's when another people started saying stuff, probably because I looked more like "my old self."

I think along the way you will have to buy some new clothes...your old ones will be falling off of you after a while! I wear belts with the size 14s (that had been sitting in my closet for years), but they still look ridiculous since I'm closer to an 8 now. I started buying cheaper things, workout clothes, pjs, etc. rather than actual number sizes until I reach my goal.

You're doing great, keep it up!!