23 pound down and look just the same :(

Took front and side shots today.. and compared them to front and side before fotos.. omg they still look identical. No freaking change at all! Still a tub of fat!! I just wanna curl up and die!! No wonder no-one has commented!! :cry: :sad:

Why is that?? Please explain if you can.. feeling so down right now .. just want to eat till I explode..
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Replies

  • skiextrm
    skiextrm Posts: 144 Member
    Step AWAY from the fridge!! 23 pounds is such great process! It's probably just coming off in an even layer right now all over and will be more noticeable soon. Just think- you have lost a large turkey!! Keep it up. You've doing great!
  • CariJean64
    CariJean64 Posts: 297 Member
    Read through some of the forum posts here... many people go through this! In fact, I'm down over 50 and no one other than my immediate family can tell the difference! I know I've lost weight. I'm down 2 pants sizes.

    Hang in there. Pictures don't tell the whole story. You've made GREAT progress!
  • eena56
    eena56 Posts: 1,456 Member
    23 is awesome! Well done! If the pictures don't show progress, they will soon. Don't give up! You worked hard for those 23lb. Keep on going! The end result will be awesome, you know it.
  • I am down 30lbs and it is only recently people have noticed. Keep it up1 Also, you should measure your waist, hips, biceps and thighs. Then measure them again when you have lost another 10lbs. Repeat until you get to your goal weight. Even if the pictures don't show it, the measurements will tell you it's real.
  • haymancm
    haymancm Posts: 280 Member
    I totally understand, but stay with it!!! Others will notice as well!!! Keep drinking your water!!
  • laurahadenough
    laurahadenough Posts: 28 Member
    I know I know.. but still.. how damn frustrating!! It would sure show if I gained 23.. ffs .. feeling sorry for myself.. sipping my stupid water .. :angry:
  • amos481
    amos481 Posts: 92 Member
    I know I know.. but still.. how damn frustrating!! It would sure show if I gained 23.. ffs .. feeling sorry for myself.. sipping my stupid water .. :angry:

    Cute - "sipping my stupid water"
  • Fatandfifty3
    Fatandfifty3 Posts: 419 Member
    Try some of your wardrobe on. I feel the same way and did just that last night.
    :-D
    Result!
  • JasonPC2
    JasonPC2 Posts: 19 Member
    Hey, you there. Go grab a pair of jeans with a belt. Try it on.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Did you do it for comments from other people or did you do it for yourself?

    You have done something wonderful for yourself. Keep it up. This game requires lots of patience and you can handle that.
  • Samson20011
    Samson20011 Posts: 36 Member
    t will take time, don't get down or all of your good work will be undone. Forge ahead and when you have lost another 10-20 pounds you will see amazing results and people you haven't seen for a while will really notice.
  • xraymdabm
    xraymdabm Posts: 7 Member
    Out of curiosity, how long have you been at it to have lost 23 lbs? That is about my goal weight loss. I agree with everyone else who says that even if you do not see the change now, there is definitely a change that will become visible to you soon and that your measurements may tell you more than the photos.

    You are not hefting 2 sacks of potatoes anymore - that represents the 23 lbs gone, and visible to you or not, your heart and your joints are all thanking you immensely. Way to go! HOORAY!
  • JVClubs
    JVClubs Posts: 139 Member
    im down 8 pant sizes this year alone and i still cant tell the dam difference, except im getting into old clothes, but its really psychological from what ive heard, ur smaller, eventually youll notice
  • OhhNiff
    OhhNiff Posts: 1,397 Member
    They say it takes a 30 pound loss for others to notice and a lifetime for you.

    Pay attention to how your clothes fit and how you feel and keep at it.
  • Sierra_christine89
    Sierra_christine89 Posts: 156 Member
    I don't know what you're doing to lose weight, but 23 pounds should show a bit of a difference in your appearance? If you weren't going about it the right way you could have lost muscle, instead of fat and that could be the reason you aren't seeing much of a difference?
    Pictures do help you see the difference, but if that isn't working for you, along with seeing the numbers on the scale (not what you should look at in my opinion), from here on out write down your measurements, and compare those next time you hold your little comparison session. :) Numbers on a scale don't always indicate that you have lost the weight you wanted to lose.

    Also, you may have just lost weight all over your body, and just because you aren't seeing it in your side pictures (I'm assuming you're looking at your stomach in those) doesn't mean you didn't lose fat, that was just a suggestion, a lot of people store fat in their stomachs and its the last part of the body that loses the fat just because the majority of the fat was there..if that makes sense? Wherever you are pin pointing that you don't see the difference yet, don't give up, it may be that last part of your body that loses the fat. Keep going, you'll see a difference soon! :)
  • nelsjez
    nelsjez Posts: 3
    23 pounds is awesome. I am SURE you look different - you're just your own worst critic! And as for being a "tub of fat" - 23 lbs less in that tub :)

    Keep going - you got this.
  • chadya07
    chadya07 Posts: 627 Member
    this whole thing for me has been about changing my thinking.... like. instead of looking in the mirror and looking at my fat, i look for the little changes... like tonight i noticed some loose skin (sounds gross i know but i let myself get pretty large) where there wasnt any before... and i tried to picture that as an area that will shrink and tighten up... and envision that change. for the FUTURE. maybe not today. but i try to visualize my future. not just my now.

    when i feel like i cant do it... i do two things. i either can do something to change like step up my routines.... or sometimes i just need to lighten up. and its important to be healthy... but being overweight does not mean you are hideous...maybe try to spend some time focusing on all the great things about yourself that have nothing to do with how you look. write down what you love about yourself :) .it may sound cheesy but self affirmation... you are good enough, smart enough, and doggonnit, people like you.
  • cokefloat1
    cokefloat1 Posts: 86 Member
    Like others have said maybe the weight is coming off areas you can't really see that well in a picture or mirror.

    Sounds stupid but I'm thrilled as I'm getting my armpits back and the fat around my collar bone is disappearing. Not the most usual place to be happy with but hey ho! I figure if it goes from there I'll eventually start losing from my waist at some point!

    Keep up the good work!!!!!
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Scale and measuring tape are your friends. They look at you objectively. They don't shy off in case it's a sensitive topic for you. They rarely lie to you. They won't look at you through a misformed self image caused by years of being overweight. Just don't worry about what others see (or even yourself), you have a more objective approach to gauge your weight loss progress.

    A side note: it took me losing 50 something lb before people started noticing.
  • TurquoisWater
    TurquoisWater Posts: 26 Member
    Don't be discouraged, there are a variety or reasons for this. People are often fat on the inside as well, so much of what you may have lost may have come off your organs, for example (fat, which is much more dangerous than that on your hips), or like others have said, it is coming off evenly so you are not noticing it.
    I've lost 18lb and look the same. I mean, my shape has not changed, but I'm a bit smaller. My pants are loose.
    Also, as others have mentioned, your body has noticed. I'm sure you're also feeling better. Try this exercise: Got to the gym and pick up the equivalent of 23lb in weights and carry them around or hold them for a few minutes. You will be overjoyed to put them back down and proud of what you've lost. Congrats and keep going!
  • Jessie24330
    Jessie24330 Posts: 224 Member
    You should take back pictures too. My personal experience is that I wasn't seeing much difference in my photo's, and was getting frustrated, until I compared back photo's. With my front and side pictures there are differences that I *think* I see but it might just be me wishing too hard to see something and they aren't actually there because they are that small but when I finally looked at back photos there was a very big difference. And make sure you are taking measurements because they don't lie. Overall just keep on because next year you are either going to be closer to (or at) your goal or father away so don't get frusterated by not seeing big differences in a short time. If I had not let myself get discouraged the many times I had tried this than I could have reached my goal many times over by now because time will pass whether you are making smalls steps, big steps or backward steps so at least make sure you are making small ones.
  • hypojosie
    hypojosie Posts: 5
    Ok. What you have lost is amazing. Now, having said that, and I speak from many years as a personal trainer, this is normal.. measurements are much more telling than scales especially if you are exercising and building muscle. Of course I could be wrong, but sounds like you are on the precipice of carrying on and achieving your goal or letting your mind take over, that little voice that undermines you. What is awesome about this is that it means should you make a good choice it wont be long till you get better results. Dont forget that some people will be resentful or jealous of your success and would rather die than praise you. Who cares, its all about you, well done.
  • chadya07
    chadya07 Posts: 627 Member
    Ok. What you have lost is amazing. Now, having said that, and I speak from many years as a personal trainer, this is normal.. measurements are much more telling than scales especially if you are exercising and building muscle. Of course I could be wrong, but sounds like you are on the precipice of carrying on and achieving your goal or letting your mind take over, that little voice that undermines you. What is awesome about this is that it means should you make a good choice it wont be long till you get better results. Dont forget that some people will be resentful or jealous of your success and would rather die than praise you. Who cares, its all about you, well done.

    I noticed the jealousy thing... even more i noticed people feeling uncomfortable around me. or getting quietly offended if when talking about my own journey they cringe like the just recognized something in themselves... or apologizing for wanting a cheeseburger around me. i just want to tell them hey. you be you, i will be me. the thing that drives me a little crazy is when people pretend they want to join me but they really dont want to.. its surprising how people have changed the way they act around me...
  • laurahadenough
    laurahadenough Posts: 28 Member
    Thanks guys.. yeh pants are a bit looser.. and I do feel lighter... have taken 8 weeks to lose it so not doing it the wrong way. Eating 1500 cals a day and drinking water.

    I was huge to begin with.. and my logical brain knows it's normal to not see too much.. am only a quarter of the way to my quite generous goal.

    My sad little emotional brain is waiting for some assurance from outsiders to stroke my ego a little I guess. My hubby notices.. and he is getting handsyer which is a treat.. I think he is feeling the changes in our hugs cos he tells me all the time how well I'm doing.

    Just feeling like a sook today and needed a whinge. All you guys are fab.. and are an inspiration to me every day. I come here when I feel tired of denying myself the binge.. and it has worked each time.

    Wouldn't it be great to be able to buy a metabolism in a bottle though...:ohwell:
  • cincysweetheart
    cincysweetheart Posts: 892 Member
    You are going to be the LAST one to notice. Pictures or no pictures. It's the nature of the beast! Nobody sees us more often than we see ourselves. And I don't know how big you are to begin with… but sometimes it takes a little more than that for others to notice. I'm down about 30 pounds and I still don't see the difference in myself. Due to the marvels of elastic waistbands, I don't even notice it in the waist of how my pants fit. My family is supportive, but even the ones who haven't seen me in 30 pounds either don't say a thing or will simply say "you look good." I still can't a get a "wow, you've lost weight!" out of them yet! :-) Keep going! The time will come. Pay attention to how you feel.
  • Brownsbacker4evr
    Brownsbacker4evr Posts: 365 Member
    Don't be discouraged. These things take time! You've put in the work to drop the 23 so far. Keep that work up and the changes will come. These things take months--sometimes years. Which is why you have to commit to it and keep eyes on the prize!

    Also a few blind suggestions: Try using measuring tapes on your body, and also try and incorporate weight lifting into your routine.(this is why I call it a blind suggestion, because im unsure if you do use weights) lifting will greatly help with burning the fat and helping you lose inches.

    Compare the pic you took today to the one you're gonna take 6 months from now. Keep up the effort and you'll love the difference you're gonna see.

    Best of luck!
  • hypojosie
    hypojosie Posts: 5
    Exactly, because they feel bad about what is going on or not going on with them. I have been called a weirdo, freak, obsessive person just for wanting to be healthy and feel well. I reckon people are noticing but they don't want to say anything. Just get on with reaching your goal and then get the sexiest, forming fitting dress you can find and turn up somewhere in it. You could get the dress now, hang it where you can see it every day and visualise your gorgeous, healthy well self in it.
  • LessHeavyVeggie
    LessHeavyVeggie Posts: 208 Member
    I know how you feel. I lost 35lbs (1/4 of the 140lbs I plan to lose) and retook front, back and sides photos and they look pretty much the same, EXCEPT the photos of me wearing a dress that's too small. It's still too small, but there is a huge visible difference in how it fits - In the original photos it's tight and the hem is around my crotch area, in the recent photos the hem is about 4 inches lower and there's room in it. Try taking a photo in a clothing item (especially one that's too small) and compare photos after another 23lbs and I'm sure you'll see a difference!

    Assuming you still have a lot to lose like me, you're not going to look skinny any time soon, but you will start noticing small differences. I can now kind of see/feel bones that were completely buried before and clothes are getting looser.

    Keep at it, you're doing great!

    ETA: I forgot to mention measurements - If you're not already taking them, take measurements of key places to compare. I do this once a month and take measurements from around 17 places as I like to be thorough! (waist, hips/widest part, underbust, overbust, thighs, calfs, neck, top of arms, wrists, ankles etc)
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    What helped me stick to it was to make my health goals more important in my mind than my looking good goals.
    This gave me the in incentive to carry on even when I still looked fat.
    Sure, pretty is as pretty does but health is everything!
  • RHachicho
    RHachicho Posts: 1,115 Member
    Also remember fat cells are stubborn often they replace their contents with water so it can take a while before they finally give up and deflate. So even though you've lost weight your loss in size is comparatively low. But keep losing and they will eventually give up. They are stubborn but not invincible