How many pounds lost until people noticed weight loss?

SingRunTing · August 2014

I think people seem to notice when you've lost about 10 -15% of your body weight. So its a smaller amount lost if you're smaller and a larger amount lost if you're larger. At least that's what it has always been for me and I've noticed that as a trend when people ask this question too.

However, even if people notice, many won't say anything. They're afraid of offending you or are worried that you're sick. So even if others don't say anything, they have probably noticed.

Snugglebunny217 · August 2014

I started out at 176 and started getting a lot of comments that I looked like I lost weight around 145 pounds.

It was after I had been at that plateau for about 2 months, and all of a sudden people started making comments. I think my body composition was busy changing during that plateau!

Interestingly, even though I'm about 10 pounds less than that now (I weigh 132), nobody seems to have noticed the weight loss since then. Although that might be because I need new clothes that aren't so baggy.

Palamedes · August 2014

For me, the 20lbs is about right. Since I'm doing a lot of biking to lose the weight, my wife noticed my legs getting trimmer fairly early on in the process. She gets to see me in shorts a lot more than most folk. At work, when I got to 20lbs down, co-workers are really starting to see my progress. Of course, I have not kept the fact that I'm working hard on my fitness a secret from anyone.

agaraffa · October 2014

I'm reviving this old thread because I'm wondering the same thing. I hoping it could be because of the following:

1. How much weight you have to lose... When I started I had about 155 pounds to lose (god, seeing that written down makes me so mad that I let it get to that point).
2. If you're still wearing the same clothes that you were when you started.

I understand that I still have a long way to go, so even though I've lost 56 pounds, I'm still 100 pounds overweight. On the other hand, I've still lost a decent amount and to be honest, nobody (outside of the people who know I'm doing this) have said a thing. I don't know if it's because I'm still wearing my old clothes or what. When I was at my top weight, I refused to buy clothes beyond a certain size, so I just jammed myself in the ones I had that were really way too small for me, maybe that has something to do with it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not doing this for other people, but it would still be nice to hear from others that they are noticing, so you know you're making progress.

mhlew · October 2014

I think it depends on how much you have to lose begin with. I have received a few comments (nothing drastic) and I've lost about 16 lbs. from what I've read in other posts it seems to be around 20-25 pounds when people here some comments.

Beploveshomer · October 2014

Well, if its my Mother we're talking about, probably never.

My first major loss a couple years ago it took about 15 pounds.

zeal26 · October 2014

I'm 5'6 and started at 177. The first time I remember a co-worker commenting (I don't count my family because they KNEW I was trying to lose weight) I was down 14lb. I think she noticed because I wore a t shirt that had never fit me before so I'd gone down a size. A few pounds after that, and a lot of people start noticing. Almost 30lb later and it's incredibly obvious to everyone. :P

Medivh73 · October 2014

I'm 6'0 and I started at 400 lbs. I got my first compliment outside of my family when I had lost 50 lbs. I'm now down 75.2 lbs and with better fitting clothes, my losses are a lot more noticeable now.

arditarose · October 2014

People noticed after every 5 on me. I was also lifting heavy and started at 5'4" and 163.

ButterflyJourney · October 2014

it shows in my face when I'm losing. About 15 lbs it was noticeable

Trishism · October 2014

I think it depends where you're starting from and how far you have to go, but I read somewhere that close family and friends who see you all the time really start to notice at around 20lbs and everyone else starts noticing around 30lbs. I found the 30lbs thing true with my coworkers, but I mean I wear scrubs to work so no one could tell until I wore the next size down so. -shrug- My MIL started commenting on my weight loss right at the 20lbs loss mark, though. Lol

ems212 · October 2014

My fiance was the first to notice. None of my family has noticed yet. To be honest, I think he only noticed because he saw I was making changes in my lifestyle, and he used to watch my battle with the closet every morning when getting ready for work. I'm only down 10 pounds now, and on a journey to lose another 80...But time will tell when other people start noticing

SingRunTing · October 2014

I'm 5'3' and started @ 209 lbs.

It took ~20 lbs for the first comments to come in. I'm now ~30 lbs down and am getting them constantly.

ETA: I have 3 points to add:

1. In general, people who see you daily won't notice it as much as people who see you less often. The people you see all the time adjust to how you look daily, so its less noticeable (they're seeing you at every pound lost). The people who see you less frequently see a bigger change since you have lost more weight since the last time they saw you.

2. It also depends on if they know that you're trying to lose weight. My husband was the first to say anything, but he obviously knows that I'm trying. So he sees the small changes. Coworkers who knew I was trying noticed well before coworkers who didn't.

3. Many times people notice, but won't say anything. For instance, my parents still have not said anything about my loss. It's very obvious at this point AND they know that I'm trying. But weight is a touchy issue, so many people won't say anything no matter what.

How many pounds lost until people noticed weight loss?

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