how much weight to 'feel' thinner

It depends on the person and how (s)he is feeling that day.

I started to feel thinner on days I was feeling perky practically immediately - like 5 lbs in, even though it wasn't really noticeable. At the same time, some days I feel like I've magically ballooned back up to where I was before I lost weight. There are some days where I can look in the mirror at one time of the day and see a thinner me and then at another time of the day see a giant, bloated mess.

It's important to have a set of alternative reminders of your loss, like changing sizes, measurements, weight tracking, fitness increases, etc. When you have a crap day, you can remind yourself of the other markers.

About 10

5 for me, but I only started out with 20 to go. I find limiting my weigh-ins to once a week really helps me to focus on how I feel and the differences I see in the mirror. There are lots of other benefits too, but that more positive mental state is one of the biggest.

jazmin220 wrote: »

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster. I've lost a total of 34lbs. I started feeling 'thinner' at 30lbs. Some days I look in the mirror and I get upset because I feel like I still look fat. But then a few hours later I'll be at work and someone will come up to me and ask how I lost so much weight. I have photos of my bigger self that I look at on a daily basis 2 or 3 times a day and I have jeans that fit me really big that I like to wear as a reminder of how far I've come. I guess my brain just needs to catch up with my waist, but who knows.

Totally get this... have lost 30lbs so far, my skin in more clear, my attitude is much better... but as far as "feeling thinner" this is day to day... sometimes I feel like I haven't made any progress and I get really discouraged thinking of how much more I have to go. Then something amazing happens and I get a compliment from my boss on the weight loss or a co-worker says I'm looking smaller...

Emotional roller coaster... then there's "that week" and it sucks most! LOL

I feel it every 15 to 20lbs. People seem to notice it every 20lbs.

That being said, some days I don't feel any different at all. Some days I feel very different. It's not a straight forward type of question/answer.

How you feel is more about what's inside your head than what you have on the outside. For the largest percentage of overweight people, particularly the grossly overweight/morbidly obese, they/we have developed a certain sense of inadequacy which can make a person feel fat or unattractive even when that is not necessarily the case. Anorexics are the perfect example of this phenomenon. They can look at images of themselves, tens of pounds severely underweight, with their bones protruding from every quarter, and yet they will see fat and flab.

So, it's more of a perception issue than a reality issue. And the other aspect of the "Why do I still feel fat?" syndrome is like the person who may be wearing a size eight or six - down from a sixteen or twenty-two - but is woefully out of condition and un-toned. The person may have a lot of flab and be in need of a muscle toning program to get them in shape so they can lose some of the flab. (This, of course, means they are likely to GAIN weight and they will freak out over that while ignoring the fact that their clothing size may well drop another size or two.)

So, how long before one 'feels' thin? There is no way of knowing. How do you feel in your skin? How do you feel in your head? Once you can reconcile those issues and realize, not only that you are worthy and you deserve love and you love yourself, that's the key. Respect yourself, love yourself, and you will actually begin to appreciate the person you see in the mirror.

Now, one last question: Only one answer. Why are you making the efforts to lose weight now? To look better?
To feel better?
To be better?

(Gosh darn! Who knew life could be so confusing and difficult?)

Just remember this whenever you feel tired or frustrated or just start feeling emotional cravings for something you know you really don't want. You deserve better and you are worth it. No. Really. You are!

I started at 115kg and I feel a tiny bit smaller now at 93.2kg. I think I lost about 47lbs? Not sure, I'm a metric person.

What helps me is when I look at my kids. My 2 year old is about 14kg and my 4 year old is 18.5kg. I think...wow...I've lost more than that entire 4 year old person off my body! I surely must look better.

I hit18 lbs this week and I'm still waiting. My backside is getting flatter and my legs are thinning out, but my knees still hurt and my pants waist is still tight. I know it'll come eventually. I've been living heavy for long enough that I really shouldn't complain.

It all depends. I've lost over 120 lbs and yet when I look in the mirror I see the same person. I don't "feel" any thinner. My best guess is it will take at least 20-30 lbs before you start noticing a difference and another 20-30 for others to start noticing. Regardless, of when you notice the loss or when you start to feel it - stick to your plan. You can do this!

A friend of mine, after losing 20 lbs., changed her hairstyle and I thought that's what made her look like she had lost weight. A couple of weeks later, I realized, yes, she had lost weight and she said now that she's lost 25 lbs., people are starting to notice. She's short but was about 60 lbs. overweight. People know I've lost weight because the shirts I was outgrowing years ago while gaining the weight are starting to fit me again.