How much did you lose before people noticed?

flitabout38
flitabout38 Posts: 48 Member
edited November 26 in Social Groups
How much did you have to lose before people started to notice. I am at 30lbs and I haven't heard anybody but my husband say anything. Personally I think he says things to encourage me. But nobody else has said anything. I have lost a total of 15% of my original body weight and nothing I am getting sort of frustrated.

Replies

  • FlyingMolly
    FlyingMolly Posts: 490 Member
    edited April 2018
    At about 14 pounds I started getting a lot of attention for it, but I teach fitness classes, so there are a lot of people watching my body every week. Aside from my husband and class participants, I actually can't remember anyone addressing it, except once when I mentioned it first.

    I think people aren't always sure if it's something they should bring up, because weight can be such a touchy subject, and what if you're losing because you're sick or something, and also we're all basically self-involved. :)

    But I bet they DO see it, whether they've said so or not, and that you look great, and 30 pounds is freaking amazing and you should be proud of yourself! Your work and its results are out there for the world to see, whether people are telling you so yet or not. :)
  • ladipoet
    ladipoet Posts: 4,180 Member
    40-50 pounds before other people around me really started to notice.
  • __Roxy__
    __Roxy__ Posts: 825 Member
    edited April 2018
    I got my first comment at 40 lbs lost. A few more trickled in at 60 lbs lost. It wasn't until 80-90 lbs lost that more people felt safe to say something! I think people feel awkward or uncomfortable remarking on people's weight, unless it's an undeniably obvious change.
  • kpk54
    kpk54 Posts: 4,474 Member
    For me, direct comments about weight loss were preceded by numerous comments/questions like: did you get new glasses? I like your your new haircut (it was the same). That outfit really looks nice on you. You look so chipper today. When I was about halfway to my -60 pound goal people were willing to mention weightloss. It's a personal question.
  • ironmaidenchick
    ironmaidenchick Posts: 213 Member
    At 10kg lost people started to ask what I was doing. I think it is just different for everyone as we all hold weight differently.
  • Running_and_Coffee
    Running_and_Coffee Posts: 811 Member
    I started keto yes to lose a few vanity pounds, but more because I wanted a sustainable way of eating given my lifestyle, which involves a lot of travel and had me on a constant lose/gain loop. So i only had 10 to lose, and I got comments at 6 lbs, but that’s half a clothing size. I lost mostly from my chest and waist which fortunately are not areas people would scrutinize on me! The additional pounds seem more obvious on my face, so I am starting to get more comments. Husband has only noticed that I am eating differently!
  • 2t9nty
    2t9nty Posts: 1,630 Member
    I am pretty sure that the first mention by someone other than my wife was at about the 80 lb mark. This was a point where I had lost 6 to 8 inches on my waist and about an inch and a half on my neck. People are slow to notice.

    When I first started, I was going for a doctor's appt and mentioned to my secretary I was down 12 pounds and was hoping the doctor's scales would reflect the same loss as mine. She said, "no you haven't."
  • kpk54
    kpk54 Posts: 4,474 Member
    Okay in peoples defense I wear a lot of clothes! Minnesota is still cold and snowy even in April! That might be part of the problem.

    There's some real truth in that. I lost most of my weight between October and May. Though we have some reasonably warm winter weather in North Carolina, at least a warm baggy sweater is in order most days (December through March) vs shorts and a tee.
  • flitabout38
    flitabout38 Posts: 48 Member
    I was just sitting here thinking about the fact that I live in a 2x sweatshirt!
  • Running_and_Coffee
    Running_and_Coffee Posts: 811 Member
    Okay in peoples defense I wear a lot of clothes! Minnesota is still cold and snowy even in April! That might be part of the problem.

    And I live in South Florida, wear sleeveless shirts and shorts a few days a week, so people can actually tell when I have lost only a handful of pounds!!!
  • chinatowninchina
    chinatowninchina Posts: 1,279 Member
    for me the good thing isn't that people don't even comment when I've lost weight but that at least they didn't comment when I've gained!! Maybe it's the rough with the smooth? :)
  • GB333
    GB333 Posts: 261 Member
    My coworker said something at about 10 pounds, I think. But *I* didn't start to see it until closer to 20. My goal is to lose 36 total - so 10 pounds was a somewhat significant amount, I guess.
  • amandammmq
    amandammmq Posts: 394 Member
    I've lost 22 pounds and almost no one has said anything... but then again, I'm 5'11" and it shows up a lot more slowly. Also, 22 pounds is one clothing size change for me, whereas for someone shorter, it would be more of a change.
    One thing that makes me feel better about people not noticing is that I don't always notice someone else's weight loss until they point it out to me, because I am just not focused on analyzing people's body sizes. I didn't notice that a shorter friend had lost like 50 pounds years ago, and I didn't comment on another friend's weight loss until she mentioned it! "Oh yeah, I thought something was different!" kind of thing. I did notice a coworker's 80+ pound loss...

    TL; DR: almost no one has noticed my 22 pounds on my tall frame. I frequently don't notice either, so don't feel bad! :-)
  • taylok23
    taylok23 Posts: 828 Member
    I’ve lost 34 pounds and am only 5’2”. People started to notice and comment at the 14 pound mark or so. This total equates to 3 pants sizes for me. I have found that I get more comments if I’m out and not eating or drinking like most of my friends. Then I feel that some turn a bit snarky. I just smile and acknowledge that my hard work has paid off so why revert back to old ways? I don’t care what you eat so why worry about me?
  • aupston
    aupston Posts: 44 Member
    I’m 5 foot tall.....and weighted 260. It took between 30-40 lbs before people noticed....
    One thing that I noticed was that my clothes seemed to hide weight loss.....
    People really notice now that I have lost 75 lbs

    Good luck
  • dmcnur
    dmcnur Posts: 157 Member
    I didn't get much reaction until I started wearing new work uniforms. I dropped from size 18 to size 10 but the bigger clothes hid it. All of a sudden I have people who don't recognize me welcoming me and are shocked when they realize who I am.
  • LoveJoyFood
    LoveJoyFood Posts: 15 Member
    I am with you! I have lost 30 pounds and only two people have said anything beside my husband. But I am not discouraged because I have 60 pounds to go and it's gonna take a while.
  • amybethjack
    amybethjack Posts: 61 Member
    I started getting comments at about ten pounds, which really surprised me since I started so high (who can really see a difference between 284 and 274?) but those comments were coming from people who knew I was trying. At about twenty-three pounds I got a call from my ex-sister-in-law who saw a picture of me on facebook. Her purpose for calling was to comment on my weight loss. The early people said they saw it in my face. I don't think I really lost weight in my face but by eating keto I think I lost inflamation/puffiness in my face and that is what they noticed. I also have noticed that I am losing most of my weight in my waist (unlike any other diet I've ever been on) which would account for the ex-sil noticing it on facebook. I also had a customer in my office who, when I mentioned that I was following a keto diet, exclaimed that she thought I looked like I lost weight but wasn't sure if she should say anything.
  • PaulaKro
    PaulaKro Posts: 5,789 Member
    At my work, we are specifically trained not to ask questions that might be considered invasive (losing weight could be medical, emotional, etc.) It is a well-intentioned effort to prevent a hostile work environment.

    But we can say they look sharp (and hopefully that doesn't imply they didn't look good before). OMG, So much PC!

    Also, sometimes we don't know who wants privacy vs. wanting to share. Do folks know they can approach you? Sounds like you do look great, despite nobody speaking up. :)

  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    For me it was at about 15-20 lbs, which was about halfway to goal.
  • lisaloumn2
    lisaloumn2 Posts: 203 Member
    I work out almost every morning with the pretty much the same group of women - they started commented at about 10-15 lbs. My co-workers who I also see almost every day have said nothing. Maybe it's because the workout pals see me with less clothing on, so to speak, while at work I am wearing what I was wearing before? Who knows. My daughter has commented but no one else in the family.
  • PamamaJane
    PamamaJane Posts: 288 Member
    Several years ago I lost 42 pounds before my physical therapist noticed. Imagine that! She was doing deep tissue massages on my lower back twice a week; I mean, talk about being familiar with what she was working with and yet she didn't notice the loss until 42 pounds were gone.

    I'm thinking for really obese people like a was means more of a loss is needed before it becomes obvious. I'm also quite tall so I "carry my weight well." That only means it takes a greater loss before it makes much of a difference.
  • PaulaKro
    PaulaKro Posts: 5,789 Member
    Oops, just happened yesterday. Went to a monthly potluck with friends (where hugs abound and PC rules don't apply) and was asked if I was coloring my hair because it looked good. I said "No" (having 4 months of salt-and-pepper roots) "...but Thanks." :)

    Didn't mention I've lost 17 pounds and am wearing smaller clothes again.
  • mmultanen
    mmultanen Posts: 1,029 Member
    At 30+ lbs lost a few people who knew I was working on my health started to say things like "you're looking great!" but at 30+ (i haven't been on the scale in a while) lbs I have only moved about 1 clothing size, and that's not in all brands. Many brands are still the same size. Which, honestly kind of bums me out a bit but, c'est la vie.

  • chinatowninchina
    chinatowninchina Posts: 1,279 Member
    Just recently, at 30+ lost and maybe weighing about 5 more than where I'd like to be, people are suddenly noticing. I mentioned to my husband that comments had been made a lot this past week and he said yup, but you have stopped wearing things that are too big for you and have started wearing fitted things. So maybe it's not people not noticing, but us still clinging onto our 'fat clothes'! :)
  • aluhsin
    aluhsin Posts: 46 Member
    About 50 pounds for me!
  • Xerogs
    Xerogs Posts: 328 Member
    I had some people notice at 20lbs lost but it wasn't until I lost 42lbs that most people began to notice. I still need to lose 25-30lbs and when I look at pictures of me at that weight a decade ago it will definitely be noticeable. Right now I am lifting weights so I have put on some weight but I fit better in my clothes so its a bit of a trade off until I my body decides to dump this visceral fat.
  • sljohnson1207
    sljohnson1207 Posts: 818 Member
    About 20 lbs or so. Also, for those that don't get comments at work, it's all because people are too afraid of being accused of harassment. Can't even pay a compliment to someone without being scared these days. It's such BS. Anyway, I think it's just trickled into society here as a habit.

    Also, many people just don't notice a person's body has changed because it doesn't matter. Not in a bad way, just that the person is seen and not the body they are in.

    Also, there is jealousy. People will withhold a compliment/comment purposely because of it.

    I tend to not comment on people's bodies unless they mention something first. Once the door is open, though, I will pay compliments left and right. And I do try to focus on things other than the fact they have lost weight. You know...like "wow, you're looking really fit", or "you are looking radiant", or "I like the new outfit you put together; it looks very nice on you", your biceps are looking really good; you been lifting weights?". Stuff like that.

    I hope somebody says something really great soon and that it makes your day. 30 lbs. is a feat many do not accomplish. Go you!
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