Losing 40 pounds but looking the same?

resfeber_ · August 2018

Hello, I'm making a post on here because I have lost 40 pounds but yet I still look exactly the same as before. The only difference I can see is that my legs are slimmer, and when I told my friends, they could only tell my face 'thinned out' (?) a little bit. My parents can't tell at all. I still have at least 40 more pounds to lose. I haven't even really gone down a size, maybe half a size at most, and I still feel fat. I don't know what to do or where to go from here. I'm starting a new workout regimen soon that is supposed to flatten out your stomach but my stomach hasn't gotten any smaller/flatter at ALL! I'm feeling really hopeless even with all this weight loss in a short amount of time. (Also: I had about 70/80 pounds to lose before my goal weight when I started, and the goal weight would be the maximum of the average, so the limit right before you count as overweight)

cwolfman13 · August 2018

The more you have to lose, the less noticeable losses can be...this is particularly true for "problem" areas. You can't flatten your stomach with any exercise...it'll ultimately shrink as you continue to lose weight...you can't spot reduce fat with exercise.

The mid section is primary fat stores for most men and many women...primary fat stores are a first on, last off proposition.

You just have to keep losing weight.

ETA: people who see you all of the time, including yourself, aren't going to notice as much either because they see you everyday and changes are slow and subtle. I remember after my first 20 Lbs I didn't feel like I really looked any different until I saw someone at the gym who I hadn't seen in over a year...she noticed. Also, progress pictures are very helpful...we don't notice subtle slow changes so much in our day to day.

danae16 · August 2018

Did you take photos? Full body photos in the same outfit are a good indicator of changes. I'd take some now, keep going and take more after 10 more pounds. You are on the right path, keep going. Even if you don't feel like the changes are visible, I guarantee you are putting less pressure on your joints and your health should be positively impacted. Sometimes its hard to see changes because you see yourself every day.

Jackie9003 · August 2018

Did you take any measurements, or do your clothes fit better? I'm in the same position, I've lost the same but proportionally so I still look the same as I'm still big but I've actually lost 4" off my hips and gone down 2 dress sizes.
Just keep at it, it's all good and you'll see the difference soon.

RunStart34 · August 2018

Sometimes it just takes longer... i had to lose over 30lbs when it was a little bit noticeable. Took about 3 months.. Then all of sudden i lose another 7 lbs and everybody noticed a big difference?? Like what the heck.. the 30 weren't noticeable but the 7 were? It just takes patience and to continue to do this for your self.

laurasurga · August 2018

I lost 20lbs and couldn’t tell. I didn’t feel any different and I was still wearing the same clothes. However, when I measured myself I’d actually lost 11 inches on my waist and hips. I must of been really squashing myself into my jeans 🤣
Now I’ve lost another 7lbs, I can see and feel a difference and I’ve got in some jeans I’ve not fit in for a while
Just keep going, you will notice soon enough and so will everyone else.
I had 6 stone to lose and I’ve now lost 3. Half way there 😃💪🏼

elsie6hickman · August 2018

You need to run into some people that haven't seen you in a while and they will notice it. If you are exercising, have you noticed a change in the way they are fitting? You are doing great - feel proud that you set a goal for yourself and you are half way there! Feel proud of your will power - it's not easy to make a major change in the way you eat! Remember you aren't doing this for other people, you are doing this for you! I'll bet you look beautiful!

pinuplove · August 2018

No way have you lost 40 of 80 pounds and still look the same save for thinner thighs! The mirror is a lying *kitten* and your parents need glasses. Only explanation

viajera99 · August 2018

There's something I've heard called "The Paper Towel Effect." If you pull a sheet off a full roll of paper towels, then look at the roll, it looks exactly the same. But as you get farther down the roll, every sheet off makes a noticeable difference in the roll size.

People will start noticing left and right all of a sudden...as if you lost it all overnight!

CoffeeandHumblePie · August 2018

I have a family member who had a very high SW and only now, a year and 3 months later, is starting to show a significant difference in her looks. The deal is, she has not given up! Please, don't give up!

MHarper522 · August 2018

As others have mentioned, people that see you every day (including yourself!) are not going to notice. It's a really good idea to take pictures and measurements so you can compare. I bet you would really see a difference!

Trnava · August 2018

Are you still wearing the same clothes as before? And are they baggy at all? If so, I imagine wearing new, more form-fitting clothes will make it obvious to all but the most oblivious of your family and friends.

jaredsaccount · August 2018

I've lost almost 90 lbs so far and I have problems seeing even that much weight. But I've gone down from a 28 to an 18....there is a big difference there! You see yourself every day so it is hard to see it. Have you tried shopping for a smaller size? You might be surprised that you find you have dropped a size or two and don't even know it yet.

SJKirk51912 · August 2018

I lost 65lbs about 3 years ago and I felt the exact same way you did. People that saw me everyday didn't notice much, and when I looked in the mirror I still saw the "fat girl." The worst part was that I could wear the same shirt and pants during the entire duration. They fit different when I was at my heaviest to when I was at my lowest, but they still fit and never got to big. My profile picture is from my highest (at the time) to my lowest, you can tell a significant difference.

I got so frustrated with seeing the same person in the mirror and wearing the same clothes that I eventually gave up. And here I am again, even heavier than when I started before. I don't want you to end up like that. 40 lbs is amazing and the scale isn't lying to you. Sometime it just takes our eyes and minds much longer. Stick with it, you're doing great!

AKTipsyCat · August 2018

Feel the same way! I've lost 30 and don't really see it. I am down from a 16W to a 12 - But I still need the big loose shirts to cover the belly that just doesn't want to go away. I've always had a long, thin face as well so while it helped me hide my weight gain; not so much the other way around.

Losing 40 pounds but looking the same?

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