why can't I see a 20 lb difference?

I'm sure you are shrinking! The best way to tell is to take measurements. Sometimes when you see yourself in the mirror everyday it's hard to tell a difference.

It's so hard to see a change in yourself, even when other people do. I agree with the above - take pictures! Well done on your weight loss, 20lbs is really good

I agree I do not see a 24.5 pounds difference on myself either.

You see yourself everyday, you aren't going to see the changes as well as someone who doesn't see you daily. My cousin saw me for the first time probably since last summer and he told my aunt that I looked awesome. Hearing that felt great as i'm working really hard.
I took pictures in November when I started my journey and then again in April and I could see a HUGE difference in those pictures, despite not necessarily seeing it in myself on a regular basis. I too measure once a week.

I have lost over 110lbs and sometimes when I look in the mirror I think I still look the same. We are our own toughest critics.

You should start taking pictures. That is the only time I started noticing. I'm down 53 lbs, and I still look at myself and don't see a change, but when I look at my pics I can see it.


btw 20 lbs is awesome! Good for you!

Agree!

I saw the no difference in the first 100lbs, tbh. You will see the most change in your clothes fitting. Others will see much more of a change than you will. I think it has to do with our expectations. After losing 55% of my body weight over 3 years, I definitely see a difference. Remember this is a marathon, not a sprint!

I take pictures and I always make sure a certain pair of jeans fits me perfect. That's the only way I see the difference.

I didn't see a change in the mirror until I lost 30lbs that's also about when my coworkers noticed. and even thought I'm now a another 25lbs from that, I can't see that difference. Well...I guess I randomly see it but usually not unless I'm putting on clothes.

So, don't loose hope.

20 pounds is awesome!

Several things might apply here. I've lost about 60 pounds on my journey so far, and since I'm 6' 3", 20 pounds just wasn't a visible weight loss to me. I found that I had been buying shirts and pants that hid my dewlap syndrome (where my belly dewlap over my belt) by getting things that I could "tuck loose" so there was always some empty shirt hanging down. Each time I lowered my pant size, I was proud of that, but my belly was still there and now I was wearing smaller pants, so the "dewlap" stubbornly remained. The loose shirts concealed the belly, sorta, but also concealed my progress. Once I started tucking my shirts in a little tighter and ignoring the dewlap, I started noticing the differences (and so did other people).

I also found that the belly was the last thing I lost. Upping my core workouts, and especially planking, toned that up, but there's still a keg hiding that 6-pack and I've only got 20 pounds left to go. I've come to accept that I'll just keep working on the "hidden 6-pack" and eventually I'll rid myself of the fat concealing it. I can feel the muscles under there, I have amazing stamina and energy compared to before, and I just need to be patient with getting rid of the fat covering it all up. Even if I never develop a 6-pack or anything, it's all good.

As a previous poster mentioned, pictures tell all. Your weight loss is gradual, and you look at yourself every day and don't notice the small differences (which in my case is what got me in trouble the other way in the first place!) Take a photo wearing as little as you feel comfortable with in the same pose once a month, and you'll have real evidence of the visible differences.

I lost over 40lbs last year. I didn't drop a pant size until I had lost 24-25lbs. Not only could I not tell, but no one around me noticed either until I had lost the 40lbs!

I made a pic every Wednesday to help track my progress.

Hang in there! 2 sizes is great!

First -- Congrats!

Second -- In all fairness, you will probably be the last one to notice the weight loss (aesthetically). People that haven't seen you in a while and haven't "adjusted" themselves to your weight loss with most likely notice it more easily.

You see yourself everyday. Lots of small changes over a time frame are hard for your brain to grasp. Side by side pictures are huge. See my profile pictures, I have a 20 lb side by side and I can MASSIVELY see the difference, and I haven't really seen it as much in the mirror as it happened. (I did notice my neck went down when I felt it one day, the measurement after reflected I lost something like an inch in 30 days from that area, but that was just dumb luck to discover on my own.)

I just read a neat post that said: it will take 4 week for you to see your body changing. It will take 8 weeks for friends and family and it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world. So re-figure that with pounds and you are probably on track and doing fine. Its going to come from those weird little places we don't notice first. Like fingers, neck, arm pits and ankles LOL Good Job and Good Luck! :bigsmile:

A lot of times there is a fine line (and by that I mean just a few pounds) between seeing it and not seeing it.
I know from my own experience, I had lost about 28 pounds and couldn't really tell other than I felt better but
then I lost 4 more and then all of a sudden I could see it. In my face, my legs, my arms and my waist.
Congratulations on losing the 20 pounds!! That is awesome!! But don't worry that you can't see it yet, it will
happen suddenly.