How Many Pounds Does it Take to Make a Visible Difference on Your Frame?
 

Over the years, my weight has gone up and down. I get on the scale daily and know how my clothes fit so I know my weight pretty well. It appears to take quite a bit of loss before there is any noticeable difference. Sometimes it can be discouraging. Let's compare...

1) Current weight
2) How tall are you?
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
5) How many before people start to comment?



I'm:
1) 124
2) Just under 5'3
3) small-medium
4) 10-15 lbs
5) 20+ lbs

You would think on someone relatively small that a 10-15 lbs loss would be noticeable, but it really isn't.

1) 140
2) 5'6"
3) medium
4) 5-10
5) 15-20

I'm also surpised..I recently lost 10lbs and no one but my best friend has send anything..and she knows im trying to lose weight. Although other people, like my boyfriend and my boss have commented that I 'look good' lately. I feel like i'll have to drop 10 more lbs before people really notice.

(Almost the same as LisaT ...)

1) ~ 140
2) 5'6"
3) small/medium
4) ~ 5 lbs or less for me to notice (I certainly noticed recently when I went from 135 to 138/140 - clothes don't fit)
5) Hard to say; I wear different clothes when I weigh different weights so someone might just comment that I look "good". Plus people have learned from experience NOT to comment on my weight! But for sure 15 lbs is enough (from 152 to 137, people definitely noticed).

Do you *know* that no one can tell if you have lost less than 20 lbs, or are people just not coming forward to comment about it? I agree that less than 20 lbs should be really noticeable on someone 5'3" with a smallish frame. Maybe your clothes are such that it is hard for people to tell?

[ETA: Also, did you take any comparison photos? Like in the same clothing? I "feel" the same now as I did at 152 lbs but I took some photos when I started and again when I first dropped below 140 lbs and the results are DRAMATICALLY different.

Oh and another thing, 125 lbs on you should be (roughly) 140 lbs on me, 3 inches taller, and that is the point where I really start to see changes with slight changes in weight ... sooooo maybe you have now reached the point where you are going to notice changes with many fewer pounds :crossed: ]

Emma,

My friends comment that they believe me when I've gained or lost 10 pounds, but that they just don't see either on me. It's something they know I struggle with so as soon as they do notice they definitely comment because they know it makes me happy. I don't know if it's just the way I carry my weight. I also don't change sizes. Anywhere from 135-120 lbs I am a size 25 jeans 32/34DD. At 120lbs and below my jeans get noticeably roomier and my face starts to slim down. I am very much an hour-glass, but I carry a lot of weight in my arms and face. Really hoping to break that 120 barrier soon!

I didn't purposely take comparison shots, but I have photos of me in the same clothes at different weights... it's not in my mind. I think most of my clothes show my figure pretty well, but maybe I'm wrong. It's all about my chubby arms!

1) Current weight
141

2) How tall are you?
5' 3"

3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
Large frame

4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
I'm not really sure. I weight lift so I've seen changes even when the scale hasn't moved. One time I stayed the same weight for over two weeks yet dropped more than a dress size!

5) How many before people start to comment?
Every time I lose inches, people notice. I can't really say how many pounds it is, because that seems to be different each time. Although I do seem to lose the inches first and then the pounds a few days later.

People notice more frequently now than previously. When I was closer to my starting weight, it often took 10 pounds to get people to notice. Now it seems to take a lot less.



I wonder if it has something to do with frame size? Because I'm large-framed I'm technically within a healthy weight for my height and can't really lose more than 10 pounds. So I'm getting close to the end of that range. Then again I also started at a much higher weight, so it's a pretty dramatic change overall.

1) Current weight 172lbs
2) How tall are you? 5'6"
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build? Large but with a small ribcage
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? Like sontaikle said, whenever I lose inches. It really depends. I've had a plateau for 6 weeks and lost a ton of inches whereas I've also dropped 10lbs and only lost one inch from my waist during that period. :dizzy:
5) How many before people start to comment? That's a bit tricky to say. I moved half way through my weight loss journey so nobody where I live now has seen me at more than 194lbs. I have had one friend comment (but she knew I was trying to lose because she's a gym friend) and one friend at work say that something looked different but nobody has actually. I should say that I work with mostly males and they aren't always the most observant when it comes to other's appearances at that so I would actually be surprised if I got any comments ever. Now, when I visit friends from where we lived before, I imagine I'll get some, we'll see!

1) Current weight 121lb
2) How tall are you? 5'4"
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build? medium
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? 4lb to see but i can feel it after only about 2lb
5) How many before people start to comment? not sure, they're noticing 15lb of recent effort though.

I have started on tge ip diet 4 weeks ago, lost two ponds first week, lost 3 ponds in the second week and I have not lost anything since for the past 2.5 weeks. I am following the diet by word. Have not cheated since I started. Getting very discouraged and tired. What should o Do???

Current weight 122
Height 5' 0.7"
Small frame
Between 10-15 lb for me to "see" it and for others to notice.

I am also an hour-glass. I love everything about my body shape. I, too, carry a lot of weight in my arms and face. I have lost the weight in my face and still waiting for the fats in my arms to go away. I think my arms will be the last place to go. One of my sisters also have the same body shape and she carries most of her weight in her arms as well.

I'm waiting to "fit" into size 25 jeans. Depending on the brand, some are snug and some doesnt button. I'm a size 26 now but I have to use a belt because my waist is small in comparison to my thighs. Oh thunder thighs......how I dislike thee.

I've been at 124 for 6 days now... very frustrating! I like everything about my body except my arms. It takes getting under 110 for my arms to slim down at all. At 115 I still have very chunky arms which makes the rest of me look bigger in photos. I must start toning them!

Really want to get to the noticeable zone. It's hard to stay motivated when nobody can see the difference (especially when the darn scale is stubborn)!

Funny, I'm also hourglass-ish and also carry a lot of weight in my upper arms (although almost none in my face). I never made a connection there, I wonder if it's pretty common?

Your post and the other one made me look at my arms in more detail than I probably should :joker:

I'm an hourglass too and until recently I carried a good amount of weight in my arms. I find that quite a lot of it is gone now and I can finally see the muscle definition in my arms that I've worked so hard for!

Right now a fair amount of weight is stored on my middle. Trying to get rid of that now, but I know it's really difficult to get rid of. Lucky I don't have a beer belly or anything like that, so I'm grateful.

okay, here we go...

1. current weight: 137.8
2. height: 5'6"
3. small-medium
4. depends... when I had a lot of weight to lose, it took a lot for me to notice... now that I have less to lose, it takes only a couple of pounds... especially in so far as how I fit into my clothing...
5. well...I lost 20-25 pounds and my friends husband was still calling me "husky"...grrr...that really did it for me. some people noticed the 25 pound loss... then again, I lost 5 pounds and my uncle said I looked good and had I lost some weight...

I lose weight off my face really quick... My face, if you chopped off my head, would make me a very thin person... but I'm not, it's just the cheekbones.. ;) ...the arms are hard, like everyone has been saying, but not for the same reason. I used to be a swimmer and have swimmer shoulders and arms... so it's very hard to get rid of latent muscle... it's not my arms that are my problem, it's the belly button to mid thigh danger zone...I have the typical "girl love handles" on my thighs.. (I know you really wanted to know that)...I'm disproportionate as I have really skinny calves, pretty thin arms, a thin face, and round everything in between...I'd love a flat belly at this point...I figure I'd better lose the weight now while I still have a metabolism.

eek... I hope this wasn't tmi...
:)

Catgirl - I'm the same as you thin face, legs and arms but round in the middle.
When I was a kid people used to say I looked like a bumble bee :(

My cheek bones and collar bones stick out but I still have an huge belly and love handles.
Its so frustrating.

At least you girls can wear baby dolls or flowy dresses and none will be the wiser. Much harder to cover up fat arms while showing off a flat tummy. If I just lipo-d my arms I would probably appear 20 lbs thinner.

I think I can rock any type of dress or shirt as long as it has sleeves. I'm too self conscious about my arms. They are big in comparison to my body shape. I went to see a surgeon about Lipo for my arms. He refused to do it. :?:

My mom has the same issue with large arms. I don't know if it has to do with body shape or not but I'm seeing a small trend here. :D

Soon2BSlender- 3/4 lengths sleeves are my friend. ;) That or just going sleeveless. Anything in between seems to just draw more attention to them. I agree it stinks because most shirts are short sleeved or cap sleeved. :( I still own a ton of them simply because it's hard to find anything else! I do have a dress, though, that I plan to remove the sleeve all together.


Yeah, I'm really surprised by this! I never once made the connection between my body shape and the size of my arms.

I'm the opposite! I have thick upper arms and THICK thighs, but a very small torso/middle.

I really am noticing a trend here...

1) Current weight 136.6
2) How tall are you? 5'6" on the dot
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build? Medium/Large
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? two or more. Likewise, being up two will make me feel/look terrible.
5) How many before people start to comment?
This is a tough one. I didn't get comments until I'd dropped 30 lbs, and even then I didn't get much until it was about 45lbs, at which point people got concerned, told me to not lose any more and that I looked good at my then-weight, around 155. I've been stable at 135 for 6 months, and last month I dropped two pounds and wouldn't you know, the "have you lost more weight? Q's started (of course I've put 3lbs back on and no one notices that thank goodness)

I say Med/large frame because I have fine boned extremities but my torso is built like a good nordic person. My rib cage is 28" at it's base, I don't think I could slip my hips into size 2's or 25's even if they were literally just the bones my frame is just that wide. (I wear 6's now and can see my hip bones [I'm 38"-28"-36"])

Oh, and Catgirl, if you are 5'6" 140ish and your friend's hubby called you "husky?" I'd have some words with him over that. Just me, but yeah, I might deck him too. :D

- 114 lbs
- 5'0"
- Small frame
- I notice a difference around 5 lbs
- Other people notice a difference around 10 lbs, depending on how long it's been since they've seen me and what I'm wearing

I'm an inverted triangle. My shoulders are wider than my hips, plus I have apple tendencies (hello stomach pooch). My butt is flat, my chest is big, and I have a bit of extra flab around my armpits that look like extra boobs. I haven't worn tank tops in ages.

1) Current weight 148lbs
2) How tall are you? 5ft 10
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build? Small
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? 15-20lbs
5) How many before people start to comment? 10lbs

Am I the only one that finds other people see it far before I do?

1) Current weight
~135 lbs, haven't weighed in a couple days

2) How tall are you?
ALMOST 5'5 but really probably 5'4 and a half

3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
Tiny, I accumulate most in my legs.

4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
Honestly at this size I'd notice 2-3.

5) How many before people start to comment?
My mom noticed when I gained about 5 lbs - other people never comment.

My face and my thighs/midsection are where any new pounds go to/come off from.

1) Current weight
134

2) How tall are you?
5' 4"

3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
Medium frame

4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
Probaby 10 pounds, but I guess I never can see it. It is all in how my clothes fit!

5) How many before people start to comment?
I start yo get skinny comments at 120 pounds. Anything more than that and no one says a word.

1) Current weight
125

2) How tall are you?
4'11

3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
Not sure - medium maybe

4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
Honestly - because I am so short I notice even a 2 pound weightloss. I may not SEE it but I can FEEL it.

5) How many before people start to comment?
Sometimes as little as 5 pounds (remember - I am insanely short), but it can depend on how long it has been since I have seen them.

1) 128
2)5'4
3) I'm a medium built pear shape
4) Well when I first started my journey Feb of 2011 people began commenting after 10lbs, they said my face had thinned out.
5) 10-15lbs

1) Current weight 130
2) How tall are you? 5'8
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build? Small-medium I think.
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? I can vaguely see a difference after 15lbs.
5) How many before people start to comment? My weight has done up and down between 130-150 a few times. The only time anyone seemed to notice was when I went from 150 to 125 one time. That's 25lbs!

1) Current weight
161
2) How tall are you?
5'10"
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
I'd say medium
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
About 3-5. I carry all my weight in my lower body, and when I'm dieting the weight loss shows more in my stomach area (even though I don't really have any thing to lose in that area!). I see those muscles coming through, and I known I've lost weight.
5) How many before people start to comment?
I've never had anyone comment on my weight loss really. So I'm thinking 15-20 pounds. My roommate will notice if I've lost some weight only because I usually tell her lol.

1) Current weight
105 lbs.

2) How tall are you?
5'1"

3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
Small. 5 inch wrists. Although my mum used to tell me I was big boned when I was at my highest weight (probably to make me feel better!).

4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
Roughly 5lbs. I can usually tell by my waist and stomach which is where all my weight gathers.

5) How many before people start to comment?
My mum will notice at 5lbs but for everyone else it's 7-10lbs.

1) Current weight
120

2) How tall are you?
5'4

3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
Small!

4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
Around 5

5) How many before people start to comment?
10-15, and no one ever comments on my weight until I hit 110/115 when I hear about how great I look.

1) Current weight
145.2
2) How tall are you?
just under 5'5
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?
large build
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it?
I only noticed it after about 50lb.
5) How many before people start to comment?
30lb

Current Weight: 117-118
Height: 5'4
Frame: Medium
When I notice: +/- 2 pounds
When others notice: No clue...

People don't make comments on my weight unless it's been a long time since they've seen me (which happens from time to time since the people I work with deploy frequently - myself included). I am going to see a lot of family that I haven't seen in a while next month so I imagine there will be some comments then. My best friend and fiance don't ever say anything to me about my weight though.

For me, I see it immediately because I am at a pretty low body fat percentage. I'm up a bit right now (coming back off of a vacation :D) and what I deem "fat that needs to be lost" is literally only like 1-2 pounds. It makes a difference in my definition, but considering I'm the only person who sees me naked I'm sure I'm the only one who notices when things fluctuate a pound or two.

I'm:
1) 142
2) 5'1
3) Medium build? I don't really know. I have slim arms, tights and legs but my weight is all in my stomach.
4) 12 - 14lbs
5) Around the same.

I was around 154lbs then dropped down to 142lbs in a couple of months. While I'm still the same in clothes and that now, I have noticed they fit me a lot better now. If I was to drop another 10lbs, I think I might drop another dress size.

1) Current weight: 104?
2) How tall are you?: 5'4
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?: Small-medium
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it: 3-5 lbs

5) How many before people start to comment?: At my current weight, the fluctuation down from 107 to (what turned out to be) 102 over the last week drew several "you are looking too skinny" comments. I've been eating like crazy over the past day to bump that back up so my boyfriend will shut up.

This was certainly not true when I was 125-130 lbs before--then, it took 5-10 lbs before anyone noticed. When you get slim, every little bit makes a difference!

1. 152
2. 5'4"
3. Large. Wide shoulders and rib cage. My wrists are often larger than friends' wrists whose clothes are ten sizes bigger than mine.
4. At least 5 pounds. My weight can fluctuate +/-2 from day to day, but it has stabilized since starting a serious weight regimen
5. Around 10 pounds.

1) Current weight: 156.5
2) How tall are you?: 5'8"
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?: Small-medium (pear shape)
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it: 6-10 lbs
5) How many before people start to comment?: still only a few people commenting at 17 lbs loss

1) 206
2) 5'4.5"
3) by wrist size small, but I have thick arms and thighs (pear to hourglass shape). Let's split the difference and call it medium
4) 35
5) around 20-25 (I have one friend who is very observant), although the last 10 have apparently been more noticeable, lots more comments

1) Current weight - 131
2) How tall are you?- 5'1 (short!)
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build?- Medium
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? - It takes about 5 lbs before I notice it.
5) How many before people start to comment? - 7 to 8 lbs. I am so short that very little weight loss is noticeable, I start looking thin fast. I would say I am normally 125, but I like being around 120 lbs & that is my new goal.

1) Current weight 117
2) How tall are you? 5'4 1/4"
3) Are you generally a small/medium/large build? Small
4) How many pounds do you have to lose before YOU can see it? 5lbs
5) How many before people start to comment? At this weight probably about 5lbs.