It took quite a while for others to notice, like 50 pounds. I think it is harder for others to see when a person is as overweight as I was. I noticed changes within a couple of weeks, mostly in how much better I felt. Now that I'm closer to goal other people notice change much more often. It's like that paper towel analogy that has been posted here on 3fc somewhere.

Jayell posted this:Now I'll tell you about the paper towel roll. This is one of my favorite analogies. You've got two large rolls of paper towel. Each day you tear one sheet off one of the rolls. After a week, they still look about the same... but as time goes on, you'll notice a bigger and bigger difference. That's because as the roll gets smaller, each sheet is a greater percentage of what's left.

So weight loss is like this. So far, you've lost more than 10% of your start weight, but the next 30 pounds will be a greater percentage. You'll see! The difference will become more and more obvious.

Our brains really do take a while to catch up...but I noticed a difference about 15 pounds down...and I REALLY noticed a difference about the time I hit the top of my "normal weight" range for my BMI...at a little over 20 pounds down (From 182-159). I don't know if it was just psychological, but it gave me a real burst of accomplishment and suddenly I felt better in my clothes and had more confidence. Then, for the next 15-20 pounds, I felt about the same...until I hit around 140-145...then I felt like I jumped down in size...because I had been wearing my 12's and 10's and suddenly I had to go out and buy Size 6's.

I have lost 34 lbs so far, which leaves me weighting 186 lbs. Just now everyone is noticing and telling me how great I look. It's wonderful, just be patient!

Well, I have been eating all of this stuff I never imagined eating. When do you start seeing a difference? My family says they can already see it...I can't though.

It seems like some people notice right around when I lose 10 lbs. I personally never seem to get it until I go shopping and I'm having fun trying on the smaller sizes! Kind of frustrating, but what can you do?

JulieJ08
I feel exactly this way right now. I tried to explain this to someone last week, about how I feel "normal" now (which is funny, because I am still obese), but she just didn't get it. I used to feel like I had a spotlight on me (not in a good way), but now I just feel like I fit in more.

As for me, I could see changes after about 20 lbs, but I was looking.

I was well over 20 lbs gone before I could really tell at all. I was closer to 40 lbs gone before others noticed.

it prolly depends on how much u weigh to start with. but my sister and a friend noticed right away when i'd only lost 5-7lbs. But the number when I started getting lots of people commenting on how great I was looking and they could tell I lost weight was about the 17lb mark. They said is showed in my face and my clothes alot. But I've been stalled at about that now for months. I should focus on losing the next 17lbs.