Well, this time around I'm 20 down and haven't dropped a size or look much different. My clothes feel a little looser, but I still look the same in pictures. I'm waiting to finally fit into 12 again. The last time I dieted, I went from 197 to 170 and didn't drop a size then either. I remember the same thing... At the time I was a size 12 trying to get into a 10, but I wasn't able to. And I still looked the same in pictures. I eventually gave up, gained all that weight back, plus 40 more, and now here I am.
I think the bigger you start off at the more you have to lose to see a difference. A 33lb loss would look a lot more drastic on someone who started off at 180lbs, but not someone at our current weight. But don't let that get you down or throw you off course. That's what I always did and, as you can see, I always ended up worse off and having to restart all over again. You might not see a difference, but other people might. Just keep doing what you're doing and eventually you'll notice a difference.
When I started this weigh loss effort, I weighed 298 pounds nekkid and after my morning deposit of used food and liquid. I had a really hard time seeing the loss of my first 20 pounds other than the fit of my clothes. A friend of mine put it in perspective with a paper towel roll analogy. What he told me is this. When you open a new roll of paper towels, you don't really notice the size of the roll shrinking with the first few towels you use. But as time goes on and the overall roll gets smaller, even one towel makes a noticeable difference.
I started with so much to lose that those first pounds didn't really show. But now that I've lost over 60, I can see a big difference. I'm also at a point where a five pound change impacts my clothing size whereas before, a five pound change didn't do much of anything.
I lost over 60 lbs before I could see a difference, and I didn't really change much in clothing sizes, because I still needed a 5 or 6x top to cover my belly. When I tried on a 3x, I could see the difference in my arms and upper waist, but I couldn't comfortably wear the shirt because of my belly. Gradually though, I could see my arms were much smaller, and my collar bone started to pop through. Still have a long way to go, but I can see the fruits of my labor!
It's frustrating when you can't see your results. But sometimes others can before you. It will take time, but you'll see your hard work.
I think that most of us who started around the 300 mark know exactly what you mean. I think I lost 50 pounds before I got a single comment from anybody other than my husband, and, like you, except for the girls shrinking up, I couldn't see much difference. It was at least 30 or 40 pounds before I dropped a size.
The paper towel analogy is a great one. The smaller you get, the more noticeable it becomes and the quicker the sizes drop. You just have to get through that first period of time when it seems like you're doing an awful lot of work for not much return.
Keep taking pictures, but also pay attention to how you feel. Knees not quite so rickety, ankles less swollen at the end of the day, breathing going up a flight of stairs not so labored. All this will start showing up way before the weight loss shows up in how you look.
Good to know it's not just me. It's still frustrating, though.
@Robin41: Why the boobs? Why?! I have noticed that it's easier to go up and down stairs, as well as squatting down in my garden. A few months ago I had to sit down...now I can just squat down
Yeah I didn't notice a difference for a while and then it seemed as if I just woke up one morning and looked a bit different. It's funny how long your brain can take to catch up, but it will. And keep taking pictures because they'll show as well.
I actually cannot wait for my boobs to shrink-----I was already amply supplied in that area before I decided to go all Jabba the Hutt and now I've got these huge heavy watermelons. If I can get them down to size where it doesn't feel like I've got two infants strapped to my chest I'll be so happy.
I know how you feel. Although I started out weighing less than you did when you started, 25 pounds later and I've only gone down one pants size. We just have to keep pushing; we'll get there eventually.
I actually cannot wait for my boobs to shrink-----I was already amply supplied in that area before I decided to go all Jabba the Hutt and now I've got these huge heavy watermelons. If I can get them down to size where it doesn't feel like I've got two infants strapped to my chest I'll be so happy.
Yeah .. however the little changes do tend to add up. Don't blink because if you have your mind set on these changes they will happen and the changes will be more than you think. To lose weight from a place where you started, the closer you roll down the scale to your goal you would have seen countless changes. I have and I'm only halfway there! You're doing great, don't lose sight of that.
Has anyone else felt like this?
I have noticed that it's easier to go up and down stairs, as well as squatting down in my garden. A few months ago I had to sit down...now I can just squat down 
