One of my good friends recently hit the 20 Ib mark and I couldn't tell. I felt bad, but I've seen her weight fluctuate greatly over the years. I'm trying to support her as best I can - I'm quite proud for her and she inspires me :)

Actually, 2 of my longest friends are watching it, yet I never directly discuss it with them. Or anyone. I'm sure people notice I'm being "healthy", but not beyond that. I don't really want to sit around talking about it . (Aside from here, of course :) )

I did the same as you, didn't tell anyone but my husband. When I'd lost 35-40 lbs, we went to visit my parents for christmas. They hadn't seen me in 4 months, since before I started losing. Nothing for days. I was alone with my dad when he (mid sentence in a random conversation) interrupted himself to say, Heyyy! Are you losing weight? Then said I looked thinner and maybe it was the clothes? I took it as a genuine outburst of noticing, though I played kind of dumb and said something about eating healthy.

My mom noticed me passing on pie, etc., praised me for being 'good' and then took me aside before we left to tell me how great I looked. I wondered then if she really noticed or if she just noticed me passing on pie.

After that, after 50 lbs down, most people who didn't see me often noticed (people I see regularly are different, like my neighbor only mentioned it last week, as if it happened overnight like loribell described). I agree about men not mentioning it and frankly I appreciate that, as I have no desire for other men to comment on my body. My dad has a big mouth, so that's one thing (a whole other story!) But what I mean is, I know my male in-laws/professional contacts noticed, but thought they were very proper to keep quiet and let their wives compliment me. For that matter, I think I've overall known very polite people in general, judging from some of the threads here about comments posters have received.

Funny enough, my parents were visiting in June, gushed a little about how thin I was looking, etc., and we ended up in a conversation about people noticing weight loss in general. I was still not being specific about my numbers, but my dad brought up noticing at christmas. My mom hedged and in regards to noticing it then, said something about how she noticed, but "of course," she knew I was on a diet. So ... I was right. She didn't notice the weight loss, she noticed the passing on pie :-)

My own husband didn't want to acknowledge noticing for awhile (like 5+ months) as though I would flip out and think he didn't like me before ... or again (he is cautious about that, only makes me more determined not to regain). He has explained that he doesn't want me to think that he thinks I am/was unattractive in any way. Of course I appreciate this but I think it was a little over the top. He relaxed and started complimenting my progress/shrinking starting in the spring, I'd say.

i have lost 40 lb, to date, aside from my husband and immediate family, ONE person has noticed. some of my immediate family still hasnt noticed. i try not to let it get me down, they'll notice eventually!!

i also didnt tell anyone because A) i didnt want the fake compliments and B) i didnt want to be embarrassed if i failed again (i know, negative thinking)

Those are the SAME reasons I haven't told anyone! .. Congrats on losing the 40!!!

For me, no one really started saying anything until I'd lost 60 lbs, about 3 sizes, then everyone started noticing all at once. But I began at a much, much higher weight than you...I started out in a 32 then people began noticing around size 24.

Until I lost just below 15 lbs no one was noticing my wieght loss. Then it was like the others said...like it had happened overnight and EVERYONE noticed. I like many of you, only told my BF that I was trying to lose weight and when people ask me I just say that I am trying to be healthier.

yes it was pretty humiliating a few years back when i announced it far and wide and lost 30 lbs..just to gain it all back. people would actually say "oh whyd you quit your diet? you were doing so well!"

dont worry about it, they'll notice eventually. i also think maybe some people dont say anything because theyre worried its rude.

My mum was the first to notice for me, but she always has a way of giving backhand compliments. She said to me, "I noticed you're starting to lose that tummy!" It's like, gee, thanks, mum. :D

WRT what your MIL said to your husband: My mother always frets over my brother's weight. She always complains he's too skinny. (And he is, but her worrying doesn't help.)

Every time we see my mother-in-law or grandmother-in-law, they exclaim that my husband is losing weight, getting skinny, whatever. He has weighed between 170-180 for all the 11 years that we've been together. Usually in the middle with no change. Yet they always say it. He grins (grits?) and bears it, but it is actually kind of offensive to hear that, for a man (at least to one who has never had a weight problem). He jokes that they remember him larger than life.

Maybe it's that maternal "Need to Feed" talking. Do they feed him shortly thereafter? :) My aunt is like that with my husband. She always gives him two and three pieces of pie (without even asking if he wants any) and says thing like, "I love a man with an appetite". My husband dutifully eats her baked goods and then looks at me like, "WTF?" :lol:

I was 180 or so when I started losing...You could tell when I lost about 15lbs...But I was still kinda big..Im 146 now and I dont look it...I guess weight training makes you lose fat and gain muscle fairly quickly....

But you will see the difference just keep at it...Thing of what you will look like in 6 months! Thats what keeps me going....

kiahna - when I read that I thought of what I'm gonna look like in 6 months like you said,, and it was a big motivator!! Soo I wrote it on my bathroom mirror ha!

i think the more weight you have to lose, the longer it takes people to notice. if a girl who weighs 120 loses 25 lbs, its pretty darn obvious. if someone goes from 220 to 200... its not as noticeable.

Congrats on your success--

Yep, the comments WILL come with your continued success. Believe me, you will reach a point you won't want anyone to say or ask you another thing.