Why don't people acknowledge a small weight loss?

It seems like people don't realize how hard it can be to lose 10-15 pounds. Don't get me wrong I think it's AMAZING when people lose 100+ pounds, but I wish more people would recognize small accomplishments. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this, but I was looking in a magazine that had stories about all these people that lost a ton of weight, all lost over 75 pounds, but you never see someone who lost 15 pounds who also went through a huge life-change to "healthify" their life. I think people get so accustomed to seeing huge amounts of weight loss on tv and in magazines that they forget any amount of weight that's lost and leads you to a healthier weight is worth applauding. Do you know what I mean?

Maybe I'm just being bitter. I lost 10 pounds and a dress size and it's like no one cared. I was talking to my mom and told her I lost 10 pounds and she was like "oh. That's nice." But if I had said I lost 100 pounds everyone would be going nuts. I just think everyone should be recognized for their hard work whehther it be losing 5 pounds or 500!

That sucks, people noticed when I just lost 4 pounds.

Like I said I'm probably just being bitter, but it's so hard when you get close to your healthy weight (well actually I'm at a healthy weight, but I'd like to be 125-130) the weight just comes off so slowly and it's hard to keep it off. So when I DO lose and keep it off it'd be nice to have someone notice >_< But I notice and feel better so I guess that's all that's *supposed* to count, but still.

Probably because ten pounds isn't that noticeable, it may be to you, but not anyone else. I have lost 30 so far and only one person has noticed, heck even I don't think it's that noticeable...

I hear what you're saying, it's incredibly hard to lose the final 10lbs or so, but the fact is if someone goes from 250lbs to 150lbs it makes a huge visible difference. 

When someone loses like 5 pounds they pretty much transformed their body and probably look totolly different! Be glad you never had that much weight to lose in the first place! :)

Honestly, unless they see you naked or in a bathing suit (or you lose almost all the weight in your face or you swap a lot of fat for muscle), nobody else is going to notice a loss of 5-10 pounds.  Which is why, if you want to lose vanity pounds, it darn better be for yourself and not for others.  And, yes, it's hard work.  And it's absolutely an accomplishment to lose 5 or 10 vanity pounds.

There's a really great TV show called "Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp" that does precisely this.  It takes women who are usually at a healthy weight (or just a smidge into the overweight category) and gives them a reduced calorie healthy diet (usually 1500 cals/day) and workout program.  The goal is to lose 10 pounds in 6 weeks (admittedly, they start with nondieters so get 2-5 pounds water weight off pretty easily) and they also track measurements.  So, the one girl who "only" lost 5 pounds but took 2-4 inches off everywhere was still considered a success.  There's also a spinoff show called "Bulging Brides" but I personally prefer the original as the contestants tend to be more committed to starting a healthy lifestyle rather than just aiming to look good in a dress for one day.

Also, people tend not to comment on weight loss in general anyway.  I've lost 40 pounds in about a year, and only one or two people that I see regularly have said anything.  Any time I run into someone I haven't seen in a long time, they tend to exclaim over how great I look but don't say a word about weight.  I know that's what they're referring to, but they don't want to imply that I was fat before. 

That show sounds pretty awesome :)

And all of you are definitely right about me seeing a big difference but other people don't see me naked so they don't notice lol

susiecue-what channel carries that show?

sublime-I'm in the same boat. No one really notices. But the difference in the way I feel mentally and physically is so worth it. And it IS incredibly hard weight to lose and keep off.

It's just harder to notice. It's a good thing to lose any weight, but it's almost like everyone is losing the same 10/20 pounds now-a-days(and every magazine is more than willing to help) so it's the big numbers that catch media attention. :(

But, hey, if you feel you look good, that's all the really matters, right? :) Hell, I lost 40 and my friends didn't say a damn thing. Lol. But I knew, so I felt good. <3

Original Post by susiecue:

There's a really great TV show called "Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp" that does precisely this.  It takes women who are usually at a healthy weight (or just a smidge into the overweight category) and gives them a reduced calorie healthy diet (usually 1500 cals/day) and workout program.  The goal is to lose 10 pounds in 6 weeks (admittedly, they start with nondieters so get 2-5 pounds water weight off pretty easily) and they also track measurements.  So, the one girl who "only" lost 5 pounds but took 2-4 inches off everywhere was still considered a success.  There's also a spinoff show called "Bulging Brides" but I personally prefer the original as the contestants tend to be more committed to starting a healthy lifestyle rather than just aiming to look good in a dress for one day.

Ahhh, love both shows. Whenever I feel lazy I watch those and they usually get me pumped.

I'm fairly proud of myself when I lose anything over five pounds (because then I know it's actual fat, not water fluctuation). Sure, ten pounds is something to be proud of, but it's undeniable that losing 100 pounds IS something to go crazy about. And while we say, "those last ten pounds are hard!", the person who lost 100 pounds also had to lose "those last ten" as well. I say, whatever you lose, you should be really proud! You worked hard for it, and whether it's five or five-hundred, you deserve to feel good, whether the world notices or not.

Original Post by future214:

susiecue-what channel carries that show?

Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp and Bulging Brides are both regularly on Slice (Canadian "Lifestyles" network).  They may be on the equivalent type of network in other countries.  Or you could try googling them and see what you come up with.

I agree! When I'm done losing weight I'll only have lost 28 lbs from my highest weight, but I'm only 5'0 so it totally makes a difference. The more weight I lose, the harder is to come off too! 

Although I do think success stories of people who've lost 100+ lbs are very inspiring and I love reading them, I also think just like a 20 lb weight loss can completely change the transform I look and feel. Although I dunno, people have definitely noticed for me anyway. Wearing clothes that show it is pretty necessary though.

Perhaps they don't care because they love you 10lbs either way..  Perhaps they are distracted with their own lives.. Perhaps they are struggling with their own weight loss issues..

You should recognise your own accomplishments and praise yourself, give yourself a big pat on the back.  You don't need other people to say the right thing to feel good about yourself..

I personally don't like to comment on a weight loss (especially a small one) because I know it makes me relatively uncomfortable hearing comments like, "Wow you look fantastic!! You've lost weight haven't you?" after losing 5 pounds or 7 pounds or whatever. It makes me feel like 7 pounds ago I was "chunky" but now I'm slim. It makes me feel like people are scrutinizing my size, and people recognizing that I'm slightly smaller now just makes me realize they noticed I was slightly larger then. I'd prefer not to have my weight complimented - if someone I haven't seen in a while says, "You look great" or "you look beautiful" they may very well be referring (in part) to my weight, but I much prefer that compliment because it doesn't imply a contrast from the less appealing "before" to the more appealing "after" - all it does is make me feel good about how I look in the moment without making me feel bad about how I used to look.

Whenever I hear someone say "only 10 pounds" I cringe.  I mean, 10 pounds is 35,000 calorie deficit.  10 pounds of butter looks like a lot in your grocery basket.  A 10 pound change is hard work, even when you are 300 pounds, and a lot more when you are only 130 pounds.

That said, I never mention people's weight to them.  If I think they look great, I say "you look great!".  Or, "what a great outfit!".  If they have lost a lot of weight, and look terrible (gaunt, washed out) I say "it's so great to see you, how have you been?".  Because, unfortunately, I have friends who lose weight for all the wrong reasons (like cancer or some other disease) and I see no point in reminding them they are losing weight.  It's not always a good thing.

I think it may just be a visual thing. I have so far lost 91 pounds over the last year and I didn't really get people saying, "hey you look different", until about 40 pounds in. I personally could not tell a mental difference in my weight until about 50 pounds in. I think it just depends on how observant the person observing is.

Depending on the person, 10-15 pounds isn't enough to notice. When a person is 5'8 and weighs 200 pounds, the person doesn't look any different 15 pounds lighter, but when a 5'2 150 pound person loses 15 pounds, it's way more noticeable because of their small frame... sooo i don't know how much you weigh, but that's one explanation as to why no one seems to be noticing! It's also a different story when people don't think you need to lose weight in the first place, so they try not to encourage it..

Original Post by sublimelmf:

It seems like people don't realize how hard it can be to lose 10-15 pounds. Don't get me wrong I think it's AMAZING when people lose 100+ pounds, but I wish more people would recognize small accomplishments. I'm not exactly sure where I'm going with this, but I was looking in a magazine that had stories about all these people that lost a ton of weight, all lost over 75 pounds, but you never see someone who lost 15 pounds who also went through a huge life-change to "healthify" their life. I think people get so accustomed to seeing huge amounts of weight loss on tv and in magazines that they forget any amount of weight that's lost and leads you to a healthier weight is worth applauding. Do you know what I mean?

Maybe I'm just being bitter. I lost 10 pounds and a dress size and it's like no one cared. I was talking to my mom and told her I lost 10 pounds and she was like "oh. That's nice." But if I had said I lost 100 pounds everyone would be going nuts. I just think everyone should be recognized for their hard work whehther it be losing 5 pounds or 500!

A lot of people don't like it when others comment on their weight, good or bad.  If I notice someone has lost weight, I will personally play it safe and say nothing at all unless they bring it up first.

and saying "oh. That's nice" is recognizing it.  Are you wanting your mom to throw you a party or something?

You CHOOSE how you will react: If you are losing weight so that everyone else will notice, you are not going to stick with it.  Although your accomplishment is admirable, you are right, you are just being bitter.  Stop worrying about who the spotlight is on.  If you are happy and fit, is it really worth worrying about getting the recognition? C'mon.