Why don't people notice??

Well, I started out at 205.5 pounds at the end of November and have dropped 18 pounds so far bringing me to 187.5.  I went from a size 18 to a comfortable 14.  I think that's enough weight loss for people to notice...  when I look in the mirror - I can tell a difference...  but I find it interesting and a little discouraging that people that I see on a normal basis have yet to comment or notice (family, friends, etc.).  I am not looking for compliments but it would be nice if SOMEONE would notice.  I think it brings a lot of motivation when someone notices that you have lost weight.

I wonder if people just don't know what to to say??  I am working SO hard - I just wish someone would acknowledge it :(

Has this happened to anyone else?

 

 

Yes it happened a lot to me and I was getting discouraged also.  But sometimes people that see you on an everyday basis are witness to the gradual change and perhaps don't notice.  When I went on vacation for a month and lost a little bit and came back the people who hadn't seen me (the same ones who had not noticed before) were amazed that I had lost a lot of weight.  So give it time, people will notice.  And congrats on your loss! Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the encouragement :)

Some people consider it rude to comment on weight loss, in case the person takes offense (ie. "so you thought I was fat cow before, huh?") I mean, I would never take offense to that, but my mom never ever comments on people's weight in any way  because she thinks it's not polite. If she thinks someone has lost weight she'll just say "You look very good!".

fireflyeyes, you have a good point! 

Some of my friends should know better though and realize I wouldn't take offense...  especially since they know I am trying to lose.

Oh well...  as long as I can notice, I guess that's what matters....

 

That's been my experience with weight loss, too. I'm tallish (5'8") and the weight is pretty evenly distributed (the reason I was able to be in denial for so long), so I really have to lose a lot (like 30 lbs) to generate any comments. Of course, the converse of that is that I can put on a lot of weight (not planning on doing this!) and people don't seem to notice, either. My husband, however, seems to notice every ounce lost, bless him! I just keep telling myself I'm doing this for me and my health and well-being--*I* can see it, more importantly I can *feel* it, and that's how I'm keeping myself motivated.

You're doing great--two dress sizes is awesome!

Well dropping pant sizes should make you feel really good.  I am now in an 18 (when I was thin I never that that would be something I could be proud of but yet here I am lol). My next goal is to get into a 16.  One day at a time and one size at a time

I think the reason is that the people see you every day.  Wait until you go to a reunion, holiday gathering, etc. and see a lot of people that you haven't seen in months.  THEY will be the ones to notice!

i'm in the same boat as sophcesca. i only lose a clothes size with every 20 lbs lost. it's true, though, people who see you everyday may not notice the loss b/c it's so gradual. a girl i hadn't seen in, like, a year noticed the first 7 lbs i lost. but until i lost 30 lbs, no one i was close to noticed. i've lost a few more pounds, but i still have to lose another 15 b/f i can go down another size. don't be discouraged. just start to measure yourself, and you'll see the drastic difference in numbers as you lose weight. even if no one notices for a while, you'll know exactly how far you've come.

Because some people are self centered jerks who are jealous and envious of you

Because some people constantly see you and never viewed you as fat, so this weight loss is blind to them.

Because some people do not want you to think that they thought you NEEDED to lose weight or that you were fat.

Because some people are embaressed about talking about weight.

Because some people do not want you to get discouraged, (this works both ways), they might feel if they comment on your weight loss; you might start to slack off and feel as though 'this is good enough' instead of pushing yourself for your goal.

Because...because..because.

You see the weight loss <3 I am assuming your feeling healthier and stronger (inside and out) so keep it up! Eventually some people will say something, or you'll start noticing more and more people checking you out yada yada.

Just don't give up :) Head up and smile! :)

I had the same thing and no one commented, but when I bought a new outfit in a smaller size EVERYONE noticed.

Are you still wearing the same clothes you were at 205? maybe a new outfit might show off the new svelte you :)

After losing over 100 pounds I went to an in-law family party a few months ago where I hadn't seen most of the people there for well over a year and all they had to say was that I had cut my hair!!!  I thought it was hysterical!!!  Only one person said something (and was very nice), it was such a good insight into the weirdness of my husband's family dynamics.

There is a woman at work who I am *almost positive* has lost weight, but I don't want to say anything in case she takes it the wrong way.  Maybe that's why no one mentions it to you?

Thanks for the replies everyone - you all are great. 

If I want to compliment someone with out the weirdness of saying 'you look like you have lost weight' I generally say

You look so happy today - what do you have going on  or you are just glowing - how are you .....

If you can kinda throw a little question in there I feel like it allows them to open up and share about thier experiance.

If someone told me that I look smaller I dont want to say 'thanks' and then they walk away - I like to talk. I want to tell them how I did it. Expecially if it is someone I see all the time and am familiar with.

we all know how hard it is to lose weight. when someone has lost a significant amont of weight, i think it's great to say "you look great!!"

often people don't comment on weight because it makes them insecure with themselves. some people just don't like to see others suceed because it makes them more of a failure.

 

I agree with the comments about how people who are normally around you don't see it b/c weight loss is gradual - but the comments about how some people are jealous?! I've never encountered people like this??? I mean, I guess you could argue I don't realize this b/c they don't comment on my weight loss (or success or w/e) at all...but, are people really this mean?!

I live in a soft, little, naive, cushiony world I guess :P 

I always tell my friends they look good when I've noticed their weight loss, or if they've put on makeup when they usually don't, or get dressed up for an occasion. I think everyone needs compliments once in a while. Makes you feel all happy inside.

 

I just had the first person notice/comment on my weight change.  I am a 5 ft 6 in male who has gone from 270 lbs in Sept. to 235 lbs today.    As you get closer to your goal weight I believe that more people will notice and comment. 

I don't usually comment on friends' weight loss because their physical appearance isn't how I really "see" them - I see their energy, their smiles, their moods ... if I know them really well I stop noticing what they look like.  (Seriously my friend had a supposedly "disfiguring" birthmark on her face and someone referred to her as "the girl with the birthmark" and I didn't know who they were talking about b/c I had totally stopped noticing it was there.)

Also, I don't want to comment on people's weight loss in general because if they feel like I'm scrutinising their size they may feel bad about themselves if they happen to gain weight in future - I don't want them to think I feel skinny = good, fat = bad  because I don't.  Sure, ideally, all of my friends would be healthy and happy about their body image, but my friendship is not contingent on them being skinny.  Also, depending on the person, some people really look a lot better carrying a little more weight.

I would definitly give it time...People that you see everyday will most likely not notice too much. I don't get to see my mom all that often, maybe once a month or every other month and I had only lost 5 lbs and she noticed but I could barely tell, but then my boss, who i sit right next to, didn't notice that I had lost 10lbs and I def noticed that cause I am only 5'. Wait til a vacation or something comes up, people will def notice when you come back...

My friends never comment on my weight, I think its cause none of us are really obsessed with it and we have never dwelled on it or really commented on each others weight before, so that doesn't phase me...

I would just be happy that I dropped pant sizes cause that is amazing...I like thinking wow I haven't been this size in years, it is very satisfying to myself.

The same thing was happening to me.. and I was even more frustrated because wherever we go, people comment all the time on my roommate's weight loss and not on mine. She dropped from a size 8 to a size 2 over a short period of time, whereas I dropped from a size 14 to a size 8 over a span a couple months or so longer. But since she's at her goal weight now, and she did it quickly, it's understandable people are going to notice her more--I try my hardest not to be jealous because I'm truly happy for her! It helps when I just think, "that's gonna be me in a few months!" =]

And it's true about people who haven't seen you for awhile noticing much more than the people who see you day in and day out--my family at home notices because I only see them every couple months, and recently I went back to my old job, where my boss recognized the change (I hadn't seen her in a full semester). Her compliments made me feel so good about myself--so hang in there, the compliments are on the way! You just need the right people to see you ;)

And congrats on all you've accomplished so far!