When Do People Notice?

[sramos89 260]

I have lost 36 lbs and am down 2 sizes. Yesterday a friend of mine asked when I was having my surgery. I wanted to cry when I told her "6 weeks ago". I know we notice our bodies before others do but how much did you lose when people started noticing that you looked different? I am ready!

[doxieville 799]

I've lost 50 pounds and people barley notice. I think it has to do with how much weight we carried in our face (i didn't) and how we dress/dressed. I was very good at knowing how to disguise my middle section of fat.

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

I think your "friend" is an idiot, how could she not notice that you lost two sizes. I am very sorry for you, pay her no mind.

[DianaE 128]

Some people notice others do not.. One coworker asked me how long before i would start to see results.. LOL I just played it off and was like SOON and I cant wait. Other coworkers are like I can already tell.. It isnt about that for me anyways.. Both kinds of attention good and bad can bother me.. I am just about getting healthy and feeling good about my self again.

[sramos89 260]

I agree Diana! This is for me, but I see the difference and I wonder if anyone else does but like Doxie I always wore clothes too big and tried to hide my weight, still do now too. I started at 240 and am at 204 now. I think maybe 70 people will notice, you think?

[geno5150 168]

Anytime you wear clothes that are too big, it makes you look heavier than you are. I can see it taking longer for people to notice if that is the case here. Now that I've refreshed my wardrobe to an appropriate size, I've had a number of conversations start with "Holy S@#!!t, how much weight have you lost?". This is after 88 pounds.

[doxieville 799]

For those of you who live in cold areas & wear jackets & sweaters during the winter, I bet it will be fun to see people's faces in the Springtime! That will be fun. I lived in PA for 20 years and many a pregnancy was in full bloom when jackets came off!! LOL!!

Yes, absolutely ultimately we are doing this for ourselves. We have to be! Those people, even our loved ones, don't see the difficulties that we are going through to get healthy. So yes, it is for ourselves. But that sure doesn't mean we can't enjoy the look on peoples faces & congrats. I had my hair done yesterday. I'm 50 pounds down. Been going there for 9 years. People know me. My hairdresser knows I had WLS. Not one person commented. It kinda stung my ego a bit. But I also realized that people are hesitant to compliment because that means they are admitting that they know you were fat. So it can be a conundrum!! :-)

[E-girl 98]

I think it depends on the person. For me it was about 50lbs (around 3 months). For my husband, it was 30lbs (2 weeks)! I have to agree with geno5150. Clothes make a difference.

[doxieville 799]

Yeah, it's the clothes for the most part. But I've been losing inches from the extremities first. My wrists, shoulders, feet & calves have gotten skinny while my middle is about the same. So it's also where you lose the fat first.

[LadyK 164]

I wouldn't take offense to what she said, don't feel bad Pay her no mind. You are doing it and know that your clothes are fitting different and the scale is reflecting that too, so just keep on moving towards your goal, soon she'll be like WOW. In my case I'm losing all over and my husband says he sees it coming off all over, and I just noticed my self that my face and neck look smaller, I'm 6 weeks out too. As long as you feel and see the difference and are happy with what you see and feel, ignore her. There will always be people that say off the wall stuff whether we are overweight, underweight, or anything in-between, as long as you are getting healthy is all that matters

[FDclerical 318]

awww im sorry about that. congrats on your success! it may be what you are wearing as well. my neighbor came over today i havent seen in her since last week and she said she noticed alot in my face and neck area. but i am not down too much and i notice it in my fingers but nothing else.

[firebelle10 80]

I work at a firehouse with all men. I've lost 43lbs and I finally had the first compliment today. He was like... " um I don't know how to say this cause women are really sensitive about these things but it looks like you have lost weight. You look nice".

Now-I wear a uniform everyday which is not flattering to a women's figure. He said this while I was in some tight black workout pants and a hot pink shirt and had just finished running on the treadmill. My crew has seen my eating habits and workout habits change drastically.

Ill take it!

[New1 201]

I have a friend that I saw in July after I lost about 35 lbs and she looked shocked when I told her I had WLS she couldn't really tell. I saw that same friend yesterday and I'm down 75 lbs and she was shocked that in looking so small so it happens at different rates for everyone I guess.

[helgaready 34]

People started to notice on me after the first month. I was down 23lbs then...Now down 43lbs and 6 sizes everyone notices, even those who see me everyday. But as someone said, I carried weight in my face and so I lost alot there first and so I think that is why people noticed early one... Now most anyone I see notices. I know this journey is about getting healthy, regaining control in our lives and for that matter learning to live again. However, it is only natural to want people to notice our success. I personally am nervous about going home to visit my family back in Arkansas in a couple of weeks. I come from a big family, big in number and size and so they are convinced we are suppose to be fat. I am more worried about them noticing my weight loss and having something bad to say. I am almost hoping no one talks about it.

[mgsmith 35]

Some people @ my job noticed as soon as I returned back to work. The first place they saw it was my face and neck. Now I am almost 2 months and I get compliments quit often now. People show their weight lost at different stages, don't get discouraged.