A Question For Everyone....

How far in your weight loss journey did people actually notice that you had lost weight.

I have had NO ONE tell me they see a difference. People ask me all the time how much but never do they say "wow i can tell" or something similiar.
I usually weigh on fridays but i cheated and weighed this morning and i have lost 39 pounds since i was banded on 8/15 !!! Im now at 229!
some of my clothes fit better and my shoes are too loose(weird).

Well if anyone wants to chime in , id appreciate it

Thanks :)

Yall Take Care!!
-Melissa

2 wks Pre-Op (started Atkins)/Surgery Day/Current/Goal
268/260/232/160

It took about 32lbs... mind you I had started at 288 and by surgery was 252... nobody said anything - when I got around 220 somebody finally said something to me... however, many people never said anything to me - even to this day! Some people may be nervous because talking about weight really isnt something you approach people on, especially if they may be losing to do a medical condition. My friends that knew I had surgery said stuff all along and were super supportive. Just know eventually people will say stuff to you!

I have lost 71 pounds to date. It has been just this week and people are saying WOW you look great, have you lost weight?  Before that they would say did you get your hair cut? I was a 24 and I am now in a 14....almost a 12. I can get them on but not buttoned, and they are just now saying that I look like I have lost a little weight!  Oh WELL....I feel great!

Melissa,

1st off, Congratulations on your 39lbs!  That's wonderful and I'm sure people are noticing but sometimes they just don't say anything just in case they're wrong...  Anyway, I think you're doing wonderful!!!  I think people noticing has a lot to do with how much you have to loose and our body shape.  I was 425lbs (395lbs pre-op) at my highest and I'm 5'10"...  People really started making comments to me after I'd lost about 70lbs.  I have a very good friend who I could definately tell after she'd only lost about 40lbs, but she's 4'11"...  Makes a big difference.  Anyway, don't worry too much about it, you're doing great and look marvelous! 

 I am almost fifty pound off my frame and some people have mentioned to me I look better. I look in the dang mirror and still see the bloated tire around my middle. I can though see my feet which is in itself a minor miracle. I am about 88 pound to goal and maybe then I will see changes. You will most likely drop a half to a whole shoe size. I went to the store for new jeans and actully got into some that were eight inches smaller. That was a shock to the system but I guess where we have the most is where the most has to go. I am just grateful that I am off alot of my medications and able to do a heck of alot more physically. 

I had lost about 40 pounds + before people started saying things.  I think that they probably saw it before, but didn't know how to say anything without making them, and me, uncomfortable.  It just gets to the point that they can't pretend they don't see it anymore and feel compelled to say something.

People are noticing, but it may take time til they are comfortable saying something.  Just my two cents.

Ellen

thanks so much for all the helpful comments.
it really helps knowing you all are there for me

((((HUGS))))

CONGRATULATIONS that is a great big amount of weight to have lost with a lap band in a short amount of time.

I have lost about 80lbs give or take  but I have incredible supportive friends and family and they seem to notice with the pre op 10lbs. I have gone from a size 30/32 to a 20 since february . It seems that my friends and family say I never acted fat so they never saw me that way, please I have no idea how to act fat or not, so that is crazy to me.

What I do find is that some people are afraid to mention it incase you are losing weight because you are sick in some way. With me everyone knew I went to Mexico for surgery so I think they are more open to discussing it. You are doing a fabulous job and remember we are all here to support you

Hi Melissa,

It's amazing isn't it. I think that when we are at the top of our journey, we usually have to lose quite a bit, before people will 'notice' enough to say anything. I know that for me, I took off about 35 or 40 lbs before people who were family or close friends that knew about the surgery were saying anything. The other thing that I noticed was that it wasn't until my body and face 'shape' changed that people really noticed. The fact that I was getting smaller and my face was slimming down 'some' didn't really trigger comments. It wasn't until the 'shape' changed that people said things like OMG, you look great ... Have you lost weight ... By then I'd lost over 50 lbs. Now, people tend to comment on it when I have much smaller losses, but I also noticed that I don't have to lose/gain much to change a clothing size anymore.

I'd bet people notice more than that acknowledge it with a direct question to you.

Keep taking photos and measurements.

Congratulations on your terrific success and keep up the good work.

Barb

My next door neighbor came over tonight and I was sitting here in my chair and she kept looking at me - then she finally says you're belly is flat. Me? Flat belly? ha ha ha that's funny. I was like no - my boobs are flat but the belly is still there. But when I looked down, hmmmmm? Where'd it go?

I have overhauled the hairdo and started paying more attention to how I dress and making sure the makeup is just right and what have you but there are quite a few folks starting to figure it out. I'm really excited about seeing an old friend this weekend. He hasn't seen me in almost 2 years - now he knows I've had surgery but I've made sure that I haven't sent him any pictures. Ask me this same question Sunday and I'll tell you then.

- Iris