Could you gain 50lbs without realising?

[ordinaryseven]

The last time I weighed myself about 7 years ago, I was 130lbs. Recently weighed myself again and it read 180lbs. I don't feel like my weight has changed much at all in the past 7 years, and I wear some of the same clothes I did back then (as in the exact same pair of jeans or same t-shirt, not just same size).

Has anyone else has had their weight change so much without realising or is it more likely that that one of the scales was wrong?

It’s half a stone a year so I could see that creeping on slowly, but I would have thought your clothes would have been tighter? My clothes don’t fit if I put more than 7lbs on.

No. I notice if I creep up 2 or 3lbs because my waistband feels tighter.

Jeans are very unforgiving!!! Unless you're properly squeezing yourself in and there's masses of overhang (or you're a bloke and have an ENORMIUS beer belly) I really don't think you'd manage it with 30 extra pounds!!!!

Hmm, maybe it's one of the scales then. My weight definitely fluctuates a little (if I eat a lot one week my clothes are tighter or if I eat less my clothes get looser), but never to the point where it feels like I'm wearing the wrong size

My weight has fluctuated by 50 lbs over the last 10 years (gained and lost it a few times!), and although I've noticed, I do have some clothes I've worn the whole time. Also you might think I'd be more tired or whatever at the heaviest weight but actually everything including day to day activities and exercise feel the same.

I gained 30 pounds in pregnancy and my god did I feel it, so I think I would definitely feel 50 pound gain. The weight I put on during lockdown made a button on a pair of my jeans pop off so I don’t think my clothes would let me be unaware either 😂

I think that weight can creep up slowly so it can be hard to notice - but surely you’d notice that you were having to buy clothes in a larger size?

A 50lb gain is enough to take most people up at least 1 size after all.

I’d be inclined to try another pair of scales TBH.

I would notice at about 8 lbs difference.

No. I’m a size 8-10 and my jeans start to feel tight if I put on more than 4 pounds. If my jeans feel tight, it’s time to restrict for a couple of weeks until they feel comfy again.

Thank you for your replies all. I don't have my own scales so I can't weigh myself again any time soon, but I'm thinking one of those weights was wrong.

@RaisinGhost do you feel you looked the same the whole time? In old pictures compared to now, I can't see any major difference.

@MinorArcana I've been buying the same size clothes this whole time (or, as 'same' as can be with how women's clothing is)

I've been buying the same size clothes this whole time

If that’s the case, then I’d be very suspicious that the scales were wrong. I know vanity sizing goes on, but surely not that quickly!

Your scales must be wrong. I’ve put on 10lb and I’m struggling to do my jeans up.

Isn’t that three and a half stone? Half a stone yes, three and a half stone, I’d definitely notice. I don’t think any of my clothes would fit.

50lb is almost 4 stone, which for an average sized person would be very noticeable and would surely involve going up several dress sizes.

Well, general weight no, I couldn't, id notice on my hips, ass, arms, legs

But when my body hid pregnancy I did, didn't look or feel like it, the hospital scales said I was 51kg, 6 above my norm at 27 weeks when I found out. Was supposedly down to how my body carried the pregnancy

Or your original weight was incorrect ?
No way you could gain 3.5 stone and not notice or be able to wear the same jeans.
I does depend slightly what weight you are. Eg I
Am 8.5- 9 stone - a 50 weight increase is massive but at higher weights it is less significant an increase - proportionally.
I can’t fit in many jeans if I put 3 or 4 pounds on ffs!

I would definitely notice.
I'm actually amazed that anyone could gain over 3 stone and still be wearing the same jeans and not have noticed. Half a stone and mines feel tighter.

I suspect there was something wrong with the scales originally or now.

No, I start to feel it if 4lbs go on. Although my clothes still fit, I can feel that my thighs rub more.

50lbs is c. 3.5 stones, as in 1/3 the weight of a not small person?

I agree, one of the figures must be wrong.

What was your rough weight at the beginning and end?

I did gain huge amounts of weight without realising exactly how bad it was, probably about 4 stones like you. I was overweight to begin with and had not been weighing myself, I knew I had gained some weight and got the shock of my life when I stood on the scales.

What kind of jeans are you wearing? If it is jeans with a lot of stretch then I can see how that would be possible.

So you thought you were 9 stone 4 for the last 7 years, but actually you were 12 stone 12?

What size are the same size clothes you've been buying all this time OP and how tall are you?

Yup!

Depends what sort of clothes you wear of course, but I’m not really a smart type - I live in jersey dresses with tights and boots in winter, skinny jeans (which have a lot of ‘give’) or jersey lounging trousers the rest of the time.

I’ve gone up two stone and most of my old clothes still fit, but maybe not quite as flatteringly . Those which don’t fit anymore, I was blaming on the kids putting them in the tumble drier, until I stepped on the scale and realised what had actually happened

How tall are you? 3.5 stone would be hard to miss even if you are a giant. But 130lbs and very tall you would have been a skeleton. Definitely doesn't add up. Scales must be wrong. Height and dress size will help gauge which is likely to be wrong.

That's not possible, 4 stone and not realise?

Sorry skeleton was probably not a nice way to phrase it. Very thin.