How long do you think it will be before people notice?

[Tulip8]

I've started a weight loss plan and don't plan on telling people apart from DH who is doing it with me.

My starting weight is 20st 13lb (horrific I know) and I've currently lost 17lb so weigh 19st 10lb.

Even I can barely tell so far! But I'm just interested to wonder how long it will be before anyone says anything/ notices. I think it might be when I get to 17 maybe even 16 stone.

Please no fat shaming, I've heard it all before.

If you've lost weight like this before, how long was it before people noticed?

Congratulations on your weight loss so far, that's amazing! I'm in a similar journey and people started to notice after about 2stone. I think they saw it in my face shape.

It’s maybe going to take a good few month

If you look at Alison Hammond on this morning her loss has been very gradual and probably not as noticeable in the beginning but now you can clearly tell

Mine always goes off my face first, which gives a clue. Otherwise it's generally people who haven't seen you for a while who tend to notice first. I think the more you have to lose, the longer it tends to take for people to see, unfortunately.
The good news is that you start feeling better almost straightaway - you don't have to wait until til you reach your goal weight.
Congratulations on your efforts so far.

Thank-you! Well done to you too! How much have you lost now.@Itisallgoingtobeok ?

2 stone is much quicker than I expected. Though I've just realised it probably depends on where you weight is distributed, my face isn't the fattest part of me, it's my arse! 😂

People might notice but not say anything as it's really rude to comment on people's weight

Yes she looks great and I saw an old clip of her the other day and was amazed hiw different she looked.

People will notice long before they comment as they won't want to make you uncomfortable. It always seems a bit rude to me to comment on people's weight, so I don't bring it up unless they do.

Aren't people a bit more careful about what they say now? (yes I know some people still don't think before they speak)
Have noticed on this forum that many posters find it intrusive to hear any comment on their looks. So don't be surprised if people don't comment, even if they notice!

It's one of the reasons I don't tell people, I don't want them to comment just because they think they should if I say I'm on a diet/ how much I've lost. I want it to be genuine.

My mother in-law will definitely comment, she can't help it, it's like a reflex!

I used to help
out at slimming world although im
not going now- from watching people get on the scales I can tell you, the change starts with a healthy glow on the skin, people start to do things they didn’t do before, paint their nails,wear a belt etc - their clothes begin to skim rather than cling - their hair takes on a bounce, when people lose weight because they are actively trying to its like they’ve been given permission to care for themselves and the pride shows in every pound lost, it’s not just the number on the scale it’s like watching a whole new person develop.
Some people can be bigger and love themselves the same and have all the attributes I’ve mentioned that’s because they are satisfied with themselves.

but when someone chooses a healthier lifestyle it shows.

I had this conversation with a friend who was disappointed that people weren't commenting after 3 stone loss. Trouble is, she has 7 to lose, and is short, so she is still very overweight.
So she still looks like an overweight woman to most people, as most people don't pay that much attention to the details of other people's looks.

In my experience, it's when you've lost about 10% of your weight that it really becomes noticeable (i.e. in passing, not just when taking a close look). Congratulations on your loss so far!

That's lovely!

I'm finding that people are oblivious or dont like to say anything out of politeness.

So, if you want the plaudits (I do, I want my hard work recognised 😁) then do say something when you're ready so that people know it's 'safe' to mention it.

And congratulations from me! I've lost nearly three stone since Jan. In the early days, it was seeing the weekly figures changing on my spreadsheet that kept me going. At 2st I really felt the difference. And now I'm constantly amazed/freaked out at how different parts of me feel - currently it's my foreams.

Never been on a diet before. I expected it to be hard work but I didn't realise how much I would enjoy the effects. That's keeping me going.

It depends where you lose the weight from first. I tend to lose weight from my face first so it's very noticeable even though the rest of my body is the same size for longer. If you lose it from areas covered by clothes - especially in winter - people might not notice for a while. Then also, people might not comment anyway. Weight is a very sensitive subject for many people.
If I was you, once you are comfortable in your weight loss plan, tell a few more trusted people about it. Create a support network for yourself.
You are doing really well so far! Be proud of yourself. I am just starting (again!), I am 17 stone and need to lose 5 stone. Long way to go.

People will notice but not necessarily say anything. You could be losing weight because you're ill or something, you might have been very happy at your previous weight, it might sound like I have always thought how fat you are before ... there is just no way I'm taking the risk 😅

This. People will notice you look different well before they say anything.

Oh yes, I get 'You look well'. This makes me laugh because when I was younger I was naturally very slim. When I started to put on weight, people told me 'You look well'. So now I feel I've gone full circle and met myself coming backwards 😆

Haha you're a polite person!

As a woman who has been overweight for a while now, I can assure you, plenty of people feel it's OK to comment on my weight, whether I ask for it or not!

I weighed 16 stone and got down to 8.5, 2.5 years ago and now settled at 9.5 for last year. People started noticing with me after two stone, by then I was down to a 12. Good luck, and remember it doesn't matter when people notice what matters is how you feel about yourself and your health which will be massively improved. My energy these days is much better. I used to need a nap every day, had sleep apnea, social anxiety and that's all gone now.

17lbs is brilliant! Well done! As a pp said, it'll be someone who hasn't seen you in a while. I noticed immediately in one of the ladies at our Vets! (Her weight loss was worrying though, she was slim, and was becoming underweight due to a medical condition)

NB, please don't be upset if people steer clear of commenting at all though, because weight loss can be fue sad reasons (grief and illness for example). A friend of mine lost 10 stone - I said nothing til she confirmed it was her efforts and not illness).

Realistically I think they will start noticing/commenting around the 3 stone mark, as it will then be very obvious. Although I’ve lost 3 stone before but nobody outside my immediate family has said anything even though I went from a 14/16 to a 10 and it was very obvious.

Congratulations, OP! People will start to think you might have lost weight already - at around the 1 stone mark. But they won’t say until around 2 stone.
I find it helps to think of myself as a roll of kitchen roll. It’s almost impossible to notice the first few sheets coming off, but the same amount of kitchen paper, as the roll gets smaller, are much much more noticeable.

@JustEatTheOneInTheBallPit that's genius!

Congratulations OP. I started this year, I’ve lost around 5 stone (from 13-9st) after having a baby and being sick the last 2 years.

My main team/family noticed around 3 stone in as I hide it well, the rest of work are only just commenting now about how much I’ve lost so far.

I actually really dislike when people comment on it though as I’m just getting back to my normal self! Keep going - you’re doing amazing x