I am 3 weeks post-op, almost 40 lbs down, lost 8 inches from my waist and 4 from my hips.

No one who doesn't know I had the surgery has noticed or said anything. It's kind of disappointing. I have, however, gotten about 25 compliments on my not new coat. I wonder if people just notice I look better but can't put their finger on what it is?

How much did you lose before people who didn't know you'd had the surgery noticed that you were losing weight?

For me it was at 50 pounds lost. I think you are right. People notice something different but just cant figure out what it is yet. Great None scale victory! go you..............

I got maybe one compliment before 50 pounds down. Most came after that. But early on I was frequently told how good my skin looks, my hair, a few more compliments on outfits. I agree - people notice a change, but can't put their finger on it. Hey - I'll take it!

It was the 50 pound mark for me as well, and the comments still keep coming. Keep going, stay motivated, keep your follow up appointments and your nutritionist appointments, as well as following your eating plan and success will be yours!

I get comments saying I look more rested, lol.

About 50 pounds. At 30 lbs, my primary noticed that I looked 'healthier'. I had to tell him that I was aleady post-op and was starting to lose. At 50 lbs, my pain specialist, who I see quarterly, did not recognize me. When he and his nurse did the "time out" before my procedure, they had to do a double take. The doctor thought they had the wrong patient on the table and took a couple of minutes to check my record! Hah! Loved it. At a family gathering at 8 months and 65 pounds down, NO ONE even said anything, not even about the itty bit of food on my plate.

A lot of people are afraid to hand out compliments, for whatever reason. Weird, I know.

At 60 pounds was the first time anyone said anything, although now they recognize it all the time. I think the reason it took so long is people don't want to offend you if they aren't 100% sure that you lost weight. Also one person told me that she was afraid to ask me if I had lost weight because last time she asked someone their reply was "well yeah I have cancer so I lost some weight". She was scarred for life after that, lol, and no longer asks people about their weight loss.

The first 20 I lost preop wasn't even noticeable to me. I was probably down 40-50 pounds before I started getting questions and comments. But I was also bundled up in winter clothes those first 3-4 months so once spring hit, it became VERY noticeable. And then I got a lot of "oh, have you been sick?!" And even a couple "do you have cancer?" Not a lot of boundaries here in rural Idaho.... Just the way I like it ????

Edited November 23, 201411 yr by Kindle

I was told by a nurse friend of mine people usually start noticing when you've lost about 20% of your original weight. Idk how true that is. People who know about my surgery notice but no one else has said anything to me but I've only lost about 30 lbs.

wow 37 # in three weeks! that is amazing. you go girl. it took me way longer than that to get some substantial weight off. watch out, stalls are normal as your body adjusts and rearranges stuff. it only took about 20# or less for people to notice but I am 5' so every pound shows, good and bad. it is sort of discouraging to think anyone has a right to judge your weight or even comment, but that is our culture. mostly people just said, you look good. so, I looked bad before?, is what it makes me think. and am annoyed that people monitor me. but then I got used to the compliments and wanted people to say something. geez, me, you cant have it both ways!!! when I started coming in to work and my scrubs were falling off me, people noticed. when I took in my pants, people noticed. I still feel fat tho, and still have plenty to lose at halfway. celebrate every milestone, every big and little victory, and for goodness sake buy some new clothes and bras as you need them. you deserve it and you are not going back. love sara and the fur gang

I'm down 52 lbs since July 9th (though only about a week and a half post-op) and no one has said a thing. That 52 lbs is almost 20% of my original body weight. But heading into winter, I'm also bundled up a lot. I'm definitely noticing it in my face though.

I'm almost down 40 and it's hit and miss who notices (or at least who says anything). I agree with a couple other comments, I think most people are just afraid to say anything as to not offend. Kind of like asking someones who's pregnant (or not) how far along they are

Edited November 23, 201411 yr by Babbs

I got sporadic compliments starting at around 40 lbs. Now that I am down 100+ lbs I have people noticing literally everyday at my work. Some of our patients even think I am a new employee. Lol. It never gets old.

But people are never shy of telling you that you have put on some timber !! pippinleicester

I'm still pre-op but I've lost about 24 lbs since I started my job at the end of July. My HR/accounting person noticed the second I dropped 20lbs and said I was looking good. My dad for some reason is the only one who was ever fully observatory about my weight changes. He keeps telling me I'm doing great and to keep going, you can tell. The differences I have noticed aren't really the weight change or even how I look physically, but I have that my clothes are starting to get looser. The new slacks I bought for work are now massive on me, my jeans don't need to be put on with me lying on the bed shimmying up the zipper, and this black dress I wore to the funeral the other day didn't show all the rolls it used to. And this is all pre-op! Can't wait for surgery!!!!