I am 13 weeks post op and have lost 68 pounds so far (started at 280). Yesterday was the FIRST day that anyone noticed (or actually said anything.) And in the past 24 hours it seems as though everyone is suddenly noticing the weight loss. Just curious as to others’ experiences with how much weight was lost before people began noticing and commenting. And wondering why with that last 2 pounds is it suddenly so much more evident to people????

Did you buy new, closer-fitting clothes?

I’ve noticed that before too. I think that people who know us well, like family or close friends or coworkers, notice right away. They are the people who pay attention. To the rest we may be like furniture and they notice because the “furniture got smaller.” It has to be significant for them to notice. My son who experiences the world through touch said right away, “Mom, you’re easier to hug and you are smoother.” That was 10lbs lost. My current coworkers needed 80lbs to notice. I’m hoping it will help me get promoted…

happened to me as well. I think I'd lost about 70 lbs before everyone started noticing - and then it seemed like pretty much *everyone* was noticing. Day and night.

Congratulations, wow 68 pounds so far!! That's awesome. Perhaps people started to notice earlier, but held back from saying something until it was completely obvious. ??‍♀️

First, yay on the successful weight loss so far!!

Second, it took about 60 lbs and a tucked in shirt for people outside my immediate family and BFF circles to notice (or at least make a comment about it…they may have noticed, but didn’t say anything until the -60lb mark….and tucking in my shirt ??‍♀️). For reference, I was 235 at the beginning of the 2 week pre surgery liquid diet.

Warning: once others start talking about it, it not going to stop for a while…in my experience it seriously dominated almost every conversation…honestly got quite annoying. Im almost 3 years out now and me and my weight loss is old news. Which is a good thing!!

Edited September 11, 20215 yr by ms.sss

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds familiar (the part about not being noticed after having lost so much). I have lost 75 since March and 57 since surgery in May and not many people have said anything about my weight loss. Mostly my husband and grandkids who see and feel it through hugs and whatnot. But others, not so much. I mean I have had a few friends/neighbors say something but at the same time, I don't think or feel like I lost much at all. And what's even stranger, a friend told me her weight without knowing mine, and here she's like 10 lbs heavier than I am which I find insane. I just don't see it. I see myself as WAAAAY bigger than her and find that hard to believe. I've also been walking around in my old clothes so that may contribute to no one noticing as well. LOL

Edited September 11, 20215 yr by SummerTimeGirl

I have lost 52 pounds and no one outside of those who know about my surgery have noticed. I think maybe they have but don’t feel close enough to make a comment??

3 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

I have lost 52 pounds and no one outside of those who know about my surgery have noticed. I think maybe they have but don’t feel close enough to make a comment??

some people don't comment because they're afraid you might have cancer or something.

I once bumped into a former co-worker after I'd lost 200 lbs, and she didn't recognize me AT ALL. I had to introduce myself to her. She said - "oh sorry -- it's just that you look different. Maybe it's the new hairstyle". I almost burst out in laughter (although I managed to keep my composure...).

First of all, congratulations on your success! Way to go!

Personally, I'm at 62 pounds lost, which is the equivalent of losing a full grown Husky Dog off of my body... and not a single soul has said a thing. I figure the loss will have to be more significant for someone of my size before people notice. While it's 50% a bummer, the other 50% of me is glad not to have to explain.

I’ve had a few folks stare and eventually say “I didn’t recognize you”, without them specifically mentioning anything about weight loss. Weird…..

I love reading all of these responses. Thanks everyone!! It normalizes my experience with this. ???❤️

Congratulations. That first time someone notices is so wonderful & so motivating too. My first time (apart from my mother) was a friend who’d known me big & small. I hadn’t seen her for a couple of months & she didn’t know about the surgery. I was wearing a slim fitting dress that was looser - when I used to wear it it would pull across my butt & I’d wear a jacket. I’d lost about 15 kg (10 post surgery) & it was early month 2. I loved how she hugged me in greeting (remember how we used to do that all the time - sigh!) & whispered in my ear I was looking great, then looked into my eyes & nodded her head. I knew she understood the battle weight loss had always been for me & was honestly happy for me & being really supportive. So much more meaningful then the loud ‘have you lost weight’ comments I got later & then the ‘you’ve lost too much’ ones.

I just started back up working at the school and three of my coworkers mentioned that I had looked slimmer!

It took about 60 lbs before those that didn't know about my weight loss surgery to comment on my weight. One person even said to me, "um, I notice you've lost a lot of weight. Has it been intentional?" Now, I'm almost 3 yrs post op and just had my 2nd round of plastic surgery. I had a breast lift without implants and I'm sure the gossip is about that! I just went back to work last Wed and somebody already said to me, "they don't look any bigger!" I said to them, "see where my boobs are now? When I take my bra off, they stay in the same place!"

Last night my husband and I ran into a guy that we used to bowl against when we did league (before COVID made that too much of a risk). He didn’t say anything to me but he went and told my husband right away he barely recognized me. I guess he felt it was inappropriate to say to a female? I was glad that someone noticed and sorta glad that it wasn’t made a big deal of too. So it worked out. I got my reassurance that it is visible without too much attention to make me uncomfortable.