THE TEN PERCENT DIFFERENCE
On recent diet posts I've seen the discussion: WHEN DOES WEIGHT LOSS BECOME NOTICEABLE? Weight Watchers told us our first goal was to lose TEN PERCENT of our body weight. They called this THE TEN PERCENT DIFFERENCE. They promised us that after we lost 10 percent of our starting weight, it would definitely be noticeable to others! (But whether they'll say anything is uncertain). If a person weighs 255 to start, as I did, 10 percent is 25.5 lbs. I HAVE MADE MY 10 PERCENT DIFFERENCE. The question is: would a person's weight going from 255 to 230 be noticeable? Or are they still too obese to look better? Again, the 10 percent difference is usually enough to make a woman lose one or two dress sizes. I started out a horrifying 22/24 W and now can wear a 18 W dress or pants if they have an elastic waist :) I am actually surprised and gratified at how much difference it has made in my appearance. DO OTHERS COMMENT? A few. I think more have noticed but don't say anything because I have the well-deserved reputation of being TOUCHY about personal remarks. My sister started at 180, so her 10 percent difference was 18 lbs. She had lost that much and the family thought she looked VERY different at 162 than she had at 180. But I was bragging on my sister at church and a lady said SHE LOST WEIGHT? I didn't notice. DON'T TELL HER! DON'T TELL HER! Now my sister has lost 25 lbs. and is 155 lbs. It's odd but the last 7 lbs. she lost made as much difference in her appearance as the first 18. Well, almost. She really suddenly began to look tiny!! While I am far from tiny, in my case also it seemed that 25 lbs. off suddenly was much more noticeable than 20 lbs. So if you've lost your 10 percent, or you've lost 20 lbs. and it doesn't seem real noticeable, persevere. That additional 5 lbs. could do the trick!
Replies
Thanks I needed this info! As I have written before it also makes a difference on your attire. I am still wearing the same sweat shirts and overshirts (it is still cold!) so my loss is not showing.
Wow size change for you is fantastic! That is so great!
Thanks.
I can always tell when weight loss becomes noticeable by the way clothes fit. I recently lost 20 lbs and now fit into my \"skinny jeans\" WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO It feels awesome:)
My starting weight was 250 the last time I had a good weight loss. At 10% nobody noticed ecept me. At 20% still many people did not notice. More han anything I wish my husband would have made a big deal about my weight loss. He can lose 5 lbs and people notice (he is heavy too). If anyone said anything to me, I think it was because they where being polite and knew I was on a diet. I am tall (5\'10) so I think that might be the difference in people not seeing my weight loss.
The ten percent difference for your 250 lbs. starting weight would have been 25 lbs. off. Twenty percent loss would be 50 lbs. If you went from 250 to 200, I can\'t see why people wouldn\'t notice AND your husband make a big deal! I don\'t know what to say, other than to remind you: we\'re all of us doing this for ourselves! The approval of others seems important, but we\'re really doing it for US. Looking out for #1. Love
Hey girl! Hope you continue to shed the pounds. I now fit into the \"skinny jeans\" and feel amazing. Try the \"zone\" eat 3 meals daily+2 snacks....avoid bad carbs&sugar-works wonders for me! Good luck
slimming world do the same....10%...i started at 280...so mine was 28 pounds...which got few weeks ago...i have definately noticed the differnce....and so can others.
litte things like....i can have more water in the bath and it doesnt overflow...ha....can finally get into my proper work uniform trousers...which have never fitted in before. need belts for trousers. can lay on the sofa with my son...before he had to lay on top of me cuz there wasnt enough room for him...ha!!
i really think..what you feel,means more than what others see!! i feel totally great, more confident....know still have lot to lose at now 250 pounds.....but im loving everyday of losing weight!!
it is def true about smaller people...my best friend is doing weight watcers....she has lost 22 pounds....she weighs 137 pounds now...but the last 7 pounds she lost...boy could you notice!!
Anyway have babbled on...again!!! you are doing totally fab, a great buddy, and awesome friend...behind you 100% x
Believe it or not, the 10 percent difference seems to apply no matter how heavy a person was to begin with. I once weighed 334 lbs. so my 10 percent difference would have been 33 l/2 lbs. In other words, I was supposed to be noticeable at 300 lbs. I was walking every day and one of my acquaintances saw me at a distance. She didn\'t know it was me and so she looked at me with \"fresh eyes\" instead of some fixed image of how I look. Then she realized it was me and that I looked a little thinner! She gave me my first compliment and encouragment. I\'ve lost over 100 lbs. since that top weight and now I\'m determined to go all the way down!