Do you see what I (don't) see?

[cjsmith]

I'm surprised by the number of comments I get lately about my size. I have changed maybe ten pounds since the Massive Antibiotics Diet began. That happened pretty much in the first month, and I've mostly forgotten about it (if asked I'd probably guess that I bounced right back) except that six months later people are still telling me I look trim.

I don't know how they can tell. I can't tell with my clothing on. It's a bit disconcerting. I'm starting to wonder if they also know the brand of underwear I prefer.

Comments

[cyan-blue.livejournal.com]

Losing ten pounds can change you in subtle ways, though, like face structure.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Hmm: facial structure is a thing I wouldn't notice on myself, because a) I see my face every morning, not just sporadically, and b) I'm pretty sure nothing's changed since May or June. But for these same reasons, others might notice. OK, yeah, this makes some sense.

[leback.livejournal.com]

I think face shape is one of the more noticeable changes for me when my weight fluctuates, so that's plausible to me, too. It's a little creepy that people are commenting on it, but I guess that's a fairly typical form of creepiness.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

She's right about the facial contours. I notice that first about anyone, since that's what I look at on a person. Ten pounds all over makes a difference even in the face.

For a real facial change, compare 1992 and 2008 facial pics of Alec Baldwin!

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

I've had people tell me "Wow, you look like you lost weight!" when I actually GAINED weight. I think people just associate looking energetic and healthy with looking thin, or something.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

That could be. One thing I am for sure these days is a whole lot happier than I've been in decades.

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

I was going to point that out. :^)

[just-cyd.livejournal.com]

THAT can make all the difference. :)

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

:D

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

:D

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

Its also the person looking. I lost 10 lbs in a month and only a few people noticed at all and only when I was wearing tight clothing (which isn't often). I noticed my clothes fitting more loosely, but not much of a perceptible physical difference.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I do notice my pants being loose enough that I've considered digging out my pile of the next size down, but they're not loose enough to overcome my innate laziness. :-)

I've had people tell me I've lost weight when I've really packed on the pounds due to lots of running or weight work. They're probably right that I was slimmer, but I sure was registering higher numbers on the scale. That, of course, is not what's going on now. :-) I'm the most couch-potato-like I've been since high school.

[hnybny.livejournal.com]

I only put on the smaller more well fitting pants when I'm dressing to be seen. Otherwise, its my loose comfy jeans. Well, I say comfy, but a few are really too big to even wear without a belt. I'm just lazy as well.

As to the size thing, loss of muscle tone due to inactivity will make you weigh less in the short term.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing -- tugging on my waistband every so often because it's easier than finding a belt or digging out the other set of pants. :-) As for muscle tone, my weight is way down from where it used to be. I have no appreciable muscle left. In previous years, even when I wasn't athletically active, I at least used to move a lot, and now that's all gone. I'll probably be one of those women who ages into boniness.

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of this joke (http://www.ebaumsworld.com/jokes/read/1057145/).

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Isn't that one painful? :)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I have no idea since I haven't seen you in five years, although that means next time I might think you look different, partially from memory and partially from actual changes, like the fact that you still had long hair then. :-)

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

I'm sort-of halfheartedly trying to grow it again. It looks like crap at the moment, so I may change my mind at any time. Also never did get around to dying it a lovely maroon.