OK I’m 56, male, and at least 2 stone overweight for far too long. I started 5:2 (Mon/Thurs) 3 weeks ago and lost 9lbs (4kgs) so far without exercising too much (averagely active). Aim was 1 stone (6.5 kgs) by Christmas so if the momentum continues I should be ahead of target. I’ll up the exercise soon.

But I was the type to wear size 38 inch waist trousers and dupe myself into thinking because I don’t need 40 inch waist it’s all OK. Then in the mirror I noticed how my gut was developing a vertical crease as it started to grow and fold its way sideways. Things needed to change.

So this is the thing: even with the weight loss my clothes still seem to feel the same – tight. The gut looks the same size (though maybe a little firmer without the crease) and shoulders and chest still feel too full. So I’m wondering how much weight one has to lose before it has a noticeable effect on clothing across the body?

Thanks for replying. I was beginning to think no one wore clothes! You are right about waiting but just curious if there was a kind of average or where it took people a loss of two stones etc before a difference was seen. I mean it’s how we accumulate weight to begin with isn’t it, by not noticing how much we are gaining. From now on the scales will be my friend.

I started with a BMI of 32, now down to 30.5. So probably changes on the inside but little on the out.

I’m 5′ 11″ ish (180cm) with a round the belly button measurement of 47.5″ (120cm), clearly that’s 2/3 of my height so a long way to go. But I now see how easily one can deceive by still being able to wear a trouser waist measurement of 38″.

Despite what the experts say, that I should be 166lbs (nearly 12 stone), I’m kind of heavier built (muscular thighs and calves, wide shoulders, Neanderthal bones etc) so I suppose my ultimate target is 13 stone (180 pounds or 82kgs). From there I can decide if less is more etc.

Anyway, picking up a fancy set of Beurer digital scales with an eye level display from Argos tomorrow to make this a bit more accurate. With eyesight not what it was, trying to read the mechanical scale means bending forward which also distorts the reading. And if I’ve lost 4lbs at the end of the week and not only 3lb, I want to know it.

BTW – I’ve never actually seen any of my bones.

Seems to be a forum for women. Any men posting?

Anyway, according to my posh scales I’m down another 1/2 kilo. Which is nice. Back on it tomorrow.

Amazon: I’m not at that stage yet – the trying something on that was too tight stage. Though I tried a soft woollen cardy on the other day and still looked daft. I’m very happy to still be losing weight but would very much like to start looking like it. 5 stone’s some shift so I’ll take your word for it and give it another go when the scales get stuck.

It’s odd though that if I’ve got the propensity to store a slab of fat around my gut more than elsewhere I’d expect that to be the first place where it would go from but it must be a gradual loss from everywhere, drip by drip by drip, leaving me with a little pot belly at the end. And there was me thinking I could develop a six pack.

Cheers Bronx. If that happens to me and all else fails I’ll cut the slack off (well not actually me you understand). Sounds gross but I suppose it’s like tucking a shirt in.