Fourteen weeks in, I'm suddenly a size M

Size M without tugging is the real milestone. I’m not there yet, but my XL hoodies have quietly become sleep shirts and my belt has entered its “extra hole I didn’t know existed” era. Dorm protein MVP for me: tuna packet + Greek yogurt + hot sauce, which is either lunch or a cry for help. Sharp question: did your waist shrink first, or did you look at photos and realize your shoulders/face changed before the scale moved? I’m trying to decide whether to thrift a couple M shirts now or keep wearing the parachute collection until finals.

New here, week one, so I’m taking notes. Did you notice tops loosening before bottoms, or vice versa? I’m trying to track non-scale stuff wthout driving myself nuts: I measured upper arm, thigh, and ring finger because my waist feels like the last place I’ll trust. Also, is there a point where you finally cleared out the old bigger clothes, or did you keep one piece for comparison? Sorry, very new and full of tiny questions.

The weird one for me was outerwear: my rain shell went from snug to parachute almost overnight. I started measuring monthly instead of weekly because the scale stalled for six weeks while my waist kept creeping down. There was an old thread here called “Who stole my belt?” — mine ended up on a hole I didn’t know existed. If you have a before shirt, take a photo in the same lighting; the mirror lies less over months than weeks. Curious whether your lifts are holding steady while the scale slows? That was my cue to keep everything boring and not chase the number.

Congrats — the boring habits are the whole trick. One thing I wish I’d tracked at that stage: neck, chest, and upper arm with a tape, not just waist. After I hit goal, my weight sat within 2 lb for months, but collars and sleeves kept changing and I landed in a smaller shirt than expected. Also, size M is not universal — I have M tees that fit like L and one that fits like S. Curious whether your lifts are still adding reps/weight while the scale stalls? That was the tell for me that recomposition was still happening.

I'm a numbers nerd too, so I started logging something weird: belt notches. Went from the 3rd hole to the 6th in 12 weeks, but the real surprise was my resting heart rate dropping from 72 to 64. Also lost half a shoe size — my running shoes went from snug to slipping. Did you notice any non-clothing measurements shifting like that, or just the tape measure?

Tbh i’m on my second go-round after regaining most of what I lost, so the boring stretch is the one I’m aiming for. One thing that helped me stop trusting the scale alone: same tee,

The travel tell for me was the airplane seatbelt: I used to need the extender, now I’m cinching the regular belt like it’s a rental car. Also, hotel room coffee + 6am lobby oatmeal keeps the protein math boring. Quick question: did you have a “transitional” belt phase, or did you just punch a new hole and pray? I’m currently on the last notch of a braided belt and weirdly proud of it.

The scale slowing while tags change usually means composition is still shifting: lifting + 120g protein can mask fat loss via glycogen/water and preserved lean mass. Trust tape over tags. I track umbilicus, iliac crest, and mid-thigh; my quads kept dropping after the scale stalled. Sharp question: are you comparing M across brands? Vanity sizing is real—one brand’s M is another’s L. If your 33" waist is consistent at the same landmark, that’s the signal, not the letter.

The non-scale stuff is so unhinged. My dorm has a cereal dispenser and I used to treat it like a food group; now I pre-portion Greek yogurt + frozen berries + a scoop of peanut powder in a reused takeout container. ~25g protein for like $1.20. Boring but it works. The weird one for me: my watch band went from 5th hole to 2nd, and my $10 belt is now a medieval artifact. Did your shoe size change at all? I swear my sneakers got roomier and I’m not emotionally prepared to buy new ones.

I’m on round two after losing 60 and regaining 45. The thing that messes with my head is the scale can flatline while my lifting belt notch moves. Last time I quit right there because I thought it stopped working. This time I’m tracking a tight pair of shorts and a monthly side photo. Did your lifts go up during the stall? That’s usually my tell.