# Do you notice when someone's gained weight? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579 "2010-05-15T21:13:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 20
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579/20 "2010-05-16T16:18:55Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > So, given that it’s very typical for women to gain 4-5 pounds in the days leading up to their period (so common it even says so on those new Kotex boxes) due to fluid retention, you can tell when women you know who are under 5’9" - which is most of them - are about to menstruate just by looking at them long enough, right? Cite, other than a Kotex box? I’ve seen 2-3 pounds, but not 4-5. Also, the OP asked about people who hadn’t seen her in awhile. When you see someone every day and they gradually put on weight or lose weight, it’s hard to tell. But if you haven’t seen someone in awhile, you have that image in your head of what exactly they look like - and will notice when you see them. It’s like high school reunions - you notice the changes because they’re more significant. Mean Old Lady in another thread said it better than I: > [@Are sweatpants considered "sloppy" when worn in public?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-sweatpants-considered-sloppy-when-worn-in-public/539203/132): > > Young **lindsay** , it would appear you haven’t read my SDMB to Everyone-Else-in-the-Universe translation dictionary. “5’6” 235 lbs" in SDMB means “a bit overweight.” In Everyone-Else, it means “very seriously obese.” This is the prevailing attitude on the board. > [@Audrey\_Levins](#): > > I compensate for my period water retention by not wearing my slimmest-cut clothing, but it’s more for my own peace of mind than because I think I really actually look like a fat slob. 😃 Yeah, it’s for your peace of mind. --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-notice-when-someones-gained-weight/539579)._