If it’s more than 10 pounds, I notice. Ditto for lost weight.
This seems right to me.
I also really don’t think it’s a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I have trouble convincing myself of this too sometimes because all my life I’ve received the message (not least from my parents, in direct terms) that more weight = less attractive. But I think barring extremes the most important part of attractiveness is confidence.
I wouldn’t notice 5 pounds. On myself, sure, but not on other people. I fluctuate about 3-5 pounds in any given month, depending on my menstrual cycle, and I seriously doubt anyone notices, though. I can still fit into my skinniest of jeans, although they do get a little tighter.
I have a very hard time believing someone can always tell if any other person has gained 5 pounds, a la lindsay. That seems a little excessive.
What kind of cite? I probably can’t give you an abstract with my numbers any more than you could find one for yours (weight gain caused by pms doesn’t seem to have been studied much), but if you want random health sites with the number, sure.
Follow-up: I attended an 80s prom theme party last night. Rocked the dress and felt fantastic about myself! Thanks for the comments.
Seeing as my weight fluctuates more than 5 pounds during a day*, no. Absolutely impossible.
*We were staying at my mother-in-law’s house recently, and she has a fancy electric scale in the kitchen, and so I was weighing myself every time I passed for fun.
I notice if the weight gain goes to the face. Otherwise, it depends on the person’s original size and the frequency with which I see that person. If I saw the person all the time, I probably wouldn’t notice the weight gain unless it was somewhat dramatic.
Yes, but if someone’s daily range goes from 110-115 to 115-120, I suspect it would be noticeable–though not in a bad way, unless they were very very short. And I think most people would think of that as a 5 lb gain, not a 10 lb gain.
On the other hand, a daily range of 160-165 shifting to 165-170 would not be nearly as noticeable.
I guess that this is what I was getting at. I’m 5’2, so I feel that a five-pound gain is quite apparent. It basically shows up in my boobs (not so bad) and belly (which sucks, but isn’t that hard to hide.) A good guy friend of mine once said that I could weigh 105 to 120 and he probably wouldn’t even notice…he might have just been trying to shut me up, though! I knew what he meant, however; guys just don’t give that much of a shit and don’t really notice as much as we think they do! : )