1. The Paper-Towel Roll Effect Explained
Imagine a brand-new roll of paper towels. When you tear off 8 sheets, the roll looks identical because those sheets were spread around a large outer circumference. When you are down to the last third of the roll, tearing off the exact same 8 sheets wraps around the roll multiple times and visibly shrinks its diameter.
Your waist works the same way: every pound of fat has the same volume (~0.5 liters), so as your waist circumference gets smaller, each subsequent 5–8 lb lost takes more inches off your waist and drops clothing sizes faster.
2. Belt Holes vs. Pant Sizes
Standard belts space holes 1.0 inch (2.54 cm) apart, whereas US dress and pant sizes typically step by 1.0 to 2.0 inches at the waist. That means your belt will give you a victory notch twice as often as your jeans tag!