A question about size

[septbride2002]

Hello. I am 24 years old and weigh about 160 pounds (just lost about 4 lbs) and I wear a size 14 jeans. I'm also about 5'3". Does this seem like a big size to anyone. Because here is the thing. Even when I weighed 135 lbs a few years ago after dropping some weight I was a size 12 sometimes a 10 on really thin days. That is a 25 lb diference so shouldn't I be down a few more sizes then just one?

~Amanda

 

[tiggerlover]

To be honest with you, I have never been able to figure out the size thing myself, but it is all based on your body shape and your height and the clothing manufacturer.

I am 5'5", I weigh 168 pounds and I wear mostly 14's, but some 16's depending on the manufacturer. I have a friend who is about 5'1" and she weighs over 200 pounds, but she wears a 14 as well. I carry most of my weight in my hips so I always need a size bigger than what my waist and legs would need, she however is smaller on the bottom and carries all of her weight around her middle. Also, manufacturers make a big difference because all size 14's are not alike. I can wear Tommy Hilfiger 14's and they are loose, Lee Riveted size 14's are tight on me and Lee Rider 14's fit perfect. I have two pairs of Eddie Bauer jeans, both the same size and style and one is big and the other is tight, there is just no figuring it out in my opinion.

Maybe someone else can make sense of it, I have given up trying.

 

[DoeWDW]

I've been meaning to post this same question myself!

I'm 5'2" and weigh 132 and I'm wearing size 12. I feel like I should be in a smaller size for my weight but, alas, 10s do not fit me.

I guess we'll never unravel this mystery! My goal is to wear size 10s - don't care what I weigh. I WILL fit into 10s!! LOL!!

 

[tlgoblue]

I have always been of the mind that Size doesn't matter.
It's how it feels on you that counts! (It's not like it goes on your TRW or your resume!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[JustMe28]

Many years ago, I weighed 164 for a long time and wore a size 14 comfortably. I am 5'5". I hope this helps.

 

[swea_pea1]

This must be one of those questions that everybody wants to know and nobody wants to ask because I was wondering too! What got me thinking is somebody here (jennsmom I think) has her progression of lesser weights with her smaller sizes on her signature line. When I was at 160 (and geesh I'm so looking to get there again) I was a size 16. My smallest adult size was 14 and that's when I was at about 140-145. So, I think you're doing just fine!

 

[TigerBear]

DoeWDW - I am 5' 2", weigh 129 and typically wear a size 6. I just bought size 6 jeans at The Gap this week. Maybe I like my clothes tighter than you do? I prefer clothes that tend to be fitted. When I was 30 pounds heavier I bought one 12 - eveything else was 10's. My body is quite proportionate but I have more body fat than I would like. There is a little bit everywhere: arms, waist, hips, butt, calves. How I feel really is way more important than size. I need to get tighter!!

 

[Nancy]

I'd like to know where you guys all shop! j/k

When I got married I weighed 124 and I NEVER could fit in anything smaller than a 12! My wedding dress was a 12 and they let the seams out a bit. I'm 5' 5''...I think the bigger size was due to a big bust and butt...the 2 killer bees!

 

[MelanieC]

Boy what differences,

I am 5'2" and I weigh 142. I am wearing mostly size 6's, Most dark blue jeans are size 8's and I have a couple size 4's that I am wearing now. I guess it depends on where you carry your weight, where your proportions are etc. I am chesty, and I bet that some of my weight is there. Most of the fat I have left is on my belly, thighs and hips. A little left on my calfs. Other than that, I am looking pretty thin now.

Very interesting post........I do also agree that it depends on how you like your clothes to fit. I like mine to just fit comfortably, and more on the tighter side. I don't like things real baggy. Probably because I have always had to hide myself behind clothes and I can now be free to wear tighter things without feeling self concious.

Melanie

 

[snoopy]

I think clothing size has a lot to do with bone structure more than how much you weigh. At 5'10", even when I was 125 pounds I never wore less than a size 10. Now on a 5'2" woman, that would probably equal a size 4.

And I know what you mean about the sizes not fluctuating even with a considerable weight loss, your size might not change. I lost 15 lbs. on Weight Watchers last year and was still a size 14, and recently gained those 15 pounds back, and an additional 15 lbs. because I quit smoking, and yet I'm still in a size 14. A tight 14, but a 14 nonetheless.

In 2000, though, I was on medication that made me lose weight (it unfortunately made me so sick I could barely get out of bed to show off my weight loss, heh heh!) and I lost about 25 pounds - only then did I lose a pant size, I went from my usual 14 to a 12, although a few designers (usually the more expense the clothing, the smaller the clothing) I could wear a 10.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

I think sizing is crazy. At 5'1 (barely), I wear in between an 18-14. I have lose 14s, I have lose 18s, I have tight 16s. Also I can fit in SMALLER size Liz Claibornes if I buy regular size, but the same item in petite size won't fit me (a petite 14 is way too tight, but a 14 regular is fine).

I remember a friend of mine once said she wanted to open a store called Short & Fat, because if you're short, there are very few larger size options (I know this is changing -- especially at places like Lands End where you can get a 20P).

 

[TigH]

I'm 5' 8". My weight fluctuates from 135-139 depending on the week!

I have an OLD pair of Levis size 11 (junior) that are snug. I have two size 6 Calvin Klein shorts that are just right. I have size 8 Old Navy jeans that are baggy as can be. I have size 8 boot leg Old Navy jeans that fit like a glove, and size 6 stretch Old Navy jeans that fit a little looser than the size 8 glove ones. I have size 8 Old Navy capri pants that are about ready to fall off me any day now.

I just about drove myself crazy with this size deal until I saw some pictures of myself in the different clothes and realized it doesn't matter WHAT the size it, nobody is going to walk up to me and check the tags in my pants - it just matters how the clothes feel and if I like the way they look.

I'm 34 now and in the best shape of my life. When I was about 18 I "dieted" (became almost anorexic) and got down to 130 pounds and could wear a size 9 Jr. comfortably. So I'm almost 10 pounds heavier now, but I look better than I did back then. I am smaller now, but have alot of muscle which makes the scale weigh me heavier than I look.

Just go with the flow and feel good about what you are doing to lose weight and get in shape! Happy Healthy Lifestyle!!!

 

[snoopy]

So true, Karen! The same could be said of the scale - its not the number, its how you feel.

 

[Laurajean1014]

General rule of thumb is: 10-15 lbs. is equal to one dress size up or down. 4 lbs. will only make your clothes fit better.

Also, some people swear they wear a size 5 jeans, but they could be painted on, while others like them slightly fitted, and others like them baggy. It's also how you wear your clothes.

Clothes, even the same mfg. will differ. You have regular fit, relaxed fit, stretch, and slacks that are designed to be slightly fitted, if not have room in them.

Most people wear sweaters way too tight. (Which only make people look heavier).

So, it is very hard to generalize. I lost 29.6 and I am down 2 jean sizes and switched manufacturers. Now I like 515 Levis'.

Keep up the good work and let us know what size you are in when you are down 10 lbs. You will probably need to shop for another pair of jeans.

 

[Mom-to-3]

As I was losing my weight with WW, I bought my jeans at GoodWill. I knew they were prewashed (but I washed them again) so they had no chance of shrinking. Plus, when they eventually got too big (yeah!), I wasn't bummed about "wasting" 7 dollars. I give them back to GoodWill, get a receipt, and walk proud.

 

[TigerBear]

Excellent post TigH! I think clothing from Old Navy tends to run large. I recently bought a dress from Old Navy that was a size 2. The dress obviously runs very large because I am so not a size 2 -nor do I want to be!!! What do the real size 2 people do???

 

[froglady]

It also has a lot to do with muscle vs fat, and weight distribution. I weigh 126-128 but wear a smaller size pant than I did when I weighed 116-120, and was almost 20 years younger! However, I wasn't doing as much exercise then as now, so had (I assume) a higher fat %. However, I still can't get into my wedding gown or going away outfit, even though the suit skirt is "larger" than my current size; my waist will just never be that tiny (21-22 inches) again, thanks to my children.

I also think clothes might have been smaller 30 years ago; try looking at some clothes from the 60s & 70s in vintage shops sometime.

My two SILs (twins) are 1" taller and weigh almost 20 pounds less than I, but wear larger clothes; they just have a larger frame.

 

[septbride2002]

I have to admitt that I really didn't expect this kind of response. It is great to know that some people are as frustrated as I am. I have to tell you last weekend I bought some size 14 jeans and with losing the 5lbs that I did last week they are pretty baggy on me. The one pair is almost obnoxiously baggy while the other pair are just kinda baggy. They are from the same manufacturer too.

I completely carbed out this weekend so hopefully I didn't do to much damage and it is back to being strict with myself on Monday.


~Amanda

 

[ead79]

Sizing is definitely hard to figure out. I am 5'2" tall, and I weigh 164.6 pounds. I wear mostly size 16's with a few size 14's thrown in too. My waist is very large compared to my hips, bust, ect., so that's a big factor in why I wear the size I do. I also can't stand tight clothing at all, so mine tends to be loose rather than tight. I won't wear stuff no matter what size it is if I think it's too tight. For me, it usually takes about 10 pounds to drop a clothing size, which seems to be a relatively average amount. The way I see it, who cares what size your clothes are as long as they fit nicely.

 

[Christine]

For me, it also takes about 10 lbs to get a change in size. I am 5"7. When I weighed 158-160 I was starting to have to buy size 12s in all of my clothes but I never really got jeans that were 12s. I just looked for "big" 10s. When I got down to 150, I was definitely fitting well into a size 10. Now that I am dipping below that, I am going between 8s and 10s. If I got down to 140, I defintely be in an 8 and probably looking at 6s.

For the record, I think pants are getting bigger and bigger. Many, many, many years ago, when I was weighing in the 130s, I used to consistantly wear size 10. Sometimes now, though, I will have to by 6s to get the pants to fit right (Ann Taylor comes to mind). It is absolutely ridiculous. The waist on clothing is horrible too. I am wearing a skirt today from the Gap (size 8) that is so big in the waist I have to wear a shirt over it. I have never had this problem until last year. I realize that they are making clothes to fit "on the hip" but why do I want a skirt like that? My pantyhose go up about 2 inches above the waist of my skirt.