I know sizes of clothes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but I was wondering if there was a semi consistant relationship between a woman's weight, height and jean size. If I had to guess for myself, it seems as if a difference of 20 pounds would mean a different size for me...

I am 5'7" currently 210 pounds and wear a snug size 16. Not uncomfortable.. but snug enough to realize that five or ten more pounds would make them too tight to wear.

If my theory is correct for myself.. I imagine 190 pounds would put me at a comfortable size 14.. 170 at a size 12...

Does this sound reasonable?

Yes that sound pretty right on - of course we all vary in shape even if we are the same weight and height. I change a size every 20 pounds it seems. I'm also 5'7 but 234 and in comfy/loose 18's right now. The last time I lost weight when I got down to 172 I was a 12 and sometimes a 10. I hope at my goal weight of 150 I can be a 8/10.

I would say that it sounds about right, but keep in mind that everyones body is different. I was 171 when I started and in a size 14 (tight size 14), and I now weigh 126 and a size comfortable 8, but I am also only 5' tall. I do remember at the start of my weightloss, it took me about 20 pounds to lose, before I realized I had to start wearing a size 12.

I think it all depends on build and manufacturer. I am also 5'7". At 195 lbs I was a TIGHT size 18, almost ready to get a larger size (which by no small accident was one of the reasons why I started losing weight). I was a very loose 16 at 165 lbs and a very loose 14 at 150 lbs. At 141 I wore a size 10. At 127, I wear a comfortable size 8 (sometimes a 6 if the store is a freaky vanity-sizer, I'm looking at YOU Ann Taylor).

When I was losing weight, my waist was the last thing to get smaller, it was maddening. My hips were saying one size, my waist was saying another size.

Waist/hip size for me by weight:

195 start weight - sadly did not start measuring at first - size 18
180 lbs - 37 inch waist/44 inch hips - size 16
155 lbs - 32 inch waist/39 inch hips - size 14
140 lbs - 29 inch waist/37 inch hips - size 10
130 lbs - 27 inch waist/36 inch hips - size 8

Wow! Such quick responses! When reading SweetPeas' response and Almost There's I thought my guess was pretty much on the mark.. but then had to rethink things when I read Glory's response.. her weight between sizes is about 15 to 20 pounds.. but considering that she is the same height as SweetPeas and I.. with such a different weight at certain sizes.. it goes to show that we really are all built differently.

Well, I started at 5'7, 210 and a very snug size 16. here's how it went for me-

I was a 14 for all of 2 weeks and I imagine that was between 180-165. When I got into the 160's, I moved into 12's and stayed there for a while until the 140's when I got to a size 10. Now I move between 130-138 and am a comfortable 8 and a sometimes stubborn (but determined) 6. I hope this helps. I thought I would add it because I began with exact same stats and I had yet to see someone with those figures.

I'm at 208, and I'm still wearing comfortable 18's... I can't wait to get back into a 16 again... and then a 14? holy cow. that'll be amazing! I can't wait. I've often wondered about this, too, but I figured there was no real way to tell since we are all built differently and lose the weight in different ways... Hopefully I'll be reaching 16-land soon, though!

Jayde, that's right on for me. Right now I'm at 195 and I'm aaaalmost ready to move into 14's. I somehow skipped size 18 (I think because I went from all fat to quite a bit of muscle) so my first 20 pounds took me from 20 to 16. But now it's seems like it's going to be fairly consistent 20 pounds = 1 size.

There have been countless discussions about this around here, and the answer is...everyone is too different to tell. Body composition is a HUGE factor--the SAME person could weigh 200 pounds at 5'7 and be a size 20 or be a size 12 depending on how much muscle and fat that person has. It will NEVER be consistent for how many pounds to lose per size because very rarely do you ALWAYS lose weight evenly around your body. You may lose 10 pounds and drop to a 14, but then it may take another 20 pounds to drop to a 12, and then only 5 more to drop to a 10...it'll never be a perfect "20 pounds per size" or anything like that. This is also true because as you get smaller, smaller amounts of weight loss make a bigger difference. For example, I started at 310 pounds and lost 40 but was still in the same pants size as when I started. If I had started at only 200 pounds and lost 40, I would DEFINITELY be in smaller sizes because that amount of weight makes a much bigger difference on a smaller body.

Aside from different manufacturers, different body types (hourglass vs. pear. vs. apple), and varying heights and weights, there are SO many factors that go into choosing a size for your body that it will never be a simple formula.

In college and H.S. I was 160 lbs and a size 14( not in all clothes), now 20 yrs later I am 264 and in a loose size 22. At this point I would be happy in a size 18. I have come to realize clothes fit each person differently, and I need to accept I may never be a size 10 or 12,as long as I am healthy and can do things without feeling pooped. .

Yup, it varies a lot. I'm in the 240s, and I wear a comfortable size 16.

Junebug, wow.. that is pretty cool that our beginning stats are so similar. Somehow I have a feeling that our maintenance stats won’t be even close. I can’t imagine myself less than 165… I am amazed at your progress. With 76 pounds gone and a size 8 you must feel great! Congratulations on your success and determination. 

Stacy and Kashi and Kitty how tall are you?

[QUOTE=jillybean720] You may lose 10 pounds and drop to a 14, but then it may take another 20 pounds to drop to a 12, and then only 5 more to drop to a 10...it'll never be a perfect "20 pounds per size" or anything like that. This is also true because as you get smaller, smaller amounts of weight loss make a bigger difference.


Yes, this really makes sense.. perhaps that is why some of us drop to a new size in only a few weeks.

Have there been countless threads on this? I think a search will be interesting.

I think it also depends on what side of the store you are shopping on too. My mom keeps telling me she is in an 18 but I know her stomach is much bigger than mine. She is shopping in the womens department, where as my 16's are coming from the misses department. and some people here may be shopping in the juniors department. I know i will as soon as i can get into it!!

anyways, the best stats I can give you about me are..... at 196 (when i started my weight loss journey) I should have been into an 18 comfortable. (but i refused to spend money on bigger clothes)

Now at 176, I am in my 16's (misses) comfortabley. I can fit into my 14 misses jeans but they push the fat up over the top so i won't wear them. plus, they would be uncomfortable to wear all day. (I suppose another 10 pounds and i should be into a 14 comfortably.)

I am 5'6 and hold alot of weight in my stomach area.

My measurements are as follows: chest 41, waist (across belly button) 38.5 and hips 43.5. (Those are the measurements i got just this morning. that puts me down half an inch in the waist and hips. yay!!!)

So, i have got to lose some serious inches in my waist to see a new pants size.

I am 5'5" at 153 lbs I am a comfortable 8/10. At 140 I was a 6 at 125-130 I was a comfortable 4 these are misses sizes. At 115 I was a 2 so it just goes to show you everyone is different. I seem to gain weight everywhere it isn't in one concentrated spot.

It's just one of those frustrating things!

I was a size 24 at 200 pounds (eek), and at 180 I'm wearing Misses size 18. I'm only 5 foot tall so I'm just now leaving the weeble wobble stage.

We're in this for the long haul to health and happiness, but having our rumps look nice in jeans will just be the frosting on the cake.