So, I went to Lane Bryant today to get some new jeans and found the sizing of the jeans extremely frustrating and confusing! I wanted to get some bootcut jeans and some skinny ones to go inside of boots. The Lane Bryant brand 18 skinny "jeggings" fit but I didn't love the look of the pants on me. So, I tried on the DKNY skinny jeans and the 7 brand ones. The DKNY 18s were too big in the legs but too tight in the stomach and the 20s were way too big in the legs but fit in the stomach. My legs needed a 16 and my waist needed a 20 . Finally, the 7s in a size 20 fit me and I liked the look of the pant. With the bootcut Lane Bryant jeans, I had to take a 22. In the black pants I took an 18.

So, I bought one pair of 18s, one pair of 20s and one pair of 22s. I am all over the map!! I just wish I was one consistent size across the board.

Also my goal is to get into a size 12 if possible. I have gone from a size 30+ to a size 20 in the past 117 lbs(a loss of at least 5 sizes), Do y'all think that it is even feasible to think that I could go from a 20 to a 12(a loss of 4 sizes) in the next 75 lbs? I know that I have lost a great deal of inches but I am just a little frustrated that I am not a solid 18 by now. I am so close...

I am wondering if I should alter my goal weight a little or just wait til I get closer...

I'm pretty angry at Lane Bryant at the moment. I have a number of professional, lightweight and BREATHABLE plus size black pants from them that I bought about a year ago. They looked great on me. Then for some reason they went and changed their sizing and shaping options to be much much less varied. Not sure what they were thinking but now the sizes are unreliable and the craftmanship is shoddy. I dont shop there any longer.

I went from a 16 to a 10 or an 8 (depending on the brand) losing 45lbs, so I definitely think you getting into a 12 is doable. Although I know everyone loses in different ways.

The next 75lbs is almost the same percentage of your current weight than 117 was of your original weight, IYSWIM. If we assume you are talking about your published start weight then 117lbs lost is 30% of that and the next 75lbs is 28%, so you should see the sizes drop off a lot faster. I think most people also find a sort of magic zone where they drop sizes at an absurd rate, I dropped 3 sizes within 20lbs because it was just at the zone where my body started to take weight off the bulges and bumps instead of little bits off everywhere. It's very feasible.

But don't expect sizes to start making any more sense, I'm afraid, they are based on some kind of blueprint body shape that doesn't apply to most people, like often they start with a 2 or 4 and then just make the pants bigger all around instead of thinking perhaps a size 12 person is more likely to have hips and backside but their waist is unlikely to be as much bigger than the hips, let's add x% on hips and y% on the waist. The store, the fabric, the cut, the way it's designed to hang on the model, it all makes such a difference. I tried on a UK 8 yesterday which was too BIG for me, and that's truly absurd cos an 8 should fit someone that is about 115lbs. I've just been through my entire wardrobe and I have 18s that are a close fit and 8s which fit fine and 16s I still can't get into.

I was the size you are now when I was at 258 and now I'm a size 14A (average) and for some reason as long as I avoid petite clothes that size is pretty consistant. I think it's extremely possible that you will get down to a size 12 or possibly even a smaller size by the time you reach goal. Congrats on the progress you've already made!

P.S. My sister says to try YMI's. She says their sizes run large and that they are designed to hide your tummy better.

I think it is very likely. It seems to me that the more I lose, the faster the sizes drop.

If you aren't already doing so, add in some strength training. People who strength train can frequently wear a smaller size at a higher weight than those who don't. I do quite a bit of strength exercises (especially for core strength) and right now I have put back on some weight and gotten back to close to 200 and could still wear my 12s (they are tight, but not unwearably so). When I was in the 170s my 10s were getting loose when I know many other women my height in the 170s are struggling to get into their 14s.

As for the variety of sizes - clothing manufacturers are insane. I have purchased clothing that was the exact same brand and style, the only thing different was the color, and I have had to get different sizes. I'm not kidding. It happens all the time for me with jeans. For many brands, I need a larger size if I want black jeans rather than blue ones. I've also had it happen with bras - I once walked away with 3 sizes, 1 for white, 1 for black, and 1 for pink and purple - they were all the exact same brand and style.

If you ask me, I'd say you are currently at the sizing **** point! That whole 16, 16W, 18, 18W, 20, etc. was just a mess. It made no sense and I had the same experience as you. My favorite was that an 18 was way too tight but a 16W was way too big. I couldn't wait to get to 14 and get out of that mess. And indeed, my problems lessened after that.

After about size 14, it only takes a 10 pound loss to go between sizes as opposed to the 20 pounds it takes in plus sizes. You're in the sweet spot, if you can just get past the where you are right now.

I had a problem at lany Bryant, too. I ended up with the DKNY size 18 but I took them to the tailor and the are taking them in 3 inches in the waist. They fit my legs and bottom but not my waist. Anyway taking the waist in was only 12.oo dollars and the hem 10.00. so now those DKNY jeans are 90+12+10. They better fit. I pick them up today!

This thread caught my eye because of a recent episode of What Not to Wear. Do you watch that show on TLC? I love it. Sizing is a common issue on the show, obviously, but on this particular episode the particular epiphany by the woman on the show was that manufacturer sizing IS all over the map and the problem is with the CLOTHES and not her. And then Clinton reminded her: you've just got to patiently keep trying stuff on, and having it tailored, because looking good is HARD WORK.

I have been consistantly dissapointed with Lane Bryant since Fashion Bug bought them out a few years ago. I worked there when they were still part of Express' Family of business, their clothes were a awesome and had some styaing power and quality! THeeeennnn came Fashion Bug and IMO its been down the tubes since. (sorry FashionBug fans, no offense intended!)

I have noticed, with my own weighloss and that of my friend's, in larger sizes there can be SO many lbs between sizes (esp. without working out and toning). But in our experiences, when you get down to regular sizing we changed sizes much more frequenly. So, I do think your goal is attainable!

Thanks everyone!! Glad to hear that I am definitely not alone in this! Also thanks for the reassuring words on my goal!

Rose - I love the way you put that... it makes so much sense when put that way Thanks!

I definitely plan on buying what fits and altering it to make it perfect if needed when I am at goal. Right now, I am changing sizes so quickly and spending thousands already on new clothes since I am only in a size for a little over a month or so and am constantly needing new clothes. I m trying to pinch the pennies in whatever way possible so I am not altering anything right now.

I plan on starting a strength training routine soon. I just have to get clearance from my doc because I have back problems. Any advice on what to do to tone and not bulk up???

Anything. You won't bulk up. It's a myth.

I prefer high weights with low reps (6-12 reps) but you could also do low weights and high reps (20 reps). My only thing with high reps is that when I do this method I make sure to lift heavy enough that my last rep is hard to impossible to complete in my third set. So for me, 3 pound weights never made the cut. My suggestion is to start small, maybe with the 5 lb weights, but if you're able to easily get out the last rep in your third set, make a note to yourself to increase the weight the next time you perform that exercise. You keep this in the back of your mind every time.

I also advise you do a little search on routines with an exercise ball, dumbbells and body weight. There is so much out there. I know many of us are partial to pushups, planks, squats and lunges, none of which require any equipment.

Thanks, Eliana!! I will definitely keep that in mind!