so as of right now i've managed to lose 40lbs but im getting kind of frustrated because even though ive lost all this weight and i have lost many inches im still technically the same size in clothing, even if they're a lot looser now then before. how much did you guys have to lose before you went down in sizes?

Have you tried going out and shopping for clothes in the next size down? Try a few different stores before determining that you haven't lost a size, because (for example) Old Navy is usually sized about a whole pants size smaller than what I truly am. I've heard the same thing about Hollister, H & M and American Eagle.

I am on the edge of being a size 22 and I know that in a few more pounds I can wear that size again, but a size 20 for me is like another 30 pounds beyond that. It's also possible you've lost more weight from like you legs, arms, etc and less from your waist. You don't always lose weight proportionally, unfortunately. Keep on at it, I'm sure you're probably closer than you think to going down a size!

I am right there with you. I've lost almost 30 pounds, but I can still wear the same clothes, albeit they're looser on me. Then I have to remind myself that I gained about 30lbs before I switched sizes so I suppose it's normal for me. That still doesn't make it any less frustrating.

I've lost about 25 pounds and i still fit in my jeans, BUT they are looser and they used to not fit...i was lucky if i could button them some days i probably could go a size down if i went shopping but the ones im wearing now arent that bad and id rather wait another 10 or more pounds to see if i need to spend money on a whole new wardrobe.

Well thats the thing I still have some of my old "smaller" size clothes from the first time around when i lost weight and they're still kinda tight. when I was in high school i had gone down to a size 12 at 179lbs. hopefully within these next 10-20lbs i'll actually start to go down in sizes. because idk what it is i have been losing inches all over. my tummy has gone down a lot as has my legs and face/neck. im even getting my collar bones back again =] but its still frustrating to remain a size 18 still.

I am still in a 12 at 135 lbs I am so ready to be down a few sizes. I tried a 10 at ON and they fit however I don't wanna buy anything until I get down smaller. But my 12 jeans still fit, granted they are much looser but its frustrating!!

I think when you're starting at the bigger sizes it takes a while to move into the next one. However, you should really go try on some new stuff and see and bring someone with you! They will be able to tell if something fits you or not I found that sometimes I would get used to the loose fit of my pants before realizing that hey! I needed new clothes.

I found that my first 20 pounds (200lbs to 180lbs) I barely went down a pant size. However once I passed into the 30lb territory (170lbs) I started moving down pant sizes pretty fast. I think every five pounds or so I would move into another one.

For some reference:

- I started ultimately at size 16/18. With just exercise I lost inches and got to 14/16

- at 180lbs I wore a 12/14, mostly 14.

- at 170lbs I wore a solid 12, sometimes 10 (a stretch)

- at 165lbs, I wore a 10, 12s were getting baggy.

- 161 lbs (now) I'm not quite sure, but I did fit into a size 8 recently and then a pair of size 9s. My old size 11 dress fits perfectly now too. I'm guessing I'm an 8/10 now, 9/11 in juniors. I'm not buying anything unless it's cheap because I keep going down!

A couple of years ago I went from about 290 to my lowest weigh in being 234 (I'm going to assume I was more like 240 on average) before I started gaining again. My pants were JUST starting to get a bit looser at this point. The belly/waist are the hardest to lose fat on. It sucks!

Some of this is going to be due to the change in vanity sizing between when you were in HS to now. My sister is currently an 18, and I gave her a TON of Old Navy size 18 jeans to her that I had from high school/early college...she didn't fit into a single one. They were all waaay too small.

I second this. I lost weight in 05/06 then gained back. As I've lost the weight this time, I've fit into a new size in stores before I fit into the same size in my old clothes every time.

After 40 lbs., I'm positive that you've lost at least a size, but you probably don't know it. At higher weights, it takes me 20 lbs. to lose a size, then at lower weights, 10-15.

Go shopping and try on some stuff. It will only take you a few hours, max, and I'm sure it will make you feel a lot better about yourself.

Like others, when I wear loose clothing for a while, I tend to get used to the fit, but if I were to go try on a size or two down, it would fit (and look!) MUCH better. You can go down a couple sizes and still technically be able to wear your old clothes. They don't really "fit" right, though.

You should at least buy yourself a couple new things that you feel good wearing. If money is an issue, try a consignment store or Goodwill. I buy stuff there all the time, and pre-used clothing that fits still looks better than new clothing that doesn't.

well i dont want to go shopping just quite yet cuz i am able to wear my clothes as long as i have a belt on....but...i'd prob be willing to try on new clothes. like idk i went thru my closet and found a pair of size 16s from when i was in middle school (yikes) and although a lil tight they did fit and some of my clothes that i had in 18s that ran way too small (i wanna say a size smaller) actually fit now (didn't have to do the tummy sucking in move) as well as some clothes that i had accidently bought a size smaller like a yr or 2 ago. so maybe ive gone down at least a pant size. and i know ive gone down a lot in my back. though i wonder as far as the ladies goes...have any of you had ur back shrink but not ur cup size?

shelley, hey if you can go shopping in your closet, that's great! I can sometimes, but I wasn't in the "smaller" sizes too long before moving up to 14, 16, 18.

I buy a cheap pair of jeans every so often just so I have something to wear for a while (I watch out for sales)! I just bought a pair of size 8s that fit very nice! Yay! Single digits! I was ecstatic because I don't remember EVER getting a single digit size. Sometimes it feels nice to buy something in a smaller size!

My band size has shrunk but my cup size hasn't (may have actually gone up). I've gone from a 40D to a 36D or 36DD.

the bigger you are, the more weight you have to lose to go down in sizes. from 240 to 200 the first time, I didn't go down a size at all. When I hit around 190 I went down a size, and then around 180 I went down a size. I also think it depends on where your body loses the weight. I lose weight around my neck/chin first, so obviously that won't really affect my pants size. lol

EDIT: I almost forgot....I went from a 40DDD to a 34G the first time I lost 60 pounds. Now I've gained most of it back and I'm in a 40G. Lol. >.<

i can't wait to get into single digit sizes. i already told one of my friends when i reach my goal imma drag her shopping for "skinny people clothing" as i put it lol as for bra sizes i hear ya the first time i lost weight i had only lost 20 lbs and i went from a 38C to a 36DD idk how O.o at my max i wore a 42DD and while my back has shrunk enough that i have to tighten my bra's the cup size is still the same that hasnt seem to shrunk at all. which im kinda glad for cuz even the tho the girls kill me at times i like them lol and i rather have em then have nothing.