Hi,

I'm just trying to determine what a good goal weight would be for me. I'm 5'9", currently 197 lbs and wear a size 14. I'm thinking that a size 6 would be a good size for me, though I'm not sure what the proper range of weight would be. My healthy BMI says the range is 125-168. I was 168 a year and a half ago and was usually a size 8, with some size 10s as well. So I thought to be a comfortable size 6 would probably be around 152 lbs.

If you're 5'9" and have any idea how much you weigh when a size 6, I'd greatly appreciate the info. Thanks!

Lindsey

I'm 5'9"... when I was 160 I was a comfortable size 10 (meaning it wasn't tight with muffin tops). I think I'd have to get down into the 130s to be a size 6, never been that small before, so your question is one I'm curious about too. I think I'm more small framed, if that matters with sizes.

Thanks for the feedback, ladies. I definitely agree that not all sizes are made equal and can vary based on manufacturer/designer. I just tend to stay in styles/designers that work well with my body type regardless of size. For example, my proportions definitely don't work with Ann Taylor stuff, but almost always work with INC, much of Banana Republic and Donna Rico. I'm sure if you go true designer (Prada, Chanel, etc.), then the sizes change even more as I know that they run larger (if you're going to spend $500+ on something and you're usually a size 8, but a size 6 in that dress, it will make you more likely buy it).

It's just so interesting to see the body compositions and how they change. At 168, I was a comfortable 8 the vast majority of the time (sometimes 10), so I imagine at 160, it would have been loose on me and I have even been wearing some size 6s, but you ringmaster, didn't reach a comfortable 10 until 160ish (for me that was closer to 180).

So I'm hoping more 5'9" girls will ring in and we can see an interesting range of weight for sizes 6 and/or 8.

Thanks for the input, Steelers Fan--much appreciated!! I totally get what you're saying. I guess I'm just trying to find some quantitative measurement, even if imperfect (and the clothes sizes are way better for me than the scale). It helps me to bring something more of an abstract idea into a more tangible goal.

I hear ya about being busty. I'm 40 D/DD myself, though personally, I think bras have changed in the last 10 years or so, that they're running smaller than they used to. What used to be a C is now a D (kind of the opposite of clothes sizes). I expect to lose a cup size, and I'll be more than happy with that. But many will probably think my boobs have gotten bigger because the rest of me proportionally will have gotten smaller --- one of those visual illusions that work in my favor.

I'm 175 lbs and wear a comfortable size 10 in most brands. I've been dropping a size about every 10 lbs lately so I think I'll be in an 8 at 165 and a 6 at 155 .

right now i am at 156 and around a size 8 but it really all depends on the where i buy the clothes

not to run off topic, but just seen your before/after pics. you look awesome! way to go!

Steelers Fan (re: the bra size debate) -- I guess one thing I should mention is that I've only encountered this in Victoria's Secret bras. I haven't worn anything else, so perhaps it's just a VS issue. I literally still have bras from 15 years ago (that's what happens when you buy too much lingerie!! they last forever because you have so many to rotate) and there is a noticeable size difference. I know one of my other friends has mentioned the same thing about VS bras, so perhaps it's only an issue with them and the rest of the bra makers are staying true to size instead of running smaller to make women think their busts are larger than they really are.

I wear both size 6 and 8 and I weigh about 145lbs. I could even go to a size 4 in a couple of brands of pants...one off the top of my head is Simply Vera but I think her clothes run a bit bigger.

When I was a comfy size 10 I weighed 155. But, I've always had large thighs, so I've had to go bigger on my jeans. So, to be a size 6-8, I'd have to weigh somewhere in the 140s/130s.

I'm 5'9, weigh about 140, and wear anywhere from a size 2 to a 6 depending on where I buy jeans. I'm wearing Old Navy "Sweetheart" style now, and they're a size 2. I've had the "Flirt" style from Old Navy before, and they were a 4 or 6. I've got one pair of shorts from JCPenney that are a size 10 and a bit big...would probably wear an 8 in those if I bought them new now.

Wow, hello all you lovely tall women! I didn't know so many of us were this height.

Now, OP, I can't really answer your question about being a size 6, because I haven't worn that size since elementary school. But, since sizes have changed through the years, I used to wear a 14 at 180 and it was tight. Now I'm 210 and wearing 16's and some tight 14's. I guess when I get to 180 I'll have to see what size I can squeeze into?

But . . . going by the loose rule that dropping 10 pounds means dropping a pants size, I would think you could fit a 6 at 158?

Not to be the total rain on your parade person... but, depending on your frame size, you may need to adjust your size goal. I'm a tad under 5'9" (5'8.5" baby!) but I was wearing size 8s in my 130s and up to about 145 depending on the brand. I have a relatively mediumish frame when it comes to my wrists, neck, ribcage (at 135 im a 30D/DD), etc. I could button and "wear" size 6s at 112 (not an intentional weight at all) but they didn't look so hot. As much as I love the sound of saying size 6, it probably will never be in the cards for me.

However, with that said, most people guessed I was a size 6 when I was a size ten, so, regardless of what the tag number says, your height will, to a certain extent, help you look like a smaller size.

Thanks everyone for all the feedback---I really appreciate it. I'm definitely going to keep my goal fluid as seeing all this variation from you all helps me stay realistic rather than getting stuck on some number. I'd say that I have a light to medium frame -- I used to think I was large framed, but I do have rather delicate wrists and reasonable ankles, you just don't see it as much when I am heavier as my weight distributes rather evenly. I was just carrying so much weight that I figured it must be in part to a large frame --- it was quite a revelation for me to just go, nope, you're just fatter than you realized (it's like you think you're only 20-30 lbs over weight and it's quite startling when you realize it's closer to 50). But I also know that I have a decent amount of muscle -- pretty muscular in the legs area, even when I'm thinner so I think that may account for a slight higher weight amount per size ratio. I definitely have to wear "curvier" cuts in jeans no matter what size I am -- As an aside, if you're looking for good curvy girl jeans, I love Joe's Jeans in Muse and Honey (Honey is a little lower cut in the waistband where Muse is more normal, even though they call it high waist---it's not high waist, just normal). I've never been an expensive jeans person, but after my sister introduced me to them, I've never gone back. Just saved up to buy them because they may my butt look fabu!

I'm thinking a size six should happen somewhere around 150-155, but I'll remember to keep the idea fluid and let you know how it all works out. Thanks so much!

I was 150 when I graduated from High School and I wore a size 10. But that was 1996. So that would be - what - an 8 now? My sister (same height) is about 170 and she wears a 10. I think she has some 8's and some 12's - her weight flutuates a little. We are both "big boned". Lol! Broad shoulders and such.

I would bet money that neither her nor I will EVER wear a size 6. But I see a lot of 5'9" ers on here getting a lot lower than my goal.