I have been watching some Youtube vlogs from women on weight loss journeys. Most of them range in weight from 200-225lbs. Most of them say that they wear sizes 14-16. I weigh 190 and tried on size 16s and practically needed the jaws of life to get out of the outfits. How can women wear such small sizes when they weigh over 200lbs? It's depressing.

There's no rhyme or reason, that's all there is to it. Sizing has changed over time, and isn't consistent between brands. Your height and shape affect it. I had a thread a while back asking what size people wore, and it proved to me that I had to where bigger clothes than other people my height and weight. Not much we can do about it.

It definitely depends IMO where you get your clothes. I'm a 14/16 also and I find that if I shop at places like Walmart I'm a 14 but if I shop at more expensive places I'm a 14 or 16. *shrug*

I guess, looking back, even when I weighed 130lbs I wore a size 10 - when many women at that weight might be a size 4 or 6. It's confusing. Possibly, I just like to wear my clothes a bit looser than others.

Don't forget that there is vanity sizing as well as....well fibbing...comes to mind

Tea Granny- you are right! LOL! Didn't think about it that way. Maybe I will make new sizing tags for my clothes. Shall I be a size 6 or 8? Which would be more believable for a 190lb woman?

I don't get vanity sizing...I would still know the truth! I'm fat!

I think there are alot of factors. At my current weight I have pants that fit well in sizes 14, 12 and 10...go figure. It depends on where you buy them, the fit you desire (like you said), the fabric they are made of (stretch, etc.), among other things.

I also have to say that I see women who claim they wear a certain size and I look at what they are wearing and wonder how they wedged themselves into the clothing in the first place! Some women wear the low cut jeans and have lots of fat spilling over the top or you can see how tight their bras are under their tops...or their tops are so tight you can see their belly buttons. I could probably squeeze into a smaller size but I would look really stupic. I prefer to look decent, even if I have to wear a larger size.

AnnieDrews, I totally agree. I feel that I actually look heavier when I wear tighter clothing. All the bulges and fat rolls on display under tightly stretched lycra. That look is not for me. Plus, I need to breathe! I know that some women wear girdles or SPANX every day under their clothing. Perhaps that would make me look a bit better, but wrestling with hooks or wriggling out of tight hose every time I need to go to the bathroom? Especially with a hot summer almost here - I just can't do it.

So, my fat all hangs out under large tent-like fabric.

Exactly as others wrote! In a dressing room, 3 same-sized jeans (by different designers) can be either baggy, I-can't-breathe tight, or just right. How they're cut makes all the difference.

I agree it is depressing..I have some tee shirts ive had for 10 years or better i wear around the house they are an xtra large and fit great..I wanted to buy some new ones and now the xtra large is very small...I had to but a 3x to get a comfortable fit.. and im only 196 lbs..its getting harder to find clothes that fit right and the jeans these days.. urgg..low cut belly button showing they are awfull.. I dont like bending over and showing my butt.... lol..Seems like everything is made for skinny teens...I hope to be smaller one day, but will never be a teen again..What happen to the higher waisted jeans....I miss those..

I was thinking the same thing! I have also noticed that people heavier than me say that they wear a size 2 but at my height and weight I hover between a 2 and 4, more often opting like you all to go up to the 4. When I was 126 pounds I was a 6, but it was a tight 6 and I hated wearing my clothes too tight. It was either go up a size or lose weight.

The other day, I bought a designer dress and it was a 4 but I live in NY and some designers here run very, very small. I also tried on a Juicy bathing suit (one piece) and although I fit into the size small, like most of you, I prefer to err on the side of caution and bought the medium. I am a mom and I am 40 and that must be considered when buying clothes.

Bottom line - it definitely depends on quality, designer, material, etc. I have cute Levi's capris in a 2P as well as expensive designer jeans in a 4 and both fit the same. It's frustrating no matter what you weigh! And being so short, everything needs to be hemmed so I always tack on an extra $10 to the price.

IMO, stores like Target and Walmart, while great, size their clothes very generically. I can't even buy stuff there because I would have to try on so much just to find the right fit. It's definitely a boost to the ego but then I go to Saks or Nordstrom's and am brought back into reality. I noticed that when clothes (tops or pants) are lined, I definitely need to go up a size.

I, too, don't like most of the jeans out there. I have heard good things about Not Your Daughter's Jeans and I love the Levi's capris I mentioned. They are definitely higher waisted than most others without being "mom" jeans. I got them at Century 21, not sure if you guys have one near you, but they carry tons of jeans and if you have the time and patience, you will definitely find something appropriate for our age!

Maybe they are wearing "women" sizes. You know, a 14 or 16 in "women" is bigger than a 14/16 in misses. Just a thought.

Gah, girlfriend! Don't you know that the minute you wedge yourself into a smaller size, forever after you're allowed to call yourself "a [whatever the size is]?"

It becomes part of your identity. It's irreparable. Even if it happens just once & never again.

Like everyone else in this thread & in the rest of the U.S., I'll bet these ladies have got multiple sizes hanging in their closets, but they're only telling you the littlest one they fit in.

Wearing Spanx, and with the help of their best friend in the dressing room, they wedged their butts into something at Old Navy. And they got one good clear view of themselves in a triple mirror for 10 minutes before a button popped. Which entitles them forever after to call themselves that size.

Particularly on YouTube, when they're publicizing their lives.

It's called YouTube Sizing. ;-)

Saef, I love it! I literally did laugh out loud when I read your above post!

"YouTube" sizing...I will remember that when I am standing there in the horrific flourescent lighting which shows every lump, bump, wrinkle, stretch mark, etc.

And it doesn't matter if you are a size 4 or 14, those dressing room triple mirrors are equal opportunity self-esteem destroyers. Not sure if you shop in Century 21, but their dressing rooms are nearly medieval - the lighting, the cramped, hot conditions. Torture!

At 190 I wore 16s, and I too felt depressed that heavier women could wear smaller sizes. At 154, my 12s are just now getting loose. It does make me feel even fatter than I already am.