So looking through all of my too-small pants I'm realizing that they are all size 10. Even jeans from my first year of college, when I weighed about 135, are size 10-there are a FEW size 8 but I remember them being tight back then.
So I'm a size 12 or 14 (depending on the brand/cut) now, at 171ish. Is it realistic to even shoot for pants smaller than a size 10? I mean, if a size 8 was tight at my smallest weight, will I ever be a smaller size than that?
I guess I'm asking because a lot of women on here shoot for a smaller pant size, and if I were to do that I don't think it'd be very good, because even at my smallest weight I was only a pant size or two smaller than I am now!! What do you think, ladies?!
Car- I was just googling this very thing. weight vs pant size. I think I may be the smallest 275 pound woman. Everything I read says there's no way I should be a 16/18. But to answer your question.... I think having goal pants are great. I have a size 14 jeans hanging in my window. When I finally get into those, I'll get me a new pair to hang until I'm happy with my size. I haven't been this small in 9 years so I don't know what my goal size should be. I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I think you should keep going on goal pants until you're happy with your size.
carcar, I would take it step by step to figure out where you want to be..If you are eating healthily and staying on plan calorie wise with fiber, water and exercise too and cease to lose at some point I think I would be content with that..
I don't know where I "want" to be...for now, I am aiming for marriage weight and size (150 pounds & size 6)..that was 16 years ago now..I WAS a size 8 in 1993 but I know that it would be today's size six..I am currently in an 8 size wise...I am staying (on the most part) with my better choices in regards to my whole life--sleeping right, drinking right and eating right, exercising right too..
ETA--there is not a big difference in sizes 6,8, and 10--can be dropped pretty quickly as opposed to sizes 14+
Last edited by Thighs Be Gone; 11-26-2008 at 12:23 PM.
I don't know how long ago college was for you, but for me a size 8 is not what it used to be. At around age 20, I weighed about 120 and wore a size 8. At around age 30, I weighted about 130 and wore a size 8. I now (about but not quite! 40) I think I'll be wearing a size 8 when I reach about 140. Some of the difference between 120 and 130 can be accounted for by building muscle, but not between 130 and 140. So you may indeed end up in a smaller than expected size.
Building muscle makes a big difference (you'll be smaller at any given weight), and sizes do start dropping faster and faster (pound-wise not necessarily time-wise) in the smaller sizes. I had at least 15 pounds between a 16 and 14. I think the difference between my size 10 and size 8 may be 10 pounds at most.
I agree with what Julie said - smaller clothing comes with more lean muscle mass vs fat. Last time I was in the 180's I still wore 14s, and this time around (after having gained and relost 30lbs) I am definitely in 12s. I am smaller all over because I am losing with exercise this time around. Last time I just focused on diet. That being said, it is reasonable to think you will be smaller than you used to be at a certain weight if you are adding cardio and strength training to your routine and hadn't done so before. One of the fun parts about this journey is getting to see just where we end up, so enjoy the ride!
I am 5 inches taller than you... and I'm pretty much a freak of nature at this point. Even doctor said I am pretty solid to lose so many inches in such a short time but not as much weight. Oh well, I wouldn't mind being a girl that weighed 250 and in a size 12. lol Not that I think it would happen....
I think it is good to have goal clothes to fit into even though sizes vary from store to store and year to year. You will be able to have that one piece of clothing to measure your progress against. Sometimes weight doesn't mean that much if you have converted fat into muscle mass. My sister in law is the same weight as me and she is a size 4. She is 3 years younger and was a swimmer all through highschool and is pure muscle mass.
In highschool I weighed between 115 and 120lbs. I wore size 2 in some clothes and 4 in others. After my first year of university I had gained weight and was around 125. I am very short 5'0" but I still thought I looked good, and I wore 4's. I continued to wear 4 until last year (my dreaded 4th year of uni). When I weighed myself this October I had gained 26lbs and was 151lbs and a size 8. This doesn't seem that large but I am small and I felt fat. My sister laughed when I told her how much I had gained because she didn't believe me. I apparently hide weight well but I felt uncomfortable.
Now that I am losing weight again I am in size 6's that are starting to feel a bit loose so all I want is to be back in 4's.
I used to be a size 4 at my smallest weight. I am back to a weight where I was a size 5/6 in college. At the same weight now, I am a 6/7/8 depending... so even though I used to be a 5 at this weight previously, for some reason, maybe more fat less muscle, or gradual changes in the body... I'm at a larger pants size at the same weight then before.
Some of my guy friends were making fun of me when I was talking about my diet (we were discussing Thanksgiving. I'm cooking for them) and one of them exclaimed that it was stupid for me to be on a diet because I couldn't POSSIBLY weigh more than "a buck five" which translated to english would be 105lbs. I should have left it at that, but all this being honest on this site that i've been doing caused me to blurt out without thinking, "No way, i'm about 140."
Long story short, I had to step on the scale and prove it, and my friend Leah was laughing and digging for the tag on my jeans to check that they were indeed a size 4. Then one of those idiots had the gall to say, "Holy sh*t! Holly weighs like 110 and she's way bigger than you." The girlfriend that was being mentioned looked like she wanted to burst into tears after he said that, I felt so bad for her.
I was in a 10 around the 180's, and didn't drop to an 8 until the 160's. I thought I would end up in an 8 or a 6 at my goal weight, but when I hopped these Jessica Rabbit childbirthing hips into a 4 you can imagine how ecstatic I was. The last time I wore this size I weighed 112lbs, and yes, the jeans I have on are the same pair from my senior year in HS. I should also note that my body is shaped COMPLETELY differently from when I was in high school. Maybe that has a little to do with it as well?
Last edited by NishKitten; 11-26-2008 at 04:58 PM.
I think its DEFINITELY okay to shoot for a size smaller than size 10...for instance at my highest of 230 i was a size 16-18..and I completely said I'd be okay with about a size 11..( I had little faith in myself..lol..) and two weekends ago i bought two pairs of size 4 pants at Old Navy..I'm now 142lbs. When I bought a pair of size 8's a few months ago I was in complete shock and now they're too big in the waist!
I just told myself I'd be ok with a size 10-11 and if it goes lower great if not i'm pleased either way..I didn't want to set my expectations too high in case I just couldn't go any lower.
Pick a size that you feel comfortable with perhaps the old 10's and if they do go lower whoo hoo celebrate girly!
Well secretly I have this fantasy of being a size 4. I don't know why- I just always think "boy... being a size 4 must feel so awesome..." and that's just what I've always wanted to be able to say! haha!
I think for now I'll shoot for my old 10's and then shoot for 8's and so on, until, like you all said, I'm at a comfortable size.
I'm 170 and a 10. I must be built like Nish. My lowest weight was 155 and I was an 8 somtimes a 6. I don't understand my body I just go with it. Pant size really isn't a good measure for me, my legs, even at my highest weight, were still very fit and I in shape I gained most of it in my non existant torso. Therefore, even when I drop 10 pounds my jeans fit exactly the same. everywhere but the waist band therefore I can't drop a size or my giganton thighs and calves don't fit. Because I'm an apple I focus more on shirt size.. maybe pears can do pants size. In my previous weightloss ventures at about 165 I'd have to start buying jeans that fit my legs and not my waist and wear a belt.
Pant size & Weight loss?
a size 8 is not what it used to be. At around age 20, I weighed about 120 and wore a size 8. At around age 30, I weighted about 130 and wore a size 8. I now (about but not quite! 40) I think I'll be wearing a size 8 when I reach about 140. Some of the difference between 120 and 130 can be accounted for by building muscle, but not between 130 and 140. So you may indeed end up in a smaller than expected size. 
I should also note that my body is shaped COMPLETELY differently from when I was in high school. Maybe that has a little to do with it as well?
