I'm trying to figure out what size I'm going to be at my goal so that I know how many times I'm going to have to go shopping so I can start saving. I just replaced about 3/4 of my wardrobe yesterday (it was a must, I could pull down all my pants including jeans w/out unbottoning them and my tops and dresses just looked dumpy).

When I started this journey I think I was a 24/26. In December (about 12 lbs ago) I was a 14 (sometimes a 16 if the brand ran small) and yesterday I got mostly 12's in pants and jeans, larges in tops and dresses, one medium top and a 14 in couple pants/jeans that ran small (low rise or whatever).

I still have about 30 lbs to lose. I figure that will probably be another 15 lbs to a solid 10/12 and the another 15 to get down to an 8/10. Is this a acurate assumption or does it take less lbs to go down a size the smaller you get? If I do the math I've gone down about 6 sizes in 90 lbs so that is pretty much 1 size every 15 lbs. So am I safe assuming there is a good chance I'll have to go shopping 2 more times? How many lbs equal a dress size for you all?

I have dropped an amazing amount of sizes, lol. I went from a 10 or 12 in American Eagle jeans to a 4. I'm a 4-7 in most brands that I wear.

It's kind of hard to predict because the weight between sizes gets smaller once you get to smaller sizes. You may be averaging 15lbs between sizes now, but as you get smaller, it may just be 10lbs.

I only shopped when I absolutely had to, as in jeans were falling off, and I did it fairly gradually since I lost sizes so quickly. There was one pair of jeans in clearance at American Eagle. I bought the same pair from the clearance rack 3 times in about a month. 8 to 6 to 4, thank god it was only $11, lol. I'm still not all the way at goal yet, so I'm trying not to shop too much, and if I do, I get things a liiiittle bit snug.

Hm, you and I are kinda in the same boat. I'm 189 now, an inch taller, I have a big frame (I never was 138, but my sister is 5'4" and is 135. In High School I was 155, so I'm thinking that's about my target weight). I bought some size 14s around Christmas that I've been wearing but now they are baggy. I decided to pick up 12s and 10s at thrift stores to save money. Today I am wearing Mossimo jeans (Target) that are size 12 and fit "just right" and I picked up a pair of Liz Claiborne size 10s that look spraypainted (hey no muffin top though!) but will be ok to wear in public when I lose another 5 or 10 pounds (and at $5 I couldn't pass them up).

It seems that the sizes do just peel off as you get closer to your goal, even though the weight loss slows...

I would buy as little as possible (a pair of nice jeans, a pair of black slacks, if those are wardrobe keys for you) and wash them often--you won't wear them out before you shrink out of them. If you can't borrow clothes from a friend who maybe is pregnant and in the size you need or has recently been the size you need, then look for thrift store clothes (unless you can't stand the thought of it.

These two pairs of jeans I got at goodwill for $5 are decent. I'm hoping to wear them until I'm in an 8 and then take them to a consignment store and get my $5 back in store credit toward my goal size. That would be nice!

I also plan on making sundresses and wearing them all summer: they're more forgiving size-wise, and they are comfy, and cheap. I've already bought the material and pattern, I just need time to make them...but I have to wait til summer so I know what size to cut! LoL!

That is so funny! The Jeans I got were also the Mossimo jeans from Target. I got a 14 in the low rise and they fit perfect and a 12 in the higher rise (a little snug but good with a baggier shirt for now and tighter one later when the lbs come off). It's just amazing to me how different the lbs are on people depending on their frame and height. I don't know why, but I always feel like well we weigh the same so we should be the same size and it's just not the case.

Oddly enough, I'm 5'5 and weighed exactly 138 pounds a little over two years ago (why did I have to gain so much weight? argh!!). I'm trying to get back down to that now myself. When I was that small, I had a 26.5-27" waist, wore a size 7/8 in jeans (juniors) and a small in tops. I think the sizing may differ a little bit depending on where you go because I've seen sizing charts saying a 27" waist was a size 5/6 at some places. Either way though, I think you will probably be able to find some of both sizes to fit you at 138 pounds.

but do you know what's really weird? I just measured myself today. My measurements are 44/36.5/43. I went to Target's website, and according to their size chart, I should be wearing, oh, I can't remember, a 16 or an 18.

I mean, these 12s are snug, I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up leaning over my laptop and I have some pooch (but I've just lost 70 pounds and I have bad stretch marks, so I think I'll always have pooch), but they're snug in a good way. I look nice, hot even. Not muffin-toppy when I stand up, especially when I wear a nice blouse with them.

Why is their size chart so off? are your measurements closer?

I don't know...I've never measured myself...it might be time to get myself a tape measure!

I have found the size charts to be way off too! I got a Lane Bryant/Woman Within Catalog the other day and thought, "I don't need that anymore! No more plus sizes for me!" But when I looked at the measurements, they said I should still be wearing a size 18W/20W NO Way! Not anymore! I'd be swimming in that size.

I haven't been 138 since I was a Sophomore in high school and I wore a size 5 then. The lowest I've ever been as an adult is 154 and I wore a 6/8 at that weight. That was 20 years ago, though so I don't know if I'd be the same size at that weight now.

I think I'm one of those unusual people because I'm comfortably in a size 16 at 213 and 5'4".

Well, Suzie, you're probably like me, I was 207 and wearing 14s (5'6). I wonder, do you all have big feet? I've always been told (even when I was thin at 155) that I have "a big frame". I wear a size 11 shoe although I think that my feet might be shrinking a little now that they're not carrying around so much weight all the time!

I've gotten to the point that my hip bones are "showing" - not like I'm malnourished, but you'd think this close to 200 that they'd still be a bit more...submerged. I wonder if I'd ever be able to get down to a 4 like Megan. But darned if I'm not going to try. For sure, I'll be able to rock an 8.

ncuneo, for reference, my biggest was a 22W at 260, I believe I bought those at target too.

I think my feet are fairly average sized. I wore a 7 1/2 at 174 and wear an 8 right now but some are getting a bit loose. I definitely have a large frame, though. And I'm quite muscular under this flab.

Y'know I just did some calculation and it looks like it's pretty consistent, about 15 pounds per size (maybe as Megan says it might be 10 later on). Even in the bigger weights, the average was 15 pounds per size (although I just used a belt for most of it)...

I'll be happy to be wearing a 10 again in jeans (I'm in a 14 right now). Size 8 would be nice. Beyond that, eh, I'm not sure I care anymore. I wanted to be thin at one time but now I just want to feel better.

I never would've GUESSED when I started that I'd be able to fit into size 4 jeans. I SWORE all my life, would've argued with you even, that I had a large or at the very least medium frame, and I'd never get below an 8 or 10.

At 225-ish pounds I wore a size 16, and when I started losing that number dropped. And dropped. And dropped. In a lot of brands size 4 pants are too big. I wear a small shirt, down from an XL. I can shop in the JUNIORS department, and may have to start for jeans that fit right AND are long enough. I have a small frame. Who knew?