This is really interesting how everyone can be so completely different. I’ve lost a little more than 20 lbs so far but want to make it to that 175 mini-goal before I buy new pants. At the current rate that will happen sometime in 2007.:rolleyes: I did buy a belt though, the old pants are a bit saggy but I don’t want to buy new ones just yet. I’m hoping that by the time I get to 175 I will comfortably be in a 14.:crossed: When I was around 200 I was wearing (and still am wearing, but looser!) 18 or 16 depending on the manufacturer. For some reason I can almost always get away with smaller sizes in skirts and dresses, not that I wear them all that often. I guess it’s the girth in my thighs.

Muscles, muscles, muscles!

I'm 5'2" and over the last six months I've gone from a US size 14 on top to a 12 and size 12 below to an 8. And I still weigh really heavy. If I didn't know my body fat then I'd be so disillusioned about my slow slow weight loss.

Just goes to show that it's not all about eight (but I so want to lose that 20lbs!)

Anyone reading my post above- I was trying to make a point that it's not about weight not 8!

It's a little different for me. For every 10 pounds or so I drop a size. I'm 5'4" and I started in a size 14...now I'm in a size 8. I'm confident my goal of 130 will bring me down to a 6.

Another thing about pant sizes ive had trouble with is if i buy the short jeans then their too short... if i buy the regulars im walking all over them... very frustrating.

In 1974, I was 14. My measurements were 32-22-32. My 4H Achievement Day dress was a size 9 in a quite fitted style.

I don't really know what size I wore when I weighed 162 because I hid away in sweats, scrubs and long loose dresses. Freudian?

Fascinating how we're all so different.

At my biggest last summer, I was in a size 14 top and extremely tight size 14 pants. I probably should have been in size 16; for a couple of months I could wear only elastic-waist flowing cotton pants and sweats.

Although I've lost only about 15 pounds, I currently wear size 10 or 12 on top, depending on brand and cut. I wear a comfortable 12 on bottom, though some extreme "vanity size" brands are loose at size 12.

I'm a size 14 in pants from 185 pounds to 155. It's really discouraging to lose 30 pounds and still be wearing the same pants.

That sounds about right, 20 pounds for you. I'm 5'6'' and 232 and I wear 17s or stretchy 16s (or very loose 18s if you want to go there hehe). I started out wearing very loose 22s at 273.5 and it took me to about very upper 240s to be in an 18 snuggly but that is just my body shape..

It seems like I answer this question every week on the 3FC forum somewhere... :lol:

I hope what I have to say helps everyone understand a little better. For those of you who don't know me-I am also a costume maker, so I am very familiar with how patterns and manufacturers sizing works in clothing.

There is a DEFINITE difference between Juniors, Misses, and Plus sizes, and the way that they are cut.

Juniors clothing comes in ODD sizes. Juniors clothing, if you ever notice in the stores, is styled for younger, trendier wearers-basically teenage girls, and young women who have never had children. They are cut for "younger" physiques-narrower hips, flatter tummies, etc. Even women who have lost a lot of weight and gotten to goal may have trouble fitting into juniors clothing, or maybe wear a larger size, because they have extra skin in the upper arms area, hip area, or tummy area.

Misses clothing is meant for the average woman's figure. The clothing is cut more "curved" to allow for more shape/curve in the hips, thighs, and breast area. They are meant for "women" and not 15 year old girls. :)

Plus sizes/Women's sizes are cut to allow for a little extra room/curve where women tend to be a little larger. Besides just having a bigger behind, or tummy, or chest-most heavier women also are larger in the upper arms, the calves, the rise of the pants, etc. and plus sizes allow for this. If some of you are in that realm, you may notice that a 14W/14 plus size, or a 16W/16 plus size fits you-but you have to lose a few more pounds before a 14 or 16 fits you well in Misses sizes.

There are also differences when a woman has to shop in the petite or tall section. The "Tall" section is more than just longer legs in the pants-they are a bit longer in the sleeves, a bit longer in the rise of the pants or length of the shirt (longer torsos on taller women) and a longer torso made into the bathing suit. The complete opposite happens in the petite section. A 4'11" woman is naturally going to have a shorter torso, shorter arms, and such than an average woman, and those things are all accounted for.

As far as what size you should wear when you lose so many pounds-there are SOOOOOO many factors that make this different for everyone. To say that everyone should lose a size after 20 pounds, or 10 pounds, simply isn't true. To day that every woman who is 5'5" and 130 pounds will be in the same size jeans isn't true, either.

~Frame Size~ This is a big factor. There are large framed people, medium framed people, and small framed people. Look at your ring size (7 being average for the ring finger) your wrist size, the width of your shoulders, ankles, and neck. When someone is very overweight, this may be a hard thing to tell, because some of it will be fat-but if you are close to goal or only 30 pounds or less overweight-use this as a guideline:
~What size ring do you wear on your ring finger? Smaller framed individuals may wear a 4-5-6...while a larger framed woman may wear an 8-9-10.
~When you buy a nice bracelet-do you wear a 7" bracelet, or an 8" bracelet?
~Do you have narrower shoulders, or broad shoulders? A broad shouldered person, for instance, may be thin, but still never fit into a size small top because the shoulder/back area is too tight.

~Height~
How tall are you? If you have two women who both weigh 150 pounds, and one is 5'1" and the other 5'8", the taller woman will most likely be "thinner" and in a smaller size, because she is 7 inches taller and has more room to carry this weight.

~Body Type~
Are you an hourglass? These usually are curvier (carry fat) in their hips and thighs, breasts, and possibly upper arms-but have narrower waists. When an hourglass loses weight-it tends to be in the waist and face first. You carry extra weight all over pretty evenly. Clothing manufacturers model their clothing most of the time after this figure type.

Are you an apple? Apples carry extra weight in their faces, their upper bodies (shoulders, chests, bellies, and usually get "back fat" as well-but they have thinner hips, buns and legs. These are the women who can be 40 pounds overweight-but still have KILLER legs. Apples tend to have to fit into small jeans sizes for their weight/height-but can still be pretty overweight. They just carry it all up top.

Are you a pear? These women have thinner faces, shoulders, arms, and chests/torsos. They carry it all down below. These women can wear tank tops and spaghetti straps no problem-but they are usually apprehensive about shorts. They carry their weight in their hips, butt, thighs, and calves. They may easily fit into a size small or medium top at their goal weight-but may still wear a larger jean size.

An apple woman and a pear woman are the complete opposite figure types-so they should NEVER compare jeans sizes. They can both be at the same fitness level, same height, same age-but can be off in jean size by 3 sizes EASY. The grass is always greener on the other side-and the pear wants to wear teeny jeans and the short shorts like the apple, but the apple covets the pear's narrow waist and thin arms/shoulders. :p

Are you a cylindar? This is actually a body type that is most often had by supermodels. They are usually tall, lean, muscular, and well propertioned. They also usually have long arms and legs, and are very resistant to cellulite. When they gain a few extra pounds-it is usually right in the belly area-but they look great everywhere else.

~Fitness Level~

Let's just say the two woman are both the same height, age, weight, AND body type. They both ate right and got to their goal weight of 140 pounds. One is a size 8, and the other a 10. One might have done more intense exercise, and gained more muscle mass, and lost more body fat-so their body composition is different.
The women who lose 30 pounds without any exercise at all are what I like to call "skinny fat". They may wear a small clothing size-but if you put 'em in a bathing suit, then the "jigglies" are still all there. :lol: Exercise is the only way to get things "firm".

I guess the motto is-don't compare your jeans size to anyone else's. Compare YOUR starting weight and size, and a photo of yourself-to your weight, size, and new photos. You are trying to make a better YOU.

Good luck and love,
Aphil

Aphil, thank you so much for your "expert testimony"! I find it helpful and interesting, and I'm sure others will as well. And congratulations on that little one! May the remainder your pregnancy be easy and your delivery a safe one!

:lol: Maybe you should post it as a sticky :yes: ... I find this very interesting also...

I second the motion to sticky Aphil's excellent explanation!

Wow!!! This is a great thread because I think about this alot.

At my highest weight 236 - I was a misses 18 or a 16W. Comfortable pants; jackets were tight in the arms. YUCK!

Now I am 208 and in a regular 14 - 16 depending on the designer. At Lane Bryant I can wear the news size 12 shirts but a 14 or even a 16 in their jeans but a 14 in slacks. It is crazy!

It would be nice if they made a 14 1/2 because my waist is definitely a 14 if not a 12 but my hips and thighs are a 14/16. My pants are always too big. My tops have gone from an 1X to a large (thanks to a breast reduction and hard work!)

The bottom line is - I am loving my butt in these new jeans no matter what the size is!!!