clothes sizes.. weight... height.. sorting it out
 

I know sizes of clothes vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but I was wondering if there was a semi consistant relationship between a woman's weight, height and jean size. If I had to guess for myself, it seems as if a difference of 20 pounds would mean a different size for me...

I am 5'7" currently 210 pounds and wear a snug size 16. Not uncomfortable.. but snug enough to realize that five or ten more pounds would make them too tight to wear.

If my theory is correct for myself.. I imagine 190 pounds would put me at a comfortable size 14.. 170 at a size 12...

Does this sound reasonable?

Yes that sound pretty right on - of course we all vary in shape even if we are the same weight and height. I change a size every 20 pounds it seems. I'm also 5'7 but 234 and in comfy/loose 18's right now. The last time I lost weight when I got down to 172 I was a 12 and sometimes a 10. I hope at my goal weight of 150 I can be a 8/10.

I would say that it sounds about right, but keep in mind that everyones body is different. I was 171 when I started and in a size 14 (tight size 14), and I now weigh 126 and a size comfortable 8, but I am also only 5' tall. I do remember at the start of my weightloss, it took me about 20 pounds to lose, before I realized I had to start wearing a size 12.

Originally Posted by Jayde:
I am 5'7" currently 210 pounds and wear a snug size 16. Not uncomfortable.. but snug enough to realize that five or ten more pounds would make them too tight to wear.

If my theory is correct for myself.. I imagine 190 pounds would put me at a comfortable size 14.. 170 at a size 12...

Does this sound reasonable?

I think it all depends on build and manufacturer. I am also 5'7". At 195 lbs I was a TIGHT size 18, almost ready to get a larger size (which by no small accident was one of the reasons why I started losing weight). I was a very loose 16 at 165 lbs and a very loose 14 at 150 lbs. At 141 I wore a size 10. At 127, I wear a comfortable size 8 (sometimes a 6 if the store is a freaky vanity-sizer, I'm looking at YOU Ann Taylor).

When I was losing weight, my waist was the last thing to get smaller, it was maddening. My hips were saying one size, my waist was saying another size.

Waist/hip size for me by weight:

195 start weight - sadly did not start measuring at first - size 18
180 lbs - 37 inch waist/44 inch hips - size 16
155 lbs - 32 inch waist/39 inch hips - size 14
140 lbs - 29 inch waist/37 inch hips - size 10
130 lbs - 27 inch waist/36 inch hips - size 8

Wow! Such quick responses! When reading SweetPeas' response and Almost There's I thought my guess was pretty much on the mark.. but then had to rethink things when I read Glory's response.. her weight between sizes is about 15 to 20 pounds.. but considering that she is the same height as SweetPeas and I.. with such a different weight at certain sizes.. it goes to show that we really are all built differently.

Well, I started at 5'7, 210 and a very snug size 16. here's how it went for me-

I was a 14 for all of 2 weeks and I imagine that was between 180-165. When I got into the 160's, I moved into 12's and stayed there for a while until the 140's when I got to a size 10. Now I move between 130-138 and am a comfortable 8 and a sometimes stubborn (but determined) 6. I hope this helps. I thought I would add it because I began with exact same stats and I had yet to see someone with those figures. :)

I'm at 208, and I'm still wearing comfortable 18's... I can't wait to get back into a 16 again... and then a 14? holy cow. that'll be amazing! :) I can't wait. I've often wondered about this, too, but I figured there was no real way to tell since we are all built differently and lose the weight in different ways... Hopefully I'll be reaching 16-land soon, though!

Jayde, that's right on for me. Right now I'm at 195 and I'm aaaalmost ready to move into 14's. I somehow skipped size 18 (I think because I went from all fat to quite a bit of muscle) so my first 20 pounds took me from 20 to 16. But now it's seems like it's going to be fairly consistent 20 pounds = 1 size.

There have been countless discussions about this around here, and the answer is...everyone is too different to tell. Body composition is a HUGE factor--the SAME person could weigh 200 pounds at 5'7 and be a size 20 or be a size 12 depending on how much muscle and fat that person has. It will NEVER be consistent for how many pounds to lose per size because very rarely do you ALWAYS lose weight evenly around your body. You may lose 10 pounds and drop to a 14, but then it may take another 20 pounds to drop to a 12, and then only 5 more to drop to a 10...it'll never be a perfect "20 pounds per size" or anything like that. This is also true because as you get smaller, smaller amounts of weight loss make a bigger difference. For example, I started at 310 pounds and lost 40 but was still in the same pants size as when I started. If I had started at only 200 pounds and lost 40, I would DEFINITELY be in smaller sizes because that amount of weight makes a much bigger difference on a smaller body.

Aside from different manufacturers, different body types (hourglass vs. pear. vs. apple), and varying heights and weights, there are SO many factors that go into choosing a size for your body that it will never be a simple formula.

I remember when
 

In college and H.S. I was 160 lbs and a size 14( not in all clothes), now 20 yrs later I am 264 and in a loose size 22. At this point I would be happy in a size 18. I have come to realize clothes fit each person differently, and I need to accept I may never be a size 10 or 12,as long as I am healthy and can do things without feeling pooped. .

Yup, it varies a lot. I'm in the 240s, and I wear a comfortable size 16.

Junebug, wow.. that is pretty cool that our beginning stats are so similar. Somehow I have a feeling that our maintenance stats won’t be even close. I can’t imagine myself less than 165… I am amazed at your progress. With 76 pounds gone and a size 8 you must feel great! Congratulations on your success and determination. 

Stacy and Kashi and Kitty how tall are you?

[QUOTE=jillybean720] You may lose 10 pounds and drop to a 14, but then it may take another 20 pounds to drop to a 12, and then only 5 more to drop to a 10...it'll never be a perfect "20 pounds per size" or anything like that. This is also true because as you get smaller, smaller amounts of weight loss make a bigger difference.


Yes, this really makes sense.. perhaps that is why some of us drop to a new size in only a few weeks.

Have there been countless threads on this? I think a search will be interesting.

I think it also depends on what side of the store you are shopping on too. My mom keeps telling me she is in an 18 but I know her stomach is much bigger than mine. She is shopping in the womens department, where as my 16's are coming from the misses department. and some people here may be shopping in the juniors department. I know i will as soon as i can get into it!! :)

anyways, the best stats I can give you about me are..... at 196 (when i started my weight loss journey) I should have been into an 18 comfortable. (but i refused to spend money on bigger clothes)

Now at 176, I am in my 16's (misses) comfortabley. I can fit into my 14 misses jeans but they push the fat up over the top so i won't wear them. plus, they would be uncomfortable to wear all day. (I suppose another 10 pounds and i should be into a 14 comfortably.)

I am 5'6 and hold alot of weight in my stomach area.

My measurements are as follows: chest 41, waist (across belly button) 38.5 and hips 43.5. (Those are the measurements i got just this morning. that puts me down half an inch in the waist and hips. yay!!!)

So, i have got to lose some serious inches in my waist to see a new pants size.

I am 5'5" at 153 lbs I am a comfortable 8/10. At 140 I was a 6 at 125-130 I was a comfortable 4 these are misses sizes. At 115 I was a 2 so it just goes to show you everyone is different. I seem to gain weight everywhere it isn't in one concentrated spot.

It's just one of those frustrating things!

I was a size 24 at 200 pounds (eek), and at 180 I'm wearing Misses size 18. I'm only 5 foot tall so I'm just now leaving the weeble wobble stage. :D

We're in this for the long haul to health and happiness, but having our rumps look nice in jeans will just be the frosting on the cake.

I know someone mentioned it but sizes do keep shifting. I heard Lane Bryant is going to start carrying size 12s and I think what they really plan to do is shift their size 14s to size 12s. I can already wear a size 18 skirt and size 14 top in Lane Bryant and size 24 pants. I do remember in high school weighing what I weigh now and wearing a very tight size 26. Currently I wear a loose size 24 in pants. It is easier to sell someone a size 16 than a size 20 so manufacturers will keep doing it.

Wow another Junebug!!! When I was reading Jaydes response, i was like "What? I didnt respond!" :)

I do think its weird how everyone is so different and 2 people can be the same height and weight and wear different sizes. I am 5'2 and not sure of my weight and it depends on the brand of clothing as to what size I wear.

However, 5 lbs either way on me is a size up or down which I find weird, but thankful for. I just wish I could lose those last 5...but then again, I havent really been applying myself (insert embarrassed look here)....

Intellectually, I know it's all individual, but it's still disheartening to see people who are my same height and weight and who wear clothes 3 sizes smaller. Maybe I just wear my stuff baggy, but I'm still in the same 22/24s I was wearing 18 pounds ago. I'll admit they are a touch looser, but certainly not falling down by any stretch of the imagination.

I don't think I'd even have the courage to try on an 18 or 20. :(

((sigh))

It DEFINATELY all depends on the person. We're all different. When I first started at 286 pounds and 5'9, I was in a size 26/28. Now, at 160 pounds, I wear an 8 in some clothes, a 10 in others, and if a skirt or pants are cut slim in the hips, I have to wear a 12.

Originally Posted by BeatlesFan:
We're in this for the long haul to health and happiness, but having our rumps look nice in jeans will just be the frosting on the cake.

I can toast to that!:yes:

Yeah sizes depend a lot on how you carry your weight.. I carry most of mine around my waist, also depends if most your weight is fat or muscle. My sister is 4'10 and 140 and shes a size 8 somehow but yet im about the same weight and 5'5 and a 10... I wish they would just use inches as sizes for women just like they do for men it would make things so much simpler.

JustJuneBug- I thought that was pretty wild too! It was a nickname given to me by my east texas relatives, incidentally. :)

Jayde, I'm 5'6ish

Well, this really is like a walk down Memory Lane! I remember I bought some "cute" pink jeans in a size 28 once -- I got them a Fashion Bug. What a great store! Of course, they didn't have "petite" sizes at that time anyway (28P?? an oxymoron, huh?!?) And today I wear size 3P jeans; it's still kind of a problem because at age 56 I don't want them riding TOO low. But I did find recently I really enjoy wearing mid-rise jeans. That's a whole nother topic though!

I found in my journey down the scale that you can actually SKIP sizes, and you may as well do that to save money. If you are losing steadily, you don't stay in a size long enough to wear it out. I actually had bought some clothes that I never got around to wearing before they got too big! So I went from the 26-28s to some old 22s I had in the back of my closet. Then I did 18s (what a thrill THAT was!), 14s (I was actually there the longest), 10s and 6s.

The funny thing is I tended to buy stuff too big for awhile because I never COULD believe I could have really gotten to a smaller size; for example, buying 16s when 14s were a better fit, and 12s when I should have gotten 10s. Even more recently, I was afraid to buy high boots because I was convinced my legs were too fat to get them zipped up. It's hard to get rid of some of the notions you carry about yourself!

Anyway, please enjoy your journey. Clothes buying is a scary but ultimately really fun part of it!!

DancingAngel, that is sooo wonderful to hear that you made it to your goal. Wow!!! 190 lost!! that is amazing!!! and to think i only have 45 pounds to lose. I just know i can do it!!! what an inspiration you are!!! and hey, if i make it below my goal of 130, that's okay to!! :)

I was at a 20-22 womens at 235. I like my clothes loose so that's why the size difference, the 22 was quite loose. Honestly, right now I am not sure what size I am in. I lost 24 pounds and my clothes are falling off of me but I have it in my head that my thinner clothes in my closet won't fit, so I don't try. :) I did put on a pair of pants the other day, dress pants that stretch a little and they were 18's I believe. I really should try out some different clothes. My favorite jean capris literally fall down on me now! :) Oh yeah, I am currently 211 at 5'8. :)

I'm 5'6" and 150lbs and I wear a comfy size 10. I can wear 8's but I'm not sure an almost 32 year old woman should wear her pants that tight. lol ;) At 225 I wore a size 20/22. I've found that the smaller the size the less the pound change. It was a good 20-25 lbs change for me in the higher sizes and the lower I go the less I need to lose to go down a size. Right now it's about 10 lbs for a size change.

If you look at a size chart though there is a 2" difference in the higher sizes, an 1 1/2" difference in the middle sizes and 1" difference in the low sizes. So the lower you go the less you need to lose to change your size.

You ladies have all done great! Keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by DancingAngel:
The funny thing is I tended to buy stuff too big for awhile because I never COULD believe I could have really gotten to a smaller size; for example, buying 16s when 14s were a better fit, and 12s when I should have gotten 10s. Even more recently, I was afraid to buy high boots because I was convinced my legs were too fat to get them zipped up. It's hard to get rid of some of the notions you carry about yourself!

Anyway, please enjoy your journey. Clothes buying is a scary but ultimately really fun part of it!!

yes.. Angel, I think it would probably take longer for our minds to catch up with our physical changes.. ... I love that you share your success with all of us.. Absolutely AWESOME!!!

Kierr- It’s fun to try on those clothes hiding in the back of the closet.. I have a special pair.. when I can fit into them.. believe me you will all hear about it!!! “Taking Charge of my health.” I like that.

Lumifan.. I didn’t even think of junior and misses sizes.. that can be misleading.

Nelie, with the clothing industry shifting like that it does confuse things. And manufacturers do know what they are doing .. I absolutely refused to buy a size 18 at one point when I was about 213 and then was retaining extra water weight. When I went shopping I knew the 18s would be more comfortable.. but was too stubborn. Mind games..

Lena, one day you will be surprised.. those pants will slip right off you and if you don’t have something else, you’ll have to bunch them up with rope! 

Cemetary- Keep your signature ticker What an inspiration!

Lady Jackyl.. I like your idea about inches.. they do that in some countries.. I wish the U.S. did..

Stacy.. I think we are similar then.. well.. me currently with an extra 15 pounds :0.. I don’t know about a goal weight of 125.. but then again.. anything.. and I do mean anything less than I am now is my goal.. 

Originally Posted by Getncontrol:
If you look at a size chart though there is a 2" difference in the higher sizes, an 1 1/2" difference in the middle sizes and 1" difference in the low sizes. So the lower you go the less you need to lose to change your size.

That is interesting.. so I guess there is more than just our bodies contributing to the math of this ...

-

I have a full body picture in my profile and that was taken when I was about 175 and I am 5'6" - at that time I was in a snug 10 or comfy 12, mostly 11's fit right. Now I am almost ten pounds heavier, but working out and still fit into all the same sizes. So I would say a good measure though is 20 lbs = 1 full size drop, especially if you are exercising.

Originally Posted by getncontrol:
I'm 5'6" and 150lbs and I wear a comfy size 10. I can wear 8's but I'm not sure an almost 32 year old woman should wear her pants that tight. lol ;) At 225 I wore a size 20/22. I've found that the smaller the size the less the pound change. It was a good 20-25 lbs change for me in the higher sizes and the lower I go the less I need to lose to go down a size. Right now it's about 10 lbs for a size change.

If you look at a size chart though there is a 2" difference in the higher sizes, an 1 1/2" difference in the middle sizes and 1" difference in the low sizes. So the lower you go the less you need to lose to change your size.

You ladies have all done great! Keep up the good work.

Wow you just posted my goal. I want to get to 150 and be in a very comfy size 10 with the possibility of 8's. Seems like a dream to me now, but reading that in black and white text gives me inspiration and motivation that it CAN happen.

Thanks!

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..