sizes changing but not measurements?

kainaible

This week I needed to do some pants shopping. I'm a size 14, have been for most of my adult life.
I recently started a new job and it entails having to walk 3-7 miles a day at a brisk pace. Typically we do not have time for a break for food, but.I try to bring trail mix or something in between, then I eat when I get home.
I drink about 4-5 20 oz bottles of water a day.
This week I have been keeping a close eye on what I eat and have been struggling to hit even 1200 calories.
I went clothes shopping today for the first time in six months or so, and I am now a size 18.
I realize that I need to be hitting my calorie goals to boost my metabolism to loose weight, but It has been a struggle during the day even thinking about taking five minutes to eat.at.work.
Could not hitting that calorie goal consistently have caused me tl gain weight?
All of my existing pants in a size 14 still fit me just fine, so I don't understand what it could be.

bm1409

Could it be the cut or the brand? Brands fit differently. I usually wear a size 12 but in some brands I can wear 10's. It seems like if you were gaining weight your 14's would be getting tight.

Ready2Rock206

A couple ideas: either your 14s your currently own have stretched, the brand of pants you tried in the 18 run smaller than the brand you currently have, the style you tried today is a smaller fitting style than the 14s you have or you gained weight in areas that don't affect your size 14 pants.