Dress size, this doesn't make sense

daisy89

You know, I started at 160 and was wearing size 12's. They were baggy from the calves, fit well in the thighs, but were tight in the waist.

At 140 I wear my old size 10's still and they fit comfortably.

I think what you also have to look at is whether those original size 16's were tight?

Not to sound insulting, this is from my own personal experience, but there was a point where I simply refused to buy a bigger size than 12 and stubbornly wore a smaller size (quite tightly).

Could it be that the size 16 was tight and the size 14's are nicely loose now?

Oh, and I'm also 5'4.

chellawella

Yeah, everyone is different, but generally 15-20 pounds translates into one dress size. You'll get there!

knittnponder

I am mostly in a 12 right now but I do have some 14's that fit me and I've also got a few 10's that fit. It just all depends on the manufacturer I think. Hang in there! You're going the right direction and it will seem like overnight you're in a smaller size.

NikkisNewStart

I lost my weight in my legs and chest first... then in my waist... my stinking waist was the last to go and there is still some holding on for sure! I know it's frustrating but keep chugging and eventually it will give up it's battle and bite the dust!

Lyadeia

I would definitely just concentrate on the fact that you ARE losing weight AND size!

When I started MFP, I was a size 14 at 150 pounds. I am now a size 6, sometimes an 8, and hovering around 140 or so. So I seem to have lost more sizes than pounds. Either way, it can be frustrating. But then again, either way you look at it, we are both losing sizes and pounds!!!

beckyinma

Lost 25 lb so far, started at a size 18. Some of my 18 pants fall off, literally, fall off after I button them. Others, even the same brand, fit perfectly. Others, different brand size 16 fit nicely, and another 16 is still snug. It's brand and cut that determines fit, forget about size. I figure it'll be at least another 20lb before I can even look at a size 14 without it shuddering on the shelf, but my tops are almost ready to go Medium, from xl...

Hang in there, I know it's frustrating, looking at sizes and wondering why the heck they don't fit yet.

Atlantique

I am beginning to be a bit frustrated. My starting weight was 194 lbs and wore a size 16 dress. Now, I am 173 lbs and my dress size is 14. I mean, I've lost 21 lbs and I only went down to a 1 dress size. This is frustrating in a way but I am happy that I have progress. Does this make sense to you? =(

By the way my starting waist line was 36" and now 33". I just feel that I should have at least went down to size 12 with that 21lbs lost.

If this info would help I am 5'4" and I exercise 6 days a week. I do Insanity for 6 days and do the P90x shoulder and arms 2x a week in the evening. I am not the type of person who has flabby skin but I am overweight. A lot of people tell me that I have big bones (LOL) that's why my body frame is big.

It makes sense because dresses are not fitted by waist measurement. Depending on the cut of the dress, it's fitted by bust or hip measurement.

I'm busty, so I often have to go one size up from my usual size in dresses and then have the waist and hip tailored a bit. Women with lfuller hips often have to do the same--buy the size that fits the hip properly and then tailor the waist and bustline. (Do we really think JLo, gorgeous as she is, is buying off the rack without tailoring? HA!)

Congrats on the loss and on the waist going down so quickly! That makes a tremendous difference in your overall appearance!

ETA: Also, I've seen this analogy posted here before and it makes sense:

If you think of a roll of paper towels and you rip off 5 sheets when the roll is full, it doesn't make that much noticeable differnce, right?

But when the roll is already fairly small, ripping off 5 sheets make a big difference.

It's similar with weight. If you're 60 pounds overweight, 10 pounds doesn't make as obvious a difference in your appearance as 10 pounds would in someone who is only 30 pounds overweight.

bjshooter

Don't be down about it, thats a great loss and a dress size is great.
Remember clothes sizes vary, shop to shop, body shapes vary.
I have lost to full dress sizes and a bit, I would say I do lose one every 20lb or so.

keiraev

I am struggling with this one at the moment myself.

Size 12 (US size 8 - sounds SO much better!) is too big but Size 10 is too small. I lost 10lb and thought I would have at least fit into a 10 by now

BigBoneSista

Try losing 50 lbs and only dropping 3 dress sizes. We all have different body compositions. Alot of my weight was lost in the upper body. I'm really slim & muscular up top now. I carry most of my body fat in my lower half. I'm close to moving in my 4th dress size lost though.

bjshooter

I am struggling with this one at the moment myself.

Size 12 (US size 8 - sounds SO much better!) is too big but Size 10 is too small. I lost 10lb and thought I would have at least fit into a 10 by now

OOOO I may by imported clothes just to be a size 8 :O

I am also stuck in the middle.

georgiajuly

That sounds about right to me. I started at 228, and a size 18/20 depending. When I got down to 205, I was at a 16. When I was around 170, I was a size 12. For me, it's about 20 lbs/clothing size.

Same here. Clothing sizes vary a lot, but in general I was size 10 at 130 pounds, size 12 at 150, size 14 at 170, and size 16 (but everything was too long) at 190.

fatkidlovescake

I've lost 28lbs (5'10" from 199lbs to 171lbs) and haven't gone down a single dress size - maybe half a dress size - from a 14UK. I was wearing 12-14UK but mostly 14 at 199lbs but at my lightest 18months ago at 130lbs I was wearing a 10-12.

My waistline has gone for 30" to 29" and hips from 41" to 39" (at my lightest 26/27" waist and 37" hips).
I'm not expecting to drop a dress size for perhaps another 10lbs or so, but that's just me (I seem to put on a little layer everywhere that adds up to quite a lot)!