40lbs Lost, but same clothing size?!?

emstgm

I have lost 37 lbs, and though many of my pants are too big (size 20-22), I still wear a pair of khakies size 22 that never fit me even when I was a size 20. Now I wear size 16's, yet these 22's still fit me (a bit baggy). I pulled out my size 16 jeans from about 10+ years ago. WAYYYY too small. But my new size 18 clothes are too big.

It's discouraging because as we lose we obviously want to go down in size. For a long while, I was stuck where my current pants were too baggy and the new smaller stuff was too tight. Hang in there ... it will shift and you'll be able to get those smaller ones on.

MarincicS

I am having the same problem. My old clothes are loose and baggy but new ones in a smaller size don't quite fit yet.

One thing I think is that my old clothes were probably too tight and stretched out a bit with the strain. I have been wearing the same pairs of Lane Bryant pants for years. Yet I bought the same size 9 months ago and they have been too snug to be comfortable. So really I had probably grown out of that size except for the stretch of my old ones.

But the old ones are going to have to go. The new ones in the same size actually fit pretty nicely. But I reckon I'll go down a size in another month or two. Can't wait.

But 40 pounds lost . . . . . YOU ROCK!!!!

tamsinwhitfield

Pretty much what everybody else said - sizes have become bordering on meaningless, given the increase in vanity sizing (and the difference in cut between different brands). However, I actually find the opposite of what a few people have mentioned - I tend to notice that high-end brands are cut smaller whereas cheap fall-apart-in-two-washes stuff is usually gigantic (to the extent that I actually can't shop in some stores at all because the smallest size stocked still seems to fit a good two sizes larger than what I'd consider correct). "Younger" stores also tend to have a smaller fit, as they're generally less forgiving to body shape.

Short version - ignore the labels, get the tape measure out. Tape measure doesn't lie!

twinmom01

Yep like everyone else said different brands are goinfg to fit differently - heck the same brand different styles are going to fit differently - I can wear some styles of Levi jeans in a 14 - other styles I can't get past my thighs

I went from a tight 16 (I.E. there were only a few brands I could fit a size 16 in) to now I am wearing a loose 14. I have a number of dress pants in size 14 that I bought about 6 years ago when I lost a bunch of weight the wrong way (hence why I am back loosing it again) and they all fit to the point of almost being too loose - but when I got to the store and try o 12's - no go without them being really tight...

I went to Goodwill the other day and managed to scoop up 2 pairs of size 14 jeans to have on hand -since I only had 1 pair of size 14 jeans (ok I lie I have 3 but 2 are from the mid 90's and really should not be seen in public ever again - light wash and mom style - I wasn't even a mom then....) and actually have something that fits - since I am still trying to loose weight I didn't want to spend a lot of money for jeans that (hopefully) won't fit in a few months...

gwyn48

Deja VU! I was just going to post on this same problem!
I too have lost a total of 46 lbs, but am getting discouraged because I have barely moved down in pant sizes. I also have a pair of jeans that were tight(size 22), and now, with a belt can be worn and look stylish.

As some posters have stated, all the pants in size 22 I can still wear is because they have between 5-25% Lycra spandex in them.

Shopping is no fun, because I am still not ready to shop with anyone, since none of them shop in the "big women's" section. However, I am in between sections. I can get into an XL or 18, but not always, and sometimes it's the large. I still plan on losing 50 more lbs, so I don't really want to spend alot of money on clothes.

I have found whenever I see any diet commercial about how they lost 20 lbs and 4 dress sizes I get frustrated, so as soon as those lead-ins come around, I mute them. I can't take it.

I have tried to concentrate on the little things- Trying to enjoy the pants slipping down the waist as I walk, or the start of seeing the collarbones around my neck.

The one thing that I have rarely seen mentioned is the difference in shoe sizes and widths these 46 lbs have made. I have gone down a 1/2 shoe size and am down to a D width from a WW. Heels no longer hurt at the end of the day and I can fit into sandals I bought last year but were so tight I couldn't wear them out. I now prance around in them at work.

Concentrate on the little successes!!

bojamashell

I am having the same problem. My old clothes are loose and baggy but new ones in a smaller size don't quite fit yet.

One thing I think is that my old clothes were probably too tight and stretched out a bit with the strain. I have been wearing the same pairs of Lane Bryant pants for years. Yet I bought the same size 9 months ago and they have been too snug to be comfortable. So really I had probably grown out of that size except for the stretch of my old ones.

But the old ones are going to have to go. The new ones in the same size actually fit pretty nicely. But I reckon I'll go down a size in another month or two. Can't wait.

But 40 pounds lost . . . . . YOU ROCK!!!!

That's exactly what I was talking about! So maybe that is it. I don't wear my clothes tight at all. Actually, I work in a soil lab, so it's jeans and t-shirt every day and I usually wear the shirts that aren't snug at all. I guess like someone else said that doesn't make much sense if you don't want people to see how big you are to wear bigger clothes. lol. But I guess it was more of, I don't want to show everyone where the weight actually is. Why should people be able to see the bulge in my tummy that almost looks like I'm pregnant. Haha. But perhaps, the jeans I wear all the time have been stretched because of wearing them so much. So I'll give it some more time.

Side note- for those of you that have lost weight, but still have more to go (a lot more to go, like me), have you noticed a shift? As I've lost weight, I notice the smallest part of my torso (which I used to think was the waist until proven wrong by a trainer at the gym) has gotten smaller. But as it has, it's like the skin is moving down, so now I have more in my waist and lower torso area. (which may be why I measured and figured I gained inches on my waist). Anyone have this happen? Seems kinda of weird.