Why Does My Friend Look Skinnier Than Me?

IkirPaulson

This question stems from frustration and dissatisfaction with my appearance. Despite losing 15lbs, I see no changes and am disappointed that all the hard work produced no physically discernible results.

I am 5'5.5" and weigh 131lbs. My friend is 5'4" and weighs 120. With only an 11lb difference, she looks immensely skinnier than I (we were bridesmaids in a wedding and I wore a size large (American size 10) and she work a small (American size 4). Why would this be? Before you say, "Muscle weighs more than fat, she probably works out more than you." I will tell you she does not. She is sedentary and has been to the gym maybe once in her life.
I used to do martial arts every day for years, currently play soccer for a local league, and walk 3 times a week.
If anything, I should look smaller because I am taller and am more toned.
What's the deal?

pyrowill

She probably just has less body fat or hods it in different places, including visceral (internal) fat.

ubermensch13

People's bodys are shaped differently.....people at the same weight can look totally different in clothes.....stop trying to compare yourself to someone else.

ZozoMonster

It's just different body types. You shouldn't need to compare yourself to someone to feel good about yourself

Aviva92

she could naturally have a lower body fat percent than you even if she doesn't work out. i know a girl who never worked out a day in her life and has a 6 pack. you also might have wider hips causing a bigger size. i have wide hips and at 115 pounds and 5'4" i'm still a size 8 in pants.

IkirPaulson

Very true! I just consider losing a stone a significant amount of weight, and yet I see no results. Must think positive!

Aviva92

Very true! I just consider losing a stone a significant amount of weight, and yet I see no results. Must think positive!

Have you taken before and after pictures and still seen no difference by comparing them? In person, I find it hard to see changes in myself. I can't imagine that a 15 lb weight loss when you were not overweight to begin with wouldn't show some visible difference.

IkirPaulson

Have you taken before and after pictures and still seen no difference by comparing them? In person, I find it hard to see changes in myself. I can't imagine that a 15 lb weight loss when you were not overweight to begin with wouldn't show some visible difference.

I have! They are posted on MFP profile. I had my husband take them. I asked him and my sisters for their honest opinions, and they all said in a rather uncertain tone that "Maybe there are some changes around the stomach."

I'm thinking I should add more weight bearing exercises for 2013.

Aviva92

Have you taken before and after pictures and still seen no difference by comparing them? In person, I find it hard to see changes in myself. I can't imagine that a 15 lb weight loss when you were not overweight to begin with wouldn't show some visible difference.

I have! They are posted on MFP profile. I had my husband take them. I asked him and my sisters for their honest opinions, and they all said in a rather uncertain tone that "Maybe there are some changes around the stomach."

I'm thinking I should add more weight bearing exercises for 2013.

aaah, yeah i see the pictures. they do look very similar. maybe it's because you don't seem to have any obvious problem areas to begin with, so it's hard to see.

Sweet_Pea0107

Best advice I can give you is to stop comparing yourself to others.

NCchar130

People just carry it differently. I'm 5,6 and at 140 pounds a few years back, I wore a US size 4. My mother is 5',7" and wore a US size 12 at 140 lbs.

terracotti

maybe she has a larger body frame. I kept wondering how 115 was considered skinny here but my sister was 117 but looked healthy, and why a person with the same height and weight as me could look skinnier. I read that Asians (I'm Asian) have a small body frame and have different BMI so maybe the frame size also counts, besides body fat percentage, muscle mass, etc.

mambagirl

It just depends on your body.When i was 230lbs 5'8..I wore size 14 (US) jeans.My friend who is the same height wore a 18 at 230lbs...She has hips and booty,I don't.I carry most of my weight in my upper body.

ihateroses

She probably does not carry a lot of weight in her waistline.

Sarahsue94

Dont quote me on this but i head somewhere that some people hold fat more around their organs and closer to their body. She also may simply have more muscle than you do.

BinaryPulsar

It can depend on having different shapes. As others said she could have a small waist. Or she could have very skinny legs or slender hips (things like that). She could have a lower bf %.

But, also I think 11 pounds can be a bigger difference than you realize. I lost 9 pounds and went from a size 4 to a 00 (that is down 3 sizes and only a 9 pound loss). The size 4's I had fall off now. I had bought a size 2 and I had to get it completely taken in (2 sizes smaller). The size 00 is not even tight. So, in your case a 10 is actually only 3 sizes bigger than a 4. So, 11 pounds is more than you realize (or a 10 is not that much bigger than a 4 as you think). Seems reasonable to me.

j1wright

I just looked at your before and after photos and I can tell a difference. Look at your upper back and your stomach, you have thinned out. I would say if you lose 5 more pounds you might notice a considerable amount more.

My size didn't really get smaller until I reached 125 pounds. I swear I went from a size 11 to a size 6 from 141 pounds to 125 pounds. Even at 130 pounds I was still wearing the size 11 and they were just looser. I believe everyone has a magic number and that is when your size changes (if that is what you are looking for).

IkirPaulson

I just looked at your before and after photos and I can tell a difference. Look at your upper back and your stomach, you have thinned out. I would say if you lose 5 more pounds you might notice a considerable amount more.

My size didn't really get smaller until I reached 125 pounds. I swear I went from a size 11 to a size 6 from 141 pounds to 125 pounds. Even at 130 pounds I was still wearing the size 11 and they were just looser. I believe everyone has a magic number and that is when your size changes (if that is what you are looking for).

Awesome!