"Big Boned" expectations

honeypeas

I have now officially been told that I have a larger bone structure. What does this mean as far as my weight loss goals? I am content knowthing that I will not be a petite size 2, based on this news as well as the fact that I've been heavy for almost 20 years. With this being the case though, what can I really consider my size goal to be? I would love to be a size 7, but I'd be content at a 9, is this something that I can realistically shoot for?

Naomi_84

It should not make a difference at all to your capacity to lose weight and be very slim/toned or whatever you want to be. Everybody has different builds which we can't change as its in our genetics but your bones aren't "fat" are they? Just the layers on top of them (I'm not calling you fat by the way) I'm just trying to get my point across.

With regards to the size you should be, that depends on your height really. There are plenty of sites on the net that will tell you a normal range for your height, maybe start there and tweak it as you go.

Good luck!!

SideSteel

Don't set a goal clothing size.

Lose weight at a reasonable pace, get some exercise, and stop losing weight when you like what you see in the mirror.

Bone size won't be relevant to that.

concordancia

It means your body will be happier towards the top of normal for your height.

As for the clothing size, you ate just going to have to wait and see: there are many factors that affect that.

LoraF83

Don't set a goal clothing size.

Lose weight at a reasonable pace, get some exercise, and stop losing weight when you like what you see in the mirror.

Bone size won't be relevant to that.

^This.

I'm a size 12. So what? I look awesome and I'll look even more awesome at my goal weight.

omma_to_3

I have a large bone structure as well - very broad shoulders and wide hips. I should be between a 6 and an 8 when I reach my goal weight. Probably a 6 on the bottom and an 8 on top. You will likely never be a 2 - you can only get so small with a large bone structure, but it's not a huge difference. I could probably get to a 4 if I really tried but don't think it would be sustainable for me.

ryry_

I also have been told I am "big boned" at the doctor. It did not impede my ability to look darn good.

It did mean that I naturally am like 15-20 pounds heavier than someone who looks similar.

In college I was in great shape, and my older brother (we are the same height) definitely seemed more muscular and bigger than I was yet he topped out at 190 and I was 205. I also wore size 36 jeans while he would wear 32. Don't let it deter you.

neandermagnon

It means your body will be happier towards the top of normal for your height.

As for the clothing size, you ate just going to have to wait and see: there are many factors that affect that.

This ^^^^

I have a large frame and I'm right at the top of the normal BMI range for my height at 22% body fat.

It doesn't actually matter what your clothes size is, because it's having a lower body fat percentage that makes you look good, not what actual size your clothes are.

The best thing to do is get your body fat percentage measured reliably, and use that to calculate your goal weight. Or simply have a goal body fat percentage.

JessyJ03

I agree with the poster who said don't worry about a size. Get a weight you are happy and healthy with. The size wont matter.

Besides everyone is different.

For me to be a size 16, I have to be under 190 lbs.... but my Mom is the same size at 250 lbs. It's all about how you're built. Just go with it and accept your body. You'll figure it out.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

It means that my advice for you is pretty much in line with what I would tell anyone else: the scale is a *kitten* liar, set your goals using a reasonable bodyfat percentage not the scale and not the irregular vanity sizes.

ldrosophila

Expect to look like a Norse goddess and not a tiny pixie

fbmandy55

Expect to look like a Norse goddess and not a tiny pixie

I wanna look like a norse goddess.

Sweet_Gurl_Next_Door

I am also big boned and a large frame. mesomorph (atheletic body type) I am 5"4 inches tall and weigh 186 pounds. on top I wear a size large 12/14 on my bottom a size 16 in pants. I went on a website where it talks about your body type superskinnyme.com it has an ideal weight calculator that tells you your ideal weight goal for yourself in considering your body type.

for mine it said my ideal is between 134-151 pounds. I am shooting for the middle range about 145 pounds. hope this helps.

BrownEyeAngel

:laugh:

RitaSantoss

I know what you mean. Being a pear shape (I love my shape by the way ), I have big hips, thighs and bum. I know I will probably never wear a size 36 EU in jeans, but I hope to reach at least a 40 EU, because I think 38 EU might be pushing a bit too hard (I'm currently a 44 UE). And I am thrilled to be able to already start to fit into size M clothes AND look good in them. I don't want to be a size S, it just doesn't look appealing to me due to my body shape. You just have to face your weight loss goals with as much realism as possible and be happy with what you are able to accomplish.

North44

It also depends on how tall you are. I'm small framed, so I'm happier at the low end of my BMI range, but I'm tall with broad shoulders so I'll never wear a small top- maybe a medium depending on cut and brand.

GaiaGirl1992

What did they do, take a full body x-ray and figure out you have thicker bones than someone else? Don't worry about it, you'll get into whatever size when you're ready for it!

And the goddess/pixie thing is right! Delicate little flower, or Amazonian princess?

SlvrBluGoddess

Don't set a goal clothing size.

Lose weight at a reasonable pace, get some exercise, and stop losing weight when you like what you see in the mirror.

Bone size won't be relevant to that.

^This.

I'm a size 12. So what? I look awesome and I'll look even more awesome at my goal weight.

Great attitude.

I agree - clothing size shouldn't matter. Being healthy is the goal. Or at least that's my goal.

DopeItUp

How did you calculate that you're "big boned"? If you used the wrist measurement method it doesn't mean anything when you're 100lbs overweight. You will lose size on your wrist. In 82lbs I've gone from an 8" wrist to a 7.25" which moves me from "big boned" to "normal". In other words, don't sweat it until you're close to your goal weight/appearance. Use the mirror and/or body fat percentage anyway, body weight means little.

Sarauk2sf

Don't set a goal clothing size.

Lose weight at a reasonable pace, get some exercise, and stop losing weight when you like what you see in the mirror.

Bone size won't be relevant to that.

^This.

I'm a size 12. So what? I look awesome and I'll look even more awesome at my goal weight.

yes to the this and yes you do!

taso42

Who told you that you're big boned? Is that a scientific term?

Mokey41

The term big boned ranks right up there with skinny fat and starvation mode. The average human skeleton doesn't vary much besides length of the long bones for height. You may have wider set shoulders or broader hips but your bones aren't big nor do they weigh more than another person of your height.

For all the differences that we see in humans on the outside, we're remarkably the same on the inside whether it be bones, organs, metabolism or muscle structure.

Using a clothing size isn't a god way to decide on goal weight. In the end, body fat should be your ultimate measure of success.

louiselebeau

Expect to look like a Norse goddess and not a tiny pixie

^^^ This ^^^

sweetnlow30

I am 5' 3" but I have a heavier frame. My hips aren't that wide but my shoulders are. At my smallest size I was a 6 in pants but I still took a L-XL in tops. For this reason I can get away with looking pretty good at the high end of "normal" for my height and weight. I wouldn't get too caught up in the numbers. Just lose until you find a weight you feel comfortable at. Some people would feel big at my goal weight of 145-150 but it works for me

psuLemon

There is no such thing as big boned.. you can have a broader frame (wider hips or shoulders) but big boned is a nice way of saying overweight or fat. Even if you have a larger frame you can still cut to a low body fat and look awesome.

PetulantOne

How did you calculate that you're "big boned"? If you used the wrist measurement method it doesn't mean anything when you're 100lbs overweight. You will lose size on your wrist. In 82lbs I've gone from an 8" wrist to a 7.25" which moves me from "big boned" to "normal". In other words, don't sweat it until you're close to your goal weight/appearance. Use the mirror and/or body fat percentage anyway, body weight means little.

My wrists always stay the same size. Ray Charles' big girl gauge wouldn't have worked on me lol

OP- like others have said, set a goal bf% and work on that.

krhn

Take this big bone statement with a pinch of salt, people can easily get blindsided by this and eat more because they are "big boned" - I use to say i was big boned when i was obese, then when i cut down in weight/fat, my wrist size is comparable with my younger brother LMFAO! :laugh:

So much for "Big Boned" :drinker:

Pumpkinguy13

I'm going to have to join on board with those saying, "Who told you that you were big-boned?"

In my youth I was always very large. Huge is probably a better term. I always also assumed (and was told) I had a huge skeleton to go with it. Really large shoulders, hips etc.

However, After I lost weight and became more fit I realized that maybe my hips and shoulders maybe are slightly wider than the average, but most of it was just fat and liquids. (plus I just stored more fat in the areas around the back of my hips that made me think my bones were bigger than they were).

I don't think human bones vary THAT much away from the mean unless a person has something like Acromegaly.

elainecroft

The term big boned ranks right up there with skinny fat and starvation mode. The average human skeleton doesn't vary much besides length of the long bones for height. You may have wider set shoulders or broader hips but your bones aren't big nor do they weigh more than another person of your height.

For all the differences that we see in humans on the outside, we're remarkably the same on the inside whether it be bones, organs, metabolism or muscle structure.

Using a clothing size isn't a god way to decide on goal weight. In the end, body fat should be your ultimate measure of success.

Some people just. have. bigger. bones. Example - my wrists and hands are bigger than most people my height. It's not because they are fat, they are just longer and wider. It is not reasonable to expect me to be the same weight as a person with a smaller frame, and in fact I have found that I often weigh more than someone who is a significantly larger size than me.

JosieRawr

I have a longer/wider frame that many people... even when I was unhealthily skinny I could only just fit size six(not particularly comfortably either) not to say that I'm big boned as my wrists are less than 6inches around at the smallest point, but my hips are wide, I'm not hugely tall(@5'8) and I only have ~20lbs to lose, but I've decided not to set a goal in stone... I've always been bigger than my sisters and mom(not in an overweight way, just larger "stout" that went into curvy at puberty instead of thin) I'm thinking around 150lbs but if I get to 155 n like what I see I'll probably start working more on strength n lifting n less on cardio... As far as pants go... I have no idea where I'll land there, I'm currently about a 13(though my smaller framed in law gives me a *raised eyebrow* you're size what? ) in miss me jeans and a couple of other popular brands(around here anyways) I have no size goal... I think it works better than stressing out.

Edit just cuz

Susie_Q12

UGH, not them "Big Bones" again....:laugh: