Lost 35 pounds but haven't dropped a pants size?

This is great that you posted this as I thought I was alone in this! I started a couple months ago...I don't weigh in very much because I become scale obsessed too easily. This time around I am going by how my clothes fit. 18's were soooo tight in the summer. Now they feel loose but are not sliding off or anything. My size 14/15 dress pants from last year are still pretty tight. I would have thought I could've done them up with ease by now...but no dice! However my shirt size was a 1x and I easily fit women's med-large now. I notice it in my face too. Bet all of us will be "swimming" in our 16's by Christmas!!

I was noticing today that my pants make me look fatter than I am because the waist is loose, but comfortable, the hips are loose and comfortable, but the thighs are flapping.

I need a different fit to my pants now. Probably a different size, too. But definitely a different fit.

I've lost 23 pounds and many inches. I've hit my first goal weight, but have reset to lose another 15 pounds. But I flat out refuse to buy new clothes until I get to that final goal. Skirts and too large pants for me!

P.S. I have dropped two shirt sizes (16 to 12 or XL to medium) and my bra strap size has gone down two to four inches while my cup size went up 2! Sizes are weird.

you could be losing it in different areas, and not just around the mid-section. don't beat yourself up, 35# is a huge accomplishment! keep up the hard work and i'm sure you'll start noticing changes soon

It depends on how much weight you have to lose and how you carry your weight. If you tend to store a disproportionate amount of fat on your butt and hips, watch exercises that use direct weight.

Same here! I'm between sizes too so it's really frustrating. The pants I wear are really loose around my waist but I can't fit into lower sized jeans because of my butt! Ahh. I feel your pain.
I would say just focus on the weight loss and then suddenly you'll notice "Hey wait a minute, these are size 16 pants. WHOOOO!"

The fact that the only reason you didn't go up a size was because you "refused to" should tell you a lot. You very likely were (at least) a size bigger than you were wearing and just refused to accept it. I did the same thing. I never ever ever would buy above a particular size even though it was uncomfortable and I had to squeeze into it; it took more than 20 pounds to see my jeans even loosen (and that's a big number on someone who's only 5' tall).

Just keep going. 35 pounds is great, so you're on your way. Once you lose enough, you'll need smaller clothes; it's really as simple as that. You might not be there yet, but if you keep on this successful trajectory, you'll undoubtedly get there.

Ignore the pants size - find a good tailor.

There seems to be a big gap between sizes above 14, and tremendous variability between brands.

It doesn't cost that much to get pants taken in - much less than a new pair. I use the lady who does alterations at my dry cleaner's.

I've lost just over 35 pounds since January but I haven't changes my pants size at all. I was wearing an 18 when I started (probably should have been wearing a 20 but refused to buy one size larger, that's why I started losing weight) and I'm still an 18 today. I know I've lost inches in my hips and waist and thighs but can't seem to get into a 16. And my 18s are even loose on me. Frustrating and perplexing. What gives?!

When I read this I thought 'but you have gone down a pants size'! You say yourself you probably should have been wearing a size 20 so realistically you have gone from a size 20 to a loose size 18. Celebrate that and the size 16 will come!

I have lost around 18lbs. I was feeling a big disheartened about not dropping a full size in that time, but then it occurred to me that I never faced up to being in a size 20. All my 18 stuff is now huge and I am only just getting into 16, and that's with stretch. You have already lost a size, just not the one you wanted - keep it up, you're doing great!

Unless you buy the same pair of pants by the same factory in the same year who knows what the size/fit we are all are. Then there is the whole after you wash a pair of jeans and how long you dry them if you are wearing cotton based fabric.

I have been within the same 3 pounds for the last few months (I have been at goal for few months now) and as I continue to eat healthy, workout and drink lots of water, my pants keep getting slightly looser. My stomach keeps going flatter. Hips keep shrinking....sloooooooowly.. I am not buying anymore pants for a year. I have just enough clothes for work now, and I am going to see what my body does over the next year. (as I move from squishy to more and more toned).

I see them as two separate issues - my personal fitness and what the heck clothing suppliers are doing with the fit of jeans. For the record, Gloria Vanderbuilt jeans at costco are $15.99 and they seem to be in stock regularly from size 8 (even talls sometimes!) thru plus sizes. Also, the Goodwill store near my house has Jeans for $5.