How much did you lose before you went down a pants size?

nekosimba · June 2013

My beginning weight on my journey was 275lbs. Since then I've lost 40 pounds and have only gone down 1 pants size. I was a tight 20, and now I'm a loose 18.

I'm very bottom heavy which frustrates me. I have large hips and thighs and a small waist...so I tend to have to go a size bigger just to button up.

Just feeling a little discouraged and wanting to know if anyone else has gone through this too.

GiddyNZ · June 2013

Hi There, it took me 33lb's to go down a size in jeans, and I am currently down 37.84lb's down and am thinking of re-looking at the next size down in work pants.. I have large thighs, so pants that fit my waist are generally very tight around my thighs.. sigh

anxietygirl · June 2013

I'm just shy of losing twenty pounds and I've gone from a solid 18 to a tight 16/18. I think I'm going to have to lose thirty or so before I'm even down a full size! It's crazy, but it has to do with how my body is shaped normally, under all this pudge. Even if I lose my sixty pound goal and get down to 150, I'm still likely to be a size 14!

amandamontreuil · June 2013

I've lost 15 and haven't even gone down a pants size yet, and still in the same size

redheaddee · June 2013

Not a single pound. Still at the same weight from4 months ago, but one pant size smaller.

g33kmommy · June 2013

I am 26lbs down and was a very tight 16, and now a loose 16. I still can't fit into a size 14 yet. I'm hoping by 35lbs I can go down a size.

christianteach · June 2013

I think it was 20 or so but now I'm down almost 50 lbs and 3 sizes.

SailorKnightWing · June 2013

In college I went from 160lbs to 140lbs and lost 2 jeans sizes. I gained it back and have lost 5lbs and my pants are loose again.

It really depends on the where your body naturally stores fat. My pants size went down because my butt went flat, but my hips and belly didn't change.

blibby33 · June 2013

I lost 45 pounds before I went down a size. I am having trouble losing weight in my waist, I am losing in every place but my waist. It totally stinks. Good luck on your journey and do not give up.

Rhiannawright · June 2013

I learned this in my retail days. 30 pound = 1 size, on average. I have lost 50 pounds though and have only lost size myself.

edcardenas1227 · June 2013

I've lost over 30 pounds and have lost one pant size. It might be time to change things up. Are you working out? Cardio? Diet is the most important but excercise will sure help speed things along!!

loosesealbluth · June 2013

I tend to go down a size every 25-35 pounds. It depends on a lot of variables, though – particularly what brand I'm wearing. I fit into a size 18 pair of jeans at Forever 21 months ago, and they're already fitting looser, yet I just tried an 18 at H&M that was quite snug.

kellypowers722 · June 2013

i lost 40 pounds a few years ago and only went from an 18/20 to a 15/16- everyone loses weight differently--i gained back twenty pounds since then so now im back at it--good luck--dont get discouraged -as long as you are working at it you arent gaining weight and thats always something you can be proud of even if the scale or the clothing rack isnt showing you any love

TallGlassOfQuirky · June 2013

I wish I could remember the exact story, but here's the gist of paper towel analogy:

Al is a roll of paper towels. The center/core is Thin Al. Each paper towel sheet is a pound of fat on Al. The outer layer(s) barely go around the roll once so, if you take one sheet off of Al, you don't see much change. As you take more and more sheets off, each sheet wraps around a bit more and, the closer you get to the center, to Thin Al, the more noticeable each sheet you remove is.

Anyway, at your heaviest, it's going to take a while before the loss shows. As you get smaller, it will take less to go down a size.

When I started, it took me 30+ pounds to go down a size. At my smallest, I went down three sizes in less than 20 pounds. Body composition also makes a big difference. If you work on shedding fat, not just "losing weight," your measurements will go down more.

melfitnesspal13 · June 2013

I have lost 38 lbs and lost 2 sizes (of expensive pants) and 1 size (in cheaper brand). Cheaper pants run much smaller apparently. It is an great feeling!!

BozGirl · June 2013

That's almost exactly what happened to me -- I started at a size 20 and I had to lose about 30 pounds to get into a size 18. Now I'm a size 14.

ashleymm625 · June 2013

i'm finding it is taking A LOT to lose sizes. but you can't stop just because its taking longer than expected. keep pushing forward!

seltzermint555 · June 2013

I weigh almost exactly the same as you...slightly more at 239...have lost over 30 lb and still wearing mostly size 20. I'm disappointed that with the exception of dress pants, most 18's don't fit me correctly. As a result I have tons and tons of size 20's that are baggy and often falling down, and when I try on 18 (especially jeans) they're usually way too short-rise and just look awful. Maybe in another 15-20 lb that will change...I hope so!

Capt_Apollo · June 2013

When i read someone posting up “How long will it take before I (lose 50 pounds/get abs/fit into these pants)?”, i think that they are only interested in the results and aren’t really interested in putting in the time and effort to get there.

keep working hard, and the results will come.

Crochetluvr · June 2013

It took about 30 pounds before I went down from an 18 (pushing 20) to a 16. But we all lose weight differently. I should be a 12 now but my waist, which it looks like will be the last to go, is keeping me in a 14. But I'll take it. So hang in there....it will happen

lpina2mi · June 2013

After losng 12lbs I went from a 10/12 to a comfortable US 10. I lost another 2lbs and just fit into a UK size 10 dress suit. Loosing another 3-4 lbs would make that fit more comfortable.

ashleymm625 · June 2013

i'm finding it is taking A LOT to lose sizes. but you can't stop just because its taking longer than expected. keep pushing forward!

healthytanya1 · June 2013

I'm 5'7" and have very large legs and butt.
200 lbs size 20
190 lbs size 18
180 lbs size 16
170 lbs size 14
I am now 167 and hope to be in a 12 very soon. I seen on another post that when you get lower in sizes they go by faster. But who knows. All my jeans were different brands too so I'm sure that makes a difference. My 16s ran small and my 14s I think run big and are a little loose. I can squeeze into my 13s but they are tight. I want to get a nice brand of 12s that fit my butt.

nekosimba · June 2013

When i read someone posting up “How long will it take before I (lose 50 pounds/get abs/fit into these pants)?”, i think that they are only interested in the results and aren’t really interested in putting in the time and effort to get there.

keep working hard, and the results will come.

Thank you for adding the last part. I am trying hard...maybe not as hard as some other people. Right now I'm just doing cardio cuz I don't have a gym that has decent weights, and I don't have room in my small apartment for videos (excuses...I know!) So I'm a little limited by outside and weather conditions.

But I am trying and hoping to see the physical results, as right now I'm just seeing the scale go down.

dorenekimball · June 2013

it took nearly 30lbs before everyone started to notice my weight loss and before i was solidly in the next size down. take it one pound at a time and don't get discouraged. success breeds encouragement but you need to read success in all kinds of ways... exercising... staying under your calorie count... a new size... someone noticed your hard work... the scale dropping, etc. keep going, darlin'!

mollypw1994 · June 2013

I think it's different for everyone. But for me, I was in a size 16 (tight), and after losing almost 18 lbs, I'm in a loose 14. But i'm short, (5'3), so I think that 18 lbs makes more of a difference on me/my size than it would if I were tall. However long it takes, DO NOT GIVE UP! I wore a size 14 shorts today that I couldn't wear 2 months ago - and they were too big! I felt so happy, and loved the feeling of loose clothing on me. every lb counts. good luck!

R55T · June 2013

Thanks y'all for the feedback. From all the posts, it looks like dropping pants size depends on what sort of build one has. So for me as well, I just have to be patient & to keep working hard.

My story is: I've lost 20lbs before starting MFP and a further 7lbs to date but I'm somewhere between a size 20 - 18 currently. My size 20 shorts are hanging at hip level without belting (waist & butt reduced a bit, I think) but my thighs as still too big to fit into a size 18. Yep, major case of bottom heavy I am. So for now, I'm stuck with wearing size 20s with lots of slack space between my waist & hips. Not a good sight.

I'm doing cardio everyday in the hope that I can trim out my thighs especially so I can move down to size 18. No gym where I live so power walking/interval jogging up hills is all I can do at this stage I think . . .

All the best in your weight loss & dropping size goals.

Sil_76 · June 2013

Down 26 lbs and 1 size down in the waist area. My chest and legs are getting smaller, i need my gut to get lost

bawalker11 · June 2013

It takes me two- three dress sizes dropped to equal one pants size down- my waist seems to shrink fast, but I usually have to lose 2-3 inches around my waist to equal close to one inch down on my hips, I lose it all up top first.

fufi04 · June 2013

30ish pounds to drop a size...I'm down 2 :drinker:

missmegan831 · June 2013

38 pounds before going from a 20 to a tight 18 (was so aggravating... but another 20 pounds down and went all the way down to a 12/14 so it will happen.. we all lose weight in different parts of our bodies at different paces.... I noticed a bigger pant size drop as about 2 weeks after I added weight training into my workouts versus just all cardio... keep up the great work and congrats on your loss this far!

How much did you lose before you went down a pants size?

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