Tall Women and Weight

In October 2010 I was where you are now (I started at about 193ish). I'm also 5'11. I was approaching a size 16 pant, couldn't do 2 flights of steps without getting out of breathe and I was tired of being uncomfortable. I didn't FEEL that big, but I knew that my weight was not healthy for me. So I made a few small changes, stayed off the scale and by May of 2011 I was buying 10's and 12's. I had no clue what my weight was because that wasn't important to me. I'm guessing I was about 170. I just wanted to get healthy, starting eating better and get to a size I was comfortable with.

Now, I'm 155-157, BMI of 22, not too thin in the slightest and a size 6-8. I feel and I look healthier than I ever have. I'm determined to keep in the 150's for as long as I can.

My advise to you is to set your goal at 180 and evaluate from there. I can bet that once you get to 180 you'll want to keep going!

I do agree that height is a factor, you can carry more weight than someone who is 5'1'', but I've also learned that muscle mass has a lot to do with how you'll look at any given weight. I'm 5'10. At my highest I was 265 lbs. I got down to 172, but I had absolutely no muscle - I like to call it my skinny-fat phase. So at that weight I literally looked like a bobble head, not cute at all!

So when I started my weight loss this go around (I was at 210) I thought that 180 would be a good weight so as not to get back to the skinny-fat look. However I've incorporated a lot of lifting this time around and I've had completly different results. I'm currently at 160, 24% ft and a size 6 and I look 10 times better than I ever did at 172 the first time around.

So I would say set the goal of 180, and re-evaluate. But also look into tracking your bf (body fat). I agree with kristen6022, once you get to 180 you probably will set a new goal! Good luck!

I'm 5'10 and started at 230. Now I'm 226.5 - not a huge difference, but I just recommitted and the important thing is that the scale is going down, right? When I graduated high school in 2002, I was 150 and a size 10. I think I was a 14 at 208; now I'm a 16. I feel like it takes a LOT of weight loss for us to change sizes.

I'm 5'9, almost 5'10 and when I started I was at 285. My lowest was 180 and I liked the way I looked but I wasn't as good as I could be. Now I'm back up to 193(ish) and I'd love to be down to at least 170, but with more definition. It says I'm supposed to be at 145 for my height, but with my body frame, I just don't see that happening. But we shall see.

I'm 5ft8 and I think I'm 175 lbs. I have a small frame but muscular legs and boobs and booty too so it has on effect on the scale..

I am 6'0" and started at 193, so close to what you are trying for. I originally thought that getting down to 170 would be great for me, but then realized I am sadly lacking in the muscle department. I am down to 159/160 now and am at 27% body fat. I am still trying to slowly lose weight and I think somewhere between 150/155 would be the best area for me, but who knows... I may have to try to get even lower than that. But on the other side, I know those few lbs will not make a huge difference in how I look so I plan on doing it very slowly.

I am 6 ft and my starting weight was 247 (holy smokes!) currently I am 182.2 and have a goal weight of 165-170. I have a medium frame but carry all excess weight in my bottom half . I started in a tight 18/20 (US) and currently wearing a 14 still even after losing 65 pounds! I think it all depends on where you carry your weight or how much muscle you have. Best wishes on your journey.

Anyone can feel free to add me tall ladies need support too :drinker: :drinker:

I am 5'10" and happiest around 145-150 which puts me in a size 6+/-. Check out mybodygallery.com, you can search by height, weight, size, body shape and can help you decide what might look best for you. Good luck

This is a great topic and something I've wondered about too as I'm 5'8 1/2". While I think BMI is a good indicator of if you may need to lose some or not, I think it has its flaws as well. For example, it doesn't take into account differences between men and women. My dad who is 6'0" and 195 is considered overweight - but he lifts three times a week, is built sturdy/average, and runs and walks all the time. He's in great shape. I truly dont think he needs to lose. Could he benefit from a tiny weight loss? maybe. But, I just think it's crazy that men and women have the same BMI scale when there are biological differences in men and women. Not to mention among us women differences in our own frames and structures (and the same with men).

When I ran Cross Country in college, I weighed 132ish and I was the biggest on my team by far weight wise. At 5'8 1/2" I feel 132 is a decent weight if not thin but compared to the other girls I was quite large. I had two teammates who were the exact same height as myself and one was 120 and the other 122. But I felt that I wasn't carrying a lot of excess weight, I felt as if our bone structure was different. Even when I have been 120 pounds, I still have wide hips. They are bony then, but wide. People have different frames and structures.

I do think the BMI gives us a good reference point. Right now, I am 173, which is the heaviest I have ever been. My pants don't fit. I have somethign like love handles and my stomach is bigger than normal. I feel sluggish. I could tell I was getting heavier, and when I saw 173 I thought, 'I'd be interested what the BMI chart says about this.' Sure enough, I am considered overweight. My BMI is 25.7 so just slightly overweight, but boy can I tell in my everyday life. It's an effort to do things that once weren't an effort.

With this being said, with my weight fluctuations through the years (as an adult the least I have weighed is 120 in 2009 and 173 now...but usually I am 135-140). When I was 120, my family and friends would talk to me asking if I was having an ED. I was eating 1200 or more calories a day (more or less) and running and very active, healthy and happy. I was, however, anemic, and found out during the San Diego marathon (made it to mile 19). So, I feel that my best weight is right around 130 to where i feel alive, healthy, happy, able to run and do all the things I want to do. That is just me personally, with everyone's frame and structure being different you may be my same height and have a different 'best' weight. But hopefully this helps someone looking for a reference point. Best wishes to you all

One of the positives about being tall (6'0"), is that I "hide" my weight very well. At 240 lbs, (YIKES!) most people wouldn't ever guess that much. However, I also have a very large frame, so if I lose 30 pounds no one notices either. And dropping 30 pounds means that I only go down 1 pant size. So being tall definitely has it's benefits and frustrations. Anyway, my goal weight for my height and frame is 175 lbs. Some women this height are okay in the 140's, but I know I would look like a skeleton.

Also, yesterday was my first day on MFP, and I could REALLY use some support. I've NEVER learned healthy eating habits, and I have no idea what I'm doing at a gym. Where do I start? I'm tired of feeling fat. Any advice is welcome!!

I'm 5'7, 155... Goal weight 135-140.. (man and I thought I was tall! you ladies are tall!! ROFL!!)

LOL! Exactly! I clicked in thinking, "I'm 5'8", this post must be for me." WRONG! We're the shorties in this discussion. Carry on, ladies. We "vertically challenged" will just sit back and wish 185 was a nice slim size 8 for us. Oh, the things I would eat ...

I am 5"11 a size 4 and 140 lbs and before you all say that is too thin I have a VERY tiny frame and my doctor is happy with my weight so so am I.

I am 5'10 and about 165. Med. boned and aiming to lose between 10 - 15 lbs to reach my goal and the weight I feel most comfortable at.

In my younger years/ pre-pregnancies I was 145 lbs which felt great but 150/155 is more realistic now that I am 40 ish and must have some treats and wine every now and then.

I think every body is different though. I struggle with muscle tone so being lighter and working out/ running helps me look and feel my best.

Nice to see some fellow tall women here, I am 180 cm (5'11) and 72kg (159lbs). I hope to get to a 70kg, maybe not much but I really had to make a change as I was going up on the scale and I need to find a way to stabilize again.

I have quite a big frame and I have come to peace with myself that I can loose all the weight but I will maintain a hips, broad shoulders and boobs. Even with the best will in the world I will not be able to wear certain clothes that looks nice on petite women and also when I put something on that does not have a V neck & tailored I will look like a big Michelin tube man.

Anybody else finding it sometimes difficult when you are taller to find good clothes that not only fit you but also look nice without being to bulky?