Often Surprised About Sizes

Jlennhikes
Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
edited September 26 in Chit-Chat
I'm 5'10". I weigh 155, and I wear a size 12 pants, and I often wear a large in tops. Depending on how big the sizes run, I might be a size smaller. When I hear someone weighs 160 pounds and wears a size 6 or something. I'm kind of surprised. Is this a height thing?
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Replies

  • sociable15
    sociable15 Posts: 98
    they may have more muscle. The same weight of muscle takes up less space than fat. also, not for nothing, if it's women's sizing (which it sounds like) that's like...a guess on a good day about whether two sizes in different brands are the same.
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
    It's more like a; how each person distributes their weight, thing.

    Like, I'm over 200, and wear a 13.
    My friend who weighs just as much as me, wears a 9.
    Another friend that weighs just as much, wears an 18.
    It's all about how it's placed on your body.
  • sarah44254
    sarah44254 Posts: 3,078 Member
    I think it has to do with body shape. I am 148 or so, and I am still trying to become comfortable in a size 8. At 5'3", I could wear a size 8 from my biggest (170) and also now. True there was quite a difference in feeling, but to lose 20+ lbs and not drop a size? :( I get sad.

    I do see improvements so I'm not sad for long, but I understand what you are saying. There are gals my height and weight in size 6 and 4 and I don't understand how that is possible.
  • MeggieMae22
    MeggieMae22 Posts: 40
    It also depends on wear you shop. I'm 5'1, and weigh 163. I wear size 8/9 pants, and medium or large tops, but if I go to another store my pant size will change either a size smaller or a few sizes bigger.
  • Legs_McGee
    Legs_McGee Posts: 845 Member
    I'm often surprised too. I'm also 5'10 - when I first joined MFP I weighed 157 and wore a size 10 pants - now I'm at 140 and just bought a couple pairs of size 6 from The Gap. I'm usually a small on top (I'm built like a prepubescent child). I don't know if it's a height thing....if anything we should wear smaller sizes since our weight is spread over a longer body.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    I'm 5'10". I weigh 155, and I wear a size 12 pants, and I often wear a large in tops. Depending on how big the sizes run, I might be a size smaller. When I hear someone weighs 160 pounds and wears a size 6 or something. I'm kind of surprised. Is this a height thing?

    it's so many things, you can't even list them all.

    some people weigh more because they are muscular
    height distributes weight
    some people carry weight in only certain areas
    some people are heavy but not fat

    when i was 250lbs, i remember this other girl who was also 250lbs. she was probably 3" shorter than me, but she wore a size 24- 26, and I was comfortable in an 18.

    why? I have no idea. I figured I must be either delusional (wearing clothes too small for me) or rather muscular (probably more the case). not that i didn't have fat on me, i certainly did, just not as much concentrated fat in the same area as her. we weighed the same, but i was considerably smaller than her.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    Yeah, I can definitely say I'm not very muscular right now. But when someone says they're 5'6" and they weigh 160 pounds and they wear a size 6, I've got to wonder. I think some people wear their clothes quite a bit tighter than what I find comfortable.
  • kayemme
    kayemme Posts: 1,782 Member
    plus sizing is a vanity industry... what used to be a 12 is really an 8/10 today. I have a vintage 16 woolen suit that is clearly not a 16 today.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    Like, I'm over 200, and wear a 13.
    My friend who weighs just as much as me, wears a 9.
    Another friend that weighs just as much, wears an 18.
    It's all about how it's placed on your body.

    I think you are right. Your friend who wears Size 9 at 200 pounds must like to wear tight clothes :)
  • Jenscan
    Jenscan Posts: 694 Member
    Like, I'm over 200, and wear a 13.
    My friend who weighs just as much as me, wears a 9.
    Another friend that weighs just as much, wears an 18.
    It's all about how it's placed on your body.

    I think you are right. Your friend who wears Size 9 at 200 pounds must like to wear tight clothes :)

    and/or said person is flat out lying about what size they're wearing.

    **edited for grammar**
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    I think it has to do with body shape. I am 148 or so, and I am still trying to become comfortable in a size 8. At 5'3", I could wear a size 8 from my biggest (170) and also now. True there was quite a difference in feeling, but to lose 20+ lbs and not drop a size? :( I get sad.

    I do see improvements so I'm not sad for long, but I understand what you are saying. There are gals my height and weight in size 6 and 4 and I don't understand how that is possible.
    Yep. And my sister, who has lost 35 pounds, has only just lost one size, although she looks a lot smaller. It's weird how those sizes work. I think I could drop another 20 pounds and still be in a 10 because I'm not too far from six feet tall, and I've never been smaller than a 10.
  • skinnyhopes
    skinnyhopes Posts: 402 Member
    I'm 5'3" 114 and I wear a size 7. I carry most of my weight in my butt and thighs :(
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    There is a big variation among the brands. I just bought a couple Medium t-shirts, and I know it's a brand that runs large.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    I usually just assume when you're that tall, there's only so small you can get, but I guess you proved me wrong :) (not to mention the super models out there who weigh 120 pounds at 5'10".)
  • faerybun
    faerybun Posts: 65
    Definitely a height thing. At my high weight of 160 I was still a 10, but I'm almost 5'8''. At 143ish I'm a 5/6 and small/extra small for tops.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    when i was 250lbs, i remember this other girl who was also 250lbs. she was probably 3" shorter than me, but she wore a size 24- 26, and I was comfortable in an 18.

    why? I have no idea. I figured I must be either delusional (wearing clothes too small for me) or rather muscular (probably more the case). not that i didn't have fat on me, i certainly did, just not as much concentrated fat in the same area as her. we weighed the same, but i was considerably smaller than her.
    It is weird. My sister looks very similar to me, but she claims she's still in a size or two larger, but she really does look close to the same size.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    plus sizing is a vanity industry... what used to be a 12 is really an 8/10 today. I have a vintage 16 woolen suit that is clearly not a 16 today.
    Too true. I don't fool myself when I know I can wear a 10 in one brand and it would be a 14 in another brand :)
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    It's a height, build, muscle-mass vs body-fat, many other factors thing. I weigh 200 lbs, am 5'10" with a large build and an hourglass figure. I wear a 16 in pants, a Medium in shirts, a 14 in bathing suits, a 12 in dresses, and a 36J bra...
    I doubt you'll find other 5'10" 200 pound women who are equal to me in all of those areas - some may wear smaller pants or bigger shirts or any combination of different things.
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
    Like, I'm over 200, and wear a 13.
    My friend who weighs just as much as me, wears a 9.
    Another friend that weighs just as much, wears an 18.
    It's all about how it's placed on your body.

    I think you are right. Your friend who wears Size 9 at 200 pounds must like to wear tight clothes :)

    and/or said person is flat out lying about what size their wearing.


    Well that wasn't very nice.
    Actually, we all share our weights.
    And we go shopping together.
    It's odd to see it, sometimes.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    [/quote]
    and/or said person is flat out lying about what size their wearing.
    [/quote]
    Like me lying on my driver's license. If I can lose six pounds, I won't be lying anymore :)
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    I'm 5'3" 114 and I wear a size 7. I carry most of my weight in my butt and thighs :(
    So you must be thinking of Size 7 as large, while I think of it as a children's size ;)
  • faerybun
    faerybun Posts: 65
    and/or said person is flat out lying about what size their wearing.
    [/quote]
    Like me lying on my driver's license. If I can lose six pounds, I won't be lying anymore :)
    [/quote]

    Just wait until you can't wait to renew your license because the LIE you put on there is now 20 pounds more than you actually weigh. [: What a rush
  • sunsetwest
    sunsetwest Posts: 199 Member
    Body shape for sure along with the differing brands and their whacked-out sizing. I have everything from a 2 to a 10 that I fit into comfortably.

    When I went shopping for the first time since beginning my weight loss, I grabbed the sizes I used to be the last time I weighed 135 ... I had to go back for bigger sizes - twice! I went from being 150 and wearing size 10 to being 135 and wearing a size 8 ... but now I'm 128 and those same pants are already droopy (:grumble: and :happy: , I suppose). I also just fit into my size 2 work pants I haven't worn in years. So odd and frustrating!
  • redhead91
    redhead91 Posts: 251
    I have a friend who is the exact height and weight as me (only different by 2 lbs) yet she's a 14 and I'm a 16. I also have DDs and she has Cs. I wear XL tops and she wear L or M. Her thighs though are way bigger than mine. It's definitely all about how your body handles weight.
  • KristenAnn711
    KristenAnn711 Posts: 783
    I've met women who are about my height and weight who look totally different than my body, who wear bigger or smaller sizes in shirts and pants. I've just come to realize that we all have different shapes, I have wide hips and a large chest, but another girl my weight/height may have a large stomach and thighs. It just depends where your body puts fat.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    It's a height, build, muscle-mass vs body-fat, many other factors thing. I weigh 200 lbs, am 5'10" with a large build and an hourglass figure. I wear a 16 in pants, a Medium in shirts, a 14 in bathing suits, a 12 in dresses, and a 36J bra...
    I doubt you'll find other 5'10" 200 pound women who are equal to me in all of those areas - some may wear smaller pants or bigger shirts or any combination of different things.
    Good example. But as someone near your size, I can relate. Whereas, when someone says they weigh quite a lot, are short, and they are in a small size, I've got to wonder.
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    I am too. I see people my height and weight who wear bigger or smaller sizes than me. I'm 5'6", 215 and a size 16. I have a friend who is almost the exact same height and weight as me, but most people think she's a lot heavier. I don't know what size she wears, but it's interesting to see other people's stats.
    I'm 5'3" 114 and I wear a size 7. I carry most of my weight in my butt and thighs :(

    My 17 year old is 5'1", 115 lbs and a size 5. She's top heavy though.
  • Jlennhikes
    Jlennhikes Posts: 290 Member
    Just wait until you can't wait to renew your license because the LIE you put on there is now 20 pounds more than you actually weigh. [: What a rush
    I'll bet. But I will be very happy to weigh 150 pounds :)
  • SabrinaJL
    SabrinaJL Posts: 1,579 Member
    lol I'm actually 18 lbs UNDER what my license says (I didn't lie on it). I did lie on my military ID though, but in 4 more lbs, I won't be a liar anymore. My husband asked if I was gonna get new ones when I reach my goal. I said no. I'm probably supposed to, but I want them to serve as a reminder.
  • AniMarieSt
    AniMarieSt Posts: 119 Member
    Totally a height thing.
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