Dropping dress/jeans sizes?

Collinsky
Collinsky Posts: 593 Member
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
I'm just wondering what a reasonable expectation is, as far as losing inches and dropping down in dress sizes? I know that there are a million variables (muscle tone, for one) but in general, how many pounds lost means going down a size?
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Replies

  • ashlinmarie
    ashlinmarie Posts: 1,263 Member
    It really depends on where your body tends to lose weight from. I haven't lost more than 1 jean size with 16 lbs, but there are people that lose much more. My personal trainer also said that it is realistic for me to weigh 162 lbs and be a size 6 if I do muscle building whereas when I weighed that a few years ago, I was a size 10.
  • Sissy4EverX3
    Sissy4EverX3 Posts: 247
    I am curious about this as well. All I know is, I've been wearing a size 32 pair of jeans for the last month that literally falls off my behind. (I'm not a fan of belts.) I convinced hubby to go browsing at the mall today. I not only found a pair of XXL drawstring pants, but got 2 new bras (thankfully not much as changed in that department) and tried on 3 different pairs of jeans.. The smallest was a 26 and it FIT PERFECTLY. I've only lost 35lbs, so if I can go from a 32 to a 26 in 4 months, I'm not wondering if maybe I'll be in a size 18 come our anniversary trip to New York in 4 months!

    Sorry, didn't meant to hijack.. still running off the high of a wonderful NSV :)
  • beachbum13
    beachbum13 Posts: 96 Member
    For me it is 20 lbs. But I know some people that drop a size when they lose 10 lbs.
  • tryinghard2012
    tryinghard2012 Posts: 419 Member
    Took me about 20 -25 pounds, of course I'm tall and had a lot to lose. Now it's about 10-15 pounds or so.
  • suzikelley
    suzikelley Posts: 210 Member
    I think it depends on how big you are. I've noticed that when I'm heavier, it takes about 15 lbs. or so before I drop a size. When I'm at a more reasonable weight, it's about every 10 lbs. :)
  • Losinitforgood
    Losinitforgood Posts: 28 Member
    Well, I've lost about 33 from what is my normal, 230 lb 5'6", frame... and I have gone down only 2 pant sizes (22-18). for me I think the reason is because most of the weight I lost was from my upper body, and only some lost from my lower body. otherwise, like others have said it depends on your body type.
  • SiltyPigeon
    SiltyPigeon Posts: 920 Member
    When I was 167 lbs I wore size 15 jeans.
    Now at 130 lbs I wear size 7 jeans.

    So I guess that is roughly a pant size for every 5 lbs.
  • imnotyourpal
    imnotyourpal Posts: 162 Member
    For me it is 20 lbs. But I know some people that drop a size when they lose 10 lbs.

    This was me. Every 10 pounds I had to buy new clothes. It was expensive. :(
  • kiwipez
    kiwipez Posts: 144
    30 lbs for me was 2 sizes.
  • pebbles72
    pebbles72 Posts: 89 Member
    I lost 12lbs and 1 dress size.
  • ladybg81
    ladybg81 Posts: 1,553 Member
    I weighed 155 and a size 10. I know weigh 133 and am in a size 4. But I really thing it depends on where you\r weight is as well.
  • tncmom
    tncmom Posts: 79
    It took me 60 pounds to drop a size, YMMV, obviously.
  • stangma
    stangma Posts: 211 Member
    Dropping the sizes is great - I just wish all the manufacturers would use the same tape measures - that is so annoying one company's size 12 is another company's size 16.....ggggrrrrrrrr......:explode:
  • bsolada
    bsolada Posts: 23 Member
    Maybe I am weird but I have only lost 13 pounds but I have lost at least 2 sizes, close to 3. I am not short, 5'5 1/4" tall, not sure why I have lost so many sizes, but I am not complaining. :happy:
  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    I've lost almost 35 pounds and I'm still the same size...a little disappointed especially because I know i've lost weight in my stomach but it makes me feel better seeing the poster above, that it takes different amounts lost to affect jean sizes!
  • darrcn5
    darrcn5 Posts: 495 Member
    15-20 for me, 20 for it to actually look good, LOL.
  • mardavlais
    mardavlais Posts: 43 Member
    For me, it's apx every 10 lbs.

    Interesting tid bit, though... I weigh 132 and wear a size 8. My trainer weighs 138 and wears a size 4. So, you're right about muscle tone, etc.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    When I was 167 lbs I wore size 15 jeans.
    Now at 130 lbs I wear size 7 jeans.

    So I guess that is roughly a pant size for every 5 lbs.

    15 --> 13 --> 11 --> 9 --> 7 = 4 sizes
    So that's a little over 9 lbs per size

    as for me:
    I started at 175 and size 14 and
    at 150 my size 10s are a little roomy, but the 8s are a little too snug to be seen in public.
    So I'm about 12 lbs per size
  • ktdid626
    ktdid626 Posts: 185 Member
    It took 20 lbs for me to go from 18/20 to 16. I hope it gets easier the smaller I get but I hate that clothing isn't all sized the same. How annoying! To be one size in one store and larger in the next store.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Dropping the sizes is great - I just wish all the manufacturers would use the same tape measures - that is so annoying one company's size 12 is another company's size 16.....ggggrrrrrrrr......:explode:

    Amen,

    I've size 13/14s in the closet that I bought 30 years ago when I weighed 125 lbs.
    I was wearing 13/14s at my start weight of 175 lbs.

    Now I'm feeling sassy because I'm a size 10. While I'm 25 pounds over my lowest weight this is my smallest "size"
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    For me it is 20 lbs. But I know some people that drop a size when they lose 10 lbs.

    This was me. Every 10 pounds I had to buy new clothes. It was expensive. :(
    [/quote

    Another MFPer clued my into the idea of buying the in between sizes at a thrift store save some $$ and have clothes that fit.
  • eates
    eates Posts: 334 Member
    It took about 16 lbs for me to go down a pants size, about 12 lbs to go down a shirt size. Weirdly enough it wasn't until I'd been at -16 for about 2 weeks that I could fit in smaller jeans.
  • angelicdisgrace
    angelicdisgrace Posts: 2,071 Member
    For about two months I did not drop any pounds, not one. I did drop two pant sizes.
  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    I used to wear XXL shirts and after 22lbs shed, I wear L now.

    Pants/dress size is trickier. There's so much variation in number sizes.
  • barbiex3
    barbiex3 Posts: 1,036 Member
    i lost 5 pounds and went from a 9 to a 7 (1 inch off hips, 1 inch of stomach) ~ size 10 to a size 8
    i lost 10 pounds and went from 7 to a 5 (1 inch off hips, 1 inch off stomach) ~ size 8 to a size 6
    i lost 5 pounds and went from a 5 to a 3 (1 inch off hips, 1 inch off stomach) ~ size 6 to a size 4
  • cupcakecarnivore
    cupcakecarnivore Posts: 267
    For me, I went from a jean size 29/30 to a size 27 and a dress size of 8 down to a 6, after dropping 8 pounds, and Im 5'3.. I've definitely leaned out a lot by doing low rep strength training:)
  • kklindsey
    kklindsey Posts: 382 Member
    over 200lbs it will usually take you at least 20lbs to lose a size. I think height is a big factor. I am 5'3" and i think at 190 I wore a 14, I know at 160 I wore an 8 and do right now at 155. At 145 I can wear a 6 if I am not lifting and a 4 if I have been lifting for at least a month.
  • Lets_Do_It
    Lets_Do_It Posts: 202
    I have no idea to be honest- I was an 18, I lost 25 lbs and now I am a 14. I have long legs though. I feel for me its about 12 lbs to get down a size.
  • AshinAms
    AshinAms Posts: 283 Member
    On another weight loss site I belonged to before discovering MFP there was a discussion about this and the consensus was that one size = one British stone (14 lb). I think it's about right from my own experience but a lot depends on how much you exercise.

    I was a UK size 12 at 88 kilos and am a size 16 at 101 but that is when I'm really working out a lot. When I was younger I weighed 70 kilos and was still a size 12 but then I didn't eat right or work out.

    Height matters - I am 6 ft!
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I started at a size 14 (US) pants. 10 pounds down and I was in a size 12. Now I am 20 pounds down and I am a little loose in a 12, some 10s fit and some are tight. So 10 pounds doesn't exactly equate a pants size for me. I also am pear shaped so I am bottom heavy. No matter how thin I am, I never lose my butt and hips!
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