Lost 20 pounds and wearing the same size?! Help!

13

Replies

  • tami101
    tami101 Posts: 617 Member
    I'm the same, have lost 21 pounds and in the same size jeans, but they are fitting loose and I have bought smaller tops!! Unfortunately, the next size lower jeans are still a little snug so I must wait a little longer. =(
  • lmd172
    lmd172 Posts: 172
    all of this is so encouraging...thanks!
  • deenaspell
    deenaspell Posts: 227 Member
    Don't feel bad - I wear leggings everyday. LOL! I'm just not a jeans-type girl. Jeggings would be perfect for me, I guess. Anyway, it took 15lbs before anyone noticed I lost weight and 20lbs before any sizes actually changed for me. That is incredibly aggravating, though! I feel for you.
  • Raddichio
    Raddichio Posts: 162 Member
    D
  • mrau719
    mrau719 Posts: 288 Member
    Im 5'7" and I had to lose about 15 lbs before my size changed. Height makes a difference. For some of my friends who are quite a bit shorter than me 5-10 lbs makes a huge difference up or down. For me 5-10 lbs hardly shows.
  • nlenz16
    nlenz16 Posts: 73
    Is there a reason you HAVE to lose a certain amount of weight in the time frame you gave? I mean, give yourself some leeway, especially when it comes to reducing some areas; not everyone's body is the same, so the weight will not reduce from somewhere just because we want it to or it has on someone else. It took me 50lbs to go down one size, and now I'm down another size in only 20 more pounds. You're losing; be happy and trust the process.


    The reason for the deadline is because I am going on vacation for the first time in two years and it's the first vacation my fiancé and I are going on alone in the 6 years we've been together :)). I will be in a swimsuit the entire time and I just want to try and be the best I can be at that time. If I don't make the deadline, then that's ok but I am going to try.

    Congrats on your weight loss btw :) 50 lbs is fantastic!
  • nlenz16
    nlenz16 Posts: 73
    Thank you everyone for the positive words. It makes me feel better that I'm not crazy. Haha. You all are amazing! :)
  • jcjsjones
    jcjsjones Posts: 571 Member
    I had the same issue. I was so upset because I had lost over 20 lbs, but could still fit in the same size. I really started noticing the difference around 30. Now I have lost around 45 and was told the other day that I needed to go shopping because I looked like a bum! LOL! It will happen, just give it time :wink:.
  • jenluvsushi
    jenluvsushi Posts: 933 Member
    I think it might be because you are tall.....I can gain or lose 20 and still fit in the same pants. It takes more of a weightr loss for me to need clothing size changes. Shorter people see a bigger difference with a 20 pound loss........I have lost 44 and can still fit in some of the same pants although they are loose now. Just be patient :)
  • rchupka87
    rchupka87 Posts: 542 Member
    Bump!
  • My problem is the opposite.......I am going down in clothes sizes but the scales haven't seemed to move. Just as frustrating!! I just don't understand it. I have been a member of MFP for almost a year and a half and have only lost 15 lbs. I have lost several pant sizes but I need the scale to move! :grumble:

    Muscle weighs more than fat - fat takes up more room but weighs less! :)
  • juliecat1
    juliecat1 Posts: 3,450 Member
    I havent read all of these but might I suggest strength training? Im 5 11 and wear a size 14. I havent lost much weight per say since I started weight lifting but my body composition has changed a lot! It would make a big difference in shredding inches off your body. And muscle burns more fat.
  • pat6250
    pat6250 Posts: 90
    I'm at 195 and 5'4", and I wear size 16 or 18 jeans. The 18's are getting loose, but still fit. But at least I can get into the 16's again, I couldn't zip them before. Go try on some other brands or sizes. And who cares what the label says, if the jeans make you look hot because you lost 20 pounds! It seems with me, the last weight I put on (usually on top) is the first weight to come off. And the weight I had longest (bottom) is the most stubborn to go. So, keep losing, and eventually, you will wear smaller pants. BTW, my goal is to get into size 14 jeans! Size 12 would feel like I won the lottery! :laugh:
  • Tracey0013
    Tracey0013 Posts: 154 Member
    Everyone loses weight from different areas at different times. Sadly we don't have any control of this. I have seen every other measurement on me change except for my thighs (sigh). I was/ am in some of the pants (size 18) I have started losing weight in still after losing 20 pounds. (some before I came here) I know it can be depressing but keep up the good work and it will pay off. Remember you didn't put it on in a day and it isn't coming off in a day either :)

    If you want friend me I am on every day :)
  • Have you tried goin to a store and trying on new jeans? You may have lost a size but havent realized because of wearing the stretchy yoga pants and sweats (they stretch out and they fit just about any size really). Try on the size you think you wear and I bet youll be surprised to see that in fact you are a size smaller.
  • j77r68
    j77r68 Posts: 271 Member
    i'm 5'10" and it took me losing 25-27 lbs before I dropped a size. It really depends where you lose the weight especially for your pants. Don't worry it will happen. I'm down a size almost 2! They fit but are pretty close to falling off me. Darn eh!!
  • zebramama84
    zebramama84 Posts: 64 Member
    i vote you rip the tags outta your jeans and embrace the knowledge that your kickin *kitten* and takin names @!! and when they dont fit go shopping !!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • purpleipod
    purpleipod Posts: 1,147 Member
    Takes me 30+ pounds to lose a jean size. I wouldn't worry about it.
  • deevatude
    deevatude Posts: 322 Member
    a size 14 goes very far

    im 5'7 and in the 170s range of weight and still wear a size 14
  • songbyrdsweet
    songbyrdsweet Posts: 5,691 Member
    Ok, so since February I have lost 20 pounds, but my jeans size has literally not changed. I am currently 5'9 208lbs. Has this happened to anyone else? Mine just fit me a little better. And I refuse to wear them because I feel like I can't wear the size they are (14).. So I literally wear leggings, yoga pants, sweats from victorias secret, things like that EVERYDAY. And it makes me feel terrible. I havent worn jeans since december 2011. Anyone else have this issue? I have 38 more pounds to lose before August and I feel like I am never going to get there. Or like my workouts are going to be as effective? I know I don't always eat the best food, but i tey and eat it in moderation... Try. I also don't want to give up on everything I love either... This weightless is so hard, yet great. Anyone have some advice? Most of my weight is in my lower abdomen, bottom and thighs and my thighs are getting smaller my tummy is not. Also, using weights for my arms advice would greatly be appreciated! Lol.

    Keep in mind that some of the weight loss will come from visceral fat--the kind that surrounds your organs and is linked with diseases. Also, as a female, you'll tend to lose weight more quickly in your upper body. Finally, the scale doesn't tell you everything--it's more about body composition. I was stuck at a size 6 for a LONG time, anywhere from 132-140 lbs. Then losing just a couple lbs--from 132 to 129--I fit into a 4! The key was a change in my body composition rather than just body weight. And sometimes you're just a few lbs away. :)
  • Tammi140
    Tammi140 Posts: 47 Member
    OMG!! You lost 56 lbs in 3.5 months! WOW!
  • Thank you to Jennyisbusy! I am 75 years old, 5'5 and i am losing weight just like she described, boobs, arms, still waiting for the tummy, bottom half...20 lbs no change in dress size, I now weigh 130 lbs, cant understand some of the writers who weigh almost 200 and take size 12? I do feel very well, though.
  • b1delane
    b1delane Posts: 261 Member
    Thank you for speaking about what I was silently dwelling on! I have had the same issue lately! I started off at 5'6 198lbs and I fit into a size 16. If I have to be honest it was a VERY tight 16 but I thought there is no possible way I was going to buy a size bigger! Now I am 171lbs and I fit a size 14 loosely. I am not quite a size 12 so I either wear sweats or leggings just like you it feels more comfortable. Even though I have lost about 30 lbs I seem to be stuck in this in between size and I have to say it is very irritating. Anyways enough of my rambling I just wanted to say you are def. not alone in your thoughts and worries!
  • CatholicUK
    CatholicUK Posts: 88 Member
    I am so glad that someone posted a thread on this!!!

    A few years back when I was losing weight with WW I lost two and a half stone so thats....*thinks*.... 35lb and I dropped from a UK 16 to a UK 14. I was THE most frustrating thing in the world and very demotivating... :(

    But now I'm losing weight this time round I'm aware of it and I would rather see my body shape change, i.e. firmer belly, more shapely thighs... than be worrying about my dress size too much. I obviously want to drop one or two, but I know that I'm NEVER going to be a skinny mini due to my body shape and bone structure.

    Marie xx
  • Have you measured yourself? Maybe you lost muscle. Have you tried strength training? It helps you lose inches. You will get the opposite effect. The scale will not move that much but your clothes will fit you looser.
  • From what I heard sometimes dieting can make you lose more muscle then fat. When this happens you look almost the same but the scale says you weight less. When you gain muscle you and lose fat you can tell in your clothes.

    Sometimes when I stop strength training and stop dieting I weight the same for months but my clothes fit me tight and I look heavier. What is happening is my muscle is shrinking and the fat is covering the muscle. So I gained fat and lost muscle.
  • snookumss
    snookumss Posts: 1,451 Member
    It just means you haven't lost weight where you want to in the jeans. Give it time and the weight will decide to come off there! I lost mine in waves... hands, feet and face, then arms and calves, then belly, then finally hips and butt area. Then, it stopped there and restarted the whole process. :/
  • gogojodee
    gogojodee Posts: 1,243 Member
    And I refuse to wear them because I feel like I can't wear the size they are (14).. So I literally wear leggings, yoga pants, sweats from victorias secret, things like that EVERYDAY.
    Aren't those things the same size as well?

    All those mentioned are usually categorized Small, Medium, Large and have a fair amount of Spandex or Lycra - where as jeans and trousers are sized by inches or size numbers.
  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 Member
    We pear shapes always lose in our lower halves LAST, unfortunately. Your body is going to burn fat where it was last deposited.
    Eventually, it WILL burn the fat in your problem areas, so DON'T GIVE UP! And definitely measure yourself! I've been stuck at a weight plateau for 6 months, but the inches are coming off, which means I'm just turning fat into muscle. I bet that's what is happening to you, too! Good luck.

    This ^^

    It's genetics, for most women the most stubborn areas of fat will be under arms and bum/thighs. For men it tends to be stomach/lower abs.

    It will reduce eventually with further weight loss, but will be the most difficult to get rid of completely.
  • hhichristina
    hhichristina Posts: 23 Member
    Check out the tall women group (they have some good discussions about how sizes are different for us tall women). I think part of the issue is that since you are so tall, you can loose more than someone that is 5'5" and still be the same size whereas since they don't have as tall of a frame they will more than likely be able to size down faster.

    I'm 5'10" and weigh 186, just yesterday I was able to buy some size 12 pants and shorts. I had to loose about 40lbs for my size 14s to be too big.