Your Goals: What clothing size should you aim for?

[Berry78 4,261]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156549/

Beyond BMI.. the medical community is starting to vocalize dissatisfaction with BMI charts. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't obese in all those movies!

The "aim for less than 35 inch waist circumference for females" is too simplistic, and wholy inaccurate for those that are shorter or taller than average.

So now it's "Your waist should be less than half your height". Seems ok to me. Simple, individual.

So, I made up a chart for women based on this idea. Find your height and corresponding size.. this is the LARGEST size you should wear. (These sizes are from Lands End Misses sizing, not Women's Plus)

4'8 / 4

4'9 / 4

4'10 / 6

4'11 / 6

5'0 / 8

5'1 / 8

5'2 / 10

5'3 / 10

5'4 / 12

5'5 / 12

5'6 / 12

5'7 / 12

5'8 / 14

5'9 / 14

5'10 / 14

5'11 / 16

6' / 16

6'1 / 16

6'2 / 16

6'3 / 18

6'4 / 18

So, I am 5'7, so the largest size I should wear (for health reasons) is a 12.

[Berry78 4,261]

Ok, so as we all know, clothing sizes do differ between brands, so the chart above is taylored to the one brand. I actually wear Christopher and Banks' trousers.. pretty much exclusively.. and turns out I shouldn't wear anything larger than size 10 in that brand!

I had already set my goal to 10/12, so I don't have to modify it.. but in all honesty, I thought my goal was cosmetic, rather than health. Eye opening!

[Gen17 92]

I honestly never thought about that. I am about a 16/18 now and would be content at a 9/10.

[Angie's_Ocean 213]

Kind of off topic but my eye opener was when I had to go shopping for office clothes for a new job. I had not been shopping in years! I started trying on XLs and 1X because that's what I was 4-5 years ago and was shocked when a 2X fit snugly in plus-sized shop. How do we not see ourselves getting this big? I'm 5'6 and would kill to wear a size 10-12 as per your chart@Berry78

[Berry78 4,261]

I agree, we have no idea what's happening.. I always say the mirror lies!

[Missy161 395]

Kind of off topic but my eye opener was when I had to go shopping for office clothes for a new job. I had not been shopping in years! I started trying on XLs and 1X because that's what I was 4-5 years ago and was shocked when a 2X fit snugly in plus-sized shop. How do we not see ourselves getting this big? I'm 5'6 and would kill to wear a size 10-12 as per your chart[mention=311272]Berry78[/mention]

I hear you completely! I kept wearing a 16 bottom but kept having to buy larger tops. When I got to a 2x I almost died! That's what made me decide to have the surgery. Most of my weight was just under my boobs- I just kept getting thicker! That is also where I have lost most of it, thankfully- though I'm into 14's and smaller 16's now after just 31 pounds of weight loss.
I'm enjoying going through my closet and boxing up the bigger clothes: I'm holding off buying new clothes until Christmas when I can hopefully splurge on some new things in a smaller size!


Mich W
Hw 223, SW 217 CW 192 GW 135

[Angie's_Ocean 213]

I hear you completely! I kept wearing a 16 bottom but kept having to buy larger tops. When I got to a 2x I almost died! That's what made me decide to have the surgery. Most of my weight was just under my boobs- I just kept getting thicker! That is also where I have lost most of it, thankfully- though I'm into 14's and smaller 16's now after just 31 pounds of weight loss.

I'm enjoying going through my closet and boxing up the bigger clothes: I'm holding off buying new clothes until Christmas when I can hopefully splurge on some new things in a smaller size!

Mich W

Hw 223, SW 217 CW 192 GW 135

That's where most of my weight is too. And my back.

If I manage to get through this and get my surgery approved I swear I'm gonna save up money and come down to the US (cheaper clothes) and go craaaazy shopping. They're gonna have to put a leash or buzzer on me to reign me in lmao [emoji23]

[MochaKelly 74]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156549/
Beyond BMI.. the medical community is starting to vocalize dissatisfaction with BMI charts. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't obese in all those movies!
The "aim for less than 35 inch waist circumference for females" is too simplistic, and wholy inaccurate for those that are shorter or taller than average.
So now it's "Your waist should be less than half your height". Seems ok to me. Simple, individual.
So, I made up a chart for women based on this idea. Find your height and corresponding size.. this is the LARGEST size you should wear. (These sizes are from Lands End Misses sizing, not Women's Plus)
4'8 / 4
4'9 / 4
4'10 / 6
4'11 / 6
5'0 / 8
5'1 / 8
5'2 / 10
5'3 / 10
5'4 / 12
5'5 / 12
5'6 / 12
5'7 / 12
5'8 / 14
5'9 / 14
5'10 / 14
5'11 / 16
6' / 16
6'1 / 16
6'2 / 16
6'3 / 18
6'4 / 18
So, I am 5'7, so the largest size I should wear (for health reasons) is a 12.

Well, I am going on record to state that I am going for that 10-12 range. I just want off these meds!

Sent from my XT1097 using BariatricPal mobile app

[MochaKelly 74]

Kind of off topic but my eye opener was when I had to go shopping for office clothes for a new job. I had not been shopping in years! I started trying on XLs and 1X because that's what I was 4-5 years ago and was shocked when a 2X fit snugly in plus-sized shop. How do we not see ourselves getting this big? I'm 5'6 and would kill to wear a size 10-12 as per your chart[mention=311272]Berry78[/mention]

One thing that I have found to be a huge no-no is not wearing clothes that fit. Buying items that are too big sets the stage for you to grow into them and skirts or pants that have a set waistband are unforgiving and sends the signal that weight is being gained. #MyPostWeighlossClothesWillFit
#SpandexSendsFalseSignals

Sent from my XT1097 using BariatricPal mobile app

[Missy161 395]

That's where most of my weight is too. And my back.
If I manage to get through this and get my surgery approved I swear I'm gonna save up money and come down to the US (cheaper clothes) and go craaaazy shopping. They're gonna have to put a leash or buzzer on me to reign me in lmao [emoji23]

My back is great now- Barely a roll!
Im organizing a clothing swap at work. I can't wait.



Mich W
Hw 223, SW 217 CW 192 GW 135

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

I'm 5'6, they recorded me as 5'5" at the Dr office for surgery but I am 5'6, but I use 5'5 here. Anyway..

Before I lost any weight, when I started I just wanted to be a 16/18. I thought that would be obtainable and easy to maintain.

A 12 looks good on me, if I want to be really "curvy", but I actually like being smaller. A 12 doesn't feel as good as 8/10. I think 12 will be my top out size, I never want to be larger than that. Period. Still a 12 feels fat to me now, It is way too close to plus size, and I never ever want to be plus sized again.

While I am still young, 8 seems like a great size. Most women are not an 8 or below so you have a lot options when shopping for clothes and hitting clearance. Size 10 is just an annoying in between size. It is so hard to find 10s anywhere, worse than 12s. 8 seems to be a golden size for finding stuff. Right now I wear 10 or 8 depending on the brand.

I am hoping to be a 6 at some point after skin surgery. It might not ever happen because of my hips and my boobs, but a girl can dream.

I am shooting to be a small 8 (as in an 8 everywhere) or a 6 by next summer before skin surgery. We'll see if I can pull it off. I am not that dedicated to be a 6 pre-plastics but it is nice to have a goal. I have already hit and surpassed most of my goals, so that is my stretch goal.

Well now I know why everything at Land's End fits me terrible (except the Kayaks LOL). They hate hourglass figures. I never looked at the size chart, just tried clothes on and was disappointed.

My waist is 29 or 30 inches most days.

Edited August 13, 2017 by OutsideMatchInside

[NightPilgrim 57]

On 8/13/2017 at 6:24 AM, Berry78 said:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3156549/

Beyond BMI.. the medical community is starting to vocalize dissatisfaction with BMI charts. After all, Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn't obese in all those movies!

The "aim for less than 35 inch waist circumference for females" is too simplistic, and wholy inaccurate for those that are shorter or taller than average.

So now it's "Your waist should be less than half your height". Seems ok to me. Simple, individual.

So, I made up a chart for women based on this idea. Find your height and corresponding size.. this is the LARGEST size you should wear. (These sizes are from Lands End Misses sizing, not Women's Plus)

4'8 / 4

4'9 / 4

4'10 / 6

4'11 / 6

5'0 / 8

5'1 / 8

5'2 / 10

5'3 / 10

5'4 / 12

5'5 / 12

5'6 / 12

5'7 / 12

5'8 / 14

5'9 / 14

5'10 / 14

5'11 / 16

6' / 16

6'1 / 16

6'2 / 16

6'3 / 18

6'4 / 18

So, I am 5'7, so the largest size I should wear (for health reasons) is a 12.

Interesting! Are these US sizes? (UK sizing is different)

[Berry78 4,261]

Yes, US sizes.