Pants Size and Other Bariatric Sites

[outofusernames 8]

About how many pounds do you have to lose to comfortably go down a full pants size (not snugly fit). Asking because I personally find the mythic 10 pound estimate to be way off but maybe it's just me? Also, any other bariatric discussion boards you can recommend to visit?

Edited July 5, 2021 by outofusernames

[Anj0399 61]

That’s a good question! I’m guessing it’s probably different for everyone. I’m down 15lbs due to my pre-op diet (last day - YAY!) and see no difference in my waist size or the fit of my clothes. I’m current 249.5lbs and if I recall the last time I lost weight and had to buy new jeans it was around the 230lbs mark for me.

[kristieshannon 1,649]

It was about 20lbs per size until I dropped from 286 to about 220. Then it was 10-15 lbs per size until I hit about 175. Now it’s about 5lbs per size at about 140.

[LaoDaBeirut 158]

It's really impossible to know because it depends on how you carry your weight and how it comes off. The first 30 pounds I lost seem to come off my legs and arms and I didn't change in size.

[catwoman7 11,214]

it depends on your weight. When I weighed almost 400 lbs, I had to drop a lot of weight to go down a size. Now I'll drop a size if I lose 10 lbs (if that...)

[Arabesque 7,313]

I think the story that 10lb equates to a dress size refers to when you’re at or near your healthy BMI range. I remember when I’d lost my first 14kg (30lbs) my clothes were just looser. There were a couple of things I could wear that were a size smaller (from my multi size wardrobe) but they were a looser cut. Also we all carry out weight differently & we may notice a top is looser first but not the bottom or vice verses. My butt seemed to get smaller first & I had a lot of baggy ass pants that still fitted me around the waist.

Now a couple of kg can put me up or down a size.

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

This is a strange one for me. I swear it takes a LOT in order for me to notice a real difference in my clothes. Since surgery I lost 34.9 but since March 1st my total is 53.4 lbs. I also lost 17.5 inches total since 5/7 which was a few weeks before surgery.

Anyway, before surgery I'd mostly wear loose, cotton type capri pants. Those feel way baggy when I wear them but they don't fall down (I think they were a 3x). My shirts seem to hang off my shoulder more (also 3x's). But, when it comes to jeans before surgery I would wear size 28 (a few 30's also depending on the brand/how they were made).

I have this one pair of jean capri's that are a size 26 and I use them as reference when I try to lose weight. In other words, if I fit them again I KNOW I lost SOME weight. Well they fit again. Not loosely. But to be honest, having lost all that I have, I still do NOT think I could get into a size 24. This cracks me up because you would think having lost close to 55lbs and 17 inches that I'd have lost more than just ONE pant size. But no. SMH This is the kind of crap that effs with my head and makes me feel like this (surgery) isn't working like it should be. Maybe my body is just too effed up?

[NovaLuna 710]

For me, personally, it was really weird. I skipped sizes. I'm not joking. I started in a 34, but I had pants down to a 26 so I just pulled those out as I went down. Then, I literally went from a 26 down to 20 and then a 20 to a 14 and right now I'm in a 12 (and probably going to settle there considering I'm 17 months out and I've only lost 1 pound in the last month and only 1 pound the month before).

[MistySkye 181]

I’m still wearing the same jeans I was pre-surgery…and I’ve lost 31lbs 🤪 Now, they are stretchy jeans, and I have to wear a belt now, but I haven’t stopped wearing them yet. (Judy Blue 16W/14W) I carried more of my weight in the stomach area, and I have certainly lost there. I’m holding out until the Size 13 I bought fit before I give them up.

[XtinaDoesIt 202]

I lost like 70lbs and still haven't really sized down. Everything fits me better and my clothes are a lot more flattering but I'm pretty much still wearing the same thing... I feel like I'm getting close though!

[SummerTimeGirl 582]

October 25th was my last lowest weigh in of 241.2 lbs (dang scale hasn't been below since). So, roughly 69 lbs since surgery and 87 total since March. And I believe it was last month when I finally tried on a new pair of jeans in the store. The size was a 20! They fit good so I bought them! I used to wear a 26/28 and some of my other jeans were even size 30's! So that was nice to FINALLY fit in something smaller as I've been slumming around since surgery in my old big clothes (mostly cotton capris). LOL I've tried several thrift stores for clothes to hold me over in-between so that I don't have to waste to much money but I haven't been lucky in that department.

So for now I have those newer jeans and like 3 different pairs of leggins from Torrid. Not getting anything else until I lose more. LOL I also fit into a lot of older shirts that were too small when I was bigger so they too will suffice for now.

[muffin.x 37]

It’s impossible to predict. I’ve lost about 50 pounds now (5ft9-195lbs) and have lost maybe one pants size. I blame the stretchy jeans though. I think I used to wear them too tight and now they’re kind of loose, so it may be more than one size, but I still have a lot of older jeans in my closet that I still don’t fit, even though I’m at the same weight I was back then. I think my weight has been distributed differently over the years. Hopefully the inches will start coming off quicker now that I’m getting closer to a healthy BMI

[MistySkye 181]

Sizing can so vary, that the “size” really means nothing 😜 I had a bunch of “Large” shirts - that are now too big on me, so I gave them to an aunt, she’s like some of these are bigger than 2X tops I have. It was just the style, they were oversized, and I really was XL/2X in sizing.

Since my last post here in July, I’m into the size 13/11 Judy Blue Jeans I bought - they are stretchy. I can “fit” a 9 even, but not quite comfortably yet. The 13 is getting a “little” lose, but nothing a belt doesn’t fix. I need to stop buying clothes, because I feel like stuff I buy now, may still end up too big depending on the style. You get so used to having that L in your sizing, that it becomes weird when you realize the M fits. I’m less than 15lbs from a normal BMI. I can’t wait for that day.

[vikingbeast 987]

I'm not a woman (women's sizing was obviously invented by misogynists... absolutely terrible) but I will say that when my weight loss slows, it means I'm about to drop inches. One week I only lost 1.6 lbs (I tend to average about 3-5) and lost a full inch off my waist and hips.

But even for men, sizing is "creative". My favorite jeans are one particular cut of Wrangler and they tend to run big, so I'm into a 36 in those, but if I buy the Cowboy Cut jeans, I'm a 40. Go figure.

I've lost 56 lbs since surgery and in the same style jeans (Lucky 221s) sized down from a 40 to a 34.

[T4ME 31]

I really hadn’t thought about this until I saw your post. I have been just going thru my closet an finding old clothes to wear. I decided to check sizes last night to my surprise I have dropped from a 34 to 28!! I have lost 102 lbs so far but I have only really seen the difference in my neck and of course being a woman lost my Boobs!! I agree that we all carry weight differently an will lose in different areas. It also depends on your exercise areas I think as well.