I'm so annoyed with my shape :(

[OhOhFionka]

I've lost 7 stone.

I'm 5ft5 and 11 stone.

I'm trying to find shirts for holiday and even the size 16s are tight on me.

When I was 7 stone heavier I wore size 20/22 but I never ever wore trousers or shorts because I just couldn't fit in them.

So even after 7 stone loss I'm going to have to buy size 18 shorts for holiday for them to not be cutting me in half.

All my weight is on my stomach.

I'm just so sick of my shape and buying size 18 when I'm 11 stone!

Similarly shaped shorts from primark

www.primark.com/en-gb/p/co-ord-broderie-anglaise-shorts-black-991066394804

www.primark.com/en-gb/p/crinkle-cloth-shorts-black-991065988804

My BMI is 25.6.

25 is 'healthy'

OP, I know it’s easy to get hung up on sizes.

A couple of years ago, I was a size 22. Currently 6 and a half stone down.

Weight and size is such a personal thing though.

I al 5’ 4”. At my heaviest, I was 22 stone and a size 22.

I am 15st 7lb right now and a size 14/16.

A friend of mine is the same height as me and weighs the exact same. She is a size 20/22. I had to weigh myself in front of her last week as she didn’t believe me that we weighed the same, at the same height and were such different sizes. She couldn’t get over the fact that I wasn’t a couple of stone lighter than her.

We all carry weight so differently, have different muscle ratios.

Just wear what is comfortable, don’t get hung up on sizing.

Just buy the shorts and cut out the label. Nobody will ever know. Revel in your slim limbs and cover your stomach.

I’m the opposite, I carry my weight all over so don’t even have a “good bit” I can flaunt, I’m just a bit soft all over (despite pretty strong muscles underneath). I’d swap you any day.

Well done on losing 7 stone, that is an amazing achievement. Like you I carry my weight around my middle and I also have a large bust bust - I'm a typical apple shape as I have lean hips and slim legs. I just cut labels out of clothes if the size I can fit into makes me feel unhappy. The important thing for me is to feel good and feel comfortable. Nobody knows what size my shorts are (they're a size 16 😉).

Exercise does help a bit and I have been doing weights and core exercises to try to tone up my middle and improve my health generally. I usually have to size up in anything fitted due to my middle. Of course I would love to have an hour glass figure, but I have accepted that I will always be bigger around the middle as that is my shape. The plus side is that I have a great pair of norks and my legs are very good. 😀

Another think that can contribute to a proportionally larger stomach is continued separation of the abdominal muscles post pregnancy -diastasis recti. Usually can be improved with the right sort of exercise but not necessarily completely repaired. Something that might be worth looking into.

Not really it's just shy of a healthy bmi, not that overweight.
Also she's just lost 7 stone fgs which is a massive achievement and that's all you have to say? Literally the reason why women have eating disorders.

Anyway op pregnancy hugely changes your body and abdomen and hips can become bigger..maybe just unfortunately your shape.
Look into abdominal exercises for diastasis recti and also loose fitting waists, nothing tight or corseted.
I have sizes 10, 14 and 12s in my wardrobe so I don't tend to focus on the label so much as how they fit me, honestly womens clothing sizes these days don't make any sense.

There's still a lot of body shaping you can do, you're not done with this journey.

ps: I think I get to count as 'trim' and I wear size 16 tops. Broad shoulders.

This kind of pants are a light and forgiving alternative to shorts

Banjamath Women's Peacock Print... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0841VR1L1?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

First, well done on the weight loss OP.

I'd like to know how old you are because weight on your middle comes with age! I lost three stone doing low carb/Med a couple of years ago and my arse virtually disappeared but my stomach was still huge. I am nearly fifty and still eating healthily and it's bugging the hell out of me, and like you, different sizes on the top and bottom. I'd love an explanation for how this happens!

Yes I had 4 pregnancies so that probably does factor into it.

My plan is to start exercising, but I'm just feeling a bit disappointed that at 7 stone loss and 11 stone I'm still in 'plus sizes'

Primark come up small and they're not usually a good cut or fit

It's extremely hit or miss with them but that said I got some excellent summer clothes from there this year you just have to try everything and pray the larger sizes haven't sold out.

Just try some clothes in M&S they're always cut the right size and then you'll feel a bit better. They have loads lovely clothes in and they're not expensive. Just buy less but quality items

No need for the negging.

Do your shorts feel comfortable and stylish?
Do you really think anyone cares about the number on the label?
Super well done on the weight loss, you've done brilliantly but please don't get down about buying size18 shorts. The size doesn't define you and it doesn't cheapen your achievement.

Congratulations on your weight loss, the last few stubborn lbs cling on where you don't want them! My weight always comes off face and boobs 1st and clings onto arse and thighs until I'm at lower end of healthy BMI not that I've been there for a while!
Core exercise training (loads of short programmes online) will definitely help to define your abdominal area.
Tesco have some cheap elasticated waist shorts in variety of colours / patterns (ditto Matalan although I found the Tesco ones better for my pear shape - may be other way around for you)
Enjoy your holiday 🙂

That's odd, though. Where do you shop? I'm 5.3ft and 12 st (yeah, losing weight after ivf) but wear size 14 bottoms. Perhaps try different brands?

Shorts are very tight and quite high cut atm anyway. There was very little choice in baggier shorts a couple of weeks ago when I was shopping for them, there were size 8s and size 20s but most other sizes had sold out. A bit like bras which can also be impossible to get in the most common sizes.

OP what about here? Loads of elacticated waist flattering looking shorts at Primark prices:

https://www.temu.com/uk/kuiper/n9.html?subj=googleshopping-landingpage&_bg_fs=1&_p_rfs=1&_x_ads_channel=google&_x_ads_sub_channel=shopping&_x_login_type=Google&_x_vst_scene=adg&mkt_rec=1&goods_id=601099514087575&sku_id=17592200984413&_x_ns_sku_id=17592200984413&_x_gmc_account=710731536&_x_ads_account=6950480996&_x_ads_set=20275506893&_x_ads_id=150669000135&_x_ads_creative_id=662362899252&_x_ns_source=g&_x_ns_gclid=Cj0KCQjwwISlBhD6ARIsAESAmp6CLpMcCGQmUr6KaiIrGdws9IOINmr6bLvkSvqfhNXAzSf0XuhXwuQaAimIEALw_wcB&_x_ns_placement=&_x_ns_match_type=&_x_ns_ad_position=&_x_ns_product_id=710731536-17592200984413&_x_ns_target=&_x_ns_devicemodel=&_x_ns_wbraid=CjgKCAjwnf-kBhAgEigAPWRMtZkvSGEPjYXVO7r4digLSuOHYwLQIGM5Q-pwyzfFJLFhnzvwGgKnfA&_x_ns_gbraid=0AAAAAo4mICHcqPqJkFj94k8Cx6CHK0FDR&_x_ns_targetid=pla-2088215110750&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwISlBhD6ARIsAESAmp6CLpMcCGQmUr6KaiIrGdws9IOINmr6bLvkSvqfhNXAzSf0XuhXwuQaAimIEALw_wcB&_x_tou_fang_tmpl_subj=ph9_ph9basesubj&adg_ctx=f-e1e054bb

Does the size of the clothes matter? You've lost the weight, that's the important thing. That's the number you should be focussing on and it's a huge achievement.

Don’t get hung up dress size.

Are you unhappy with the way your size 18 shorts fit? Or unhappy that you’ve still got a tummy?

I’m your weight, although much taller, and I wear anything from side 12-16 in bottoms to accommodate a mum tum and big bum, although I’m anything from 10-14 on top. I just try on sizes in shops until I find what fits and suits me. Sizes are so wildly different from shop to shop these days.

My tummy doesn’t bother me enough to do the work I’d need to do to flatten it (hardcore exercise!). I’m BMI 23, look fairly slim, eat healthily, walk 10,000 steps a day minimum and do yoga, hiking, weights. But I can’t be arsed to do the sort of weights and cardio I’d need to skim my belly down. Maybe you can, though, if you’ve been motivated to lose SO much weight? (Well done, btw!)

I’m a primark size 4 to 6 and have a bmi of 18.5. I still have a bit of a tummy. It is very very difficult to have a completely flat tum after dc. It’s actually normal to have a bit of fat covering the abdominal wall. Most people would have to work exceptionally hard and eat very strictly to achieve this after dc. And honestly literally no one cares about your size or whatever apart from you (not you op, you as in everyone). Wear the shorts.

I have an apple shape too (well, more like Humpty Dumpty here)

I need elasticated waists due to my body shape and health reasons.

You might think me a bit uncouth for suggesting this, but have you considered pyjama shorts? Available cheap from supermarkets in plain and patterned fabrics. Generally made from jersey fabric with an elasticated waist.

I'm 5 foot 3 and 10 stone and a size 10 are you really an 18??

Matalan are doing elasticated nice shorts atm