Weight, height and size weirdness that's shocked me.

[wellthisisakward]

I wonder if I could have some help unraveling my new discovery that I'm a dress size 16.

All of my clothes are size 10-12 and coats etc – I've noticed the weight piling on after starting HRT and my jeans got tight I'm OK with this and started looking at grabbing some new bits today after a bit vinted sell so I got the tape measure out thought I'd crept up to a size 14 but it appears I've skipped 14 and gone straight in at 16 according to my measurments.

39/33/39

But here is where it gets odd I jumped on the scale in panic I'm only 5'2 and weigh 71kg (11 Stone) – So how at 5'2 and 11 stone am I a size 16.

Does anyone else have a weird weight jump that has taken them a bit by shock? How am I getting up and putting on my size 12 clothes fitted size 12 whistles coat etc and fitting into them, why have I not noticed how big a difference has happened in the last 6 months.

I have an event mid November and bought a size 12 dress from All saints that is like a slip dress and fits really nicely? and now I'm worried I'll look a bit stupid in it? But it fits.

Have I been walking around deluded or are clothes sizes really screwed up?

My brain was saying – "Oh it's just a phase" I'm starting to think shit I best get on top of this as I have high Cholsetrol and need to get off my bum more – a wake up call and a half.

Yes M&S are a nightmare

I bought 2 cardis S &M

M is too small and short with the pockets on my waist which is so unflattering (may be trendy?) and the S is enormous much longer and baggy, more like a size 20.

It's so annoying and I end up with very little to wear.

Trousers too long even in short and I'm 5'4"

I have gone from 78kg to 91kg. I wear size 14 clothes before and after. The same clothes in most cases as I gained weight quickly and I’m unwilling to waste money on new clothes. I gain weight everywhere. Literally evenly spread across my body. I also exercise an awful lot so while obviously I’m very fat. I do have a higher muscle mass to a lot of people who weigh the same as me. I look worse in clothes at the minute obviously but they still fit me.

This makes sense. When I weighed 10 stone at 5 '7' I was a size 12, but I am small boned and 10 stone is too heavy for my frame. Build comes into it a lot, we aren't all meant to be the same size. People look and feel good at different BMIs, there is no one size fits all.

I'm 5ft 2in and weigh 55kg. Most of my clothes are a size 10/12.
I don't consider myself small at all. I'd say I'm average

5'4 and 11 stone and fit into a size 10. I tend to carry any weight on my limbs rather than middle which might make a difference.

I would say your hip and bust measurements are a 14 and your waist is a 16-18. Clothes tend to give the more we wear them. What kind of clothes do you wear? If you’re wearing leggings or stretchy jeans, you’re not as likely to notice. I wear jeans that are 100% cotton, so I notice if I gain half an inch.

Sizing is bonkers 😜 Before the Great Size Expansion, I was a 10/12 and, when I got to a 14, I was fat. Anything over a 14, you had to go to Evans for a tent with sleeves. Now I'm the weight I was at size 14/16, but my shape's changed to - well, oblong! By the tape measure, I should be about a size 20 in old money, with a size 24 waist. But, you guessed ... I've got clothes in every size from 8 to 22. It's the 8s and 10s that shock me!

Despite the evils of Shein, their sizing information's really helpful. They measure each garment, and then there are customer reviews which you can filter by size. I've found Roman sizes to be quite consistent, though large (and they cut for a wide waist, bless them). La Redoute's fairly 'correct' and fairly consistent, not good for my bloated middle. M&S sizes are totally unreliable, it's all trial & error. Same with Next, who've abandoned their previous logic.

Have fun clothes shopping - and do get used to ordering three of everything so you can send two back!!

@Kwasi makes a good point. If the Lycra content's over 1% you can generally go down a size. Two sizes for 5% or more.

I LOVE Lycra 😆