To think I should be in smaller clothes by now?

[NE14T]

I have recently (over the last 6 months) lost almost 3 stone in weight.

I’m now at the top end of a healthy BMI (12 stone at 5ft10) but am wearing the same clothes I was 6 months ago?!

I definitely look and feel better in them but I don’t feel I was utterly squeezing myself into them before. I’m still a size 14 when I go shopping which is what I was before, and the clothes I had before that felt a bit small are STILL a bit too too small- button dresses gaping at the front etc.

AIBU to be a bit annoyed about this- how is it possible?!

This can happen if your body composition changes - if your muscle percentage increases but fat percentage decreases. Overall weight stays roughly the same, but the muscle is much denser so takes up less space than the fat.

If you had been wearing your old clothes awhile they were probably a bit stretched where as a new pair of jeans for example won't yet have that give.

Muscle does NOT weigh more. A pound is a pound is a pound.

I’ve lost around five stone, which took me over a year! I have gradually gone into smaller sizes, but still have (what I consider) a plump stomach, so this limits some clothes I wear. But keep at it and you will soon see results. I saw it as a marathon not a sprint. I have around one more stone to go at least, which I expect to take around six months or so.

Yes, and you know full well that isn't how they meant it.

A pound of fat is more volume than a pound of muscle. The same volume of fat weighs less than the same volume of muscle.

I hate when posters pick out the muscle weighs more than fat comment knowing what posters mean.

I've lost just over 1 and a half stone and in most of the clothes I had before but did buy a new pair of jeans in a smaller size (Levi's) and a couple of size 10 tops whereas was size 12 before. Got a size 12 on today though and it feels the same. I'm just enjoying my current clothes feeling loose instead of tight and uncomfortable

What % of your weight is 3 stone? I’m pretty short and was around 10 stone at my heaviest (5’4”), if I’d lost 3 stone I would be in children’s clothes (and the hospital!). I lost a little over a stone and was in smaller clothes, but mostly things just fit better - I was pushing a size 12 but afterwards size 10s just fit much better/borderline size 8. But if you’re 5’10”, I imagine you could be 12 stone and still be heathy BMI so 15 down to 12 would be a smaller % of your weight?

I am a size 12, my clothes are a 14, I fluctuate between a 12 and a 16. The clothes look looser or more sprayed on depending on what weight I’m at, obviously I live in denial and squidgy into the 14s when I’m a 16 and just enjoy the loose when I’m a 12 🙊 there’s about 3 stone between a 12 and a 16 for me. I also have a large chest so tbh button tops always seem to gape!

@Happyhappyday I think it’s almost 20%. I was 15 stone, am now 12st 1lb. BMI is 24.3, I’m aiming for 11st3 which will be smack in the middle of a healthy BMI.

This has been a really interesting read, thanks to you all for contributing. I feel reassured that this is tall girl problems.

What one of you said about clothes still fitting but fitting differently holds some truth I think. My jeans definitely still fit, but come up higher on my body and tops are longer.

I have had to go down a size in my work uniform which has no give whatsoever so that’s a good indicator. But that seems a bit small so I’m between sizes I guess!

Yes that makes sense about stuff fitting differently - I find that too, that if I put on weight I might be able to wear the same clothes but they'll often be shorter!!

Going down a size in non-stretch stuff like your uniform is a definite sign that you're doing something right 👍🏻🤗