Dress sizes and weight loss brackets

[Jenasaurus]

In April I was 8 stone 10 and a size 12 today I’m 8 stone 2. I have a mother of the bride outfit my daughter bought for me to wear in size 12 when I was about 9 stone. It fitted me well in April. Her wedding is in 2 weeks and I’m anxious as some of my clothes are now a size 8/10. I’m worried that the dress may be too big what are the typical measurements for a size 12. My waist is 28.5 I don’t want to cause my daughter anxiety and am happy even if it’s a loose fit but could o really have gone down 2 sizes by just losing an extra 5 percent. I was 14 stone 10 in October 2024 and have an issue seeing myself as slim.

After reading your comment o decided to measure myself. When I was 14 stone 10 I wore a 44DD bra. And 6 months ago a 36D which I was measured for when I needed a bra for another wedding. I was suppised. I realised this was a little too big so sized down to a 34D which does seem to fit but I’ve just measured myself and used and app and it says 30D! The thing is if I wear a tight bra I get side boob spillage but I’m gobsmacked about being 30inches under my bust. My largest part was 34. I also measured my waist today and it’s 27 so in the last month it’s gone down another inch. I’m not trying to lose more weight. I’m 61 and worried about muscle loss and bone issues so I now need to sort out maintenance. Yesterday I ate a lot as was staying at my sons and he makes amazing food and even ate a lot at the BBQ they bit this morning I’ve notice another pound has gone. It’s a problem I never thought I would have. I don’t know whether to o just stop the jabs or have a lower dose. Sorry gone off on a tangent now. My best friend had an ED and is sadly no longer with us and I don’t want to end up the other way.

I would say start titrating down, don't just stop. I hit my goal in late March/April and I was on 10mg. I've been titrating slowly down to the point where I'm on 5 now and will move slowly down to 2.5. In total loss is 6.5 stone and I'm gone from size 22ish to size 12-14 (I'm quite tall and broad shouldered and will never be less than a 12, never was even as a skinny teen/20 something)

I've gone 7lbs under my original goal but BMI is 23 which is fine. I've been stable for a couple of months now. I'm 54 so I know what you mean about worrying about bone health etc. Maintenance is definitely quite a bit more challenging than losing to get just right.

On the original topic, if you're trying not to worry your daughter about why you want to take the dress to try on, just say you're thinking about accessories and hair etc and need to play around with those.

You’re probably at the bottom of the BMI range but not a dangerous weight. You can go down to around 49kg/ 7st 7lbs at 5’4 and be within healthy BMI range. Although at your age it’s generally healthier to be a little higher than that - maybe aim for BMI 20-22.

Also double check your height! I was 5’4 all my life but a recent doctors visit measured me in at 162 (5’3).

Wean down off the jabs to a lower dose and see if there’s a dose where your weight stabilises. If not then consider coming off them. You’re not going to suddenly become an ED sufferer because you’re still losing weight - that’s physiological. ED mindset would be if you wanted to keep losing and felt addicted to it, wanted to aim lower than healthy or as skinny as possible.

If you want to stop losing, consider adding in a couple of extra snacks - two boiled eggs at 11am and a full fat greek yoghurt with nuts at 2pm for example. Or a splash of extra olive oil on salad and vegetables. The protein and calcium in these will also help to protect against muscle and bone wastage. While the omegas in the oil are good for skin and joints.

All this angst! try the dress on and if it doesnt fit, get it altered, the end.

@Jenasaurus, just a tiny thing. When you have bras that feel too tight (but are probably the right size, on paper) do you lean and scoop? By which I mean, lean forward, run your fingers along your arm-pit area to scoop all the flesh into your bra cup? It does make a difference.
If it feels very tight, try a "sister size," going up a band size and down a cup. That may be much better for you.
And yes, as someone who has also a lost significant amount on a GLP1, I get the "difficult to stop loosing weight" thing. Sending hugs.

Your post made me smile. I love the term lift and scoop and yes I do that too I sort of move the flesh around once in the bra to try and resemble a bust 😂😂😂. I just read something that said the same thing you mention qbout going up a band and down a cup size in going to see if that works. Thank you

Just go to a tailor. I just had a size 12 dress altered to fit me now I’m a size 8. She did it the same day for £45.

It’s a busy time for alterations due to wedding season, so go somewhere tomorrow, as there may be a wait!

Just on the bras, if you are spilling out in the cups with a tight band even after scooping also try a larger cup size.

the dress looks forgiving and a good strapless bra could help if you have lost some weight.

At 8 stone 2 I’d be surprised if you were a size 12 unless very short. I’m a size 8/10 at around 9 stone 7 at 5 4 but I’m very muscular. Your waist indicates a size 8. Can’t you try it on?

Try it on and alter it if needs be, ffs! It’s not hard to put darts into a dress

You should be able to take the dress in if it's too loose, plenty of tutorials online. Unless it's really hanging or gaping on you, you might not need to, a looser fit might look fine or depending on the style of dress, you could use a belt to pull the waist in.

I am same weight and height, I am a size 8 bottom (6 at Next) I have a big bust so a 10 in a non stretchy dress. I dont think its a really low weight and you can be more that half a stone lighter and be healthy BMI, people just forget what slim looks like.

Re bras I have found that tricky, I am 27/28 band size but have gone for 30gg and its actuslly slightly tight comfort wise but looks ok and will stretch. I was 32gg before I put on weight but was wearing 36g/gg in the end for comfort when 3 stone heavier.

A little update, I tried on the dress and it looks perfect, just goes to show depending on the style of dress and exact shape (in my case loose skin on my lower abdomen) whilst I can fit and 8 or 10 in some styles, this dress in a size 12 looks perfect. Thanks for the responses. I did a little check online for a bra as my current one doesn't fit well and was surprised apparently I am a 32JJ and not a 34D - so my band underneath is 30inches but when I lean down and measure the largest part its 39inches, (although again some is loose skin) my waist is 27inches and my hips are 37inches (but include the apron of skin from weight loss) I believe this is why the size 12 dress with a well fitted bra is right for me as you cant see my stomach and it accentuates the small waist.

@Jenasaurus, I am so glad for you! And yes, a well-fitting bra makes a big difference (not just for this dress, but for every outfit. It is shocking how many of us are wearing the wrong size bra, thinking that if we are average we are probably a 34b and if we are busty, probably a 34d when, in reality, these are really unusual sizes. Blame M&S, but that's a whole other post!).

Enjoy every minute of the wedding. I know you look beautiful.

If the thread is making you impatient, you don't have to post on it. Let alone post twice. Just skip it and go on with your day.

@Jenasaurus delighted that the fit is OK and well done on your weight loss.

Maybe a trip to specsavers is needed cos I certainly haven’t posted twice and same applies to you. You didn’t have to reply to me, you could have just scrolled on by!

You are right on the first point - it's you and another snarky poster starting with 'no...' - so tagging @notafanofthisanymore

The posts from you both made MN a bit more unpleasant for a woman going through something tricky, in a completely unnecessary way.

You are clearly fine with your decision to be unpleasant, and I am fine with my decision to call you out on it.

Toodle pip.

Would hardly call worrying over whether a dress fits or not ‘going through something tricky’. Toodle pip back at you!

I agree that OP is probably not a 12 from her measurements, but height and weight don't tell you that much. I'm around the same weight and 5'3 and my hips are still 39 inches - they don't get smaller so I'm a 12 in some bottoms.