How much weight loss is one dress size, and....

[Tansie]

..whilst we're about it, how long is a piece of string ?

Yes, I know it's a ridiculous question but, maybe from those who've been there, how much weight did you lose (or gain) for you to go down or up a clothing size?

I am always a bit surprised when I read, on these 'weight loss' threads (I mention that to point out we're possibly not talking hyper-fit super-athletes here, a mass of muscle, just 'the rest of us'), about people who are 5'6", weight 16 stone and announce they wear size 14. I am 5'6", weigh 11st 12lbs and am still in 18s, having been 12st 6lbs six weeks ago! Admittedly, I don't favour figure hugging clothing, but I don't wear it wafting around in the breeze either! So an 8lb weight loss hasn't meant a dress size yet (not that I thought it would).

So, as I have a wedding coming up (6 weeks!) and am losing between 1 and 1 1/2 lbs a week- am I likely to need a smaller sized dress if I lose say 8 more lbs by then? I'm a bit reluctant to go out dress shopping, yet! I mean, I know something that fits me right now would, with half a stone less weight possibly look even better, but should I wait?

WWYD?

Congratulations on your weight loss. I agree that I am often surprised at the sizes people claim to wear and how they seem to be able to drop dress sizes following a relatively small amount of weight loss, but it does of course depend on lots of different factors.

I am 5ft 8 and have lost 4 st 3 and have gone down 3 dress sizes, so I find I need to lose about 1-1.5 stone to go down a size (although obviously clothes are very inconsistent and often don't comply with size charts).

I would probably wait a few more weeks before actually buying an outfit, but it might be worth trying a few things on sooner rather than later so that you don't end up with a last minute panic.

Good luck!

Alpha -thanks for your input. I was thinking it might need to be 'around a stone, plus' to genuinely drop a dress size. 4st 3lb weight loss is truly inspirational, well done!

Incidentally, on the PMK thread, I just read of a 5'7" person, weighing 15 stone who 'wears 14 on top and 16 below'. I am not for a second accusing her of lying, but I don't think I own a single size 14 item- they just wouldn't fit, top or bottom!

So I may get out there, dress-shopping wise, and choose a suitable dress- then buy it in the correct size 2 weeks before The Day on the basis they can order the right size in within 2 weeks!

It's a hard question. I have gone down from 13 st 9 to 9st 3. I'm 5 ft 4. Size wise it's 16/18 down to 8/10.

It has taken me 20 months to do this so compared to some people I've been quite slow. I have found that often my body seems to get smaller when I haven't lost weight so last summer I was the same weight for about 2 months and I went down from 12 to 10. In the last few weeks I've lost about 3lbs and am I finding that I can fit into some size 8 trousers quite comfortably yet over Easter they didn't fit. I measure myself every so often and have found the shrinkage can lag behind the weight loss.

I suppose how quickly your dress size goes down depends on where you shop (now I have more shops to choose from I don't buy from next which has uber generous sizing) and it depends where your fat is. I always had relatively thin arms and legs so the only place to lose it really is my bum, tum and boobs. I imagine if my arms were bigger it would've taken longer to go down a clothes size.

Dress sizes are crazy. If you want to drop a size or two go to M&S.

I completely understand what you mean... In January I was the biggest id been at 14 st 13 and a size 16 from most places struggling with the waistband in certain jeans but an 18 was too big. I am 5ft 6 by the way.

I have so far lost 1 and a half stone and am now mostly in a 14 again some waistbands are tight but 16s are now too big.
I think a stone loss means clothes are looser but the extra half stone means down a size.

I think it's about a stone

I have gone from 11-6 to 10-7. I am pear shape so top half slimmish with most weight on legs and bum. I was wearing Next size 14 boot cut jeans but can now wear size 12 boyfriend. I doubt that I would fit into size 12 jeans elsewhere and even at 10 stone it might be hard . I am 5-5. Very much depends on your body shape and where your clothes are from. Am still in size 16 m and s knickers! Don't think I will ever escape them.

A stone of so but really the size thing is meaningless. I sew a lot and my old patterns make a modern 10/12 an easy 16/18. Different shops have vastly different sizing. I am wearing small skinniest today- I am not even close to small but asda sizes big. Measurements is a more valid comparison

I've lost 1.5 stones and have gone down 1 dress size.

Blimey, some amazing weight losses here!

I confess that rather a lot of my clothes are from- OK, I'm going to say it- Per Una so it's been useful to see what still fits and what's loose. I am 51 so probably 'the demographic'- the one that, were it a bit less tight richer, and more sure it didn't look like a badly tied sack of spuds in it, would be in Boden or White Company

My jeans, I now see are a 16 (PU again) but with some elastane 'give'. I was in 18s in the same model but then again, I was 13 stone 3 years ago!

I think I shall assume that "A Dress Size" is 1 to 1.5 stone!

And yes, dress sizing is a mysterious art!

I'm 5'6 and 16st 5lb (diet started this morning!)

I carry all my weight round the bottom, I have a waist and big lower stomach, and massive bottom and thighs.

I'm a 14 on top and 18/20 on the bottom.

IME it's about a stone a dress size. I weigh 10lb 13oz as of this morning and am also 5'6" - this is a very comfy size 12, rather than a bit tight before I started dieting 2 weeks ago.

I'm aiming to get down to 10st 3 as this is wedding weight and an 11. Ideally I'd love to be 9st 3 and a 8-10 but I like eating food and drinking wine far too much for that.

Yeah, that's what does it for me, too, the bloody 'eating food' and 'drinking wine' !

Bob, good luck! Are you following a diet plan?

Give up on sizes. Honestly! I have.

I can be a 12 in one shop, and a 20 in another. It's all dependent on the cut, design and shop.

I'm now measuring myself, and judging against my existing clothes. Not much help for buying clothes I know, but that's life!

I'm 5 ft 6 and was a size 16 when I weighed 12 stone 5 post birth.

Thinking back to on the way down - I was in a 12 at about 11 stone (now a size ten at 9 stone 10ish).

I would say you would be a 14 at 11 stone 4.

I am 5 feet 1 inch tall with a small build. I weight 8st 9 lb the moment and am a size 12. I know that when I weigh 8 st 3, I fit into all my size 10 stuff. I don't carry weight well unfortunately. It is all flab on my tummy, thighs and bottom.

I've actually started slim fast. I know it's not for everyone but I need to have a simple kick start. I'm greedy! No other excuse- I need to step away from the kitchen!!

I'm half a pound away from having lost 4 stone - I've gone down 3 clothes sizes...so a bit over a stone per size.

Comparing weight/dress size with other people is a waste of time because as people have pointed out, one shop's size 12 is another's 16 so you aren't comparing like with like (and that's before you get into different body shapes, fat:muscle etc!). But whatever your starting point - your dress size, it is usually around a stone in weight that moves it by one size either way.

I'm 5 foot 6 and was a size 14 at 13 stone. Lost three stone, now a size ten, so about a dress size per stone and a half.

I read somewhere that it can be as little as 10lb at times but the gap between sizes is, apparently, larger as they go up so the difference between an 8 and a 10 is less than that between an 18 and a 20 iyswim.

I have lost just over 3 stone (loads still to go though) and can now get into the size below my starting point but can still wear most of my old clothes without looking swamped

I am 5"4 and losing baby weight and am currently 10st - aiming for just under 9 and a half. I agree it is about shape and build - basically, build-wise my range is either a toned size 10 or a 12 with bulging boobs/muffin top at a much higher weight - my shoulders and hips don't get big enough for bigger sizes so I look marginally less rubbish squeezing into tighter clothes than having other parts of the clothes flapping around.

At 11"7 plus just after birth I was never in more than a size 14 in any brand so I'm surprised at your 18s OP - but maybe you are a rangy build with the shoulders to carry bigger sizes? Now I am 12 on top and I wear 10 on the bottom but with a fat stomach wobbling over the top - a look I am keen to move on from.

I also agree that you can sometimes drop a size when you aren't losing weight - I guess because you reduce slightly on the key pinch points of clothes.

Tansie whom were you referring to on the Paul McKenna thread if I might ask . I listed my height of 5 ft 9 and I weight 13stone twelve and am 16 on the bottom and 14 on the top. I think it was me you were referring to but you got my weight a bit wrong. So I am definitely not lying.

I'm 15st 12.4lbs and 5'6".

I wear a size 16. Most of it fits absolutely fine. Last time I wore a size 12 I was 11st. I think it's a very personal thing

I have lost 1.5 stone and as of Saturday I weighed 11 stone 5 pounds at nearly 5 ft 8 inches

Before I lost the weight I was pretty much in most stores (not Karen Millen) a 14 bottom and a 14 to 16 top (depending on the fit)

I am now a 12 bottom and a 12 to 14 top (more 14)

I thinks it's about a stone that makes the difference and I am always amazed at some of the weight loss interviews (like weightwatchers) when they are heavier and shorter than me but are in smaller clothes

I'm sure my fat makes a difference