5ft 4 and 12 stone - what size would you think would fit?

[Jenasaurus]

I ask this because I am the same height as a colleague and recently have lost 2 stone (now weigh 12 stone), I had a health shock in July, where I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol, fatty liver etc - proper wake up call.

Now my weight loss is about health and not how I look, but it would be nice to be able to shop in main stream shops rather than the plus size stores.

Even though I weigh 2 stone 4 less, I am still a size 41inch waist which makes me a size 20. (I have stick thin arms and legs)

My colleague went to slimming world and we were discussing our lifestyle change and diets, she is the same height as me, but never really looked fat even though she said she was 15 stone before, she said she has now hit her target of 13 stone, and doesn't want to lose more or she starts looking gaunt, she is a size 12/14 and a stone heavier than me but the same height.

I beleive to be a size 12 I will need to lost another 4 stone and be about 8 stone, I just wondered how typical this is for someone of 5ft 4 and interested to know if you are the same height/similar weight to me what your size is

It's frame / skeleton size as well tho, I'm medium sized regardless of how much weight I lose, and between 9.5 and 11 stone I don't really vary size- 12. Height 5 5.

@Jenasaurus it could be that part of this is your age and menopause. Are you on HRT by any chance as I have found that weight in the same area as you has crept on me during covid plus I stopped exercising🙄 I find that the only thing that relieves me of that middle is a low carb diet so literally cutting back on bread. pasta, sweet stuff etc. I'm a week in and already feeling better and tummy looking less.It is a sod though.

I am the same height as you Op at 8 stone I would be a size 6-8.

I used to flutter from 7 and a half stone to 8 and I was extremely tiny. More firmly a size 6.
My weight is about 8 and a half now but I am more firmly an 8 in trousers now, but still a small 8 as I find sizing differs depending on shops.
I am a 6 to 8 on top.

I really don't understand how it works. I am 5'4, weigh 13 stone and am a size 14, some of my tops are 12s,. I can't get in my size 14 jeans at the moment, but 16 would be way too big

I'm 5'5 and 12 stone for me is a size 16 I'm 10 stone 7 and a 12 when I go to 10 stone it's a size 10 for me.

I'm 5 foot 5 and a size 14 at around 13 stone 10.

I am definitely heavy boned though as at my slimmest I was a size 8 at 9 stone 12.

(Modern sizing...I was a size 10 at 8 stone 12 back in the late 90s..).

Attached a pic of my stomach for reference...

At 12 stone I was a size 12 in dresses as I carry my weight on bum hips and thighs. I'm 16 stone now and a size 16 in dresses for the same reason. I'm 5'4. Where and how you carry weight makes a huge difference

You have lost that weight very quickly - it can take a while for the skin to catch up, especially around the abdomen and for areas that don't store as much fat to look completely different when other larger areas of fat storage will have lost the same amount all over but it's not as noticeable; a 12 inch round arm will always look slimmer at 8 inches round, but a 54 waist down to 50 inches will not be seen as easily, even when it's exactly the same inch loss.

Are you exercising as well? People tend to appear slimmer at a greater mass if they exercise and include resistance/weight training whilst those who don't tend towards being softer.

You have an hourglass figure judging from this photo, which looks lovely at any size. I am v jealous!

I’m 5ft5 and weigh about 9.5 stone probably less now but have been on holiday and not weighed for two weeks and am a size 10 or 12 depending on the make and cut. I’m in my mid fifties and until the menopause hit was a size 8. When very young I was a size 6 and weighed around 8 stone.

Photo of me last week

You have to click on the photo no idea why it’s done it like that.

My sister lost 5 stone because of type 2 diabetes and was a similar shape to you. She is now on a very small dose of meds and doing much better. So I say well done to her and you! She had been 15 stone.

People get very hung up on dress size, really it’s all about getting a tape measure out and measuring your statistics.

5'4", and currently about 13st8lbs and about size 16, though it depends on shop and style. I seem to lose about 1 dress size per stone, but it doesn't work like that for everyone. Daily exercise makes most difference to my blood sugar levels, and no snacking between meals.

Also, I once went away for 3 months doing mostly physical labour (voluntary work, ot a prison camp...) I came back exactly the same weight as when I went, but my clothes were definitely looser, it was just the weight was muscle instead of fat. So fitness is important.

I'm 5'3, weigh about 10 stone and wear a size 10 in most things, occasionally a 12, and for some reason 14 in jeans.
Back when I was 9 stone, I wore a size 8, occasionally size 10. I had and still have an hourglass shape.

So I think if you were 8 stone you'd probably be a size 6-8!

Well done on your weight loss so far 🙌🏻

This really shows how aweful sizes are. Women of so many heights and weights, it's so hard to compare. Then every shop sizes are different. Will be so awesome when us women get on board together and are just happy as we are. Will never happen though

OP you have done fantastically with your weight loss, well done!

Keep it up and all of a sudden you will start to see it melt from your middle.

Do you do any exercise? Some exercise that works your abs / core can really tone the muscles that give you a bit of shape round your waist.

I found that weightloss wasn’t a straight line, My tum went first as it happened and my arse held on, then all of a sudden over what seemed like a week, wasn’t there.

(I was losing a pound a week, just healthier eating, smaller portions of carbs, healthy snacks only. Lost 3 stone 13 down to 10)

I'm 5ft6 and 12 stone - size 12-14 tops and 14-16 bottoms.
Well done on your weight loss OP - that's amazing.

You have great legs - my weight ( particularly now I'm in my 50s) sits round my middle. I'd look at dressing to suit so wider longer tops with cropped trousers or dresses that flare empire line just under boobs.

Your mate has a BMI >30 so is classed as obese. I very much doubt she would look gaunt if she lost more weight.

OP well done. What exercise do you do?

I’m 5 ft 4 ins and 12 stone I’m a14 top 31 waist and a 16 bottom 45 hip. Very pear shaped. It’s very difficult getting clothes to fit especially skirts 🥴

I'm your height and weight and a size 14.

I have an hourglass shape so size 12 waists fit but hips are too tight. And I gain weight on my boobs and thighs.

I'm happier 2 stone lighter (which I was last year and really need to get back to!) then I'm a size 10.

I'm your height and weight. I can still get into my size 14 clothes but I would say I'm comfortably an M&S size 16. Used to call myself a pear shape but I would say apple now. I don't do any exercise which I think impacts how clothing fits.

I'm 5'3 and 9st10 and a size 12, so I guess I'd be a 16 at 12 stone

I'm 11 stone something and 5 ft 4 and wear a size 12 in everything

OP, congratulations on your weight loss.

I do, however, think your perception of weight is a bit off. Your arms and legs are nowhere near "stick thin" and your friend will not be "gaunt" below 13st. I don't think it's helpful to use that sort of dramatic language tbh.

We all carry weight differently, such is why the BMI boundaries are so broad, to account for the differences. At my height I can be anything up to 11st and still theoretically healthy. For me to be 2ins shorter, 2st heavier and "gaunt" would be nonsense.

I was also size14 into smaller 16 when I weighed 12 stone at that height. You must have very slim legs and arms. Make the most of them with tunic mini dresses or swing dresses. Mine have always been massive - even when I am very slim I have rugby players' legs and can't wear mini dresses or shorts.

You could try exercises that target the waist - a weighted hulahoop and lots of ab work would help tone up.