BMI of 20 but still a 14?

[BabCNesbitt]

I was pretty unhappy with how much weight I put on towards the end of last year, so I’ve been using MFP to count calories pretty strictly since then. I’ve got from 11 stone to 8’ 8”, but I’ve only gone from a 16 to a 14 (I’m 5’5” and 49yo). How much more will I need to lose to drop another size?!

It’s just a number, and meaningless tbh.
I have clothes from one shop ranging from size 8 to 14. There is just no consistency anywhere anymore.

Well done on your weight loss, just focus on that and how you look in the clothes, rather than the number on the label.

Well done on your weight loss! Where are you buying these size 14s from because they must be on the small side (and some!)

That sounds odd tbh. What types of clothes are you buying? Have you tried a smaller size?

That seems odd, you’re a little smaller than me and I’m an 8 to 10. Sorry if this sounds silly but have you actually tried on clothes in the 8to 10 range?

Are you toned?

You definitely don't need to lose more weight with that bmi

That doesn't sound right, I'm 5ft and 9 stone (bmi 24), size 10 in most stores. Sometimes an 8. I've never been a 12 in my life, and have been up to 9st5.

It depends on body shape and muscle mass too, so if you are an apple shape or have bloating, you might be struggling to fit in smaller clothes due to that.
Are your scales accurate and do you weigh on flat flooring?

I'm 9st 11lbs and size 12 and getting into a few 10s but I am 5ft 3, though ive been apple shape my whole life, losing weight has slimmed my waist thank goodness. Waist to height ratio is a good one to check too, your waist should be half your height in cms. You may have higher fat mass, where I am higher in muscle so appear more toned than someone who has higher fat ratio. The smart scales will give you some stats.
Also at 49 you will have perimenopausal or menopausal higher abdominal fat which may be the issue. I'm 43 and did struggle with this. Try to go higher protein, drink lots of water and low carb for less water retention and swelling which may help.

That sounds very odd. Are you sure you're not wearing your clothes a bit baggy? Some bigger clothes will fit, as in stay on and not just drop off, but they won't necassarily 'fit' to a flattering level, if that makes sense.

I'm 9st 11bls and wear 6/8 and I'm 5'2".

I've gone down, in my lifetime, from a size 30/32 and this year 12/14.

Also, mid rise will be a size or 2 larger than high rise because your natural waist is smaller, sometimes by many inches, compared to your waist at belly button level especially if you carry lots of abdominal weight or excess skin, as is my case.

Weighing on a flat surface; can’t guarantee that my scales are spot on but they’re newish and they’ve been steadily showing the progress. My waist has always been relatively thick - it’s now about 30” and my hips are 36-37”, but I’ve tried a pair of cords in M&S in a 12 and they nearly sliced me in half at the crotch when I sat down. Definitely not toned!

(Also, I’m vegan so high protein and low carb can be a bit challenging 😬)

That could just mean that they are too short waisted for you so all they can do is ride up to where your natural waist is.

I’m 5’7 and generally between a 6-8 at 8st 6.
My advice, wear what you feel comfortable in. Buy clothes to fit you, not to fit a size the label tells you to be.
I’ve sized up to a 14 in some things because I prefer the fit!

A 30in waist and 37in hips would put you around a size 12 according to M&S's size guide - 30in waist is a size 12 and 37in hips is a size 10. As @PickAChew says perhaps it's the shape of the style that's not working for your current body shape.

I was so skinny, BMI of 19 and 12s were comfortable but 14s would have been ok.

My hips and bum are just wider and carry more fat. My BMI is currently 23 and I am happily wearing a 14, and wouldn’t be able to fit in to a 12 without pulling in my tummy.

I’m 5 4, and a size 10 at 64kg (around 10 stone). In fact some of my size 10 clothes are very loose and I bought next size 8 chinos. My goal is 60kg and I expect to be a size 8.

It sounds as though you have very low muscle tone. If I was 8 8 (and I’m an inch shorter) ie 54kg I’d be a size 6 with a body that could be on the front of women’s fitness. I would suggest some resistance training and enough protein to built muscle. I recommend the vegan protein Wondershake by the protein works.

I’m currently lighter than you and I would never fit in to size 10 clothes. My bum is so tonner, but pert. My legs are toned but my hips are wide. My arms are toned, my boobs are small, you can see my abs, but I wear a size 14 comfortably. Bodies are different shapes.

I definitely have low muscle tone - depression goes up and down for me and it’s been crappy this year, but it’s generally made exercising tough. I know I need to sort that out but it feels near-impossible.

I'm 5ft 6 and when I lost weight a few years ago and briefly went down to 9st 12, not only was I too thin (people told me and looking at photos I agree) but also I was wearing a size 10 in most shops (Boden, Next) and a size 8 in M&S.

Sorry but if you really weigh 8st 8 at your height you cannot possibly be finding a size 14 fits you. Where are you shopping? Have you actually tried on a pair of size 10 trousers from a mainstream shop? Oh I see you have. I would try on more, different styles.

Honestly if I were 8st 8 (and I am only a inch taller than you) I would look so so thin. If that's your true weight you don't need to lose more. Maybe look at some work on toning – yoga for abs or similar?

5ft 6 and have lost 3 stone I weighed 9st 13 this morning and all my size 16 clothes still fit me I am so frustrated. I ordered a pair of trousers off Vinted that are a size 12 and I’m praying they will fit me. I was so excited at the thought of losing weight and all my clothes being massive on me but I am still carrying so much fat on my hips and stomach. Everywhere else is thin and my stomach is smaller than it was but it’s still fat.

I'm the same weight as you and an inch taller and I'm a size 12! I am 43 though and carry a lot of visceral fat compared to lower subcutaneous and body fat, it's genetics, ethnicity and peri menopause! I was prediabetes until a few months ago too.

Don’t know what else to say - yes, I weighed 8st 8 this morning, and yes, I’m still wearing 14 in Tu and M&S jeans! I know I should work out more but I find it really hard to motivate myself to do more than just get through the day at work and then feed the kids when I have them.

Must be how you carry your weight as I’m 5’4” and weigh 10stone and I’m a 10-12. Boobs are 32E, hips are wide and make me more a 12 in tight clothes but my 14s are massive on me at this weight.

It doesn’t matter if you’re toned or not, 8st 8 is 8 st 8. It’s tiny for a woman of your height. You only have to look at size 14 clothes to see they are a large size. Height isn’t really relevant when you’re a very average height like yourself. It’s bizarre and I feel like it’s just not true

Sounds like you are tiny, but have a wider waist. Dont worry, wear those 14s with pride!

Well, it’d be a pointless thing to make up. I’m posting because I can’t figure out what I’m doing “wrong”. My waist to hip ratio has always been off compared to other women but that’s been true since I was a size 10 teenager so…