Numbers drive me crazy

I saw a post recently (I dont believe it was here), a woman claimed to be 160 and wear a size 4. 

It drives me crazy that to wear the same size I have to slim down to nearly 100.

Why are the numbers so cruel?

Well, you have to take into account height... and liars...

Focus on the fact lots of people are liars...

There's also the whole "people who wear a 4 when they're actually a size 12" (seen them!) thing.

160 and size 4? Maybe if you're 6 feet tall? Don't be discouraged by other people. It's about your body and the weight you look and feel best at.

I know, it's kinda weird isn't it?  Doesn't seem possible that someone who weighs 160 can wear a size 4, unless of course the fit is ghastly, or they are super tall and narrow.  I am down to 165 now and wear size 12 very comfortably.  I can only wear size 4 when I weigh in the area of 130. 

Then again, some clothing lines are just bigger.  A person who can wear size 4 off the rack might not be able to squeeze into a size 8 in a true designer outfit.  A Channel size 4 is more like size 2 or even 0 in regular fashions.  What the hay, it doesn't really matter that much as long as we feel good about how we look doesn't it?  My poor stepmom weighs at least 20 pounds less than me and on her frame, she looks heavier than me.  It's all very personal.

I saw tht post also - thought she must have meant that she weighed 106..??? Maybe it was a typo...

My pants size has ALWAYS been off compared to most people. In a healthy weight I have NEVER been a size 4. At 100 pounds (I'm 5'3) I still wore a size 5. My hips and thighs are pretty big and I believe I'm medium framed harping close to small, but my arse definitely isn't that big to be in such bigger pants sizes.

It was strange too, because a girl and I about over a year ago (when I was way thinner) were comparing our weights and sizes she was about 130 (5'4) and wore a size 4...I, however, was 114 (5'3 like I mentioned) and wore a size 7/8!

Neither of us could figure out how that was possible. But a woman can weigh a lot more then me and still be wearing a smaller pants size. I'm a freak of nature.

This person really must of been tall. Or her body was all muscle and no fat maybe. My experience with weight and size is this, about 2yrs ago I weighed 153, and could never drop below that, but I wore a sz 8 very comfortable. I worked out alot so I lost a ton of inches. I gained the weight back and I am now at 160 wearing a sz 12 loosely... I am sure I could wear a sz 10 now, but I haven't tried to go shopping since I want to loose another 26lbs and be in that wonderful sz 4 that I wore about 10yrs ago. HA! Btw I am 5'2 curvy frame.

You really have to consider one's height. I am currently 175 and wear a size 8 but when I'm at around 155, I fit into a size 4 very comfortabley but I am also 5'10".  And I get sooo mad at how high my weight is when I can fit into small sizes. Makes no sense to me.

Yep, could be height. But could also be individual shape and brand.

I'm 5'11", 150 and wear a loose Gap size 6(L).

Get this: I tried on a pair of slacks once and liked them so much that I bought the exact, the EXACT same size in a different color without trying on the second pair. Got home and the second pair (same size, brand, etc) was tighter. So I must wear a size Gray and not a size Brown in that particular brand.

My mom is 5'8" and about 145lbs. She wears a size 4. I loved a pair of pants she was wearing (loose on her) so I tried them on and they were tight on me. I only outweigh her by 5lbs and am 3 inches taller, but there was a significant difference on how the pants fit. And get this, we wear the SAME SIZE shirt but can't always fit into each others. Some of her button ups are too tight on my shoulders while mine are too tight on her abdomen. 

It's just a number and does not determine how big or small a person is. The fit also varies wildly between brands and styles. I wear a size 8 in Levi's and a size 4 in Target brands. 

Lots of possible reasons, several mentioned already.

• You could be in different countries.  American size 6s are much much bigger than UK size 6s, for example.
• You could be shopping at different stores.  Same argument as above.  Some stores vanity size much more than others.
• There could have been a typo.
• You could be different heights.  A tall 160 lb woman is slimmer than a short 160 lb woman.
• You could like looser fitting clothes.  My mum and I are about the same size, but she wears her pants a size bigger because she likes them much looser than I do.
• She could carry more of her weight on her upper body.  I am very top heavy and am now comfortably fitting size 8 pants at 150 lbs.  In a few stores, I'm even starting to fit the size 6s.  Certainly, the sizing charts claim that my hips are size 6.  (Of course, they also claim my chest is a size 14 yet I'm fitting size 10-12 tops and dresses.)

I'm sure there are a bunch of other possibilities too.

You also have to take into account other stuff like how long she's been wearing those pants. I was wearing 6's at 160 pounds but had owned those jeans for years and years and I think they stretched as I gained weight. I used to throw fits because I would go into a store and grab a pair of 6s but then they'd be too small. Now I can actually buy 6s again and I'm 140. I am pretty sure that no one loses 20 pounds and still wears the same size. :) So it really could have been any number of things that made her able to wear a 4 at 160....although that sounds kinda sketchy.

Those are all good arguments of course.

But it still drives me nuts.  I am 5 even.  And as I have said, I have to be lose to 100 to wear a size 4.  Shouldnt a smaller person actually BE smaller?

Well I am just gripeing.  The PMS blues and trying to quit smoking and feeling my age and current weight. 

I burned 700 extra calories today.  But I still have not filled the burn meter.

Feeling sorry for myself you know?

Thanks for the ear!