Realistic body image for tall girls - Advice?

I'm a 21 year old woman who stands 5'11" and currently weighs about 225lbs. I wear a size 16, and I have a medium build (when I wrap my fingers around my wrist the tips overlap slightly) and an hourglass figure.

What I'd like to know is if it's reasonable for a woman that's 5'11" tall to expect to get down to a size "6" (26 inch waist) and be healthy. I've struggled with healthy body image all my life, and am uncertain whether or not I have realistic goals and expectations. Are there any other tall girls on this forum who have reached or are near their goal weight? What pant size do you wear?

My goal weight is currently 175lbs -- 15 pounds over CC's reccommended, so I might eventually adjust down a bit. If you have similar stats, any suggestions, reccommendations or input, please advise!

Thanks in advance. :)

Size 6 is pretty slim for a tall girl.  I am 5'10" and currently around 150.  I wear a size 10, size 8 on a really good day.  The last time I wore size 6 I was closer to 145 and it was definitely not sustainable for me.  Not saying it was unhealthy, just more work than I wanted to put in.

I wouldn't rule out getting to size 6, but I wouldn't make it your first goal either.  Get to your first goal and see how you feel at that point.  You'll have a better sense  of what's realistic for you.

It depends on how your lower body is built. 

I'm 25, 6 feet tall (5' 11 7/8" if you want to get all technical), and have a medium/large frame (fingers don't touch, but my fingers are pretty stumpy).  Looking at the measurements for a size 6, I don't think my hips could ever be 36-37 inches.  I'm 175lbs right now and my hip measurement is 41" and even though I'm still over-fat my hips are pretty darn boney.  A size 8 would be a miracle for me.  Size 10 is probably the most realistic size for my body.

I'm currently a size 14 in my thighs, size 12 in waist and hips.  Hate being between sizes.  Gah!

xena was a tall lady who had a nice healthy look :D

If Celebrity Sleuth magazine is a credible source, Lucy Lawless is a size 6 and 5' 11" tall.

Liv Tyler is 5' 10" and a size 8.

I'm almost 6 feet and I'm a size 7/8 and sometime 9/10. About two years ago I was two inches shorter and a size 3/4...trust me...it wasn't pretty. I saw no problem when I was in that condition...but looking back it looked unnaturally skinny...tall and lanky and in my opinion, not very attractive.

I think it can be done...but it's all in your bone structure. If I lost my ass and a few other fat deposits, I could be a size six.

Being an hourglass figure...I can't say that it would be easy...but it's probably not impossible. Just measure yourself.

Personally, I'm not anywhere near my goal weight. I'm at about 165 (haven't checked in a while due to a very large move) and my goal weight is around 130. Again, right now I fall between a 7 and a 10....it really varies. but I have a hugeeeee ass that absorbs the majority of my pants. haha.

I am 5'10" and I am currently between a 6 and an 8.  I am trying to lose about another 5-10 pounds, which should put me squarely at a size 6 (or a size 4...it will all depend on how I feel).  I just gained a few pounds over the last year that I would like to lose....

In any case, it is all about your bone structure.  I have pretty narrow hips and a smallish waist, so I can get down to the smaller sizes...but if you have wide hips, I have a feeling you are going to be limited in how many sizes you can drop. 

Good luck with your weight loss!

It totally depends on your build and bone structure/density. Some girls grow up with naturally slight frames and will be a size 6.

I'm not one of them....! I'm 6'1" and 201. I'm currently a UK size 16-18 (US 12-14) measurements 43-34-43. My fingers touch around the wrist, so I'd say I was a medium build, and an hourglass.

I personally think any smaller than a US 8 would look awful on 5'10+ Very lanky, awkward, bony.... I have been down to a US 8 (UK 12) when I was 15 (so not even at full height) and my ribcage, hipbones and collarbones were really poking out.

I have a goal of around 175-180 and a dress size goal of US 10 (UK 14). Of course I will re-evaluate when I get nearer to that weight/size. BTW I have absolutely NO ass- flat as a pancake.

I'm with Laura, I'm 201 pounds, 6 feet tall and currently in between a US 12/14. My goal is a size 10 with no muffin top and 180 pounds. I will see how it looks when I get there, but I have a huge frame with man hands and size 12 feet, so I think it'll be pretty impossible to get down to a size 6 given my bone structure.

As far as pants go, it's really going to depend on how wide your hip bones are set.  I am 5'11 with a small frame, weighing around 140.  At most I've weighed 185, at least 130.  I wear a pants size 6 or 8, mostly 8 .  I have been in a size 4 and 2 in my adult life.  It IS possible, and I am healthy, but yeah, it depends a lot on how your skeleton is structured.

I am 5'10", 135 and a small frame.  I wear a size 8 in most brands of pants. 

I'm 5'10" currently 166lbs, medium frame if CC's method to determine that is accurate.  Goal weight as suggested by CC is 156.8

I currently wear a 10 that fits just right, a 7/8 that is getting too baggy, and I have a 9 that I was working towards but it turns out that they hit my hip bones at just the right spot that they dig in and hurt, sigh... But hey, I found out that I have hip bones!

So my jeans that are a 7/8 are getting too big, and I'm going to try on a 5/6 next time I'm in the city, if they fit, I'm gonna buy them just so that I can say that I wear a 5/6!!! LOL

And my jeans that are a 9, I'll never be able to wear them comfortably...

I think it really makes a difference who makes the clothes too.

Odd number sizes are juniors.  That means they're cut for teenagers who've yet to fully develop their womanly bodies (hips).  That's why one can wear an eight, but not a nine.  Even if the style is similar. 

The clothes that are double numbered (i.e. 7/8) are geared toward "misses" or women in their early 20s.  They're cut like the women's sizes (8) instead of the juniors sizes (7).

I am almost exactly where you are right now. At 5'10", my hourglass figure looked best at 145-155 and my favorite jeans (gorgeous brown leather!) fit like a lovely glove and are a size 9/10. I'll have reached body nirvana when I can wear those pants again. Oh and I have a small frame. A 6 seems awfully tiny for your height, keep going slow and see how you feel at 170.

I am 5'10'', approx 150 and I wear a size 6 or 8.  I have an ass though!  my waist is definitely a 6, even a 4, but b/c of my bootie I've got to buy 8s a lot, and get them altered at the waist.  Oh well, not complaining.  Anyhow, I'm definitely not bony as some of the other posters suggested you would have to be to fit in a 6.  I know other girls my height who wear the same size and are maybe 10+ lbs lighter than me!  It just depends on body size.  at any rate, good luck with your goals, and I'm sure when you get down to your goal weight you will look great no matter what size you wear!

I'm 5'9"  and currently 148lbs, I wear an 8 right now, but some shorts i can wear in a 6. At 182lbs I wore a 12.  My waist is a 6, maybe a little smaller but my butt and thighs are where it's all at.  So I always have a big gap at my waist.  My fingers overlap around my wrist but at my ankles they barely go around half way.  So my upper body is small frame but my lower is med, maybe even large. 

When I lived in Greece i weighted anywhere between 130- 138 lbs.  I was 24.  Now I'm 30 and find that my hips have widened a little.  Looking back at pictures I was skinny.  I probably wore a 2 or a 4 then.  I don't want to get that tiny again.  I didn't mean to be that small.  it's just the life style there is different.  Walked everywhere I went and less processed foods. 

Most of it is genetics and your life style does play a part in it as well.  I have found that no matter your size if you're toned you look slimmer.  I have a cousin who is around 6' and she's anywhere between a size 8 and 10.  She's around 160 - 170 lbs  But if you look at her you'd think she weighs less.  She's nicely toned.  The advantage to being tall is that you hide your weight well.

My goal is 140- 145 lbs.  But I'm actually happy here where I'm at and fitting a size 8 great.  I've decided to start toning instead of concentrating on the number the scale shows.  I started P90X 3 weeks ago to tone up.  Surprisingly enough I've lost 3 lbs as I'm getting toned,  I even have little muscles in my arms now.   I feel like I look slimer.  Sorry for rambling on.  Long story short don't focus on numbers instead focus on where you feel good and comfortable.

I'm going to have to agree with the previous posters.  Weight is so different on everyone's bodies, and sizes really vary on everyone's bodies as well.  I had a friend in high school that was visibly much thinner than me, but she had wide set hips and mine are straight, so I wore a smaller size.

I'm 5'11" and 141.5 on my good days.  I wear a 4-6 at most stores in the mall, but I also have the flattest white girl booty, so that is probably why they fit.  I think I carry most of my weight in my boobs, ha ha!

Original Post by jewelsmcblah:

Odd number sizes are juniors.  That means they're cut for teenagers who've yet to fully develop their womanly bodies (hips).  That's why one can wear an eight, but not a nine.  Even if the style is similar. 

The clothes that are double numbered (i.e. 7/8) are geared toward "misses" or women in their early 20s.  They're cut like the women's sizes (8) instead of the juniors sizes (7).

 Hmmm, that's good to know! Thanks!

Although, my 7/8' s are Wrangler's and it doesn't matter what cut you buy, they are all split sizing like that (including what I call their Granny cut, insert shiver here), so I don't think that they are gearing towards one specific age group...

My 9's could very well be junior, I have no idea, they were a gift from a friend who works in a western shop.

Hi there Viyahn!  I am right there with you.  However, I am 23 yrs old, 6 ft 2 inches- a very tall girl- My pant size is 12-13 and my goal is to be a size 10.  I have a small frame with no breasts, boney broad shoulders and a small waist.  But Girl, do I have a beee-hind and thighs that do-a-little-dance when I walk, talk, chew you name it ;)!  I am currently losing weight from dieting and exercising everyday for the past 2 months.  I keep it so simple and I think it could work for you!  Everyone's body is different, but I put my younger sister on my diet and she has already lost 10 pounds in 1 month's time.   She is 21 and only 5'7, but weighs close to 150- not good :( I hate seeing her this way and I'm desperate to improve her health and happiness.  I'm slightly obsessed with outward appearance, but never ever judge anyone by there physical aspects.

One thing you have to know is that for the first 3 days of any diet, you will be in agony, feel like "pooh", and want to give up.  But by that 4th day your body will be ready and willing to help you adapt to this new activity.  But you have to mix it up a bit, so you don't hit that dreaded weight loss plateau where you stop losing weight after 3 weeks- I hate it when that happens!

try to eat at least 5 times a day

at 8am special k for breakfast

at 10 am have a plain/ dry turkey sandwich(or with mustard if you like mustard- i'm allergic so i can only have turkey and bread but no no no no mayo!) with a bottle of water- ozarka, desani, aquafina etc (try not to drink tap or sparkling as they contain salts and minerals that your body may have trouble flushing out)

at 12pm  have another plain dry turkey sandwich w/ your favorite raw fruit or veggie  ( i like granny smith apples or baby carrots- change it up so you don't get bored)

at 3:00pm have yet another plain/ dry turkey sandwich with another bottle of water

at anywhere between 5- 6:30 pm  have another turkey sandwich with yoplait fat free yogurt (40 different flavors yummy!) or carrots or celery or fruit- the more raw fruits/ veggies the easier it'll be.  it's just so refreshing and light with the good sugars to keep your energy.

whatever you do, do not eat after 7pm! 

if you find yourself hungry- guzzle down that water sister! your skin and hair will benefit also- triple whammy!

as far as exercise- all i do is jog on the treadmill for 15 minutes straight and then walk off 400 calories every other day- for the first 2 weeks, just stick to the simple foods above.  if you have the energy.....go for it!  the idea is to keep your metabolism going and pretty soon you won't want to eat all this food all day long cuz your stomach will shrink to the size of a plum, making you feel severely full ;)

change it up as much as you want just as long as you stick with the lean turkey, fruits/ veggies, bread, as much water as you can stand, and low fat yogurt.

i promise, promise, promise it works works works!

you're not as tall as i am, therefore you could probably lose more weight faster and notice results a lot easier :)

i had to share this with you and i hope at least a small portion of it helps! in no way am i preaching to you- i guess i'm a girl who cares about this kind stuff :)!

all the love,

plain jane in TX  :)   xoxox

Hi, I am new to this site and came across your post looking for people similar in size to me or at least where I have been.  I am now 32 and 3 kids later but when I was in high school I never wore a size smaller than a 11/12.  I weighed 180 and was at 15% body fat (I wish I could go back in time and slap myself for thinking I was fat then because I weighed more and wore 4 sizes larger than my best girl friend who was a willowy ballerina type).  

I currently am 235, 5'11" and wear an 18.  I would consider my build on the larger side (the wrist measure isn't very accurate for me because for my height I have small hands--every coach I have ever had has said that with annoyance) but overall, you sound similar to me in size and shape (at least when I was 225).  So, I think it is very unrealistic that you should wear a size 6.

As far as adjusting your goal weight according to CC, I would take into account how much muscle you build.  Muscle is heavier and far more better looking than fat.  It took me getting fat and out of shape to realize that weight itself doesn't matter and weighing more due to muscle is a good thing.  I don't always think calculators take that into the figures.  I hope this helps and good luck.

I know I am not nearly as tall as you but, I am 5'8" at this point I am 246( i have lost 20 pounds yeah :-)) I am a size 18 but could squeeze into a 16 right now.. I have very long legs, yuck.... I also have large bones, there almost half an inch between my fingers, I cant wear ANY womens bracelet unless they are specially made....

I know my smallest I weighed 165 and I was a size 12.. I was pretty sickly..  all boobs and ass and nothing else... 

Like someone else said It really depends on your body structure to figure out what size you can get into.. I would love to be a size 6 but for me and my body structure I know it is not possible...

Hope this helped..