I didn't know what to post this under. I finally decided on success stories because I figure its a great success that we even wory about these things.

So..... heres my question.

How much have pants sizes really changed. I am 5'7'' and weight 143. I wear a size 6. Now.... about 10 years ago I weighed 132 for a short minute and when I was a teenager (way more than 10 years ago... I guess it was the early 80's I weighted 135) I don't rememer EVER wearing a size 6 before, not even an 8. The difference is, when my weight was low before I was not in good physical shape. Not sickly, I just didn't exercise and was sort of soft. Now I run and lift weights (not hard core) and do yoga. What are your thoughts on the difference.... how much of it is our expanding definition of what constitutes a size 6 and how much of it is having a different body composition? Any thoughts

It's all about vanity sizing. I remember graduating high school weighing 180-190lbs, but I was wearing a 16-18 PLUS. Fast forward 15 years, and at the same weight I was wearing a 14 misses just normal sizes no plus, no W behind it.

I'm 5'2" weigh between 125-130lbs and I wear an Xsmall top and a 2-4 on the bottom. Some of it can be attributed to body composition, lean muscle vs, flabby skin and bumpy fat, but for the most part, it's vanity sizing and manufacturers adjusting waistlines to accommodate a larger sized population.

I know for a fact 5-6 years ago I could not squeeze my ass into anything at Old Navy, even their 3x hoodies in women's were too small, now even some of their XSmall dresses and size 0 skirts are too big on me. There is no way that today's size 2 is the same size 2 from my high school years.

Not sure if this is true but.... when I told my OBGYN that I wanted my goal weight to be the same as when i was 30 she warned me that as we age our bone density changes and our bones actually start to weight more therefor 125 at age 20 (for instance) may look a lot different on a women of 40 or more.

I do think that sizes have changed a little and also brand has a lot to do with things as well. A size 10 at Talbot's is a lot fuller than let's say a size 10 at Abercrombie and Fitch.

I remember weighing this much as a teenager and wearing a size 10 or juniors 11. Now I wear a 6, sometimes 8 - and I've got a pretty curvy build with big boobs and hips. Definitely vanity sizing! I have a friend who wears a 6 or 8 at a lot of stores, but, say, at Gap she's often a size 0!

EDIT: Oh, and the reason I'm so sure it's vanity sizing and not a difference in my build is because I remember my waist and hip measurements from back in the day - and they are the same now.

I definitely think sizes are running waaaaay bigger than when I was a teen (30 years ago yikes lol). I think it's because so many people are overweight now and sizes have to be made bigger, and the industry knows us gals, WE DON'T LIKE TO BUY BIGGER SIZES LOL.

Today for instance, I'm wearing a size 8 slack style capris and size 10 jacket right now at 158.8 and I wore these sizes at 140 twenty years ago. I am a big boned and carry my weight really well, but still...just my thoughts.

I remember weighing this much as a teenager and wearing a size 10 or juniors 11. Now I wear a 6, sometimes 8 - and I've got a pretty curvy build with big boobs and hips. Definitely vanity sizing! I have a friend who wears a 6 or 8 at a lot of stores, but, say, at Gap she's often a size 0!

EDIT: Oh, and the reason I'm so sure it's vanity sizing and not a difference in my build is because I remember my waist and hip measurements from back in the day - and they are the same now.

oooouuuu I need to go to GAP so I can feel tiny LOL!!!

Well.... I would like to say I am offended that marketers have to "dumb it down" for us like that.... but honestly... I do love wearing a size 6 and I wont buy an 8 on principle....... I guess that makes me the very reason it had to be "dumbed down"

I can't speak for anyone else, but for this guy, well... I have been overweight or obese my entire life. The last time I wore jeans with a waistband smaller than a 40 was *before* high school. Now, during my Hawaii trip, I discovered that I can fairly comfortably wear a size 38 waist slacks, and I'm pretty much on track to get down to a size 36 by my next birthday. The last time I wore that, I was *16 frigging years old*.

So, maybe some of it is marketing changes, but men's waistbands are measured in inches, not "small" or "extra large" -- so there's not a lot of wiggle room there! In many ways, the sleeve has made me the slimmest I've pretty much EVER been since I was a child. I wouldn't be surprised to find it had done the same for you, too!

Well.... I would like to say I am offended that marketers have to "dumb it down" for us like that.... but honestly... I do love wearing a size 6 and I wont buy an 8 on principle....... I guess that makes me the very reason it had to be "dumbed down"

Me tooooo hahahahaha

Here in Oz our basic size range is 8,10,12,14,16,18 etc.. only in like designer or couture stores (myers, david jones etc) do you get your 0,2,4 and generally you pay about $100 more to have a 0,2 r a 4 on the label. Every brand/company has its own standard size design, and so different brands will generally have a different make and shape.Its a no win.

What ever happened to a plain white tee??? it became cropped,fitted,loose,guy style,short legnth, long length, capped sleeves, bow neck, v neck, scoop neck, tight fitting, slim, cinched atthe waist, rouched, tucked, nipped and cut... I just want a plain white tee.

Blame Oprah. Or thank her.

Tiffikins - you know what this means!! It means that when we were wearing the 1XL, 2XL or whatever....oh, and the 18's - 24's, they were probably even larger. That is alarming, isn't it??!!! We've come a long way! I'm ok with it!

It's all about vanity sizing. I remember graduating high school weighing 180-190lbs, but I was wearing a 16-18 PLUS. Fast forward 15 years, and at the same weight I was wearing a 14 misses just normal sizes no plus, no W behind it.

I'm 5'2" weigh between 125-130lbs and I wear an Xsmall top and a 2-4 on the bottom. Some of it can be attributed to body composition, lean muscle vs, flabby skin and bumpy fat, but for the most part, it's vanity sizing and manufacturers adjusting waistlines to accommodate a larger sized population.

I know for a fact 5-6 years ago I could not squeeze my ass into anything at Old Navy, even their 3x hoodies in women's were too small, now even some of their XSmall dresses and size 0 skirts are too big on me. There is no way that today's size 2 is the same size 2 from my high school years.

I just bought two new pair of Capris for this summer....size 4. My jeans are a size 4 and size 6. (both from GAP but different styles) I never wore a size 4 OR 6 in high school!!!! What a thrill at age 51!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Shopping is fun, fun, fun!!!!!!!!

Me tooooo hahahahaha

Funny you mention this, I was thinking the same thing. At 5'6" I weighed 115 pounds through high school and up to age 22, I wore a size 6. I was thin, but not sickly. Size 0 did not exist up until about 10 years ago.

I will say, though, that I have always worn bigger sizes than other women at my exact weight - not sure why. I guess I have one of those odd shapes :-)

No matter what size you are, it must be a great feeling to make so much progress!

I am so jealous of guys that way. My husband is 6'3" and wears a size 40 waist in jeans. I can pretty much bring him a pair of pants in a 40/32 and they'll fit. Some may be a little loser, some a little snugger, but they'll fit.

Now, for me, I had a collection of size 16 (actually even a weird Calvin Klein 14W) up to a size 20...and they all fit. They too were sometimes loser, sometimes snugger, but seriously, that's a range of 4 sizes.

40 inches are 40 inches, a 14, 16, 18 or 22 means absolutely NOTHING.

Oh, and don't get me started on tshirts - why are all tshirts these days paper thin? I have a batch of tshirts that are at least 6 years old. They have lost their shape a little bit and are a little discolored, but those are nice solid cotton tshirts.

With my belly roles - even though they are shrinking now - I hate those thin shirts because they are almost see through but even at Lane Bryant, they have gone to the sheer superthin cotton.

Though I do have to admit, I just bought a couple of white supima tshirts there that are really nice. And for those who still have to shop at Lane Bryant, they have a weird dale, from 3/1 to 3/6, everything in store is 40% off (some restrictions apply):

http://www.lanebryant.com/