Wellness

[Catty2]

That's crazy and very unrealistic.   

[feline groovy]

The average American woman is 5'4" and is now a size 16.

But sizes vary among manufacturers, and so does natural shape and weight distribution.

Plus it's inches that count more than weight in the way that clothes fit.

As long as you're healthy (good numbers, etc), that's all really matters.

[DrKelli]

I agree with @feline groovy.  As long as you are healthy and your 'numbers' are all in a normal range, don't even worry about it.

I do have kind of a funny story about perception though.  I'm a tall girl--5'10" and weigh about 160 now (darn that middle age!)  But several years ago, my aunt (who is about 5'5" and weighed 100 pounts) was talking to me and said well, how much do you weigh. I answered her about 150 pounds give or take and she was SHOCKED I weighed "that much".  This is exactly why people have issues.  

[Goldengate8361]

I lost about 90 lbs. a few years ago. I now wear a size 8 or 10 and I'm soooooo happy and proud to be a size 10! I remember thinking when I was overweight that if I ever got down to a size 10, I'd be ecstatic...very happy and that I'd never need to be smaller. And, guess what? I still think that! 😀

[SilleeMee]

One thing I learned was to not look at the size tag inside a garment I buy. I simply buy the one that fits. I know how much I weigh and my measurements so to me that's all that matters. I know what is a healthy weight for me and so does my doctor. No one else tells me what size I should be or how healthy it is to go from this size to that size. Rubbish!

[abbeythe 8th]

My mother was tiny.  She wore an 8 or a 10.  As she grew older and vanity sizes came into fashion, she still thought she wore an 8 or 10.  I finally convinced her to try on a 6.  When she saw it was too big, she went with a 4, which was the smallest size most department stores carried in the '80s. 

[feline groovy]

I agree with @DrKelli. 

Frame and activity level are also key.

Fab height!  I'm 5'8", but would love to be 5'10" naturally.

Totally get ya re: the mid-age weight gain & spread, especially around the middle. 

I used to be very pear-shaped with a defined waist, LOL.

[ID2]

Years ago we were out with some friends. I got to talking about pant size and such with the wife. The husband got in on the conversation and when I said that I was wearing a size 10 jeans he stopped and looked at me in disgust. He was generally turned off that I wore such a "big" size!! I'll never forget that and that was the last time we ever met up with them! He was a real creep!

[Poodlepet2]

SilleeMee, I could not agree with you more. 

My rant is with fashion and sizing: I have clothes in my closet that range from size 4 to 14: everything fits too. BUT what fits me well in size in one brand may not fit me in another and I am so aggravated!

In theory, I could model for a commercial wearing a 14, switch to a size 4, claim to have lost all of those sizes in five minutes or less-and I wouldn't be lying! 

I am tired of all the creative sizing business that has no rhyme or reason.  I wish the clothing industry would get in line and give real measurements ( ex: fits bust up to x amount of inches).

We all know know what vanity sizing is-a total waste of time!

Poodlepet2

[LilacTree]

I wear an 8, 10, or 12, depending on the designer or type of clothing.  I am of small build and weigh 122 lbs.

Over the years it has gotten worse and worse.  I don't remember even seeing sizes 0-6 in clothing stores!!

It's totally ridiculous!!