I'm currently weighing in around 153, and I'm 5'4" tall. I'm exercising a lot so I'm fitter than I was the last time I was this weight...

I know women's clothing has gotten larger per size since the 60s and 70s, but the last time I was this weight was in the early 00s and I was wearing size 14s. Have women's sizes gotten that much larger in the last 15-20 years or is my size smaller due to working out, or is it both?

I'm asking because I'm wearing a pair of size ten Banana Republic brand dress slacks, and a size small top, Nordstrom store brand from (both purchased used so not sure of the year they were made, but appear pretty current). I'm very very small boned, so a goal weight of 115 is very realistic and would be healthy for me.

I'm planning to get a DEXA scan when I get to the 130s just to make sure I've still got another 15-20 lbs to lose.

I have kept my weight in diaries, as well as pretty good calorie counts (much better since 2009) but I don't have any size measurements recorded prior to 2010.

I'm determined to get to a solid fighting weight, because the whole point of this for me is to be healthy and strong and make my 50s my best decade ever! That being said, I can totally see why some people stop early because this FEELS so THIN! Wearing small tops and medium to small slacks? CRAZY!!!

I do think there has been size inflation (probably to make us formerly not so skinny girls feel good and therefore buy more clothing). I wear a 0 most of the time. How ridiculous: That size didn't even exist years ago! I am 5'3", 115 pounds, probably medium boned btw.

As a warning, it is harder to find clothes this small. Old Navy has been the best in having many options. For professional clothing I can get a 0 at Talbots in petites but usually not regular length. For the most part a petite works for me except sometimes not in pants. Ann Taylor has been pretty good too.

I did a Dexa and an RMR recently to see where I was (and maintenance calories). Dexa showed I was at a good weight (probably shouldn't go lower). RMR said my maintenance calories should be about 1100-1300, which correlates with what I've been eating on average in maintenance. Since you are undoubtedly more active than me, you would have more muscle, so you might end up wanting to weigh a bit more (since muscle weighs more than fat) and you probably will be able to eat more.

Thanks! super helpful...

1300 calories sounds incredibly decedent LOL! I'm sure that once I'm out few years my hunger will be back and it will be harder to hold to that, but even before WLS 1300 calories was pretty livable for me. That future looks wonderful!

Usually I'm okay in this calorie range, but man, sometimes it feels low! I actually just average out here, so it works out. Typically I'm in the high teens a couple of days a week (often on the weekend), then drop under during the week when I'm busy. Weighing daily lets you know when to drop the calories.

When I was actively losing weight in the past, I'd keep an excel log where I would track my weight and calories every day. The first sheet of the book displayed a graph of my weight loss based on a three day average (weighing myself every morning) and a graph of my calorie deficit also based on a three day average. Even now, while in the golden honey moon phase of weight loss, I tend to think of my calorie/macro goals as a weekly average. If I want to go up in carbs for a given event or meal, I "save up" on proceeding days. If I unexpectedly go over in calories or carbs with a cheat, I "make up" the numbers over the next few days. This lets me feel like I'm living a normal life, not some austerity program. While I know this doesn't work for many people, it seems to be working pretty well for me.

I can wear a 0 in certain brands and I realized I have literally gone from one end of the spectrum to the other. I used to struggle to find that 16/18 at the top of the size bracket and now I struggle to find the 2/4 (or 0) at the lower end.

Damn being a woman!

Yes really!!! Better at this end though!

Probably both.

WHen I was this weight 145-155 on the track team I FOUGHT for the XXL (in Missy/preteen sizes).

Now- I wear a CHILDREN's LARGE on top. And this is at 158 lbs. The arms are now 3/4 sleeves, but the boobs, shoulders and waist fit.

Some of it is a) my body eating my boobs b) working out and c) size inflation. Children these days (or the ones I see in my neighborhood) are very round.

I wear children's clothes too sometimes. Since I'm pretty short they often fit fine even in length. My winter jacket and some fleeces are children's sizes bought cheap at an LL Bean outlet.

Yeah, I'm 5'7" and 136lbs and in a size 2/4 most of the time. Yes, they are bigger now. They have to be. I don't know how I could possibly be running out of sizes otherwise. I remember being in high school and around 170-175lbs and I was in a 12/14. I think I had one pair of 10's I really loved because they were a 10. I think it's all the spandex they add now.