Question:
Successful 5'4

I have been overweight for almost all of my life (since age 6 and I am nearly 50). I have no idea what size I might wear at various weights. I am curious. I have such a long way to go that I am looking for any info that will help keep me motivated. In high school and college, I wore a 22/24 at 240-20lbs. Pre surgery at 420lbs, I wore a 34/36. SO WHAT CAN I LOOK FORWARD TO???? I am definitely a pear shape, very bottom heavy. If I keep losing from the top, I may turn out to be triangle-shaped instead of pear-shaped. So what size did you other shorties wear at 300lbs? at 250? at 200? at 150? This may seem like a dumb question but I have no idea what sizes under 22 might look like or what weight they fit. Please feel free to email me if you were also 400+ and have been successful with wls. Thanks a bunch. Ann in TX 414/309/?    — Ann B. (posted on October 22, 2003)

October 22, 2003
Hi...I'm also 5'4 when i started out i was weighing 250 wearing a size 18/20 @ 2months post-op I had gone down 40lbs to a size 14 now i'm at 3 months post-op wearing a size 13 weaghing 190lbs....I'm also bigger on bottom, I have lost alot of weight on top also. But don't worry about that now. We have to worrry about taking the weight off. When I started shopping in the smaller section I was actually scared I felt like I did not belong...but it's a great feeling...Best of luck to you.
   — mari62870

October 22, 2003
Hi Ann, I started out at 249. I'm also 5'4. I had surgery on June 18. As of yesterday I weigh 198. I am smaller on top too. I wear mostly dresses right now. I can get in a size 14 but I wouldn't wear it out the house. :) I am now wearing 16 and 18 size dresses.(depends on how they're made)I hope you have great success on your journey. God Bless.
   — Marie N.

October 22, 2003
While I started out as a so-called 'lightweight' (245 @ 5'5"), I too am a pear shaped frame. I'm only 2 months out but down 35 lbs. I also wore 22/24 at my 245 weight (tight) and I notice a 10 lb loss makes that tight size comfortable, a 15 lb loss puts me in another size and a 20 lb loss makes that new size confortable. Granted, I CANNOT stand tight clothes, I tend to wear everything loose, regardless of my size. So I figure 15/20 lbs will mean a new size. Today 35lbs lighter, I'm still wearing my 22's but they are sliding off, the 20's in my closet fit just fine and I could probably squeeze into 18's at the 209 I'm at today. Many, many years ago when I got down to 160/165 I was wearing 14/16 bottoms. When I read others posts that say they are 160 and wearing a 8/10 (or less!) I know they are NOT a pear shape! At least not as bottom heavy as me! Hope this helps!
   — keva M.

October 22, 2003
Hi! I'm 5 foot tall and started out at 220 lbs. I was wearing 22's at that time (some tight, some only a bit snug). When I got to 170, I was wearing 15/16's (a bit tight in some pairs and okay in others). Now, at 153, I wear 13/14's (very loose...I can actually take them off without unbuttoning or unzipping them). I would probably be in 11/12's, but haven't gotten the nerve to go to the store and check yet. I'll have to soon...I'm not sure these 13/14's will last much longer. I'm very scared to go clothes shopping. I never know what to look at or even dare to try. You know? I feel like a Star Trek trekie at a Rock Star convention or a Harley Davidson reunion. I hope I'm making sense here. Anyway, I pray some of this helps you. I wish you much luck in your journey!
   — Renee B.

October 22, 2003
I'm 5'4" and started at 314 wearing 26/28s. I'm now hovering around 180 and can wear size 14s very comfortably. I can wear some size 12s but those are still pretty tight. I'm probably about 8-10 lbs. away from most size 12s.
   — jutymo

October 22, 2003
It will be an amazing journey. At 5'4, I wore a size 20-22 pre-op. I had RNY July 2003, and now wear a size 8, and even a 6 depending on the cut, and a small top. I weigh about 129-130 pounds. You can go to my profile to see how my weight and sizes changes as I lost. Good luck.
   — juvpd

October 22, 2003
I am 5'4" and started out at 283 lbs. (size 26-28), I had surgery on 8/6/02 and now have leveled out on the weight loss and feel great! I weigh 140-145 and wear size 8 jeans (some size 6) and my shirts are size small. My skin is gross, but with clothes on you can't really tell. I've had people say that they would never know that I ever had a weight problem. Now that's an ego boost. As you can see from all the answers though, we are all different. It will depend on your activity level, bone structure..... the list goes on. Focus day to day on eating healthy and success will follow. Good luck!
   — Dana B.

October 22, 2003
Hi Ann..... Day of surgery I weighed 250 and my height is 5'4" and I'm 53 years young! lol I was in 22/24's and they were nug! By my 4th month I was in size 16's and now at 150 i'm in 6/8's. I exercise daily....I'm working my tool 100%, because I expect to loose 100% of my weight and I'm only 15 pounds to goal. I joined Century Club on the 11th of this month! Good Luck and Best Wishes! It has been a a wonderful journey!
   — Hazel S.

October 22, 2003
I am 5'4 also. I started out at 304 (tight 26/28). From 280-250 I wore a size 22/24 (from tight to comfy). At 250-220 I wore an 18/20.. again, tight to comfy. Now I am 170ish and wearing a loose misses 14. 12's are still kinda snug but I can button and zip them fine. I cannot wear any plus size clothing at all. Wow.. re-reading that.. I realize how far I have come. I wish you the same success!!! Sarah, -134 8 mo post
   — SarahC

October 22, 2003
Pre-op, I was 307#...I was busting out of a 26/28. Nine weeks later, I'm at 258 and a size 24 is loose on me.
   — Lynette H.

October 22, 2003
Hi Ann, I started out at 312 wearing a tight 26/28. I am now down to 208 and I am wearing 14/16.
   — Des812

October 22, 2003
ORIGINAL POSTER HERE: I had two seconds to myself at work so I thought I would pop online and see if I got any answers. Gosh, yall are the best. I am surprised and really pleased at all the answers. I can't send direct email from work to thank each of you but please know I am grateful. Are there any other 400+ folks out there?
   — Ann B.

October 22, 2003
Ann, I am 5ft3 and started at 440lbs. I am down to about 298. I had surgery in March 2003. I was wearing 38s or the largest sizes in the catalogs! My sizes now range from 22-26, depending on how the clothes are made. My stomach is much smaller but I have to have surgery at the end of all this, so that is affecting my pants sizes. I am also from Tx! Good luck on your journey and congrats on your weight loss!
   — rpoepke

October 22, 2003
I think it's very interesting the different sizes people wear and I continue to be surprised at the sizes I wear. I started out at 366 / 5'5'' and wearing a size 30 on the bottom and a 26/28 on top (unless it was a long shirt then I needed a 30/32 to get around my hips and big ole butt!). I am now down to 260 and wear a size 20 on the bottom and an 18/20 on the top. I used to be a total pear shape before, but I have actually lost a lot more on my bottom and I am no longer so Peary. I am more hourglass now, except I still hae big thighs. I feel pretty even and am wearing the same size top and bottom. That has never happened. Also, who would have thought at 260, I'd already be in size 20??? It continues to blow my mind. When I see myself in my clothes, I look pretty small, but when I think about my body and the space I occupy, I still feel big. So I look small to myself, but feel big. It's weird. I still hold up my clothes and think, oh that's not going to fit me. And it does. I think my clothes are enchanted and there's some kind of magic happening. LOL. I fit in smaller sizes much earlier than I expected too, and I also never expected my butt and hips to shrink at such a quick rate. It hink the thing to remember is, you don't know what to expect until it happens, because anything can happen. I just try to stay one size ahead of myself. When I started wearing size 26, I started shopping for size 24. When I started wearing size 24, I started shopping for size 22. This allowed me to shop the sales and also buy clothes at garage sales and on e-bay. I was never as concerned about fit, because I knew that if it was big for its size, it would fit me now and if it was small for its size, it would eventually fit me further on down the line. Even though I am wearing size 20's on the bottom, there are still some size 22's that don't fit at all. It just depends on the maker. Good luck.
   — Janet S.

October 22, 2003
Hi Ann I'm 5'11 and started at 420lbs. I'm 5 months post op now, and down to 312. I started at a size 6-7x or a size 36..now, I'm about a 2x or a 24-26 (trying to squeeze into the 24, lol) Good luck! Promixal RNY 5-19-03 421/312/190
   — Goodgirl

October 22, 2003
I'm 5'3 1/2. I wear a size 34 waist jeans (they are loose) and depending on the manufacturer a medium to small shirt. Medium usually.
   — Danmark

October 24, 2003
Hi - I started out at 430 pounds, five foot three and now weigh 140. My sizes went from 6X to size 2 or 4 on the top and a size 8 on the bottom. I too carried most of my weight on the bottom. I'm in the process of getting all the plastic surgery right now and my pants size should go down when my legs are finished. I found that after the abdominoplasty and getting my arms done that my size on the top is going down as well. I never thought I'd wear these sizes and it still kind of freaks me out. Good luck to you on your weightloss journey!
   — Traci H.

October 24, 2003
I was at 276 pounds in March of 2003, wearing a size 24 to 26 pants and dress and 3X shirts. Today I weigh 220 and just had to buy new clothes. I went to an extra large in tops (could have gone to a large but don't like my clothes snug) and a size 20 in pants. I'm glad I tried them on.........I'd never have guess I'd gone down that many sizes. I've always been kind of pear shaped but it is amazing how my hips are slimming down this time.
   —  SCbabe B.

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