Healthy Weight Vs Healthy Size?

[PurpleButterfly]

Ok I know this harks back to the bmi debate. But I just want to clarify something..

Is it better to be at a "healthy weight" or at a "healthy size"??

I'm asking because according to my weight I have about 3stone left to lose. According to my size I am now a size 12-14, and I always said I wanted to be a size 10-12 - so effectively that's dropping one size... According to rule of thumb, one size is one stone right? So according to that, if I drop another 3 stone, I'll be like size 6-8?!!!!

So which is better to aim for?

[pete10141748]

I think you can't simply go by one or the other; you have to be a size you are comfortable with, but be a weight that is suitable for your frame/build.

For example, I am now a medium to large in tshirts and a 36 in jeans. Pretty much 'normal' sizes, especially for someone with a naturally stocky build. But, I am still 15.8 stone, which is too fat to be properly healthy. So although my clothes (and therefore I) am a 'normal'ish size, I still weigh too much.

Also, just becuase you lose more weight doesn't mean you are going to drop sizes again and again. I know that no matter how much more weight I lose, I won't get into a small to medium tshirt, as it simply won't go over my bones!

So go by what you think and feel is right.
And if you do lose some more weight, and discover that you are naturally designed to be a size 8, well, so what? That's a good thing!

[catznolan]

i think its just where ur comfy ur self. id prefer to be classed as healthy weight, and the size come next. i actually skipped through size 10 wit out knowing i was there....was only when i was in size 8 jeans i realized i must have been wearing too big of clothes lol and ya know the way in shops u can be one size and another in a diff shop!!

depends on the person i think!! xxx

[Polyanna]

I think some clothes manufacturers make their sizes very generous because if you are a proper size 16 and you go into a particular shop and fit into a size 14 you are going to buy their clothes just because you want to be a size 14.

[Huseyin]

I agree with what Pete says, yes it does go back to he thread i had once about this. Basically just be comfortable with yourself first. Remember this also, you may be a healthy weight and still be a size 12 lets say. However if you went to the gym tightened those muscles and pulled the skin back in so its tight you will find that you will shrink a dress size and still be the same weight, it all depends how active you are and whether you have relaxed muscles in those regions.

Take me for example now, im 12.11 and classed as healthy, i can still see a slight stomach (small but there) i know that loosing another stone wont make it flat i need to exercise and pull it in by tonning.

So in conclusion diets alone wont achieve the physique you want its a combination of good exercise and diet.

Hope that helps

[somewhere_inside_is_me]

I think some clothes manufacturers make their sizes very generous because if you are a proper size 16 and you go into a particular shop and fit into a size 14 you are going to buy their clothes just because you want to be a size 14.

Just wanted to echo this point. Having kidded myself for years by carefully selecting where I shop and what I buy, until last autumn (and there was little weight change, just a brain-shift!) I did not own a single item of clothing bigger than a size 18, and a lot of my tops were 16. But obviously at over 19 stone and only 5'4" I should've been in size 24 or something.

I'm not doubting for one minute that you're in a 12-14 at the moment, and all credit to you for doing so well PB, but I'm not sure that all size 12s are equal! And overall the sizing parameters have changed in the last decade to allow for (a) the unhealthy increase in size and (b) the evolutionary and better nutrition changes in women's bodies since the Second World War. I know that as an 18 year old I wore size 10 and weighed 9stone, but if I ever get to 9stone again I will not be surprised to find myself next to you PB buying those 6-8s!

[nexangelus]

Hmmm yeah the size thing...I fit into size 10 at 10 stone, yeat another lady I know in the gym is the ame height, a bit taller in fact and she is in 12-14s...it depends on your body shape, how much fat you are carrying rather than the actual weight...I am lean now and can see that...but can still lose another stone and be healthy size and weight...I'd only be a size 6-8 if I lost this extra stone (am not fussed about it but want to be leaner for the sake of my stomach...want those abs man!)

So...it all depends on how comfortable you feel in your skin (or more accurately fat and muscle coverage)...you might still feel 'fat' even if you get to those smaller sizes just because you may not be toned enough?! Does this make sense? I don't necessarily feel slim just because of the size in the label...it depends on how much flab I have hanging about...six years ago I was 9 stone and size 10...I've increased my lean mass over the years and am size 10 at 10 stone...I don't feel 'fat' at this size anymore...

[PurpleButterfly]

Thanks for your input guys...

I think to be honest I'll take it stone by stone. I have 2 'target' size 10 dresses, I tried them on last night and they went on, fully zipped up! I always said I'd stop when I comfortably fit those, though I'd need to lose a stone or 2 to wear them anywhere..

You're right pete, size 8 would be no bad thing at all! Why not try for it eh!

[Mini_Me]

HI,

I agree with the above reply too...

You could check your Body Fat percentage to further get a measure of your health as well...

[Foxtrot]

I think standardising is all a load of baloney. You know your body and what's good for it, how it feels and what feels good to wear.

Ellie, your stats tell me you are 1 inch taller than me but you are 4 lb heavier than me, but I still wear 16 clothes top and bottom (hourglass) unless it's from Landsend who are American and then I'm a 14.

If you are really, really brave, this is the link to the official government standards table that clothing manufactures are supposed to be thinking about adhering to. Ha ha like they ever will!! Size As you can tell by its date, they haven’t got very far and nor would most of us want too with those options I fear!! Oh and if anyone can find the 2002 BS EN 13402 without paying for it, it could give us all a laugh.


Everyone knows M&S are generous with their cut, cheaper shops skimp and if you are curvy, French Connection and other European manufactures usually make for their own stick thin, boy shaped female market. I guess the rule is, keep trying the clothes on but don’t get hung up about the label with the number on.

As for the heath thing, a colleague of mine many years ago was a tiny 5ft woman, very slim and fit but her cholesterol was through the roof. She had to stop work whilst it was brought down. I’ve never (touch wood) had a problem with cholesterol. I guess she had all her fat on the inside, mine’s all on my arse. C’est la vie.

[somewhere_inside_is_me]

I think standardising is all a load of baloney. You know your body and what's good for it, how it feels and what feels good to wear.

Ellie, your stats tell me you are 1 inch taller than me but you are 4 lb heavier than me, but I still wear 16 clothes top and bottom (hourglass) unless it's from Landsend who are American and then I'm a 14.

If you are really, really brave, this is the link to the official government standards table that clothing manufactures are supposed to be thinking about adhering to. Ha ha like they ever will!! Size As you can tell by its date, they haven’t got very far and nor would most of us want too with those options I fear!! Oh and if anyone can find the 2002 BS EN 13402 without paying for it, it could give us all a laugh.


Everyone knows M&S are generous with their cut, cheaper shops skimp and if you are curvy, French Connection and other European manufactures usually make for their own stick thin, boy shaped female market. I guess the rule is, keep trying the clothes on but don’t get hung up about the label with the number on.

As for the heath thing, a colleague of mine many years ago was a tiny 5ft woman, very slim and fit but her cholesterol was through the roof. She had to stop work whilst it was brought down. I’ve never (touch wood) had a problem with cholesterol. I guess she had all her fat on the inside, mine’s all on my arse. C’est la vie.

Absolutely right. But OMG those sizes are really scary, no wonder the retailers and the public wouldn't admit to them! (Oh and PMSL at your last two sentences!)

[Gunna-make-it]

Funny enough, i asked this question to my doctor, they said really you should look at the % of fat in your body as some people can be a healthy bmi and size but have excess amount of "internal" fat - this is the fat that collects around organs and can be harmful. Cardio exercise is the best for this... to be honest.. I am working to be BMI 24 (I am 25 at the moment and almost at goal) I know I do not want to be lower than 24 as last time I tried (years ago) I looked awful and you could see ribs across my chest - but according to the BMI chart, i could have lost another 2 stone!

[bekimo]

Ok I know this harks back to the bmi debate. But I just want to clarify something..

Is it better to be at a "healthy weight" or at a "healthy size"??

I'm asking because according to my weight I have about 3stone left to lose. According to my size I am now a size 12-14, and I always said I wanted to be a size 10-12 - so effectively that's dropping one size... According to rule of thumb, one size is one stone right? So according to that, if I drop another 3 stone, I'll be like size 6-8?!!!!

So which is better to aim for?

I'm gonna keep my opinion on this simple, cus I'm a simple kinda girl!!

Stop when you feel you are happy with yourself and only then!! If you are over the moon at a size 12. Stop then. If you still want to lose more, keep going. I know at least 2 girls who are size 6, eat healthily and are uber happy (except that both of them are getting boob jobs!!!)

B x

[nexangelus]

I know at least 2 girls who are size 6, eat healthily and are uber happy (except that both of them are getting boob jobs!!!)

Yep, like me, am happier lighter and leaner, but boy do my small boobs just stay small!!! Ha!

[Foxtrot]

My secretary went from a 14 to a 6 and now shes gone up to an 8 and is happy. The reason? It's a bugger getting decent clothes in a 6!!!