Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 16:49     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
I would focus on nutrients more than weight or size. Are you drinking enough water? reducing/eliminating alcohol? Getting enough protein, fiber, and calcium, and not too much salt or added sugar? If so, and you're happy with your size and what your body can do, then great! But if you could add some water and veggies and lentils and stuff, or cut back a little on ice cream or wine, that's probably worthwhile.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 16:36     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind, it will be much harder to lose the weight in 5 years than now. Late 30s, I was a bit smaller than your size and didn’t do much about it. I felt fit enough, ate a balanced but not restrictive diet, exercised, etc. 10 years later, I’m 20 pounds heavier even though I eat better and exercise more. It’s impossible for me to drop any weight.

If I could, I’d go back to 38 and work on my fitness and lose that bit of baby weight (last kid at 37).


I am 5 years older than OP and losing weight now (just 10lbs worth of vanity pounds). It is coming off the same way it always was. Calories in vs calories out will always work, before, during and after menopause.


Calories in, calories out works, but it gets harder as you get older because you lose muscle mass, which means you have to eat fewer calories at 65 then you did at 45 to be in a caloric deficit. In my 40's, if I ate 1600 calories per day, I would drop weight steadily and easily. Now that I'm nearing 60 and post-menopausal, I have to eat under 1300 calories to move the needle, and even then, it's slow. I've begun focusing on building more muscle mass to help, but I'll never be able to eat like I did 20 years ago and still lose or maintain weight with the same ease.


Losing muscle is not an obligation. Just keep lifting weights. You are likely also moving less now than in your 40s. It is not the age per se that makes fat loss harder.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 15:11     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
OP you sound very healthy with a nice shape. Don’t starve yourself.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 15:10     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you anything based on your dress size, OP. Share your height and weight.


I am 5’3 and 165 pounds. At my smallest (prekids) I was 138-140 and a size 4/6. I wear an 8/10 depending on brand. I am firm, not flabby, and very muscular.

Vanity sizing is at play here.


Do all clothing manufacturers use vanity sizing? Because I am an 8/10 in all brands I own, including luxury brands.


What brands do you own?
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 15:07     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind, it will be much harder to lose the weight in 5 years than now. Late 30s, I was a bit smaller than your size and didn’t do much about it. I felt fit enough, ate a balanced but not restrictive diet, exercised, etc. 10 years later, I’m 20 pounds heavier even though I eat better and exercise more. It’s impossible for me to drop any weight.

If I could, I’d go back to 38 and work on my fitness and lose that bit of baby weight (last kid at 37).


I am 5 years older than OP and losing weight now (just 10lbs worth of vanity pounds). It is coming off the same way it always was. Calories in vs calories out will always work, before, during and after menopause.


Calories in, calories out works, but it gets harder as you get older because you lose muscle mass, which means you have to eat fewer calories at 65 then you did at 45 to be in a caloric deficit. In my 40's, if I ate 1600 calories per day, I would drop weight steadily and easily. Now that I'm nearing 60 and post-menopausal, I have to eat under 1300 calories to move the needle, and even then, it's slow. I've begun focusing on building more muscle mass to help, but I'll never be able to eat like I did 20 years ago and still lose or maintain weight with the same ease.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:56     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you anything based on your dress size, OP. Share your height and weight.


I am 5’3 and 165 pounds. At my smallest (prekids) I was 138-140 and a size 4/6. I wear an 8/10 depending on brand. I am firm, not flabby, and very muscular.

Vanity sizing is at play here.


Do all clothing manufacturers use vanity sizing? Because I am an 8/10 in all brands I own, including luxury brands.

I'm 5'7, 155 and wear an 8. 20 years ago, when I was 158, I wore a 12. I'm 52 and gained 15lbs over the last year and a half after surgery. At 143, I wore a 6.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:52     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you anything based on your dress size, OP. Share your height and weight.


I am 5’3 and 165 pounds. At my smallest (prekids) I was 138-140 and a size 4/6. I wear an 8/10 depending on brand. I am firm, not flabby, and very muscular.

Vanity sizing is at play here.


Do all clothing manufacturers use vanity sizing? Because I am an 8/10 in all brands I own, including luxury brands.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:51     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind, it will be much harder to lose the weight in 5 years than now. Late 30s, I was a bit smaller than your size and didn’t do much about it. I felt fit enough, ate a balanced but not restrictive diet, exercised, etc. 10 years later, I’m 20 pounds heavier even though I eat better and exercise more. It’s impossible for me to drop any weight.

If I could, I’d go back to 38 and work on my fitness and lose that bit of baby weight (last kid at 37).


OP here - this is helpful. I’m comfortable at my weight currently but do not want to be larger (was larger post last kid at 37!). I’m working on losing the additional weight so wanted to gut check this inclination. This is a very helpful perspective, thank you.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:51     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We can't tell you anything based on your dress size, OP. Share your height and weight.


I am 5’3 and 165 pounds. At my smallest (prekids) I was 138-140 and a size 4/6. I wear an 8/10 depending on brand. I am firm, not flabby, and very muscular.

Vanity sizing is at play here.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:51     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind, it will be much harder to lose the weight in 5 years than now. Late 30s, I was a bit smaller than your size and didn’t do much about it. I felt fit enough, ate a balanced but not restrictive diet, exercised, etc. 10 years later, I’m 20 pounds heavier even though I eat better and exercise more. It’s impossible for me to drop any weight.

If I could, I’d go back to 38 and work on my fitness and lose that bit of baby weight (last kid at 37).


I am 5 years older than OP and losing weight now (just 10lbs worth of vanity pounds). It is coming off the same way it always was. Calories in vs calories out will always work, before, during and after menopause.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:44     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Keep in mind, it will be much harder to lose the weight in 5 years than now. Late 30s, I was a bit smaller than your size and didn’t do much about it. I felt fit enough, ate a balanced but not restrictive diet, exercised, etc. 10 years later, I’m 20 pounds heavier even though I eat better and exercise more. It’s impossible for me to drop any weight.

If I could, I’d go back to 38 and work on my fitness and lose that bit of baby weight (last kid at 37).
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:41     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:5’-3” and 165 with wide hips, what brand are you a size 8/10? Like old navy stretch pants? That sounds like a size 14 to me. I also am muscular with wide hips and small waist. 5’-5”. 140lb is 8/10 for me. 160lbs 12/14.

A size 14 at that height can look good and healthy but that’s the exception, most of us are healthier at a little leaner than that. At 45 l looked and felt great at a size 10 150lbs, very muscular.










Lots of different brands, including Old Navy (yes) but non-stretchy and lululemon (stretchy). I wear a size ten in business dresses and 6/8 in blazers. I wore a 12/14 at 180-190. I’m super dense/muscular and a person of color.



I would not bother getting smaller if that is not your desire. You sound completely fine and healthy.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:40     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:My mom’s best friend weighs about 400 lbs and had for 30 years. She has perfect bloodwork. It’s a mystery for sure, but she isn’t healthy. She can’t get up when she falls, she has to call the fire department.


Good thing OP isn’t 400 pounds
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:39     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:5’-3” and 165 with wide hips, what brand are you a size 8/10? Like old navy stretch pants? That sounds like a size 14 to me. I also am muscular with wide hips and small waist. 5’-5”. 140lb is 8/10 for me. 160lbs 12/14.

A size 14 at that height can look good and healthy but that’s the exception, most of us are healthier at a little leaner than that. At 45 l looked and felt great at a size 10 150lbs, very muscular.










Lots of different brands, including Old Navy (yes) but non-stretchy and lululemon (stretchy). I wear a size ten in business dresses and 6/8 in blazers. I wore a 12/14 at 180-190. I’m super dense/muscular and a person of color.
Anonymous
Post 04/17/2025 14:37     Subject: Why should I go from a 10 to a 6?
Anonymous wrote:Something doesn’t add up. I am a size 10, 5’10 and 145. I’m not thin, I’m a healthy weight but you aren’t a size 10 just because you can force yourself into clothing. It should fit nicely.


People are built different. I am 5’6” 147lbs and size 2-4 in non-stretchy clothes. How you are shaped and how much fat vs muscle you carry will affect the size of your clothes. We can’t really judge whether OP should lose weight without seeing how she looks and knowing her body fat %.