Is this normal?

Not sure where else to post this.

Anyway, when I was about 15, I weighed roughly 140 and wore a size 12 and large shirts. I was also in really good shape and didn't have a lot of body fat on me. I probably could have lost another 10-15lbs, but I was pretty happy with where I was. I just remember that I wasn't fat, even though I thought I was.

I'm nearly 30 right now and I went up to as large as 200lbs. I'm on my way back down now and I've hit 175lbs. Only thing is, I can wear a size 12 now comfortably. Looking at myself, I probably have another 20-30 to lose which would put me at 150-145 again.

It feels strange that once I get down to that weight, I'll be wearing sizes smaller than what I weighed back then. o_O I also have no idea what weight would be right for me.

I'm just wondering if that's a common occurance?

I'm in that same boat. I haven't been in a size 5 since... man, maybe elementary school? I've always been somewhere between a size 8 and 12. It's weird to know that, right now, I wasn't even near this size when I was in high school and I was still larger than this even when I was in junior high. I think it's a fairly common thing for people to go through stuff like this, where they're reaching a weight they haven't been at in quite some time or can't even remember ever having been. It sure is a nice feeling, though!

I think sizes have gotten bigger over the years. Vanity sizing!

Last time I lost weight, I didn't get to size 12 until about 170. Now I'm in size 12 at 189. Also, I think we can carry the weight differently. I know more of mine is in the chest and muscles of my legs and butt this time than last time.

As far as what weight is right for you, it is very hard to say. The amount of muscle you carry makes a big difference. If you can't tell just by how you look and feel, you might think of asking your doctor to test your body fat percentage with calipers. Sometimes that will give you a better idea of what to aim for.

I'll have to see if there's an old pair of size 12 pants in my parent's attic so I can compare measurements.

I used an online body fat calculator. It's saying that mine is at 33%, but when I put down measurements for a size 10 and my goal weight, it's around 20%, so I'm figuring that my goals are pretty close to what I should be. But I'll have to get it checked for sure. I was considering buying a caliper since they're pretty cheap and I don't have insurance and therefore, I don't see a doctor. :/

sizes have definitly changed over time. i think they call it vanity sizing. the numbers are the same but the measurements are larger.

Maybe because of fashion trends and age, in high school you bought 12s because you wanted baggy clothes, and now you are going for a more sophisticated fitted style?

But what the heck to I know, I'm a guy...