Do you look thinner at a certian weight compared to your youth at that weight?

My waist lost  a lot of inches after the TT.  I bet if you had one you would for sure find the same sized former waist.  Maybe even a bit smaller.  

I already had plastics. My waist stayed the same.

I'm on the low end of what was my 'youth' weight and my body size is pretty much the same. Of course my skin elasticity has changed due to age and major weight fluctuations, but my general size is not different. 

I'm 5'6' and 135 lbs. I weigh 17 lbs more than I did when I was in my 20s and I can see it. My torso, arms, and legs are all thicker. I haven't had any plastics and I'm sure some of it is loose skin but whatever it is, its there. My face is thinner, but that's to be expected. I'm nearly 60. I wear a bigger size too. I wore a 7 or 9 in Juniors and now wear an 11 or 13. 

Lynda

YESSSSS! I'm so glad you brought this up. I've never posted about it because I figured I would get the typical "Sizes are much bigger than they used to be" posts - when sizes are NOT what I'm talking about.... I think you're on to something that people can look similar at different weights depending on where they are in life. I haven't had kids yet, but in ways my body has changed... I'm not exactly sure how (other than my legs being MUCH bigger than they used to be) - but I am 30 lbs heavier than I was 10 years ago when I was in high school. 

Can you tell me that you see a 30 lb difference between these two pictures???? Honestly, someone tell me if I'm way off base because I'm not objective. I really don't think I look THAT much different.... but on the left I'm 167-170 and on the right I'm exactly 200.

If anything I'd say you look slimmer in the current picture than the younger you (and I can't tell the age difference either...not just the 30 lbs)!

I agree- no noticeable difference there.  Looking great in both!

Yup. At 127 now I feel skinny whereas 127 when I was in my 20s was totally in the fat range! 

Ok, I'm glad that you bring this up. I've been thinking about this lately, too. I'm currently at 193 lbs. Now, I'm 5'10", so I'm approaching goal (HOORAY). But, I really think that I look like I did when I used to weigh closer to 170. It's bizarre. I've looked at old pictures of myself from college, and my face is definitely thinner. I'm wearing clothes that I've kept through the years, hoping in vain to one day wear them again. Well, now I am and I weigh 20ish pounds more than I did then. My boobs haven't really shrunk much during WL (HOORAY again! LOL), so that probably counts for some, but it can't be THAT much... This whole journey is a mind f#ck, isn't it? I honestly would be perfectly happy if I never lost another pound, though logically I know that it's smarter to continue on to goal... But what should my "goal" be if I have no accurate reference? It's scary to just go by "how I feel" or "when I like what I see in the mirror." I am a TEACHER. I NEED DATA. And some sort of FORMULAIC PROCESS. I'm feeling lost as to where I'm even aiming now? For the longest, my goal was to see the scale read below 200. I'm there. Then I wanted 100 lb total loss. Check. Now? I don't know where to aim? I'm wearing L tops and 16 jeans. The smallest I've ever been in sizes was M-L tops and 12 jeans, though those jeans were TIGHT and I was WAY too thin at the time... I told myself that if I ever got back into this one pair of juniors 17 jeans that I wore in college (and looked DAMN GOOD IN), then I'd be happy... Those jeans are now baggy. So... What now?? Now I'm rambling... This is just where I'm at.

I hear you- being a math teacher I love me some data.  I think this is why it is messing with me so much- because my numbers no longer add up to my body anymore.  I have the abdomen of my former self that was 20 pounds or so lighter, wider hips that I will blame on child birth (no extra inches of fat though), and meatier thighs.  Now the thighs I suspect if I had plastics would likely match the 20 pound lighter version of me.  I am glad I am not the only one who has noticed this. Super cool you are closing in on goal.  It is funny how sizes are different on different body shapes- I am 6'2'' and a very comfortable size 12. I do not look "thin", but neither do I look fat at all.  My daughter is so much lighter, yet she doesn't look too scrawny at a weight that is 30 pounds or so lighter- just longer, sleeker lines, less chest, less thighs, and narrower through the hips.  My abdomen is as flat as hers, but I am wider across.  So, I am going with age has somethng to do with it.