The size 4 (and ever so slightly smug) club:Take some tips from the women who ALWAYS stay slim!

Publish date: 2024-05-24

Struggling to fit back into your jeans after Christmas? You’d best look away now. 

Recently it was revealed how increasing numbers of High Street stores — among them Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, All Saints, Banana Republic and Miss Selfridge — are stocking tiny size 4 clothes.

Many women interpreted this as a ploy to get pre-pubescent girls hooked on trendy labels. 

After all, where the average woman is a size 16, how many adult size 4 women exist? Well, quite a few. 

Here six of them explain how proud they are to belong to the tiniest club in the land.

Tiny: These women love being a size 4, here they reveal all about how they stay trim, left to right, (Victoria Pilling, Laura Bernardeschi, Belinda Chapple, Lynda Lim, Mariana Gal, Lisa Reid,)

Tiny: These women love being a size 4, here they reveal all about how they stay trim, left to right, (Victoria Pilling, Laura Bernardeschi, Belinda Chapple, Lynda Lim, Mariana Gal, Lisa Reid,)

BEING TINY MAKES ME A MAGNET TO MEN

Victoria Pilling, 37, is a cosmetic therapist who lives near Blackpool, with her daughters Marcella, six, and Amara, 11.

Height: 5 ft 1 in

Weight: 7 st 3 lb

Vital statistics: 30EE-24-34

Calories per day: 1,500

Victoria says:

Several people have made it their business to tell me they think I’m too thin. One friend even told me she thought I could do with a decent meal.

But I don’t take any notice of them because my personal trainer, with whom I work out three times a week, says I’m in great shape. I’ve had my Body Mass Index checked, too, and I’m within the healthy range.

I was a size 10 and 9 st 10 lb until 2010 when I started working out. Last year, I finally achieved my goal weight and got down to a size 4, which I’m very happy about.

Victoria Pilling, 37, is a cosmetic therapist who lives near Blackpool, she says that several people have made it their business to tell her they think she's too thin

Victoria Pilling, 37, is a cosmetic therapist who lives near Blackpool, she says that several people have made it their business to tell her they think she's too thin

Some may think that’s too slim but, at just over 5 ft, I think it’s the perfect size for me.

I get the impression, from listening into their conversations, that men like petite women. And I certainly receive a lot of male attention — some of it unwelcome. I stopped for petrol on the motorway recently and a stranger asked for my phone number — which I didn’t give.

I don’t think it’s entirely down to my size 4 figure, though — I also dress smartly in designer clothes. However, it can be a struggle to find things that will fit. I have a tailor who alters size 6 clothes for me.

People who don’t know me assume I don’t eat very much and seem surprised by the amount I get through when we go out for dinner.

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For breakfast, I have porridge with natural sugar, flaxseeds and nuts sprinkled on top.

My mid-morning snack is a Nakd bar, for lunch I’ll have a sandwich, salad or soup and in the afternoon I’ll also have a handful of dried fruit and nuts.

My evening meal is always something substantial, such as chicken casserole or pasta with meatballs, followed by Greek yoghurt and fruit. At weekends, I’ll treat myself to a Chinese takeaway and a pudding.

However, I’ve noticed a few pounds have crept back on over Christmas, so I’ll be working hard to get back to my preferred size 4.

FRIENDS ALL ENVY MY GREAT FIGURE

Laura Bernardeschi, 47, is a divorcee, tourist guide and mother of one from North London.

Height: 5 ft 3 in

Weight: 7 st 5 lb

Vital statistics: 32B-25-35

Calories per day: 2,500. 

Laura says:

I’ve had friends who’ve made it obvious they are envious of my size 4 figure because it means I attract more men than they do.

Their opinions used to upset me when I was younger, but now I just think: ‘If you’re going to judge me on my appearance, then I can live without you.’

Laura Bernardeschi, 47, is a divorcee, tourist guide and mother of one from North London she says  being slim makes her feel happy

Laura Bernardeschi, 47, is a divorcee, tourist guide and mother of one from North London she says  being slim makes her feel happy

Having men lusting after you is, in fact, more annoying than flattering. It’s something most women don’t have to put up with in middle age. People don’t believe me when I tell them I am naturally this size.

They assume that I must lead a boring, abstemious life at best, and have a borderline eating disorder at worst.

I can only assume I’ve been blessed with a very fast metabolism — like me, my brother and father can eat what they like and stay slim.

And, if I’m honest, being slim makes me feel happy. I’ve been this size my whole adult life — I wouldn’t feel like ‘me’ if I was any bigger.

While I consume a lot of calories, I’m also very active. I walk everywhere — for two to three hours most days — and run for 45 minutes once a week, as well as doing a weekly Zumba class. For breakfast I have muesli with lactose-free milk, because I’m allergic to the normal sort, and a coffee with two sugars.

Lunch is something filling, such as lasagne or a chicken breast with potatoes, followed by a banana and a sweet espresso.

By 6pm I’m ravenous again and have a wrap with chicken and vegetables and chips, followed by fruit, ice-cream and coffee.

At 10.30pm, I will have a late supper of chorizo, ham, cheese, olives and bread.

I never feel the need to count calories or weigh myself because I know my weight doesn’t fluctuate — I’m still wearing clothes I’ve had for 20 years.

NO ONE ELSE CAN FIT INTO MY CLOTHES

Belinda Chapple, 41, a creative director, lives in West London with her partner, Peter, 41, a banker.

Height: 5 ft 8 in

Weight: 8 st 4 lb

Vital statistics: 33B-25-34

Calories per day: 1,100.

Belinda says:

When I bump into old school friends, they tell me I haven’t changed a bit and want to know what my secret is.

I think it must be down to maintaining my weight through a good diet and exercise.

I’ve never been bigger than a size 4 — I like feeling lithe. Mostly I try to stick to a berry smoothie with frozen banana and almond milk for breakfast, avocado and salmon salad for lunch and chicken with vegetables for dinner.

Belinda Chapple, 41, a creative director, lives in West London with her partner, Peter, 41, a banker she does power-flow yoga, four times a week

Belinda Chapple, 41, a creative director, lives in West London with her partner, Peter, 41, a banker she does power-flow yoga, four times a week

I drink a couple of glasses of wine in the week and enjoy sharing a good bottle of wine with my partner over dinner on a weekend.

I do power-flow yoga, which is a full body work-out, four times a week, run twice a week and also walk a fair bit.

I love fashion and like to buy expensive pieces from Valentino or Chanel, and mix them with cheaper things from the High Street.

I can pick up some real bargains on the sales racks in designer stores, where there always seem to be a few extra, extra small (xxs) sized clothes, because so few women can fit into them.

I haven’t had children, but both my mum and my sister, who have, became even slimmer when they were breastfeeding.

Peter certainly appreciates my size 4 figure and often tells me how gorgeous I look. If other women are envious of my figure they certainly don’t say so.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and size 4 is the shape I am — and I like it.

I REFUSE TO BUY BIGGER CLOTHES 

Lynda Lim, 65, a retired finance manager, lives in Fleet, Hampshire, with her partner, Stephen, 61.

Height: 5 ft 2½ in

Weight: 7 st 1 lb

Vital statistics: 32B-24½-34

Calories per day: 1,000. 

Lynda says:

My partner tells me I’ve got the body of a 30-year-old which, when you’re 65 and as vain as I am, is a huge compliment.

I went up to 9½ st and a size 10-12 when I was in my 30s, and I hated it. It turned out I had a thyroid problem, so I got that under control and have been very careful about what I eat since.

When I’m bigger than a size 4 I can’t be bothered applying make-up or doing my hair because, no matter what I do, I don’t feel that I look good.

Lynda Lim, 65, (pictured) is a retired finance manager, she says she refuses to buy bigger clothes so, if she can’t fit into her size 4s, she puts every effort into losing a few pounds

Lynda Lim, 65, (pictured) is a retired finance manager, she says she refuses to buy bigger clothes so, if she can’t fit into her size 4s, she puts every effort into losing a few pounds

Like most people, I can easily put on weight, and when it starts creeping up I will stick to vegetables and fruit smoothies for a few days to get back down to my preferred shape.

I refuse to buy bigger clothes so, if I can’t fit into my size 4s, I put in every effort to losing a few pounds.

On a normal day, I’ll have a smoothie mid-morning and then I won’t eat again until the evening.

Then I’ll have spaghetti bolognese, Chinese stir-fry or chicken curry. Once a month I’ll treat myself to a plate of chips. I only really eat once a day and will consume around 1,000 calories in total. I don’t drink alcohol because I don’t like it.

As for exercise, I walk seven miles twice a week.

The only downside to being a size 4 is that it can be very difficult finding clothes, so I often have to buy size 6s and take them in.

I also buy clothes from the children’s departments at Next, Primark and Tesco. 

Friends have said they envy my ability to stay so slim, especially after the menopause when many women struggle.

But I’ve found it easier to stay slim as I’ve got older because, after living in this body so long, I know how it responds and how to treat it with respect and love.

MY CLOTHES ARE MADE TO MEASURE

Mariana Gal, 44, a fashion designer, is a divorcee who lives in Central London with her student daughter, Anamaria, 23.

Height: 5 ft 1 in

Weight: 6 ½ st

Vital statistics: 31A-24-33

Calories per day: 1,500. 

Mariana says:

Being a size 4 has always made me attractive to younger men and I’ve been in a relationship for the past two years with a man who, at 29, is 15 years my junior.

He loves my figure and tells me I look like an 18-year-old, which is flattering even though it is a bit of an exaggeration.

My friends love my shape, too. I think some of them may be a bit jealous. I remind them, though, that an awful lot of work and discipline goes into maintaining a perfect size 4 figure, particularly in your 40s.

Mariana Gal, 44, a fashion designer, is a divorcee who lives in Central London with her student daughter, Anamaria, 23,  she says that she walks for about an hour every day to and from work

Mariana Gal, 44, a fashion designer, is a divorcee who lives in Central London with her student daughter, Anamaria, 23,  she says that she walks for about an hour every day to and from work

I’m always careful about what I eat. I have five meals a day: Yoghurt and fruit bread with honey and nuts for breakfast, hummus and salad for lunch, followed by fruit, and then fillet steak, cod, salmon or mackerel with vegetables and bread for dinner. I’ll also have some fruit, grapes or an apple at some point.

I don’t drink alcohol because I prefer to have a clear mind.

Though I don’t do any formal exercise, I walk for about an hour every day to and from work.

It’s important to me to maintain my figure because I feel healthy and look my best at this weight, but it can be difficult to find size 4 clothes — especially ones for a woman in her 40s, as most are made in styles that appeal to young girls.

Instead, I have all my clothes made to measure — I design most of them and have a dressmaker who runs them up for me.

I’m lucky because even with more High Street stores stocking size 4s, I wouldn’t want to have to rely on the choice there.

I’D HATE TO BE FAT AND MIDDLE-AGED

Lisa Reid, 45, works in retail and lives in Swindon with her husband Tom, 44, a computer technician, and children Yamuna, 15, and Chay, 13.

Height: 5 ft 7 in

Weight: 8 st 2 lb

Vital statistics: 30C-26-34

Calories per day: 1,500.

Lisa says:

I’m slimmer now than I was in my teens and I just love being a slender size 4.

I was a size 8-10 most of my life, but a couple of years ago I was suffering from migraines and a friend recommended cutting out sugar and bread.

The headaches stopped and a wonderful side-effect is that I also lost a stone in weight and dropped two dress sizes.

Lisa Reid, 45, (pictured) works in retail and lives in Swindon with her husband Tom, 44, ansd says her next goal is to get a six pack so she works out most days

Lisa Reid, 45, (pictured) works in retail and lives in Swindon with her husband Tom, 44, ansd says her next goal is to get a six pack so she works out most days

Being a size 4 makes me feel light, healthy and lithe — like a carefree child, not a middle-aged mum.

Some of my friends worry about me, though, and think I’ve gone too far. But while I don’t intend losing any more weight, I’ve no intention of putting it back on either.

My next goal is to get a six-pack, so I work out most days — I have an exercise bike and weights at home and I do press-ups and sit-ups while I’m watching TV in the evenings.

I’ve been vegetarian for 20 years and for breakfast I eat porridge, made with water and a splash of milk and honey.

During the day I snack on oatcakes and dried fruit and nuts instead of eating lunch, and for dinner I have rice with steamed vegetables. 

I also love smoothies and treat myself to a couple of glasses of cider at the weekends.

I don’t have trouble finding clothes as I tend to shop in the same places as my daughter — H&M, New Look and Topshop — where they cater for skinny teenage girls.

Tom and I have been together for 21 years. He tells me I’m gorgeous and sexy, but that I need to relax about my figure and just enjoy life.

He worries that it’s all tied up with my fear of getting old. He’s right, to an extent — I definitely prefer to look slim and youthful than fat and middle-aged. But who doesn’t?

 

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