Not sure to be happy or cry but definitely puzzeled

[Jennifer-GWN]

Got a new pair of pumps yesterday. This morning while giving them a bit of stretch I got to thinking about the threads regarding height as well as my recent mirror incident at sephora. So back against the wall...pencil level to the top for my head and make a light mark on th wall.

What shocked the heels off me was that on measuring I was just a shade over 6". You might ask what's the big deal. 6" with heals isn't actually that bad and I have to agree and that's the happy part...

Now something just didn't fit . You see when I grew up math was quite simple and in this case 5" 11 + 2 1/2 should equal 6" 1 1/2 not a shade over 6.

All my documents say 5 11...and I would swear by it. So off came the shoes so as to repeat the process bare foot. Sure enough 5" 9 Somewhere I've lost 2 inches.

So here I am not sure I should be happy, sad, no question I'm puzzled.

Cheers...jennifer

[Wildaboutheels]

We get shorter as we age...and it depends on many factors...

But our feet get bigger.

No one ever said life was fair.

[Michelle.M]

Now something just didn't fit . You see when I grew up math was quite simple and in this case 5" 11 + 2 1/2 should equal 6" 1 1/2 not a shade over 6.

Doesn't quite work that way. When you wear high heels the sole is sloped, so your center of gravity shifts forward and slightly downward. I am 5'10 and 5/8", and have been since I was 18. When I wear 5" heels (and I do) that should add up to around 6'3" and a half or so. But I easily lose an inch or even a bit more when I measure myself against the wall like you did.

Make sure you measure yourself properly. Stand up straight, stretch your neck up a bit and you'll probably get closer to your record height. Then measure a few times more and see if you're within a half inch of your record height. My 5'10 and 5/8" has always been rounded up to 5'11", but I've never actually been that tall.

[LeaP]

I'm not sure how old you are, but most people lose a little height with age. Some lose a lot. I was 5'10" when I was younger. (in Michelle's spirit, I was actually 5' 9 7/8") I'm now 5' 8.5".

[Stephanie47]

I've lost an inch which still leaves me at six foot. Spinal collapse.

[docrobbysherry]

Actually, some folks may be taller than their barefoot height plus heels. My posture is normally terrible. Because of my age, my back curves forward. But, when I wear hi heels they rearrange my entire body alignment. And, I end up taller as I lean back to balance on the heels.

[Donna Joanne]

I'm just like Lea. I was 5'11" since high school. My USAF records say I was 5'11", but at my initial VA physical in June of this year I'm now 5' 8". I've lost 3 inches in 37 years..go figure?

[celeste26]

Its the disks in our spine that shrink slowly.

[Andy66]

I agree with the ladies, and I wonder how old you are. But also, I wonder if you are holding the pencil perfectly straight.

Edit: I see from your introduction post that youre in your early 50s... not an age where I would expect to see alot of loss of height, but I suppose genetics can make a big difference.

[Kathryn Martin]

I used to be 196 cm or 77 1/8th inches. Since age 50 I have lost height and am now 189cm or 74 3/8th inches. With my heels (depending on the heel which is between 2.5" and 4 " I am between 199.16 com or78 3/8th inches tall or 195.5 or 76 7/8th inches tall. My passport still say I am 196. Its all in the jeans:D

[Jennifer-GWN]

Now all we need is to have our shoulders shrink a bit. �� after thinking back a bit I'm clearly genetically challenged as I recalll my grand parents shortening considerably as they aged. Who knows 5 6 might be just around the corner. Now need to loose some weight... Wish that would magically disappear.

Cheers ladies. Jennifer

[Frances]

I was 5' 8" before HRT. I am now 5' 7". It happened pretty quickly. I account it to muscle atrophy and spinal compression. I also lost some rib cage circumference and some shoulder width, mainly to due to muscle atrophy again.

[Jorja]

It doesn't matter how tall I am. It doesn't matter how tall I am. It doesn't matter how tall I am. Come on, say it with me. It doesn't matter how tall I am. It doesn't matter how tall I am. It just doesn't matter!

Spend more time worrying about the things you can control or change that those things you can't do anything about.

[Sheila11]

I've gone from 5 101/2 to 5 9. Would not mind losing another 2 or 3 inches.