Measurement Question

GummyHuman

Hope this is in the right area. Wasn't sure where to put this kind of question.

Since September I have lost roughly 20 pounds. I've gone down a couple of dress sizes and can see a visual difference. So, in many quantitative and qualitative ways I can see a difference.

The one very important place I am not seeing any change is in the number I see when I measure my waist. I carry so much of my weight in my belly, which we all know is not a good thing, so I really want to see some movement there.

I could be doing it wrong, and that is the only area I am measuring with a tape. But pants and shirts fit differently around my mid-section, and if I am doing it the same wrong way every time, I'd still expect to see a change in the number.

Any experience with this?

refinedredbird

People lose weight in particular areas first and it really depends on your body. Maybe it is your hip inches going down and therefore your pants are fitting differently. I would take measurements in more than just your waist to see all sorts of progress.

piersonj

I have been sewing clothing off and on since I was a teenager (many moons ago). It is easy to take your own measurements wrong. Many people who just start off with sewing and fitting patterns are told to have someone else take there measurements. Even I have to be extra careful when taking my own measurements. What seems to work best for me is to put my thumb next to my waist, wrap the measure tape around and hold the tape between my thumb and index finger. Pull the tape tight around your waist, hold it there for a breath or two then let the tape "expand" to a comfortable size. That is the measurement that I look at. If I have time I will wait 10 or 15 minutes and do it again. When I get the same number twice I accept it as correct.

Choose a way that is easiest for you and pay attention to doing it the same way all the time. If your waist band is feeling looser, then your measurements are going down. A waist band is fixed diameter, taking measurement are a skill that gets easier with practice and the waist is one of the hardest places to get good measurements.

Ready2Rock206

Every body is different. Just keep at it and that measuring tape will move eventually. Seems like the belly is a common stubborn area. I think where ever you most want to lose inches is the last place you actually lose inches! I feel your pain though - haven't lost any inches myself yet, but at least it saves me money since I can't buy new smaller clothes yet!

Amy201235

Everybody is different. I know for me personally I tend to lose in all my extremities first, such as in my legs, hands then arms, face. In time it'll start losing around the mid-section. Give it time...and don't give up.

lisalsd1

Same problem, different body part. I am tiny everywhere...except hip/thighs/butt! That area has been getting smaller, but SLOWLY.

sympha01

I've experienced a similar thing. I've lost nearly 60 pounds, all my clothes are definitely looser / too big, but my waist measurement has stubbornly stayed the same.

I've been assuming that I have been measuring my waist wrong. BUT. I realized just yesterday that a lot of it seems to have to do with gravity on my body. I am long waisted and have carried a lot of my weight around my middle, and my belly was sagging quite a bit. As the weight has come off, it's largely come off that saggy bit, which gravity was pulling down below the waist measurement, though technically it was part of my waist. If that makes sense? I'm still sure some of it has to do with me measuring inexpertly too, but yeah some of it was just gravity.

Ah, the joys of aging.

GummyHuman

I've experienced a similar thing. I've lost nearly 60 pounds, all my clothes are definitely looser / too big, but my waist measurement has stubbornly stayed the same.

I've been assuming that I have been measuring my waist wrong. BUT. I realized just yesterday that a lot of it seems to have to do with gravity on my body. I am long waisted and have carried a lot of my weight around my middle, and my belly was sagging quite a bit. As the weight has come off, it's largely come off that saggy bit, which gravity was pulling down below the waist measurement, though technically it was part of my waist. If that makes sense? I'm still sure some of it has to do with me measuring inexpertly too, but yeah some of it was just gravity.

Ah, the joys of aging.

Ew. Oh. Yeah, I think you might be onto something there. That sounds about right.

I'm happy to have it come off wherever it's gonna come off, but one of my main goals is to get that number to a healthy range.

GummyHuman

People lose weight in particular areas first and it really depends on your body. Maybe it is your hip inches going down and therefore your pants are fitting differently. I would take measurements in more than just your waist to see all sorts of progress.

I was thinking that the hips could account for some of the pant looseness for sure.

Wish I had started sooner, but I will start staking more measurements.

Thanks!

GummyHuman

I have been sewing clothing off and on since I was a teenager (many moons ago). It is easy to take your own measurements wrong. Many people who just start off with sewing and fitting patterns are told to have someone else take there measurements. Even I have to be extra careful when taking my own measurements. What seems to work best for me is to put my thumb next to my waist, wrap the measure tape around and hold the tape between my thumb and index finger. Pull the tape tight around your waist, hold it there for a breath or two then let the tape "expand" to a comfortable size. That is the measurement that I look at. If I have time I will wait 10 or 15 minutes and do it again. When I get the same number twice I accept it as correct.

Choose a way that is easiest for you and pay attention to doing it the same way all the time. If your waist band is feeling looser, then your measurements are going down. A waist band is fixed diameter, taking measurement are a skill that gets easier with practice and the waist is one of the hardest places to get good measurements.

Where do you actually measure? At belly button height?

piersonj

I have been sewing clothing off and on since I was a teenager (many moons ago). It is easy to take your own measurements wrong. Many people who just start off with sewing and fitting patterns are told to have someone else take there measurements. Even I have to be extra careful when taking my own measurements. What seems to work best for me is to put my thumb next to my waist, wrap the measure tape around and hold the tape between my thumb and index finger. Pull the tape tight around your waist, hold it there for a breath or two then let the tape "expand" to a comfortable size. That is the measurement that I look at. If I have time I will wait 10 or 15 minutes and do it again. When I get the same number twice I accept it as correct.

Choose a way that is easiest for you and pay attention to doing it the same way all the time. If your waist band is feeling looser, then your measurements are going down. A waist band is fixed diameter, taking measurement are a skill that gets easier with practice and the waist is one of the hardest places to get good measurements.

Where do you actually measure? At belly button height?

Your waist is where your body bends, slightly different for everyone. It will be close to your belly button, but mine is slightly above. If you are not sure where yours is bend forward and note where you "fold". You can also lean to the side and net the spot. Then be sure when you take measurements that you wrap the tape measure around in a horizontal plane. Especially if you are larger the tape measure may want to ride up in some areas.

GummyHuman

Ahh. OK, thank you! :flowerforyou: