Help with body measurements

geekishgirl
geekishgirl Posts: 117 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction for help with body measurements. I am a few months into my weightloss journey and now I am wishing I had done this sooner. I bought a measuring tape right at the beginning but I didn't know where I should measure or the proper way to do it so I've never gotten around to getting them. This is something I would like to start tracking in addition to the scale since I have read so many things on here about it, I just don't know where to start. Any help is GREATLY APPRECIATED as I am still learning.

Replies

  • annabeladcock
    annabeladcock Posts: 99
    Hi there :) I'm no expert but the way I do it is this, I measure the following areas:
    Upper arm (widest part), chest, underbust, waist (at narrowest), hips (widest part, over my bum), thighs (4 inches down my lower leg), and calves (widest point). For me, the specific areas to put the tape around are usually the widest, or a specific set point (such as my thigh measurements). The main thing is to keep the position of the tape CONSISTENT!! so you can see true results :)

    As for the actual measuring - I tend to do it in the morning, and pull the tape snug round the area, but not so tight so that your digging the tape in and lying to yourself!

    Hope that's sort of helpful?? :)
  • TheStephil
    TheStephil Posts: 858 Member
    http://strengthunbound.com/measure-body-fat-easily-accurately-home/

    Near the bottom of the page it talks about where to measure.

    It also shows formulas to use to measure your body fat % with measuring tape. It's a good resource.
  • jim9097
    jim9097 Posts: 341 Member
    Why is it that women always want to differentiate the difference between their natural waste and what we really want to measure. You stomach is generally where people are trying to lose body fat. So I recommend measuring that at the belly button. Not at the waste where your pants sit.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Why is it that women always want to differentiate the difference between their natural waste and what we really want to measure. You stomach is generally where people are trying to lose body fat. So I recommend measuring that at the belly button. Not at the waste where your pants sit.

    My guess is to get a lower measurement. I measure about 2 in above the hip bone, which is usually near the naval, though that varies from person to person. This is the measurement that matters most to me for 2 reasons.

    1. This is the measurement that matters for disease risk.
    2. This is the measurement that makes the most difference in the way I look and what size I wear.
  • ChoiceNotChance
    ChoiceNotChance Posts: 644 Member
    Bumping for link to measurements.
  • MomTo3Lovez
    MomTo3Lovez Posts: 800 Member
    Why is it that women always want to differentiate the difference between their natural waste and what we really want to measure. You stomach is generally where people are trying to lose body fat. So I recommend measuring that at the belly button. Not at the waste where your pants sit.

    I actually measure and track both plus the lower part of the stomach along with everything else.
  • geekishgirl
    geekishgirl Posts: 117 Member
    Thank you everyone for your help. It sounds like making sure I measure consistently in the same place and way is key. Does measuring in the morning make a difference versus measuring in the evening?
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Thank you everyone for your help. It sounds like making sure I measure consistently in the same place and way is key. Does measuring in the morning make a difference versus measuring in the evening?

    I could eliminate higher results due to bloating from foods eaten.

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