Question on measuring for women

stephaniev07

Sorry if this has already been asked, but I am curious when you are measuring your body with the tape measure do you measure your bust with a bra on or off. Also if you have the extra belly fat as I do (I call it a spare tire) do you lift that fat up to measure your hips? or measure around the fat? And for your waist it says to measure at the smallest part by your belly button, but for me I am just measuring at the smallest part because due to my fat accumulation my belly button doesn't match up with that area. is this correct? And as for the rest of your parts you measure do you try to stick with measuring the biggest section of said part? Thanks for any help you guys have. Guys are welcome to give your opinion too, just thought women would know what I am talking about a lil better.

sarah44254

whatever place you decide to measure, make sure you do it the same place each time

for me, i measure w/o bra, both under breasts(where your bra band goes) and across as 2 different measures

my waist measure is the smallest place. for me that is very very close to my bra band area (i guess i have a very high waist?)

I never have (and wish I would have) measured the 'spare tire' area as you called it. I have seen noticeable shrinkage there and have NO idea how much I have lost.

I measure my hips as the widest part of my very uppermost leg/thighs and bum. sorry I can't say whether or not to lift the tire because I didn't have to do that. Whatever way you choose - just do it the same way each time

tameko2

you should be measuring both waist AND abdomen -- waist is the narrowest part, abdomen is basically the fattest part or right across your belly button.

also 'hips' means around your butt (like the widest part of your hips) - does your belly fat actually hang down that far? if so i'd say go underneath it but don't "lift" or push fat out of the way. that will stretch things up and give you a weird measurement

caveats

Bra off, with the tape going over the widest part of your bust (usually crosses over the nipples).

Measure the "spare tire" (sorry) as part of your hips.

Bend sideways at your waist (either left or right), and where your torso creases is where you measure your waist.

Rest of my parts ... I don't really worry about. I think for thighs, the standard is to measure at your groin area. I do it "wrong" ... I have a birthmark on one thigh that I measure at, lol.

AmyLRed

hmm, i dont have any real answers because i wonder myself. When i do waist, i do the thinnest area, bellybutton or not. for other parts, the biggest area. chest i measure with bra on, just because i think it might actually measure bigger than bra off, where they are hanging flatter, lol.
for belly, i have that too, and i would say include it. It will help you judge if it is shrinking. That being said, i am 13lbs down in week 3 and wish i had measured in the beginning! I will start on week 4

Wherever you measure, just do it the same every time if you can.

jennajava

bra off. it's not part of your body.

i measure BOTH for waist.

jennajava

i think it might actually measure bigger than bra off, where they are hanging flatter, lol.

If you're measuring correctly, you should be lifting them when you do.

stephaniev07

you should be measuring both waist AND abdomen -- waist is the narrowest part, abdomen is basically the fattest part or right across your belly button.

also 'hips' means around your butt (like the widest part of your hips) - does your belly fat actually hang down that far? if so i'd say go underneath it but don't "lift" or push fat out of the way. that will stretch things up and give you a weird measurement

Yes my belly fat does hang down that far. I had twins and my belly stretched a lot, although the fat the replaced the babies was my fault. Before I started this lifestyle change looking in the mirror I could not see my underwear or groin area because of the belly fat. now I can begin to see some signs of fabric. At current I lift it put the tape under there let it back down. I think I will do both from now on measure under and then include the tire.

CMmrsfloyd

I measure with my bra on b/c that's how it's recommended when you're measuring for correct bra sizing. If I measured with my bra off, 2 pregnancies and 3 years of breastfeeding makes them hang and the measurement would not reflect their actual volume very well. If the girls were more perky, bra off would work just fine. But they're not.

stephaniev07

I measure with my bra on b/c that's how it's recommended when you're measuring for correct bra sizing. If I measured with my bra off, 2 pregnancies and 3 years of breastfeeding makes them hang and the measurement would not reflect their actual volume very well. If the girls were more perky, bra off would work just fine. But they're not.

I currently measure with it off, but what you are saying makes way more sense to me! I think I am going to switch it up a bit.

Rae6503

I measure with my bra off becasue my bras are padded.

My "waist" isn't at my belly button either. I measure both now though, my waist and my "navel" which is my belly button.

My hips are around the widest part of my hips and *kitten*.

MadeOfMagic

I measure bust at two places, under boobies: right where the boobies end, and above boobies at arm pits. I don't like doing over actual boobs cause my boobs aren't shrinking but back and side fat is!

I measuyre waist at two spots: at belly button and at narrowest part.
The rest of the measurements I measure till I get the largest measurement.

kschr201

I measure with my bra on. Assuming your wearing a properly fitted bra that is not padded it should just be "repositioning" not squishing.

I find it easier than trying to figure out how to lift both and measure simultaneously - I'm really not coordinated enough

jecka31

I measure my chest with a non-padded bra and measure both around the rib cage (where the band sits) and around the whole bust.

I have 2 waist measurements: my natural waist which is the smallest part of my waist (for me just below my rib cage) and then what I call my love-handles, which is where my belly button is.

I measure around the largest portion of my hips. If the fat that you are mentioning is not part of your hips, I would not include it in the measurement (say if its part of you stomach??).

I also measure my thighs, calves and biceps as well. These are also done at the largest portion of each particular body part.