Waist measurement

terra_angelica
terra_angelica Posts: 59
edited October 6 in Health and Weight Loss
As far as waist measurement, where should I be measuring myself? Above my belly button, right at, or below?

Replies

  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
    Right at the belly button.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
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  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    For women it's the smallest point around your midsection.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    I always wonder, too. If I'm doing it for a body fat calculator I follow the instructions given - sometimes it asks for the measurement at the navel and sometimes it asks for your natural waist or the smallest point. There is a BIG difference between my natural waist measurement and my belly button measurement (slowly shrinking, but still very noticeable).
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    Above your belly button.
  • terra_angelica
    terra_angelica Posts: 59
    I am going to go with what the personal trainer says. My husband says that when the military measured him, it was right at the belly button. :)
  • AZackery
    AZackery Posts: 2,035 Member
    I am going to go with what the personal trainer says. My husband says that when the military measured him, it was right at the belly button. :)

    I measure above the belly button. Search the internet for measurements done on a woman and see where they say to measure.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    The last time I took my measurements, my natural waist was 29 inches and my measurement at my belly button was 34 inches. I really don't feel like I can claim I have a 29 inch waist. Not with that belly still hanging there. It just seems like I'd be cheating if I ignored the belly. LOL But then again I don't enter my measurements on the tracker here, I write them all down on paper and then enter them into various bodyfat calculators just to get a ballpark estimate, so I use whichever measurement each specific calculator asks for. One asks for the waist measurement at the navel and another asks for the measurement at the narrowest point of the abdomen. So I do whatever is asked of me at the time.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I am going to go with what the personal trainer says. My husband says that when the military measured him, it was right at the belly button. :)

    Yes because he's a man. For women it's their natural waist (the smallest point).
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
    I measure right at my belly button, but also make sure to include my love handles in there.
    EDIT- I do it for my own personal reference, and since that is my problem area, that's the measurement that I care about. Just chose where you care about seeing progress and be consistant about measuring in the same place.
  • JJhoney
    JJhoney Posts: 29
    I separate waist from abdomen. My waist is the smallest part of my torso. My abdomen is just that, my belly, which I usually measure where it sticks out the most, at my belly button.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
    Just for clarification:

    Measuring your waistline is a simple check
    For an accurate measurement:

    Measure directly against your skin
    Breathe out normally.
    Make sure the tape is snug, without compressing the skin.
    The correct place to measure your waist is horizontally halfway between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone. This is roughly in line with your belly button.

    http://www.health.gov.au/internet/abhi/publishing.nsf/Content/factsheet-waist-measurement


    To measure your waist circumference, use a tape measure. Start at the top of the hip bone, then bring it all the way around -- level with your navel. Make sure it's not too tight and that it is parallel with the floor. Don't hold your breath while measuring it!

    http://www.webmd.com/diet/calculating-your-waist-circumference__


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    Thank you! I just KNEW I couldn't claim a 29" waist! LOL
  • mandylooo
    mandylooo Posts: 456 Member
    I am going to go with what the personal trainer says. My husband says that when the military measured him, it was right at the belly button. :)

    Yes because he's a man. For women it's their natural waist (the smallest point).

    Couldn't agree more. For a woman, your waist is your narrowest point. This is no more cheating than your hip measurement being the widest point.
  • angeleyez77
    angeleyez77 Posts: 45 Member
    I say at the belly button and I heard for what your wasit size is it should be half your helght in inches. So I am 5'0 59 inches and half of that is 30 inches so I have 38 inch waist so I should loose 8 inches.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member

    Couldn't agree more. For a woman, your waist is your narrowest point. This is no more cheating than your hip measurement being the widest point.
    IMO, this is why so many females end up buying the wrong pant size.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    For me it's where your pants/trousers sit. They don't sit around my belly button, therefore buying clothes with a waist measurement of your belly button would lead to them being too big.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    For me it's where your pants/trousers sit. They don't sit around my belly button, therefore buying clothes with a waist measurement of your belly button would lead to them being too big.

    Where your pants/trousers sit can vary widely depending on the rise of that particular piece of clothing, though. From below your hips to up over the belly button, depending on the style.
  • lniffa
    lniffa Posts: 675 Member
    I measure right at the belly button.
  • mandylooo
    mandylooo Posts: 456 Member

    Couldn't agree more. For a woman, your waist is your narrowest point. This is no more cheating than your hip measurement being the widest point.
    IMO, this is why so many females end up buying the wrong pant size.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    That's a big assumption (i.e. most women wear poorly fitting trousers), based on a shaky foundation (i.e.if women do wear poorly fitting trousers, incorrect waist sizing is the only reason for this)
  • Crowhorse
    Crowhorse Posts: 394 Member
    For me it's where your pants/trousers sit. They don't sit around my belly button, therefore buying clothes with a waist measurement of your belly button would lead to them being too big.

    Well, if that were the case, with most jeans today I'd be measuring my hip bones.
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    For me it's where your pants/trousers sit. They don't sit around my belly button, therefore buying clothes with a waist measurement of your belly button would lead to them being too big.

    Where your pants/trousers sit can vary widely depending on the rise of that particular piece of clothing, though. From below your hips to up over the belly button, depending on the style.

    Really? Wow. I have no idea of fashion! Work trousers, sweat pants, all mine are exactly the same point. Just under where my belly USED to sit! XD
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    For me it's where your pants/trousers sit. They don't sit around my belly button, therefore buying clothes with a waist measurement of your belly button would lead to them being too big.

    Where your pants/trousers sit can vary widely depending on the rise of that particular piece of clothing, though. From below your hips to up over the belly button, depending on the style.

    Really? Wow. I have no idea of fashion! Work trousers, sweat pants, all mine are exactly the same point. Just under where my belly USED to sit! XD

    Well, for men there may not be a lot of different 'rises' but for women it gets ridiculous. LOL Of course, don't men wear their pants under their gut (if they have one)? If that's the case, then is your pants size REALLY your waist size, if you have a belly but are omitting it in the measurement? Ah, the great mysteries of life and fashion. LOL
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member

    Couldn't agree more. For a woman, your waist is your narrowest point. This is no more cheating than your hip measurement being the widest point.
    IMO, this is why so many females end up buying the wrong pant size.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    Sorry friend but I can tell you don't know much about women's fashion and how they go about buying their pants. First off, this is not the 80s and I'm not a frumpy jeans-soccer mom who wears their pants around their armpits ;) None of my pants reach all the way to the narrowest point and many don't even reach my belly button. That style went out in the 80s. :) Second of all, no matter what the label on the pants says, I'd be crazy to buy a pair of pants without trying them on first. So I don't walk into stores with my measurements and buy based on that. No way! I have to try on each pair before buying. So yeah, where we measure our waists has nothing to do with what size pants we end up buying.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    I say at the belly button and I heard for what your wasit size is it should be half your helght in inches. So I am 5'0 59 inches and half of that is 30 inches so I have 38 inch waist so I should loose 8 inches.
    That may be a good rough guide, but I wouldn't consider it accurate down to the inch. By this I am well under my ideal waist size, and trust me that is not true.
  • angeleyez77
    angeleyez77 Posts: 45 Member
    I say at the belly button and I heard for what your wasit size is it should be half your helght in inches. So I am 5'0 59 inches and half of that is 30 inches so I have 38 inch waist so I should loose 8 inches.
    That may be a good rough guide, but I wouldn't consider it accurate down to the inch. By this I am well under my ideal waist size, and trust me that is not true.


    Oh I am only mentioned that cause that is what my Boyfriends Grandma said that Dr Oz said on his show one day so I dont know. He is usually right with his medical finds and etc right? It might be a guideline for some I think.
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