confused with waist measurement

TheWinman

I'm not sure what folder this topic should go in so I figure this may be the best. Until I started using MFP a few days ago i never have measured my waist until I saw the option to add it in my information on MFP. I always knew my waist size by what size pants I fit in, right? lol
When I measure my waist I look in the mirror, legs spread shoulder width apart and I measure about an inch above the belly button while stomach is fully relaxed The tape measure says 44. Now I don't own 44 waist pants and never have. When I started my weight loss this past November I was wearing size 42 pants when I weighed 274. Now I easily and comfortably fit into size 40 and some of my old size 38's (but not all). Am I doing something wrong with my measuring? What numbers should I go with on here. Also, I have never measured my hips. If I'm doing that correctly it says 45. Does that sound right. Currently weigh 243 and my height is 6'0 feet.

ElizabethRoad

From what I have heard from guys on here, the waist measurement in pants is not all that accurate anymore, so a size 40 pants could actually be 44 inches around.

Also, do you wear your pants that high?

treetop57

Waist size on pants have zero relation to your measured waist size. Don't sweat it!

TheWinman

Great point in that I certainly don't wear my pants that high.

ladybug1620

You probably don't wear your pants an inch above your belly button though right? I think most men wear them a bit below, which tends to miss some of the beer belly (no offense, I don't know if you have one or not) so that would explain why your pants size is lower than your waist measurement.

Personally when I measure my waist I do it directly around the belly button every time. I don't think it matters where you do it, as long as you stay consistent and measure the exact same place each time so you can see your progress.

AReasor

I think it can mean whatever you want as long as you are measuring the same spot every time. I have a high waist so I have a belly button measurement as well as a spare tire measurement. It's there for to use as a tool.:flowerforyou:

lukeout007

Yeah pants are rarely accurate. I measure 40-42 and have very loose fitting 38's.

I do have to say though...you're measuring an inch above the belly button? That's not the waist...

ElizabethRoad

Great point in that I certainly don't wear my pants that high.

Good, you are way too young for that.

I would say as long as the number keeps going down, you should be happy.

TheWinman

Yeah pants are rarely accurate. I measure 40-42 and have very loose fitting 38's.

I do have to say though...you're measuring an inch above the belly button? That's not the waist...

I found that on some other diet website, they said to measure an inch above the belly button.

treetop57

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-truth-about-belly-fat?page=2

Measuring your waist sounds simple enough. But to make sure you get it right, here are instructions from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute:

* Stand up. Exhale before you measure -- do not suck in your breath.
* Wrap the tape measure around your middle. It should go across your navel.
* Make sure bottom of the tape measure is just above your hip bones. It does not go higher up, even if you're narrower there.

While you're at it, measure your hips, too. Waist-to-hip ratio also indicates fat distribution. According to the Western Journal of Medicine, a healthy ratio is up to 0.8 for women and up to 0.9 for men. The journal offers these guidelines for an accurate hip measurement:

* Stand up. Place the tape measure around your hips.
* Make sure the tape goes over the knobby protrusions of the hip bones.

I've heard that men aren't going to see much change in hip measurement since we don't tend to carry weight there. I don't know if that's really true.

TheWinman

Thanks everyone!! It all makes sense now and I realize the main thing is to measure at the same spot every time and if the number keeps getting lower then all is going. I guess even though the number is higher than I thought, I'm very happy to be fitting in pants that 4 months ago I could not fit into.

dougii

You are measuring in just about the exact right spot. Fro what I have found you are supposed to take waist measurments from the top of the hip bones which for most of us corresponds to just about where the belly button is. Google waist measurment and you can find some pictures to use as guides.

Cindym82

Also, unless you're urkle (sp?) you don't ever wear your pants at your waist. You wear your pants at the top of your hips.

erickirb

Just like they do for women "vanity sizing" I need a belt with 29" waist pants, and my waist is larger then 29".

erickirb

Also, unless you're urkle (sp?) you don't ever wear your pants at your waist. You wear your pants at the top of your hips.

Which is even wider then the waste.

BrianSharpe

LOL this thread reminded me of the first time I ever bought a tailor made suit, suffice it to say it was a humbling experience.

pdworkman

Manufacturers "downsize" the waistband measurement to make you feel better. You think you have an x" waist, because that's what your pants are, when actually it is x+4" (or whatever). Different manufacturers fudge it by different amounts.

ElizabethRoad

I've heard that men aren't going to see much change in hip measurement since we don't tend to carry weight there. I don't know if that's really true.

I think that would depend on how much extra weight you're carrying. If you are 100 pounds overweight you aren't going to have slim hips, whether you're a man or woman...

joecmoore1

I started out measuring my hips and I lost an inch or so after that, and 40+ lbs later, my hip measurement hasn't changed in the last 6 weeks, so I have just stopped measuring that, figuring that they were where they were likely to be.

I measure my waist at my belly button and level around. It has brought up another issue...which is a bit embarrassing,

I am long through the body and short in the legs. I have always worn my jeans around my hips (IE: under my "GUT") Now my stomach is shrinking, but I have sagging in the gut area. So I am in a dilemma as to where to wear my jeans. If I continue to wear them as always, It looks weird, but I don't want to be "that guy" who has a big belly and wears his belt buckle at his navel and its the first thing to enter the room.

Other than switching to bib overalls, what is the best approach?

hereinfl2012

I know this an old thread, but I just signed up after finding it via Google. My waist measures waaay more than what my clothes sizes seem to fit. Is this normal? I'm measuring 30" but seem to be wearing "small" and currently a size 8 in jeans. (female, 39 years old) I'm wanting to try for size 6 jeans... my 8's are getting "loose". Anyone else here with this same issue? I'm currently 122 lbs. Strange for the size I think I need. I think I'm in between. Guess I need to just go to the store and try?