How do you take measurements?

mccollumse

Wondering about locations and how? When measuring waist, do you do narrowest point, or across belly button? Or somewhere else? Do you suck you gut in, let it hang out or in between? Do you pull the tape tightly or just enough? Curious about this. Just started 30 day shread.

ishtar13

I take:


Neck:
Bust:  
Under bust:
natural waist
Waist at belly button:
Hip: (at widest part of butt)
Rt arm:
Lt arm:
Rt Thigh:
Lt Thigh:

I used to think that the belly button was the waist, but reading some stuff including sewing and knitting patterns, I realized that the natural waist is a little above that (depending on the person, an inch or two).

Two months ago, my under bust (where the band of a bra goes) was the same measurement as my natural waist. Now my NW is smaller, so I'm glad I'm taking that measurement.

ishtar13

Oh, and just enough.

Don't suck in, but do take the measurement after you exhale.

fiberartist219

Honestly, I find the tape measure to be just as fickle, if not more so, than a scale. I try to measure at my belly button, just because it is a fixed point. The waist is supposedly where you bend at the side, and then when I went through a health screening, they measured my waist as being right under my bust, which is actually, the tiniest part of my trunk area. I have a tiny rib cage, but I have a giant belly... kind of like a pregnant lady, but I've never been pregnant.

Anyway, I don't think it matters how you measure or where you measure, as long as you are consistent, so that way you can detect any changes in your body.

I think the easiest way for me to tell if I've shrunk is if my pants get loose, but even then, a little bit of water retention, and my pants are tight again...

goldfinger88

A woman measures the waist at the narrow curve. The hips at the very widest part. I also measure my neck, thighs (both), calfs, forearms and biceps. Also chest. I keep a record of the measurements on my ipad on a very neat little app. As a general rule, you should measure at least every two weeks.

When you measure, don't hold your stomach in. The tape should not be too tight on any area --- just comfortable. And I suggest you buy a Mylo tape designed just for bodybuilders and people who want very accurate measurements. Most tapes are not too accurate.

Elleinnz

I take:


Neck:
Bust:  
Under bust:
natural waist
Waist at belly button:
Hip: (at widest part of butt)
Rt arm:
Lt arm:
Rt Thigh:
Lt Thigh:

I used to think that the belly button was the waist, but reading some stuff including sewing and knitting patterns, I realized that the natural waist is a little above that (depending on the person, an inch or two).

Two months ago, my under bust (where the band of a bra goes) was the same measurement as my natural waist. Now my NW is smaller, so I'm glad I'm taking that measurement.

^^^^^^ These are good - As long as you are consistent in where you measure it does not really matter....

We measure waist at the smallest point.
We also measure calf - at the widest point - for someone like me with massive legs it is really nice to see them get smaller - even though they can still kick start a boeing....

If you are lifting heavy, and tracking results the bust measures is not really relevant - a better measure is chest....

Put arms in the air - tape measure around the chest right under the arms - put arms down next to your sides, and breath out....

With the thigh measures (helps with consistency) - measure the distance between the patella and the natural crease at the top of your leg (sort of where your panty line is) - divide in half (and write down) - and always take your measurement at that point - for me it is 18cm above the patella.