Waist Measurement Help
CariJean64
Posts: 297 Member
Ok, perhaps an odd question, but WHERE are you supposed to measure your waist? The smallest part? The place where your pants waist sits? The line at the belly button? I've heard all of them, so I'm looking for a consensus. Thanks in advance.
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I've seen both at your narrowest (true waist) and at navel. I'd say measure both as separate measurements but both relating to waist. So "navel waist," "true waist" or something like that.0
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i measure smallest and biggest waist (slightly under navel for me). My goal is to get my biggest waist under 35 in.0
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girlviernes wrote: »i measure smallest and biggest waist (slightly under navel for me). My goal is to get my biggest waist under 35 in.
Under 35 is good for a woman. That's my aim, too... except I'm not sure just where that measurement is supposed to be done.
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I think that the 35in measurement pertains to the belly button area.CariJean64 wrote: »girlviernes wrote: »i measure smallest and biggest waist (slightly under navel for me). My goal is to get my biggest waist under 35 in.
Under 35 is good for a woman. That's my aim, too... except I'm not sure just where that measurement is supposed to be done.0 -
I measure over my belly button, just cuz that's a "pre-marked" spot, for consistency. But, I'm planning on measuring "paint waist" too (aka muffin top), cuz that seems to be shrinking faster than the "belly button" area.0
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CariJean64 wrote: »girlviernes wrote: »i measure smallest and biggest waist (slightly under navel for me). My goal is to get my biggest waist under 35 in.
Under 35 is good for a woman. That's my aim, too... except I'm not sure just where that measurement is supposed to be done.
Really??? I'm at 35 now and to be in a good BMI still have to loose 30-50lbs. I was not aware of that number...0 -
Your true waist sits above your belly button. Measure at the narrowest part of your torso . For those people that are very overweight and don't have an obvious waist bend to one side letting your arm drop straight down the side of your body. Then bend directly the other way. Measure your waist as the spot your body naturally bends.
When measuring your STOMACH you bring the measuring tape directly around your lower back across your navel (belly button).
This is how you get your true measurements. Like if you were being fitted by a tailor.0 -
When people asking me waist measurement I give them my true/natural waist
But I keep track of the measurement right above my belly button and at my belly button too. 0 -
girlviernes wrote: »i measure smallest and biggest waist (slightly under navel for me). My goal is to get my biggest waist under 35 in.
Your waist is actually only one single part of your body and it's above your navel. Hope that helps.
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Measurement charts have waist at smallest part and abdomen at navel.0
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Okay this makes me feel better that I am not lying about my waist measurement. 27 sounds better than whatever is going on at abdomen level.0
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MsHarryWinston wrote: »Your true waist sits above your belly button. Measure at the narrowest part of your torso . For those people that are very overweight and don't have an obvious waist bend to one side letting your arm drop straight down the side of your body. Then bend directly the other way. Measure your waist as the spot your body naturally bends.
When measuring your STOMACH you bring the measuring tape directly around your lower back across your navel (belly button).
This is how you get your true measurements. Like if you were being fitted by a tailor.
Thanks for that. Your answer clears it up considerably for me.0 -
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her bum looks like an animal's face. can't pinpoint which animal, thouhg.MsHarryWinston wrote: »
This might help you guys
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MsHarryWinston wrote: »Your true waist sits above your belly button. Measure at the narrowest part of your torso . For those people that are very overweight and don't have an obvious waist bend to one side letting your arm drop straight down the side of your body. Then bend directly the other way. Measure your waist as the spot your body naturally bends.
When measuring your STOMACH you bring the measuring tape directly around your lower back across your navel (belly button).
This is how you get your true measurements. Like if you were being fitted by a tailor.
I sew a lot, and this is where I measure for my waist measurement. I wasn't aware that there was any other place you might measure, but I'm just a girl, lol.0 -
For those of us who are very short-waisted, it could be tricky to figure out exactly where to measure, especially if there's only an inch or two of space between the ribcage and hipbone. My natural waist measurement is pretty close to my under-bust measurement, as a result. But my belly button measurement is the one I most care about, since that's where I wear a pair of jeans.0
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her bum looks like an animal's face. can't pinpoint which animal, thouhg.MsHarryWinston wrote: »
This might help you guys
The hip measurement seems off on this. I measure my hips at the fullest.
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Well I was taught that the health guidelines regarding waist circumference are measured at the widest part (generally close to the naval). So if you are seeking to be below 35" (for women), it's not the true waist but the largest measurement you need to monitor. I actually refer to them as waist and belly.0
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girlviernes wrote: »Well I was taught that the health guidelines regarding waist circumference are measured at the widest part (generally close to the naval). So if you are seeking to be below 35" (for women), it's not the true waist but the largest measurement you need to monitor. I actually refer to them as waist and belly.
That could be. But I'm definitely not going around saying my waist measurement is the one that is largest anytime soon. I think in terms of dressing, the natural waist is right. I'm going to look into the health guidelines now.0 -
Thanks for all the responses so far. I'm getting quite the tutorial!
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According to WebMD webmd.com/diet/calculating-your-waist-circumference__http://, for health purposes, you are supposed to measure level with your belly button, but I'm not sure that this 35" mark can possibly apply to everyone. It seems to me that your height would make a huge difference. For example, my waist is 29.5", and I'm still 23 lbs overweight. Surely, a healthy waistline for someone as short as I am is closer to the 30" mark?0
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I'm not sure if I'm thinking about this the right way, but your weight has less to do with it I think. I think it may be healthier if you're 20 pounds overweight but have a small waistline, carrying your weight in the thighs and butt, rather than being closer to a normal weight but having a very large waist?0
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According to WebMD webmd.com/diet/calculating-your-waist-circumference__http://, for health purposes, you are supposed to measure level with your belly button, but I'm not sure that this 35" mark can possibly apply to everyone. It seems to me that your height would make a huge difference. For example, my waist is 29.5", and I'm still 23 lbs overweight. Surely, a healthy waistline for someone as short as I am is closer to the 30" mark?
True! It's just a guideline as well. Nothing magic about 35, but in general more risk among those above that mark.
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arditarose wrote: »I'm not sure if I'm thinking about this the right way, but your weight has less to do with it I think. I think it may be healthier if you're 20 pounds overweight but have a small waistline, carrying your weight in the thighs and butt, rather than being closer to a normal weight but having a very large waist?
^^ This. It depends on body type/shape. Those that carry most of their extra weight in their hips and thighs (pair shaped) or in their hips, thighs, and upper body (violin shaped) can be more overweight numbers wise than those that carry their weight mostly in their middle (apple shaped) and still have a smaller waist. My best friend is about 1/2" taller than me and about 10lbs heavier. Because she's pair shaped, she wears a size larger pants than I do, but since I'm apple shaped, I wear a size larger shirt than her. And you're right, those of us that are apples have bigger obesity related health risks due to the abdominal fat.
I do have a question about the waist measurements though. If you're measuring at your true waist, are you supposed to measure with your bra on or off? 'Cause my measurement's much lower is I get "the girls" out of the way. LOL (Sorry. I have terminal smarta**-itosis.)0 -
arditarose wrote: »I'm not sure if I'm thinking about this the right way, but your weight has less to do with it I think. I think it may be healthier if you're 20 pounds overweight but have a small waistline, carrying your weight in the thighs and butt, rather than being closer to a normal weight but having a very large waist?
^^ This. It depends on body type/shape. Those that carry most of their extra weight in their hips and thighs (pair shaped) or in their hips, thighs, and upper body (violin shaped) can be more overweight numbers wise than those that carry their weight mostly in their middle (apple shaped) and still have a smaller waist. My best friend is about 1/2" taller than me and about 10lbs heavier. Because she's pair shaped, she wears a size larger pants than I do, but since I'm apple shaped, I wear a size larger shirt than her. And you're right, those of us that are apples have bigger obesity related health risks due to the abdominal fat.
I do have a question about the waist measurements though. If you're measuring at your true waist, are you supposed to measure with your bra on or off? 'Cause my measurement's much lower is I get "the girls" out of the way. LOL (Sorry. I have terminal smarta**-itosis.)
LOL. I can't even imagine what you're talking about!?! I have little bitty 32Bs. So you actually have to move your boobs up from your waist? Or you mean your bra kinda...pulls you all up a big, and makes your waist smaller?
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Yup, gotta move the boobs up from the waist. I have 38 longs. 0
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I do have a question about the waist measurements though. If you're measuring at your true waist, are you supposed to measure with your bra on or off? 'Cause my measurement's much lower is I get "the girls" out of the way. LOL (Sorry. I have terminal smarta**-itosis.)
LOL, I hear ya. I have the same problem.
I think it depends what you're measuring- If you're measuring to order clothes or get them made or tailored, then wear the bra you'd normally wear with those clothes.
- If you're measuring to assess elevated health risks of heart disease, etc. associated with "apple" shaped bodies or carrying excess weight around your middle, measure where the medical guidelines tell you to measure, probably without the bra (and without sucking in.)
- If you're measuring to track your weight loss or workout progress, then it doesn't matter where and how you measure so long as you're consistent each time so you can see the change.
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OK, so they don't actually hang all the way to my waist. That's a little bit of an exaggeration.
Wearing a G cup, they've just never been what you could call "perky," and as I draw closer to 40, they seem to move further and further south. Now, having lost 30lbs, they're the same length, just skinnier. 
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