Waist or Weight?

Nysportsred
Nysportsred Posts: 224 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Which is more important to your success? Your waist size or your total weight?
«1

Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    The scale gives you a number. I'd go with waist size as a more useful metric, especially if one of your goals is to become stronger.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    Since I compete (once a year, but still) in powerlifting, weight.
  • gatorsong
    gatorsong Posts: 7,000 Member
    I'd much rather have another belt notch than a lower number on the scale.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Waist size is a better indicator of progress than weight is right now. I'm perfectly happy with my weight but want to lose more fat. Since most of my fat is around my midsection, waist measurements are a good way for me to track changes.
  • tcunbeliever
    tcunbeliever Posts: 8,219 Member
    The scale is just a number, waist size is a more accurate metric of health.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    mskessler89 wrote: »
    Waist size/BF%. It doesn't matter what the number of the scale is if I look the way I want to look.
    THIS. If you look the way you want, fit the clothes you like and people are complimenting on your physique, would it matter if the scale said you were 10lbs heavier than what you thought?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • BillMcKay1
    BillMcKay1 Posts: 315 Member
    Definitely waist/bf%.
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    Waist is more important to me. The number on scale is just a representation of how gravity pulls you down. It does not and cannot measure your fitness levels.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Waist - well actually how my smallest smart work dress fits!
  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,186 Member
    Hips and thighs size!
  • tech_kitten
    tech_kitten Posts: 221 Member
    Waist.
  • socalrunner59
    socalrunner59 Posts: 149 Member
    Weight is deceiving...In 44 days, I'm only down 10 lbs, but I've lost inches.

    Inches lost
    2 1/2" waist
    1" thighs
    2 1/4" hips.

    I weigh and measure weekly, but pay more attention to measurements than weight.
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    The scale is just a number... and so is your waist size.

    I really don't get that argument. If you like how you look and your weight doesn't matter, than your waist size doesn't matter either. I've lost and regained ~8lb with no change to my waist size, so waist size is meaningless. Both weight and waist size correlate with overall fitness, but you may have to recognize additional variables for either to be even remotely accurate.

    Pick whichever suits your needs, don't become anal about it, and recognize the benefits and limitations to whichever methods you choose. Or even better, use both and use all the data available to you.
  • jessef593
    jessef593 Posts: 2,272 Member
    Waist/bf%. The only time I pay attention to the scale is to make sure I'm gaining at the rate I want or to make sure I'm not losing too quickly
  • cgvet37
    cgvet37 Posts: 1,189 Member
    In the beginning, I feel the scale is a good tool. As you get closer to your goal, BF% and body measurements are a better tools. As well as how your clothes fit. I lost 27 lbs. fairly quickly, then my weight stalled. As I'm closer to my goal weight, and am consuming more calories to support muscle gain. Now I rely more on measurements. I see too many people obsess over the numbers on the scale. They become discouraged, and go back to unhealthy habits.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Both have their place. Focus on learning what each means and monitor both as you work towards your goals.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,989 Member
    nordlead2005 wrote: »
    The scale is just a number... and so is your waist size.

    I really don't get that argument. If you like how you look and your weight doesn't matter, than your waist size doesn't matter either. I've lost and regained ~8lb with no change to my waist size, so waist size is meaningless. Both weight and waist size correlate with overall fitness, but you may have to recognize additional variables for either to be even remotely accurate.

    Pick whichever suits your needs, don't become anal about it, and recognize the benefits and limitations to whichever methods you choose. Or even better, use both and use all the data available to you.
    For most of the general population, waist size is an indication of being too fat. You can't reduce girth due to bone structure, but you can due to having too much body fat around your waist.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
    9285851.png
  • KristenG80
    KristenG80 Posts: 19 Member
    I don't know if I'm a weird case, but my weight loss number (pounds) is higher than my inches lost. Like, the scale says I've lost just over 20lbs, but my measurements and clothes say I am not down a crazy amount. Only 1 size down.
  • Nysportsred
    Nysportsred Posts: 224 Member
    I started at 235 pounds and 40 inches in April 2011.

    I've been down to 186 and 36 inches.

    Lately my weight goes between 189 and 192, but waist has been steady at 36 for 5 years.
  • Heartisalonelyhunter
    Heartisalonelyhunter Posts: 786 Member
    Waist. I never weigh myself but how my clothes fit and my waist measurement tells me if I'm getting bigger. I actually don't care how much I weigh.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Neither. My health & fitness. .
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Of those two choices, weight. If I drop more poundage, my waist *might* get smaller maybe like half an inch. I have the flab on the front while the rest of my waist is skin, bones, and organs. Also, my doctor goes by BMI for "health" so the further into "normal" BMI numbers, the "healthier" I am.
  • litsy3
    litsy3 Posts: 783 Member
    Weight is more important to me because I'm a competitive runner and I will run faster at a lower weight.
  • caradack1985
    caradack1985 Posts: 254 Member
    My waist is proportionately by far the smallest part of my body and also the place I lose weight first so it's no real indication of how well I'm doing. I'd say my thighs and bum but my weight is also an important indicator. Added to that, how I actually feel in myself.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    Personally my waist has never been that big, so I had to focus on weight/body fat %. Even at 165 lbs my waist was 29inches, which is about the largest it's ever been.
  • rsclause
    rsclause Posts: 3,103 Member
    I had a 50 pound beer gut. The scale measures progress but the waist lets you show it off.
  • monicamuhonen
    monicamuhonen Posts: 3 Member
    Deffiently waist/ measurements! You can weigh the same, or even more and have a lower body fat percentage. The scale will only tell you how much gravity pulls down on you, not what counts in the long run
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    The weight of my bars. As long as I'm making weight for my higher level meets and fitting into my belt (I did get one where I was at the outer range of it on purpose), I'm good.

    Yes, I'm working on slowly cutting down a few kg, only so I don't have to water load going into meets. It will be nice not having that stress on my shoulders the week of a meet. I also don't really care about what my waist measurement is, as long as I'm still good in my belt. In fact, how my belt is fitting is the most frequent way I measure my waist.

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