measuring tape help

acasey0123
acasey0123 Posts: 640 Member
edited October 3 in Health and Weight Loss
so I have been taking measurements to track how many inches I lose and blah blah blah and then I see on one website just now about natural waistline so I look it up (http://www.next.co.uk/help/WinHelpSGW.asp) and its ABOVE the belly button...I have always done it at the hip bone because that is where my jeans always go up to...NONE of my jeans go up to above my belly button so why would I need to know that and not to mention above my belly button is MUCH smaller than below it

so what is the proper place to measure for the waist

Replies

  • DSummersCM
    DSummersCM Posts: 54
    Weird! I always measure mine right at the belly button.
  • vettle
    vettle Posts: 621 Member
    Same thing happened to me. But since all my measurements were at my belly button I stayed there. I guess not that long ago, our pants did go up past our belly button so that WAS our waist size! so likely, that is what waists are still measured by.
  • deanadimples
    deanadimples Posts: 419 Member
    I've always found the answer (via Google) to be "the narrowest part" of the waist area. This is what I measure.

    You can't go by where your jeans land because jeans vary in where the waist is....midrise, low rise, at waist etc. The true waist is where the jeans of the 80s went lol
  • ambie443
    ambie443 Posts: 40
    belly button is you waist, measuring at you hips is exactly that. hip measurement
  • dsolgot
    dsolgot Posts: 86 Member
    I always measure both just because lol I like to see the numbers drop everywhere haha, but when it comes to jeans I usually just go by my hip measurement.
  • norisea
    norisea Posts: 3
    above the belly button is the waist measurement, though personally i like keeping track of both my waist and hip measurements.
  • kayleeblue
    kayleeblue Posts: 273
    I was told to stand straight and bend to the side..and where my "waist" creased was the place to measure.
  • peacestar84
    peacestar84 Posts: 100
    You're waist is just above the belly button and your hip measurements are just below. Many clothing stores that sell online have pictures and guides to show you if you want diagrams.
  • cariandy
    cariandy Posts: 175 Member
    It's the smallest part of your waist. It is different for everyone. Where your jeans are is not your natural waist. (at least with jeans these days!) But it is a fine place to measure! i measure the smallest part of my waist, then at my belly button. your hips are typically measured at 7 or 8 inches below that. But it doesn't matter as long as you measure in the same place so you can accurately see your progress!!

    Good Luck! :smile:
  • PaulaButHag
    PaulaButHag Posts: 38
    Pretend you are wearing your Mom's jeans, and measure where your smallest waist area is. Look in the mirror at the hour-glass shape and go in the middle.
  • Recreateyourself017
    Recreateyourself017 Posts: 23 Member
    I've always thought about it as the "skinniest part of the hourglass"; the narrowest part of your torso.
  • jayliospecky
    jayliospecky Posts: 25,022 Member
    I think the "correct" way would depend on whether you're measuring for a specific clothing pattern, like for a seamstress. For fashion, they might go by the narrowest part of your torso, and that would vary greatly according to body types. Doctors would probably say something else if they were trying to measure your abdominal fat (guys like Dr. Oz). If you're just measuring for your own use and to document the changes in your body, I say stick with what you've been doing.
  • Daysednconfused
    Daysednconfused Posts: 975 Member
    I have always measured at the smallest area, which for me is a couple of inches above my belly button! I have a hard time with the hip measurement!
  • Daysednconfused
    Daysednconfused Posts: 975 Member
    I have always measured at the smallest area, which for me is a couple of inches above my belly button! I have a hard time with the hip measurement!
  • Daysednconfused
    Daysednconfused Posts: 975 Member
    OOPS!
  • leomom72
    leomom72 Posts: 1,797 Member
    bump
  • manjingirl
    manjingirl Posts: 188 Member
    Your waist is the narrowest part of your trunk. It is usually above your belly button. Your hips are the widest point around the hip, that's hip, not pelvis, so across your 'pubes'. Chest measurement for women is across the nipples, thigh is the widest part of the leg, just below the butt crease.
  • nessc1989
    nessc1989 Posts: 1
    Bust is widest part, waist is narrowest part and hips is widest part.
  • acasey0123
    acasey0123 Posts: 640 Member
    thanks...now I get to have a "smaller" waist measurement :happy:
  • krbn2
    krbn2 Posts: 98 Member
    In terms of weight loss tracking, I think it doesn't matter too much as long as you always measure the same place.
  • Nanadena
    Nanadena Posts: 739 Member
    It is, and has always been the narrowest part of the body. Above the hips and navel. This is how Marilyn Monroe came up with 36-26-36
  • Healthy_Hannah483
    Healthy_Hannah483 Posts: 151 Member
    People do it differently, but the important thing is that you do it the same everytime. For weightloss purposes, its better to measure the biggest part of your leg, arm, waist, etc.
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