This is a weight loss board

sounds to me like you're focusing your frustration on something other than weightloss right now. Just take a step back and breathe... if someone asks you if you're measuring its just to be supportive and to look at your success from another angle to avoid from getting discouraged.

Actually, it's a fitness site.

Yep. myFITNESSpal. NOT myWEIGHTLOSSpal. Not everyone has weight to lose, but a lot of people want to be fit, trim and HEALTHY.

Actually, it's a fitness site.

^^^^^ What she said!

^^^^^ What she said about what she said!

um, okay.

only reason it is good to check measurements is to see what KIND of weight you're losing. if you want to lose your muscle mass to "lose weight" be my guest. Personally, I'd like to minimize my muscle loss and increase my fat loss.

8 pages of everyone saying the same thing, except one person. Hmmmmm.

My reason for being here is to avoid the middle age spread (weight gain) that comes with a decrease in metabolic rate that is happening due to my advanced years on this planet.:ohwell:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com
www.myfitnesspal.com
myfitnesspal.com
myfitnesspal
fitnesspal
fitness

Yes!

Also, you might gain weight on the scales from building muslce, so measurements are actually equally as good as going by the number on the scale.

Who peed in your cereal this morning :grumble:

The ENTIRE site might be a fitness site but this board...is WEIGHTLOSS.

Perhaps its title should be changed to Weightloss and Body compesition Help?

But like I said....I do NOT care to be smaller if my BMI still screams obese. And if BMI doesn't matter tell me why it matters to insurance companies? Because when are you trying to get health insurance, or my case a job, weight on the scale matters.
Not Body Fat Percentage, not the size of my hips and waiste...BMI.

End rant.

I work in the records office of a family practice, so I deal with this issue and insurance companies on a daily basis. While they do take your BMI into consideration, it is only ONE factor. In fact, it is very rare that they call me looking for a patient's most recent BMI. They invariably ask for most recent lipid levels, blood sugar, blood pressure, etc... They also read your office visit notes. If your doctor says you're healthy (inspite of what your BMI may be), they see that. However, if your BMI says you're obese, your lipid levels are through the roof, your BP is sky high, your blood sugar is too high, and your doctor says you've got health issues due to excess weight/obesity, then, yes, they're going to tell you to reduce your BMI/weight. BMI is based on your height, weight, and age. It is NOT the most accurate way to determine healthy weight. I think more and more healthcare providers are recognizing this fact, and I think it's only a matter of time before it is not used as a standard measurement anymore. Regardless of what the insurance company or the BMI charts say, the primary goal should always be to get HEALTHY. If you create healthy habits, the weightloss WILL happen, and it's not a matter of "if", but "when". It just takes longer for some people than for others. When people suggest for you to take measurements, they're just trying to show you that you are losing FAT, even if you're not losing POUNDS.

Just and FYI to everyone who ask "Do you take other mearsurements." YES I Take other measurements, but those measurements don't mean anything if I am still overweight.
I am here to LOSE weight...not inches, no cm, not improve my ability to do a standing broad jump...WEIGHTLOSS. When I complain about not losing any real weight...don't ask me if I have measured my hips.

Denise

Well FYI, it's MYFITNESSPAL, not MYWEIGHTLOSSPAL. Just sayin'.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

The ENTIRE site might be a fitness site but this board...is WEIGHTLOSS.

Perhaps its title should be changed to Weightloss and Body compesition Help?

But like I said....I do NOT care to be smaller if my BMI still screams obese. And if BMI doesn't matter tell me why it matters to insurance companies? Because when are you trying to get health insurance, or my case a job, weight on the scale matters.
Not Body Fat Percentage, not the size of my hips and waiste...BMI.

End rant.

It's important to insurance companies for one reason...............to make more money off of "overweight" people or to "legally" discriminate against them.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

... the whole reason behind Denise's beginning rant. ... Weight loss help is not about saying you're doing it wrong! When someone gets frustrated because they have reached a plateau they want support not smart *kitten*.

I have realized that frustrations are better left unsaid here. Sad but true. Sometimes even the big girl panties dont fit.

So true. And sad. So much for support.

You got it all wrong.

But good luck with that.

Measurements are more accurate than a scale.

I agree with people who follow the "measuring tape-rule" because its more realistic and accurate.

BINGO!!!! We have a winner.

To the OP, until you stop letting the scale control you, you are making losing weight twice as hard as it really is.

Actually, they're not more accurate. If people measure in slightly different positions or holding the tape with a different tension you can get different results. (This is a big issue in bespoke tailoring, when patterns are made from the client's measurements.) The inaccuracy is why insurers haven't gone over to measuring people's waists and hips. Plus, it's more intrusive, time-consuming, and expensive.

I measure myself occasionally because it is another measure, but I'm never sure of my accuracy. If i'm using the same scale every time I have a decent baseline.

The measurements might be SLIGHTLY off depending on how the tape is placed, but probably not by more than 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch. For example, if your waist measures two inches smaller than the last time you measured, chances are, you've probably actually lost AT LEAST and inch and a half. It wouldn't be THAT far off from measurement to measurement. Just as the scale shouldn't be the only standard by which health is measured, neither should the tape measure, calipers, BMI, lipid levels, etc... These factors should ALL be used in conjunction with one another to get a clear picture of your health.