How to take measurements? What you might be is wondering is, “why do I need to take measurements?” Losing weight is a journey. Having many tools at your disposal to measure your success will do a world of good for your motivation! Taking your measurements is one of those.
Let’s start out by talking about why doing your measurements are definitely in your best interests. Then we can talk about some tips to keep in mind about how to take your measurements properly.
Why Measurements Are A Big Deal
There are a lot of ways that you can use to determine if you are being successful on your road to weight loss. It’s often a good idea to check in with yourself monthly to see how you are doing in several facets of your weight loss journey. My article, “How Weight Loss Progress Checkins Shape Your Journey” can give you some further insight.
The most common method that people use to see if their weight loss efforts are working is getting on the scale. The truth is, there are so many more and we should be using them along our journey. Taking measurements is one of them. Ideally, we should be taking our measurements at the beginning of our journey, and every month or two afterward. The measurements can start at any point however and still be a useful tool to validate how our weight loss is going. Taking measurements monthly and seeing a decrease in those numbers over the coming months can be an excellent source of motivation for us.
Imagine feeling like your jeans aren’t as tight as they were and noticing by your measurements that your waist measurement is down a couple of inches! You have two sources of validation that your weight loss journey is headed in the right direction. How you feel in your jeans and the measurements you took.
One thing that is worthwhile knowing about weight loss is the initial loss of fat, and the buildup of muscle. Muscle is heavier than fat, but it is leaner. If you have already lost several pounds and you find your weight loss slowing, it could be that you are gaining more muscle. In this case, the scale might not be showing a weight loss. It might even be showing a gain. If the “fiddle factor” with a few pounds is going on for a few months, you might find your weight is the same, but your measurements are less. Just another reason why keeping tabs on your measurements is a good idea.
How To Take Your Measurements
Like weighing on a scale, you want to have a lot of the same consistency when you are taking your measurements.
- settle on a schedule for taking your measurements and stick with it. e.g. every month.
- do your measurements first thing in the morning. Don’t eat or drink beforehand.
- ideally measure yourself without clothing.
- use a flexible or cloth measuring tape.
- place the tape around the area you are measuring so it lies next to the skin without any constriction.
Stand up but be relaxed when you are measuring yourself. Breathe normally. Don’t hold your breath or tense up when you are doing your measurements. The process only takes a few minutes. Take each of your measurements twice to confirm them.
Measurement Specifics
Bust-stand up straight and in a relaxed way. Bring the tape around the widest part of your bustline for measurement.
Left Upperarm-stand up straight but in a relaxed way. Place the tape 1/2 way between the elbow and your shoulder. Make sure your arm is relaxed and down by your side when you are measuring.
Waist-stand up straight, with your feet as close together, in a relaxed way without losing your balance. Place the tape around your waist at the belly button level. Make sure you are breathing normally and your waist area is relaxed and is not tensed up when measuring.
Hips-Stand in a way that feels natural, relaxed and keeps your balance. The tape will go around the widest part of your glutes. You might want to stand in front of a mirror to check your tape positioning here.
Left Thigh-stand straight with your legs slightly apart without extreme stretching. Measure about 1/2 way between knee and just below your glutes, thinking about the fullest part of your thigh for measurement. Don’t tense up when measuring.
Dress-what size clothes are you wearing? Keep tabs on that as you go along your measuring journey.
That Extra Method Of Awareness
Weight loss is a complicated process and affects each person in a different way. The people at verywellfit.com talk about how fat distributes itself differently in people and how measurements can tell them how these areas are responding to their weight loss efforts. Having numerous measures of success can validate that “this is indeed working”. Measurements can take some months to show a noticeable change, but over time you will realize that all of your efforts were worthwhile. It just takes a couple of minutes once a month. Is that not worth it for another potential source of motivation? Yes indeed!
After years of weight issues, I have finally found the formula of combining healthy food choices, regular exercise and positive behavior change to lose weight for good. Coupled with, exploring self-development, being productive and living simply, I am now maintaining a healthy lifestyle and in a good place. I enjoy writing articles to help my readers to become the best they can be!
Good article. Learned somethings I didn’t know. I am definitely going to do this as I am a very slow loser and need many ways to measure my weight loss efforts.
Motivation is such a big part of weight loss and we can never have too many ways to boost our motivation. I’m so glad you found this article helpful Barbara!