Before we talk about how to take body measurements, we need to discuss why we take body measurements.
Most people use the scale to determine their weight loss success. But if you exercise, you are building muscle, which can lead to weight gain because muscle weighs more than fat. Instead of relying solely on the scale, we believe that adding body measurements with a tape measure is a better indicator of overall progress.
We are going to show you exactly how to take correct body measurements and start tracking your weight loss (or gain) much more accurately.
- You first need to find a flexible measuring tape, that will allow you to curve it around your body easily. A standard measuring tape will not work!
- When measuring, do not pull the tape too tightly. Keep it level across your skin.
How To Measure
To get a better understanding of how your body is changing, we do body measurements in 7 places to best track your progress:
- Chest – Measure around your chest and back
- Arms – Measure across the largest part of your bicep
- 2″ Above the belly button
- Belly – Right over the belly button
- 2″ Below the belly button
- Hips – Measure around the widest part of the hip/hipbones
- Thighs – Measure around the largest part of the leg while standing up
Using a scale and measuring tape will allow you to much more accurately assess your body composition over time, versus solely relying on the scale. Once you have all your body measurements written down, be sure to transpose them into your MacroLab tracking sheet.
