A step by step guide for your body measurements
Body measurements are an excellent way to track your fitness progress
When you're working on getting fit and losing weight, there are many ways to check how you're doing. Using a scale is one way, but sometimes it doesn't give the whole picture.
Body measurements will be a better reflection of your progress and the changes in your body. Taking those accurately will make sure to encourage and guide your efforts.
Here is all that you need to know:
Preparing to take your body measurements
Having somebody to help can be useful but not needed
Wear fitted clothing or no clothing at all
Stand up straight with your feet close together and relax your body without tightening your muscles, flexing, or sucking in your stomach.
Use a flexible, inelastic tape measure.
For all measurements, pull the tape measure so that it sits on the surface of the skin but doesn't compress it.
Retake the measurements every 4 to 6 weeks and track the results.
Small progress is still progress. Keep doing the right things and your body will change little by little.
What measurements should you take?
Chest - Find the widest part around your bust, usually around your nipples. Make sure to put your arms down before reading the measurement.
Waist - Standing up straight but relaxed, then find the widest part of your torso, often around your belly button.
Hips - If you are doing it by yourself, try looking in a mirror while standing side ways with your feet together. Keep the tape parallel to the floor. Go around the widest part of your glutes.
Arms - Stand up straight with arm relaxed, and find the widest portion between your shoulders and your elbow. If part of your goal is bigger arms, you can also do the measurement while flexing.
Thighs - Aim for about 5 inches above the top of your knees.
Calves - Only take these if it is a focus of what you are trying to improve. Use the widest portion of your calves while relaxed.
Taking measurements will get easier as you go. These steps should be more than enough for you to get accurate numbers. Get these numbers quickly and track them so that you can get to work on your transformation!
