Have you ever been in a situation when you look in the mirror and see progress, but the number is always the same when you step on the scale? This is one of the reasons that we celebrate Non-Scale Victories (NSV) even more than we celebrate the numbers on the scale! There are times that the scale is “stuck,” but your body continues to progress. Your belt or favorite pair of jeans can tell you if you are moving in the right direction or not, but to accurately measure your progress, you should take body measurements once a month.
Why is it important to take body measurements for weight loss?
If you decided to start losing weight, the hardest part is already behind you. While time passes by, the results you will achieve will encourage you to continue and be consistent at losing weight. That’s why it’s crucial to track your progress, which will help you to stay focused on a healthy lifestyle. Tracking your progress is essential for knowing how your health plan is working for you. If results don’t show after a reasonable amount of time, you may need to reach out to your coach to see if you are perhaps doing something wrong. It would help if you took pictures before starting a health program and after some time. When you see what you achieved, that picture might motivate you, and then it will be harder for you to give up. Taking these photos will allow you to track your progress better, and if you think you can’t see the results, you can always show your friends and family, and ask them for an opinion.
What are body measurements?
Body measurements measure different body parts, such as arms, waist, neck, or hips. You can use a metric system or inches when measuring your body, whatever you find easier. A tailor can probably take your measurements easily with a soft tape, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t do that by yourself at home. If you need an easy way to take measurements by yourself, this measuring tape is genius!
How to take body measurements for weight loss?
Primarily, you need to know which body parts to measure. The most common places to take measurements on your body are:
- Arms
- Legs
- Hips
- Waist
To get precise results, you have to place the tape in the right places. Read the following instructions on how to measure different parts of the body. Also, make sure that the tape is right against your skin, and it would be great if you measured yourself in front of a mirror.
Arms
If you measure your arms, put your arm horizontal, then flex and place your tape on the widest point of your biceps.
Legs
You have to stand up, place the top of the tape on the inner thigh, then wrap the rest of the tape around your thigh at its widest point.
Hips
Stand up, place your feet together because when your feet are separated, you can get more extensive measurements. Put the tape on the widest point of your hips.
Waist
You have to stand up, find the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips, and place the tape somewhere in between.
Track and compare your results every month. You will be able to see a change even if the number on the scale is the same.