Measure Those Inches Challenge!!!!
 

Alright, I know many of us take up the lose X pounds by X date challenge. What about those of us who stall? I know there are many of them. Heck, include me in that bunch. It gets frustrating when week after week you see your peers going down and you either remain the same or worse...go up.

HEY! GOOD NEWS!!! If you are true to your plan and your goals, you ARE losing, albeit more slowly. But when the scale fails you, your measurements will not! My handy dandy spreadsheet can be found HERE

I challenge you...join me in measuring your inches! Here's the rules:

1) Measure no more than every two weeks. Any more than that is ridiculous and you are going to be upset when you don't see a significant change. Less than that is okay.

2) Input your measurements on the sheet. That is it. I'll take care of the rest. Pay attention to what tab you are on, as I will be adding tabs for the measurements weeks instead of columns...you know, to keep it more crisp and less messy.

3) I am not asking for goal inches. I mean, pounds we can guesstimate. Inches...not so much. So let's not set each up for failure. Instead, let's just have fun with this and see what we can accomplish by Labor Day weekend (I will be ending this challenge on August 30th)

4) I am not asking for the slow loss areas, such as calves, triceps, and neck. We lose inches off those areas SLOWLY and I would rather not have any one discouraged. Likewise, if there is a certain area you would rather NOT measure, by all means, don't measure it. You'll still see your numbers go down :)

This challenge is for anyone and everyone, but mainly geared towards those who are asking "What's the point?" Because, you will soon see just what that point is.

SO...get ready...get set...MEASURE!!!!!

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Tips for measuring:

Bust: Place the measuring tape across your nipples and measure around the largest part of your chest. Be sure to keep the tape parallel to the floor.

Chest: Place the measuring tape just under your breasts/pecs and measure around the torso while keeping the tape parallel to the floor.

Waist: Place the measuring tape about a 1/2 inch above your bellybutton (at the narrowest part of your waist) to measure around your torso. When measuring your waist, exhale and measure before inhaling again.

Hips: Place the measuring tape across the widest part of your hips/buttocks and measure all the way around while keeping the tape parallel to the floor.


Thigh: Measure around the largest part of each thigh.

Upper arm: Measure around the largest part of each arm (above the elbow).


When taking measurements, stand tall with your muscles relaxed and your feet together.
When measuring, apply constant pressure to the tape (so it doesn't sag) without pinching the skin.
Use a flexible measuring tape, such as plastic or cloth.
Measure under the same conditions each time, such as wearing the same clothes (or none at all).
Measure yourself in front of a mirror to make sure the tape is positioned correctly. If possible, have someone else do the measuring for you.
The place to take some of these measurements will vary slightly from person to person. To ensure accuracy, just remember to take them in the same place on your body each time.

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I am in! I will post on the spread sheet when I am home on my computer. Since it seems to be more difficult on my phone

Is it okay that I just do certain places? I don't do chest and bust... just bust? and yes seeing the inches lost from 1 month ago.. helped my mind when I did not lose very much weight last month.... Thank you

YEAH! Welcome to the challenge Rated!!!

wanna - measure whatever you want to. :)

I really appreciate this very much! You are right.. seeing the inches go down, is a proof positive that you are getting smaller :) why your clothes don't fit anymore :lol:

PRECISELY! I've been noticing more and more threads popping up with people bemoaning that they are stalling out and it made me think that they are likely not doing measurements. I know I wasn't at first. Now, I can't dream of otherwise. Sometimes my weight is faster, sometimes my inches is faster, but one or the other (or both) is ALWAYS moving. I'm just hoping to find a way to give a few more people a more positive outlook on this and help them realize it is worth it, and they are too :)

Ohh! I'm in :) I always seem to pay attention to my pounds and not the inches. I'm going to measure in cm and then convert to inches so I get a more accurate read on things. This should be interesting :)

Quick question:

I recently hit my maintenance body fat target but I lift weights so I expect my measurements to continue to change. Actually, I have tracked measurements all along and that's what matters to me - not the number on the scale!
Would it be okay to join in with you guys?

Welcome in lilsquirrel!!!

And why heck yes2FaCats!!! The more the merrier! :D

I'm in. I was actually thinking of starting a challenge like this so thank you for doing it. My measurements are a bit different than how you set yours up but that isn't a big deal. I also measure way too many places so that's probably why! I already measure every 4 weeks and tomorrow is measurement day so I'll add my new ones then.

AWESOME! Out of curiosity, how do you measure? When I was looking up the tips on how to properly do it, I think I found 300 different ways, so I just grabbed one :lol:

I'm in...and thanks for taking the time to set this up zoesmom! I already track my inches and I even have an inch ticker. I weigh daily, but only measure once a week. I agree with your comments zoesmom...sometimes my weight falls but inches don't, and sometimes it works in reverse. But, each week I seem to get at least one positive result, either weight or inches, and it always helps to have some good news.

I tend to measure a bit differently than you. I also measure my calves and my belly (around the belly button), but I've never measured my chest (only my bust). But, no problem, I did a quick chest measurement and added it on your spreadsheet.

A quick comparison of my numbers on the spreadsheet to those of the others has confirmed something I've long suspected: My arms are out of proportion to the rest of me! They're much larger than one might expect given my weight and the rest of my measurements. I can't wait to get rid of these monster arms (on the assumption I ever do get rid of them :?:).

Great! I'll enter my measurements under "F"!

Also - that diagram you have for measurement sites- #6 is more like my area under my belly button (or my kanga pooch as I like to call it) and my hips measurement is a little lower, kind of right across the top of pubic bone and around lower buttock area.

Yay! I just joined the challenge and added my starting stats!

I love this idea to see the change of our measurements!!

Yes...#6 is where I measure my belly, whereas I measure my hips lower, as you do. Although in my case, they happen to measure the same. My hips are wider (side to side), but my belly sticks out further in the front...so they kind of balance each other out! :dizzy:

As I said before I measure a ton of places- 14 in total. The first 4 are pretty much the same, though I add a neck and shoulder and above bust measurement. The above bust measurement was recommended for bra shopping which is why I do it. My natural waist is quite a bit higher than my belly button, like 4 inches, so I do my natural waist and belly button. For this challenge I'm using the natural waist measurement. I then do my hips at my hip bone so about 3 inches below my belly button and my butt, which is actually what I've put in as the 'hip' measurement for this challenge as it's the largest part of my body! I then do both thighs and both calves.

There are as you said so many different ways to measure so I just picked certain places and labelled them in ways that I would know so I could stay consistent which I think is key when doing measurements.

I just did my measurements and added myself to the chart. Can't wait to see everyones progress. I think measurements are so much more important than the scale, but that could be because I only lost a pound the last month however my measurements keep going down everywhere.

Tuscany I wish my arms were as big as yours. I feel like my upper body is so small compared to my lower body (there's a big switch right around my belly button). While I'm happy most of my upper body is small my arms look too tiny especially when compared to my larger lower half. I've just started a strength training program so I'm hoping that will help increase my arm size!

I'm sorry zoesmom! I messed up your spreadsheet! Look at column J... I tried to fix it but I don't know how :?:

Believe me, you don't want my arms. If my arms were all muscle, then maybe...but sadly, they are a big bowl of jello. Indeed, my bat wings scare the bats. :(

Good luck with your strength training program!

I typed your name on the top area... Hope that that was ok....
Taking the day off posting in anger of Elvis leaving :(

:welcome: to the challenge to those who joined in! :)

SHT - no big deal, easy fix :) I love Google docs as they are EASY to recover. If you are missing any measurements, let me know and we can get them in there. :)

2FC, Change - aren't there tons!? I know the way I measure is slightly different than the chart I pulled up, like I go a tad higher than what the chart shows. I know looking it up, it seems that everyone says there is a "right" way, but all the "right ways" are different! :lol: I love oxi-morons like that sometimes. change - Good luck with your arms. I have the opposite, I have a lot of arm I need to fill up with muscle. I so doubt that will happen though.

Tuscany - Have you seen my arms? :lol: I have tree trucks attached to me. I'm luckily in that I have a lot of muscle in my arms, but years of bad practice has given me unforgivable bat wigs. Ceste le vie, right? I figure, worst case scenario, if I ever fall from a plane or something, I can take off and might actually survive like that of a flying squirrel or sugar glider :D

wanna - shhhhhhh.....Elvis is fine. Promise. I'm still in touch with her outside of 3FC ;)

Zoesmom, how the heck did you find her?!? Oh please convince her to come back!! We miss her soooo much!!

I got CRAZY lucky. And I mean CRAZY lucky. I did something I didn't think would work and it worked. I am still surprised it worked to be honest. The chances were so not in my favor. She's knows she's missed, but I don't know her plans at this point and time. And before anyone asks, no, I don't know what happened, so let's not discuss it here. :)

THANK YOU! Zoesmom...

;) No sweat. My pleasure actually. She knows she is in a lot of people's thoughts. I promise you that. I'll be sure she has names when I write her later today. :)

Please tell elvis this place is NOT the same without her! Oh, and tell her Ian is going to reach onederland THIS WEEK and we need her to celebrate with us :D

I'm so glad you are in touch so we all know she's okay!

Zoesman... Just checking.. When should we measure ourselves? I like doing it once a month... but if you have the lines set up for weekly that is aok too... :)

Hope all are well tonight!

I hope it's not too late to join this challenge. I haven't measured anything in years. I'm actually a little afraid to see how big I actually am, but I think I am going to bite the bulletin and do it!

Ok, why I am more afraid of a measuring tape than a scale is beyond me (seems less flexible, maybe?), but I did it. I'm in column k. I didn't know how to out in name.

wanna - measure when you want...but NOT every week :) You won't see a big change from one week to the next. I plan to update the spreadsheet once every two weeks, so no less than that, but once a month is fine too. Really, my challenge is more to get people in the habit of measuring than anything else. I know, I am lame :lol:

Jennifer - nope! not too late :) I hear your on the fear of the tape measure! The first time I measured I was shocked and SO freaking upset....especially when the number 58' popped up on my measurements! Talk about a cry fest! But, I have found that measuring has been a HUGE ease of mind. I actually like seeing the tape measure go down more than the scale! The scale doesn't account for things like TOM, water weight, muscle mass gain, and all the other normal up and downs of the day to day. The tape measure does. So in a way, a lot more accurate...and a LOT more rewarding :)

Thank you Zoesmom (I also wanted to bump this thread as I knew others would be interested ! ) :)

Always looking out for everyone! You so rock! :)

Can I join you a bit late? How did I miss this wonderful thread??!! Good idea Zoesmom!

I have been measuring bust/waist/hip/thigh for a month now, but I am game to do all.

I will measure Friday morning.

I am so sorry to hear that Elvis left :( I obviously missed something. Say "hi" to her. And tell her we miss her and ask her to come back!!

Oh I think I might just measure after the 2 weeks... It might not be much... but I know that there is a difference in my hips... My jiggle is getting smaller WOO HOO

Every two weeks sounds perfect. I have been doing weekly for the past few weeks and even that is showing progress :yay:

Okay, spreadsheet is up and ready for the second measurement, when ever you are ready! :) I'll likely do mine on Friday, but just wanted you to know the updated part is done if you want to get a head start! :D

Friday sounds good.... a few more days just makes the answers better!!! LOL

Sue: That's exactly what I was thinking;)