I know everybody is different--I know that each person has a unique frame size, body shape, and carries weight differently. But I'm curious to know what measurements you all are striving to achieve. Right now, at 5'4, 154lbs, my measurements are 38" (bust), 34" (chest), 34" (waist), and 38" (hips).

The reason I'm asking is because I've heard that ideally women should have a waist circumference less than 30" to be considered "healthy". However, I don't think I have EVER had a waist circumference less than 31"-32"...even when I was thin and in really great shape. Even if I suck my stomach in as far as it can go and pull the tape measure as tight as I can, I still can't get it below 30". When I do that, my stomach actually caves in smaller than my ribs (does that make sense?)...so it doesn't even look right! I'm a medium frame with a very linear shaped body (very "boyish", i.e. not much of an "hourglass" figure AT ALL). I don't think I could ever get below a 30" waist...or 31" for that matter! So does anyone else have issues with the 36-24-36 "perfect" body crapola??

The measurements I'm striving for are:
Bust: 36-37"
Chest: 33-34"
Waist: 30-32" ???
Hips: 35-36"

I thought the "ideal" measurements were 34x24x24... but I can't remember now. I'm not sure how flexible the 30" waist rule is... but I know the measurements are of course for a specific shape. When I started, I just had a goal to get my hips to at or less than 34". If they go under, that's fine... but I'm totally ok if they stick at 34". I also grew up as a 34" chest size/bra size so I wanted to get back to that. As for my waist... I am an hourglass shape, so I figured if I could get my 34" chest size back and my 34" hips, then my waist would be smaller. Last I checked (a few weeks ago), I believe I was a 34" chest and I can't remember the other ones off hand... I think the measurements you're going for sound attainable for you and I'm sure your doctor would consider you healthy at them.

Oops, short you're right... I meant 34x24x34. Thx!

Hips at a 24?? Mine will never be that small! I have a pretty wide bone structure down there anyways, but dang.


I never think about measurements right now. I am still working on the weight loss part. I did take them at the beginning and then will measure again later, but its only to see the inches I lost. I am healthy, feel good and look good in my clothes then I am happy!

Check this out...

http://www.healthcalculators.org/cal.../waist_hip.asp

The waist to hip ratio probably takes into account proportions a little better than just saying everyone should have a 30" waist.

Thanks for the link! For me, even putting in my goal measurements (the LOW ones--30" wasit, 35" hips), it's still saying: "Your Waist to Hip Ratio is 0.85 and appears to indicate an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.You may wish to talk to a doctor about losing weight. Or you can get started on your own by eating right and getting regular exercise."

lol ARRRGH!

I don't know how helpful this is to you, but the BBC health website recommends that woman aim for a waist measurement of under 32". Not quite as bad, I guess. Though that goal till seems very far away to me lol

I wouldn't worry about ideal measurements. Look at Carmen Electra, she has a boyish figure... and so does Fergie from Black Eye Peas. Neither of them have defined waist lines despite being very fit and hard abs. Both of them have boyish figures and are super sexy and most girls would kill for their bodies.

I honestly believe that a healthy body is a sexy body. Doesn't matter if your pear like JLo (when she is fit she looks amazing), or an hour glass like Marylin Monroe (when she was young and healthy; and who made the 34-24-34 ideal) or Rebecca Romijn, or boyish like Alyssa Milano.

I totally agree! I kinda like my "boyish" figure (more-so when I'm thin! haha)...I was always very athletic, so my figure suited me...plus I can wear just about any cut/style of clothing and it looks good.

That's kinda my point for the thread...that you don't have to have the "perfect" 34-24-34 (or sir mix-a-lot's "perfect" 36-24-26 ) body to look good and be healthy.

I will never, EVER have a 24" waist. I know this for a fact because when I was a teenager I weighed 105lb and my waist was 25". The "ideal" I'm shooting for is much different: 35-27-37. I'm currently 35-28-38, so you see I hope only shrink in two of those areas

Current: 38-29-39

Goal: 36-27-38

I think my ideal measurements would be 36-30-34. My bust will never manage to get under 36 unless I cut them off.

I think Marilyn was 36 - 28 - 36 or something like that. I don't now if she was ever 24 in the waist, even when she was young. She had kind of a big frame.

(yes, I'm obsessed)

That's what my ideal is 36/28/36, we'll see if I can get my hips down to 36.

Hmm I heard 34" waist for increased risk for disease, but I can't site a source right now. But it makes sense to me bc I'm very fit and I find it hard to believe there would only be 3 inches in between me and heart disease (my measurements are roughly 35-27-36.5).

I used to have an "ideal" waist size (26") but I was wasting way too much energy worrying about it so now my "ideal" is "happy and healthy".

I'm currently 38/30/36...I guess I'll also aim for Ms. Monroe's 36/28/36. I doubt I'd ever get down to 24, and I'm fine with that, that would be ridiculously tiny on me. I'm not sure how much my inches will change as I lose the last 10 or so pounds, but I'm hoping that strength training will shave off a few.

I do wish I'd measured myself when I started 30lbs ago, I hadn't even thought about it. I was definitely bigger than I am now, lol.

I thought the ideal was 36-24-36. There are a lot of references to those measurements in pop culture... from Bart Simpson's locker combination and Whilamena from Ugly Betty's safe combination to lyrics singing about those measurements in songs by Frank Zappa, AC/DC, and Guns n Roses.

My bad, I thought Marilyn was 36-24-36. Her studio had her waist clocked in at a 23" and her dressmaker at 22" waist.

As for me I'm currently 34-24-36 at 5'1"... makes me think of Sir Mix A Lot.

Ideally I'd like to get down to my measurements when I was a teen 34-22-33... though I don't know how to get there without my boobs going down too.