This is the one body part I think we all measure differently and perhaps wrongly. I don't even think there is a right or wrong answer as our waistlines are mostly muscle and organs (not bone), so it's flexible.
If I measure at my belly button, as some things suggest, that is still where my hip bone is. So, I never measure at my belly button like some people suggest. I measure at the point where I can bend - above hip and below ribs.
I can also measure with being completely sucked in, gently sucked in and slightly relaxed abs and fully relaxed abs. I get 4 inch difference between gently sucked in abs and completely relaxed abs.
If I were to do my current measurements (with being up 15 pounds from my all time low), I would give you this:
42-32-43
If I were to used relaxed waist measurement, I would have to say this:
42-36-43.
Which is correct? Depends on who you ask - we all have opinions - even the experts.
All I know is that I believe most people suck it in when they do measurements. Maybe not grossly, but they stand up straight and proper and try to look their best, which is sucking it in somewhat. And with more fitness, those muscles begin to naturally suck in and it begins to not be a chore to suck it in.
A couple places I looked say, "You can't walk around all sucked in all the time, so measure relaxed". That would mean I would need a 36" waist on my pants versus the 32" I wear (without a muffin top - mind you). How would that work?
It wouldn't for me. I buy 32" waist and they fit fine - not tightly, not loosely.
So... what do you all do? From now on, as I read Kaplods say, I'm going to measure both, but I'll use the smaller one for buying clothes as that's what works for me in wearing clothes.
I measure at my belly button which is about 1inch above my hipbones. I try to stay relaxed and not suck in. However, since there is a pretty big margin for error in this method I don't rely on this for much. Even when I made my clothes I'd always add a few inches in the waist before cutting, I can always cut off but I can't add anything.
Hubby buys his pants by waist measurements, also, and they are always a few inches smaler than his actual waist. I don't get it either.
I measure "flexed" at the smallest part. I have some loose skin so I pull it pretty tight. It's consistently about 23.5" but I am definitely not a candidate for size 24 pants ever.
Waist I consider the narrowest part. I have a very short waist and a high belly button, but my belly button is always a good 3 inches more than the narrowest part of my torso.
My waist (or what I consider my waist) is about 29 inches, but there's no way in heck I could probably even buy a size 30 pants because where the pants would hit me would be below my belly button where I measure probably 33.
Berryblondeboys - You mentioned that if you measure your belly button it's along your hip bone line; my belly button is probably 1 inch (maybe more) above my hip bones, so it's all squish and no bones.
You're right though, it's individual. I guess what's most important is that whatever the way we measure, that we do it consistently.
Doctors measure an inch above the navel. The smallest part is not what they consider. They want to know how much belly fat has affected the measurement because that is a predictor of heart disease in later life.
My waist (or what I consider my waist) is about 29 inches, but there's no way in heck I could probably even buy a size 30 pants because where the pants would hit me would be below my belly button where I measure probably 33.
Hmmm, that's strange. My waist is about 28 inches and all my pants are size 28 or 29, even the very low-cut ones. In my experience, the pants' dimensions at the hipbones are larger than the size number.
this is interesting because I measure my waist where I bend which is about an inch above where a modern cut pair of jeans ride on me.
If I am wearing a pair of Juniors (which I find for me have the best fit for my body, even though there is that gap, but they fit me much better then 'Mom' jeans) then it's a good 2 inches below where my pants ride, which is right on my hips
According to all the size charts I see online I should be in a 14, but 14's fall off, right now I am very comfortably in a 12.. My waist measures at 33-34..which is a 14! I can't wear a 14 I look like a Penguin!
I have very long legs for someone five foot two (But regular pants are too long, but Petites are way way too short! they turn into capris!) A longish torso (I guess, there is about 6-8 inches between my ribs and hip bone)
So I am sure I am measuring everything all wrong.. Except perhaps my Bust and Underbust.
Now I have a hard time measuring my hips and I am sure I am measuring wrong!
I pull the measuring tape right under my bum (where my bum meets my legs) and I measure there. Is that even right? cause honestly, I don't know where the widest part of my hips are! I can feel my hip bones, but they aren't the widest part and I feel like the widest part I am measuring is actually my thighs!
Hmmm, that's strange. My waist is about 28 inches and all my pants are size 28 or 29, even the very low-cut ones. In my experience, the pants' dimensions at the hipbones are larger than the size number.
F.
Well, in all honest I've never tried on a pair of pants in inch sizes so I very well may be wrong. I've held them up and they just seem so much smaller than my size 12s so I don't even try them for fear it will ruin my day.
Well, in all honest I've never tried on a pair of pants in inch sizes so I very well may be wrong. I've held them up and they just seem so much smaller than my size 12s so I don't even try them for fear it will ruin my day.
i think this REALLY depends on body shape. maybe she is more straight from waist to hips. if you really have hips that curve out, your waist is going to be much smaller in inches than a pair of low rise jeans
I've found that there is a waist, high hip, and hip measurement when I look at custom clothing sites. The waist measurement is your smallest part - could be a couple inches above your belly button. That's what I started measuring waist at, and am just keeping it there since I want to see changes.
I don't think that would EVER be what my jeans 'waist size' is. For that size I just measure around where my current jeans fit now and use that - which usually ends up being around high hip.
I can't wear low rise jeans. There's just nothing to hold them up! I have to have jeans at the waist or midrise, but no way, no how can I wear low rise.
I have big hips and they are amply covered in a layer of lard, so with that muffin top I measure where I crease which is about an inch above my navel. I have to have 70's style Farrah Fawcett style jeans that basically double as a bra. I usually measure about 30 inches where I measure. My hips at the largest point measure about 40 inches. Annoying body shape! Hard to find flattering pants.
How do YOU measure your waist?
so I very well may be wrong. I've held them up and they just seem so much smaller than my size 12s so I don't even try them for fear it will ruin my day.
