What part are you measuring? The part above your navel that bends when you lean to the side? The spot where newer cut jeans hit, at the top of the hip bones?

I know for each person, it only matters that we measure at a consistent spot each time, but I was wondering what most people do.

MSN Health Says:

http://health.msn.com/weight-loss/ar...ntid=100173487

Ballys teaches their personal trainers to measure at the smallest part of your waist. It's easy to find every time!

Yeah - I always measure at the smallest part, but for people without a defined waistline, they say a good estimate is about an inch above your bellybutton.

As you lose weight, however, the spot should become more apparent.

I measure both. At least, I try to also measure at my belly button, because that's more where my belly sticks out. But because of the slope at my sides, from my waist to hips, it's very hard to measure consistently. So I can see a difference over a longer period of time, but week to week, that measurement goes up and down a lot. At the waist I can measure pretty consistently.

curves also measures at the smallest part in the waist - where you bend to the side, typically

I always measure at my belly button because it's easy to find...

I measure myself at the navel, but when I get measured at the gym, they measure two inches above the navel - that's, according to them, the smallest part.

I don't think it matters that much where you measure, as long as you always measure at the same spot.

From MSN Health: "Press your fingers into your torso near the right side of your waist....."Very helpful....

Well, wherever it is I'm pretty sure it's not the naval, it's somewhere above above it. I'm no expert, but don't some ladies' dresses have waistlines almost directly under the bust?

Thanks for the replies, and link.Haha, I didn't catch that before.

Fortunately no one saw me jabbing my fingers into my side like crazy person looking for the top of the bone. My side doesn't "give" much though, so it didn't work. I'll just stick with using the narrowest part.

AJ113, the waist on dresses that you're talking about is called an empire waist. It's purposefully cut to fall above the wearer's natural waist to make her look curvier.

I have always measured at the narrowest point. Even at my highest weight, I still had a waist - so it was easy. For an apple shaped person, the belly button is the easiest to find.
I think if you just do it in the same spot each time, it doesn't really matter.