Hello, how is everyone this fine morning?

There was something tickling the back of my mind in regards to taking measurements of the body to track weight loss.

Do you measure how you 'feel' just standing there or do you relax all your muscles?

What I mean by that is, if I completely relax all my stomach muscles then my stomach expands outwards (might be TMO, but needs to be said :S).
Do I measure myself at that completely relaxed position or how I feel when I stand normally? I'm not sucking it in.

The reason I am asking is because it makes a difference on the measuring tape depending, so I want to know what is more accurate!

Also I haven't lost a pound in a week and I'm fluctuating up and down between 230-231, any tips? I've already changed my routine at the gym, so I am feeling somewhat dissapointed the past few days on account of it.

I have my husband measure me when I am relaxed (but not pushing out) so as to get an objective measurement. This is only because I noticed I tend to pull the string a little tighter when I measure myself. Also, I do it when relaxed, but not pushing out, because that's how I look all the time. I figure you already have places you measure, but just in case, I would suggest your natural waist (at your belly button), your hips, upper thigh, bicep, and chest. These are all the places I regularly measure...

So sorry - I meant to say natural waist - just ABOVE my belly button.
ps - Good idea to measure the little "bumps". Definitely will help to give you an idea as they get smaller!

I just stand up straight and am somewhat relaxed. But good posture helps suck things in! I also measure first thing in the morning, because things "expand" during the day.

Thanks stargzr. Tho I have what you call 'fat bumps' on my stomach, so I measure each bump (largest point) as I lose weight from different areas (again TMO, LOL). I lost above my bellybutton, and a bit below where my pants go.

I measure somewhat odd areas. My "under-boob" because of the fat that sticks out of my bra on my back. Around my waist curve (smalled part of stomach). Around my belly button. And my thigh. I just started doing this.

I measure totally relaxed. I'm not pushing out so it's what I would see if I casually walked but the mirror.

I do the under bra, waist, belly (the largest area), hips and arms.

The only thing I measure is my abdomen, about an inch or two above my hip line. It's the biggest part of me and the most troublesome spot, so any progress there means progress elsewhere.

I will need to change that policy in the future, though, since my clothing sizes are changing, and to accurately know what clothing size to get, I'll need to know my complete set of measurements.

Also, I agree with Scorpio. Good posture. Relaxed but taut. Pull the measuring tape to where it is snug but not tight. There shouldn't be any slack in the tape, and there shouldn't be any skin pushing out over the sides of it. I keep a fingertip behind the tape to stop myself from pulling it too tight.

As for stalls, there could be a reason for it other than you doing something wrong. Are you nearing your time of the month? Is your digestion regular? Are you doing exercises that build muscle?

I do weights every two days, as for time of the month I don't get one as I'm on the depo provera shot so it could be that. Digestion seems to be regular.

I don't suck in or tense up, I measure how I would be standing if I was talking to a neighbor all casually. I figure that is what people see me as normally, so that is what I should measure.