Please help me make sense of this

[Terry Monk]

I'm a little bummed. I've been steadily losing fat and inches. I took my bf% with my FatTrack digital calipers and I definitely am on the right track. Today prior to workout I measured 12.2%. Now I take that with a grain of salt...I could be anywhere from probably 12.2-14% in all actuality but I know that is a HUGE improvement over 11 weeks ago. Today I also hit the 20lbs lost mark.
So here's the thing: Where is a waist measurement taken on a guy? At the hipbones where I wear my jeans? Around the spare tire area?(God forbid!) or just above the bellybutton at the smallest point? What's weird is in jeans I can wear a 31" waist easily now. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that all jeans are different and the "fat" society has caused waist sizes to actually creep up. I actually measure the waist of my jeans to see what they come in at, hence the 31".
However, when I measure my waist (wherever the heck that is) I get roughly a 34". THAT is what is bumming me out! A 34" waist!!!!????? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! My wife says I should be happy that I'm losing all I am, I'm on the right track, looking great (hello upper abs! ) and my bf% is steadily decreasing... and I am but dang it! One of my goals was that waist measurement. The only bit of fat I have left is a little "bubble" right on the lower abdominal area. I know I can get rid of it. I know I can..... I just need a little encouragement and support from my forum brothers and sisters. (whimper) help??

*edit* forgot to add... my wife... boy am I proud of her! She looks great! She's lost a tad over 25lbs! Together we've lost almost 50lbs! So proud of her!!!!

[gobbla]

our measurment for the fitness test is directly above the hip bones flat around tape meeting 2" to the left of the navel, pulling snugly but not so much as to create an indention in the skin.

so for me that's the handles baby! WOOOO! no reason to be upset though, you might wear your pants lower (I certainly do) and you wear 30-32 pants. or hell even if you do have a 34" waist, you're still an awesome specimen of manhood...go flex in the mirror, drink a light beer, and pinch your wife's ass.

[Terry Monk]

Gobbla.... LoL!!! At the very least you made me smile!

[Terry Monk]

Anyone else?

[Mahler]

Below the rib cage but above the navel.

This is where it is done to calculate a waist/hip ratio.

Mahler

[Terry Monk]

Many thanks Mahler!

[Irishdazza]

Hmmm always heard navel...hang on...

[Terry Monk]

Still hang'n brother... ha!

[Irishdazza]

lol sorry...went back to work and forgot.

Was going to check the site measurements on mybodycomp but my log in isn't working.

[Irishdazza]

"Apply the tape snugly around the narrowest part of the torso. This should be approximately halfway between the navel and the bottom of the rib cage. Record the measurement and the end of a normal exhale.
Please enter your waist measurement."

Can't remember where I saw the navel one, ah well...guess I'm fatter!

[TrainingGirl]

Originally posted by Irishdazza:
"Apply the tape snugly around the narrowest part of the torso. This should be approximately halfway between the navel and the bottom of the rib cage. Record the measurement and the end of a normal exhale.
Please enter your waist measurement."

This is how I take my measurement as well [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Chris Correia]

I plugged my info into mybodycomp.com for the first time a little while back and was surprised to see the waist measuring point as being at the "between the naval and rib cage" spot.

"Abdomen" measurement is usually done at the navel, which is often the widest/fattest point.

Mahler, Irish and TG hit it.

I guess the smaller point just above the hip bones is fashion (who wants to wear their pants at their real waist??) -- and also the place where guys with really big guts wear their pants!