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How to take body measurements

It's recommended that you conduct all measurements with consistency. Some examples of consistency may include: always weigh and measure yourself first thing in the morning before you eat or drink anything with all muscles relaxed -or- measure yourself right after a workout with muscles flexed.

Neck Measurements Run the tape around your neck above the base. Measure fairly tightly but not enough to decrease the measurement and be careful not to cause choking.

Shoulder Width If you dont have a partner helping you with your measurements, you can stand looking in a mirror and hold the tape in front of you at shoulder height. Measure across from the widest part of your shoulders at the sides and above where the upper arms begin.

Chest measurements Wrap the tape around your chest as high under your arms as possible. Bring the tape together in front of you. Lower your arms to their sides so your chest takes its normal and expansive size. Relax. The measurement you take once relaxed, is the accurate measurement.

Waist Measure the waist a few centemeters above the hips. Relax. This is the accurate measurement.

Stomach The stomach measurement is very close to the waist measurement but a few centemetres above the waist, where the "love handles" occur. Relax when taking this measurement, (neither draw your stomach in nor stick it out.).

Hips Measuring the hips gives us the size of the hips and of the gluteal muscles or “the behind”. Simply measure all the way around at hip level catching the broadest part of the hips and the seat of your pants. This is the proper hip measurement.

Biceps Wrap the tape measure around the extended upper arm. Now make a muscle pumping your upper arm and lower arm together. Double check to make sure that the tape spans the broadest parts of your triceps (bottom) and biceps (top) of the upper arm. This is the accurate measurement.

Forearms The forearms are measured wrapping the tape around the fattest part and flexing. You flex the forearm by taking the position with the forearm that it would take if you were holding the handlebars on a motorcycle. Now flex the forearms by turning the hand and wrist down as though you were revving the motorcycle engine. This is the proper measurement.

Thighs Wrap the tape around the upper leg as high up as possible. Now flex and extend outward the thigh muscles and this will give you the correct size for your thighs.

Calves The calves are measured at the thickest part and are flexed for an accurate reading. Extend the toe and raise the heel in order to flex and poke the calve muscle out at the same time. This will give you a full measurement.