Learn how to take body measurements to track your fitness. Body measurements are a great way to track composition change and objectively compare results over a period of time. This is especially helpful for extremely overweight individuals or people looking at major aesthetic improvements such as figure competitors or those looking to lose excess body fat and track patterns. While this is not a substitute for body fat percentage to lean mass recording, it is a useful, simple and free way to see how your body is changing and where!
Equipment Required: A plastic or cloth tape is ideal, it should be checked regularly against a metal tape as they tend to over time. It is also highly recommended you have a partner perform the measurements as self-measuring increases risk of inaccuracy or inconsistent readings.
Procedure: When measuring, you need to make sure the tape is not too tight or too loose, is lying flat on the skin, and is horizontal. For descriptions of the procedure for measuring specific parts of the body, see the video above.
Sites: Here are some common sites used for girth measurements: Neck, Shoulders, Chest, Waist, Hips, Upper Arm, Forearm, Quadriceps, Calf.
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By Michael S. Parker
Founder at Forge Online Personal Training
