Measure Circumference To Monitor Progression

Getting frustrated with stepping on your scale? Feeling like you are giving your all when working out, but the numbers are stay the same? Well I want to tell you, a scale is not always the most accurate way to measure progress.


When you work out, your body goes through a lot of changes. In addition to fat tissue being utilized for energy (or in other words: You're burning them), muscle tissue is being built. And guess what? Muscle tissues actually weigh more than the fat! So in other words, you're losing fat weight while gaining muscle weight at the same time.


When you get leaner by changing your body's composition (less fat and more muscle), your body will look different. The scale might not show it, which can bring self-doubt in regards to your progress, but other measures will.


One of them, is your circumference. Measuring circumference plus checking out my favourite pair of jeans are definitely my go-to tools, and this is also what I want to offer you to try. It is easy to measure, you can do it home, and all you need is soft measuring tape.


Check out this video to learn how to measure yourself:



How to use measuring tape when measuring your circumference?

When placing the measuring tape on your body, it's best to have it right against your skin, or in other words: with no clothes. Make sure that the tape is nicely snug around the area - not too tight, not too loose, but just touching your body with no pressure.


Where should you measure your circumference?

I recommend measuring in five places: 1. Waist line - The narrowest place in your waist 2. Naval line - Right at naval height

3. Iliac crest - At the top of your bony part of the pelvis 4. Thigh - Right under your butt chick

5. Arm - A third down from your armpit towards you elbow


How to measure?

Place the tape around the area you're measuring. Take a deep breath and then breathe out. At the end of the exhale, relax your tummy completely (no tucking or "socking" in) and then write down the number.


How often should you measure your circumference?

Circumference changes take time, so measure yourself at about every six weeks. You may measure every month if you feel like it, but keep in mind the changes will most likely be minor and can be discouraging. Going down in the "wrong" place


You won't always see changes in all areas or in the exact place you wanted them to be. Unfortunately, our body doesn't really ask us where we want to burn more, so even if you worked really hard on targeting your tummy, it could be that you'll lose it in your butt and vice versa :) As long as you're going down - you're on the right track!


Just keep doing full body cardio workouts to maximize calorie expense, and at the same time try to have balanced strength workouts to build muscles throughout your entire body. Be consistent, don't give up, and the results will come, I promise!