Tape measure tips

The scale can sometimes be stubborn during our journey. It's important to have other metrics of success.

Changing clothing sizes is always fun, but when we're in the bigger sizes we can lose several inches before having to buy new ones.

The tape measure is a great tool to add to your arsenal. Try not to measure too often. Once a week to once a month may be enough.

It's good to measure in several spots. Chest, waist, hip, maybe arms or legs. Women should measure their chest while wearing a bra.

The waist measurement needs special care. Don't measure at the belly button necessarily. As things deflate, they tend to head south, and the measurement won't seem to change... but its because you're measuring some vertical distance too.

Learned that one the hard way on my hubby and myself.

Find the area in your side where your ribs and hipbone almost touch. That is your natural waist, and measure there, in a mirror, keeping the tape horizontal. You'll likely be above your belly button. (For me, it's almost 6 inches above!).

The hip measurement is also going to change the area of your bottom that you measure. I originally measured at the middle of the cheek, now I'm at the top.