Whether you’re tracking your fitness progress, sizing yourself for clothing, or want an accurate body measurement, learning how to measure your waist is a useful skill. Follow these eight simple steps to get an accurate waist measurement.

1. Gather Your Supplies

To measure your waist, you’ll need a flexible tape measure (preferably one that measures centimeters and inches) and a pen and paper to record the measurement.

2. Remove Clothing

For the most accurate measurement, remove any clothing covering your waistline. Ideally, you should only be wearing lightweight or tight-fitting garments while measuring.

3. Locate Your Waist

To find your natural waistline, stand in front of a mirror and bend sideways at the waist. Your natural waist is the crease that forms when you bend. It’s usually located around the navel area but can vary depending on body shape.

4. Position The Tape Measure

Stand up straight and place the measuring tape around your waist, ensuring it’s parallel to the ground. Be careful not to pull the tape too tight or leave it too loose.

5. Check The Tape Measure Position

Glance in the mirror to ensure that the tape measure is still sitting parallel to the ground and hasn’t twisted or slipped out of place.

6. Exhale And Take The Measurement

Take a couple of deep breaths, relax, and exhale fully before taking the measurement. When you’re ready, make note of the number where the tape measure meets itself around your waist.

7. Repeat For Accuracy

To ensure accuracy, repeat steps four through six at least two more times and take an average of your three measurements.

8. Record Your Measurement

Write down your final average measurement and compare it to previous records or use it as a reference for clothing purchases.

By following these eight simple steps, you can accurately measure your waist and keep track of your body’s changes over time. Remember, measuring your waist is just one way to track your fitness progress and should be combined with other measurements, such as weight and hip circumference, for a full assessment of your body’s health.