What do you measure for inches?

[Yellow Jacket]

I've seen it mentioned several times that you may lose either pounds OR inches and consider it weight loss. When you are measuring inches, what are you measuring: waist size? hip size? arm size? Is there some formula?

[not2late]

Originally Posted by Yellow Jacket

I've seen it mentioned several times that you may lose either pounds OR inches and consider it weight loss. When you are measuring inches, what are you measuring: waist size? hip size? arm size? Is there some formula?

Dr. Atkins wrote that the loss of inches represents the "real" loss of fat because as you lose the fat, your fat cells shrink. So, yes, losing inches is as good (or better from a visual and clothing fit perspective) than losing pounds---because the scale doesn't differentiate between the weight of your fat and the weight of any water you might be retaining after eating high sodium foods.

In Chapter 10 of DANDR 2002, Dr. Atkins gives suggestions about what to measure. You don't have to limit yourself to those areas.

[killerbombshell]

In the 6 week exercise challenge, we measure in 7 different places: http://skyye.hardwiredpc.com/measure.htm The model is female, but I think the same areas would work just as well for a guy too. The only thing I wish I had measured as well when I began was my calves. Just an idea.