subject: Body Tape Measure [print this page] Girth measurements can give you extra valuable information to assess the progress of your bodybuilding program. They will let you know where you're growing, which muscle groups are responding and which may need to be attacked in a new way.
To take your body tape measurements, you will need a flexible tape measure that you could wrap around your body parts. You can find these tapes at tailor shops, clothes shops and sporting goods stores.
TheMyoTapefrom Accu-Fitness can be an improvement over the easy tape and it works excellent. You can get one for less than $10 and part of a package when you get your body fat caliper.
Do NOT obtain a digital tape measure unless you want to torture yourself. Try getting that thing around your waist one time and also you'll be ready to smash it with a hammer - undoubtedly the worst invention inside the storied history of body tape measuring. Technology can't makeeverything easier.
Instructions
The tape ought to be pulled to where it is lying flat against skin all the way around. Like with taking skinfold measurements, your goal with body tape measurements is consistency. Take them the exact same every time you take them and you will get an accurate view of your progress with each body part.
Below is a list of suggested sites to regularly measure.
Neck - Standing, measure your neck at its largest girth, right over the Adam's apple.
Shoulder - Standing, can either be measured as being a straight line from the largest points on each shoulder across the chest or as being a girth measurement all the way around the body.
Bicep - Measure at its largest girth, can be taken relaxed with arms at side, relaxed with arm bent, flexed with arm bent or all three.
Chest - Standing, measure with breath out just above the nipple.
Waist - Standing, measure at the narrowest point or at the midway point between the premium of the hip bone and the bottom of the rib cage.
Hips - Measure at the biggest girth, where the butt is protruding the greatest.
Thigh - Standing, measure at the biggest girth, just below the butt.
Calf - Seated if you are measuring yourself or standing if you have a partner, measure at its largest girth.
Your body tape measure will tell you where you are gaining but you still won't know what you are gaining.
Alone, body tape measurements aren't enough. You need to know what is responsible for your increased size, is it fat or is it muscle? You will find this out by tracking your body fat percentage.
