How To Make Body Measurements Suck Less

You do not have to measure your body to make progress.

If you choose to, use these tips to make it effective, painless & even empowering.

1. If it doesn’t feel right, skip it.

First things first: you are under no obligation to measure your body. I don’t measure mine. A few years ago, I knew I wanted to track more progress markers to see better results from strength training, but the idea of wrapping a measuring tape around my arm every week felt really not great. People have different life experiences, and progress markers that are triggering to one person might be welcome data for another. Measurements are fantastic for showing muscle growth, for example, and for some people provide more objective markers of progress than looking at a photo of themselves. If you decide that body measurements are one of your preferred tracking tools, the next 6 tips will make the process as painless, and even empowering, as possible.

2. Switch to Centimeters

If you’re from the US, measure in centimeters. You are more likely to associate inches with judgment if you’ve been hearing “lose 2 inches off your waistline” since the ’90s or ever had your bust measured in inches at Victoria’s Secret. Centimeters don’t carry the same weight emotionally. Your brain is more likely to process centimeters as neutral data instead of an evaluation of your worth. If you’ve already taken measurements in inches, your coach can simply convert past measurements to centimeters, and you can use those going forward.

(If you grew up using the metric system, take body measurements in inches—the same logic applies. We know you don’t think inches are a real unit of measurement so this should work exceptionally well.)

3. Focus on Trends, Not Specific Numbers

Measurements are just a tool to track progress, not a verdict on your success. It doesn’t matter where you started or where you end. What matters is the change over time. For example, three months into your program, measurements can help us see if your efforts are aligned with your goals, like muscle growth or fat loss. Think of it as a way to confirm that we’re moving in the right direction—not as a scorecard.

4. Keep It Quick

When you measure, try not to linger. Take the numbers, jot them down, and move on. Treat it like checking the weather: it’s useful, but it doesn’t define your day. The less time you spend overanalyzing, the easier it is to see measurements as just another piece of data.

5. Remember the Why

We’re not measuring to assign value to your body. Measurements help us track progress and see how your efforts are impacting your goals. For instance, if you’re strength training, it can be empowering to see muscle growth reflected in the numbers. If your goal is fat loss (IT FOR SURE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE) measurements often show progress even when the scale doesn’t move.

6. Record OTHER STUFF TOO

Progress isn’t just about numbers—it’s about how you feel in your body and life. Weekly check-ins, video check-ins, and reflecting on your relationship with your body are all ways we track your growth. These qualitative markers remind us of the bigger picture: building a sustainable, joyful relationship with fitness and your body. The three tools (measurements, weight, and photos) are simply a way to get clear data that complements the larger story of your progress. Like the sound of a holistic approach to tracking that still gets real results? Let’s talk.

7. Remember you can Opt Out Anytime

If measurements feel wrong for you, there are plenty of other ways to track progress. Remembering that this is a choice you’re making can recenter it as an activity that gives you autonomy over your own progress, rather than feeling like some externally imposed system of judgment. If you do decide to move away from body measurements, we can use the other two tools (photos and weight) and focus on how your clothes fit, your energy levels, digestion, sleep, mood and your performance-based goals. Taking measurements should feel empowering. Whether you switch to centimeters, focus on trends, or skip measurements altogether, the goal is to find what works for you. You’re in control.