Bodybuilders - what do you measure

[healthstatus]

For all the workout fiends and bodybuilders, what body parts do you regularly measure to show progress (keep it clean)? How do you track that?

 

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[The-J]

Not a bodybuilder (not even close!) but have been focusing on gaining weight/muscle.

Up 17 pounds since I first started, same BF%. Got 25 pounds to go.

To check progress, I'll measure mainly weight and body fat %. But I also want to see where I'm growing, so I measure my arms, chest and thighs. I do this every week but I figured out that it's unnecessary to do it weekly: biweekly is better.

Am gonna keep an eye on this thread to see what other people are doing.

 

[1PercentStreet]

BodySpace FREE Online Fitness Community - Join Today!
Sign up, easy to keep track.

 

[Capital]

Arms, forearms, shoulders, chest, waist, hips, thighs, calves.

 

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[healthstatus]

1percent & theJ - is that bodyfat % from a calculator or a bodyfat scale, or one of those handheld bodyfat devices or ??????

Are you affiliated with bodyspace? or is that just who you use?

Arms = Biceps?


Anything else? Workout days? Time lifting?

 

[Likwid24]

I never measure body parts. I judge based on the weight I lift. Squats, deadlifts, cleans, snatches, shoulder presses.

 

[Bigguns50]

HealthStatus...I see where you're going here...good idea.
I don't measure anymore, BUT I used to for years after I first began weight training.

1. Arms (bicepts) ...always
2. Chest
3. Shoulders
4. Waist
5. Quads

In my many years in the gym, I think this order is pretty common.
The competitive bodybuilders I know want to know measurements of 'lagging' body parts when they're building.
When dieting for a show, they want body fat percentage.

Don't know about 'when' they measure. Maybe before and after training ?
I also see a fair number of guys carry around the gym a notebook. Tracking weights, sets, reps, etc.

Are you thinking male only market ? ...or female too ?

 

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[healthstatus]

Are you thinking male only market ? ...or female too ?

yes

 

[InLikeFlint]

Don't know about 'when' they measure. Maybe before and after training ?

Muscles will swell after the workout. For instance after my Bicep/Tricep day I look like I have the arms of someone double my weight. This is because the blood flows to the muscles. Maybe this measure this anyways, but just a heads up the measurement after a workout, and for a day or so after won't always be accurate.

To the OP:

I don't competitively body build. I workout daily doing a number of different exercises, and I only measure the following:

For running:
- Stamina: How long it takes me to increase my breathing, and then how long until I get "fatigued" which is basically when I start to question stopping, and when my mood goes downhill.
- Speed: I time every run and test how fast my miles are, where I am lacking, and compete with myself. This obviously isn't accurate because there are other variables such as when I run, the heat, what I've eaten that day, what other things I did that day, etc.

For Lifting:
- Strength: I keep a notebook that records all the exercises I do in a given day including reps and weight. I don't measure the size of my muscles because my running makes my muscles very lean and cut. I consider my strength to be the weight I lift in each area, and how frequently I increase the weight.

For Abs/Core:
- Strength: How long I can hold a plank for, or how many russian twists I can do
- Endurance: How many sets of the abs or core I can do in one sitting

Probably not exactly what you were looking for, but it could be helpful for some!

 

[The-J]

@healthstatus: calipers (the handheld plastic things). No it's not accurate but I only need to see changes, not actual numbers.

And I measure my arm's circumference, so biceps + triceps.

I was doing this weekly but now I do it biweekly

 

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[Tom.V]

When I was 16 I used Bodyspace, then I said to hell with the arm measuring bullshit and started training for powerlifting competitions. Whatever kind of app you are planning to make, include a good 1RM calculator.

 

[rico]

Assuming you're doing market research, BB.com and MyFitnessPal among others have a list of measurements and they're already very popular so check those

The biggest problem with measuring is there can be huge variance in water/blood content in the muscles (as mentioned) but also the exact route the tape measure takes. Eg when measuring waist/stomach, if you get the tape in the small of your back you'll get a lot lower reading than if the tape was an inch higher or lower.

What would be cool was a way of uploading pics to an app, then adjusting the size automatically based on a known constant (eye to eye for example) which makes all the pics the same (so only your body size changes) and then the app can compare pics?

I don't really bother with measurements these days, prefer to make a collage of progress pics to see the changes. An app like described I'd happily pay for

Just an idea

 

[Anthony_44]

I am a workout junkie and have done bodybuilding and can honestly say I have never EVER measured a single body part. Its about proportion, not measurements.

 

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[healthstatus]

Its about proportion, not measurements.

If a calculator worked out your proportions and compared them to famous people that we can get measures on would that interest you?

 

[Bigguns50]

Oh shit Health....that's golden ! I think people would eat that up.

People, including myself are always looking at someone and either out loud or in their heads say "Thats what I want to look like."

Why stop with celebrities? People have said to me many times "Your physique is what I'm shooting for". Everyday folks could upload their pics and stats so someone could choose them to model themselves after.

Seriously, I love it ! Fill the need of vanity. I've seen people transform their bodies, build confidence, then transform their lives.

You could tie Ina LOT of things with this.

 

[Bigguns50]

Health... by the way, I've Been in the gyms and dojos for 30+ yrs.

 

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[Anthony_44]

If a calculator worked out your proportions and compared them to famous people that we can get measures on would that interest you?

Probably not because I realize that often times once you reach a certain point genetics plays a HUGE roll in how you look.

Example, no matter how peeled I get there are people who's abs will look better at that same bf% just based on genetics.
You can't change the shape or layout of your abs.
or

Some people just have a blocky waist, and this makes it nearly impossible for them to get a proper taper within their torso. So no matter what a person looks like, I could work my whole life and not have their proportions.

Your idea might be something appealing for individuals who are just trying to get in shape though. People seem to REALLY enjoy talking about how they want to look like so and so, or want to know what so and so's workout is. I don't know how many people I saw at the gym doing the "300" workout so they could look like the guys in the movie.

 

[campbellronald7]

Being a fitness freak I know that professional body builder measure their every part whether their right muscle parts is equal to their left muscle part, it’s about creating a plain road without any flaws in it. Also Body building is about measurements & size so get the right size be proportionate.

 

[T14]

healthstatus

Like others here, I've been lifting weights for a long time, 12 years to be exact. Not ONCE have I ever taken a measurement. Well, maybe one time as an ego boost when I was 16 or so... which didn't do much to help my ego

I see several responses that talk about "proportion" and whether or not their body looks "proportionate". This is what I base my gains off of. If the weights go up, the body fat goes down and my body stays relatively proportionate- i am happy.

Maybe you can find some value in providing others with what actually IS proportionate. Actual measurements? What the body SHOULD look like...

Not sure if this helps at all. Just thinking out loud here.

 

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[quickdrawyall]

Like Likwid said, I typically just measure the strength of my lifts. If my lifts get larger then so will I. I also just measure my arms occasionally for an ego boost

 

[parkerscott]

Probably not because I realize that often times once you reach a certain point genetics plays a HUGE roll in how you look.

Example, no matter how peeled I get there are people who's abs will look better at that same bf% just based on genetics.
You can't change the shape or layout of your abs.
or

Some people just have a blocky waist, and this makes it nearly impossible for them to get a proper taper within their torso. So no matter what a person looks like, I could work my whole life and not have their proportions.

Your idea might be something appealing for individuals who are just trying to get in shape though. People seem to REALLY enjoy talking about how they want to look like so and so, or want to know what so and so's workout is. I don't know how many people I saw at the gym doing the "300" workout so they could look like the guys in the movie.

This, and alot of pro competitors are juicing. To answer the question though i mainly measure weight and bf % and sometimes arms for an ego boost. I dont really pay attention to celebrities bodies or anybody like that maybe zyzz i mainly focus on if my lifts are improving or if i look better.

 

[healthstatus]

i mainly focus on if my lifts are improving or if i look better.

So would a time lapse photo element be cool? Maybe have some markers in the app to get you aligned the same....

 

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[Bigguns50]

Love the photo time line idea... I know you said lapse.... But I'm thinking when you look at yourself daily, it's hard to see the progress from when you started. Pics worked into your plan or progress might be nice,

 

[parkerscott]

So would a time lapse photo element be cool? Maybe have some markers in the app to get you aligned the same....

The only thing about the time lapse is that there are a ton of factors you have to take in when taking progress photos. like lighting, or do you have a pump, did you just eat, are you retaining water etc.