Hi guys(and gals), this is my first post here. I was wondering what size waist you guys have? What would be the ideal when ripped up? I am 30 years old now and have blimped up to a 36"(when sucked in that is) waist from about a 33" a few years ago. I cant stand it anymore, I feel like a fat slob and have promised myself that I will be 200 pounds and ripped if it kills me. I have been lifting for several years but haven't had much change in my physique. I know Arnie's waist was 33" during his prime so I figure that is a good size to shoot for. I don't know my bf% now but I would guess maybe 17-18? My calipers say 12 which I KNOW isn't right and my useless tanita scale says 20-21%.

I am 5'11", 190 pounds and have stayed at the same fat level for a couple years- I think the once a week cheat days is depleting any gains I get. My arms are still 16"(flexed) but they feel teeny. I am using Tom Venuto's dieting plan and will be upping my cardio to 6 days a week to try and lose some of this fat. Anyway, sorry for the long post. Let me know what kind of measurements to shoot for if you get a chance.

I'm 39 at the moment (not sucked in). When i used to be a skinny little wretch I was 30. I'm going to aim for 32-33

Yeah I hear ya, I still have pants from 4 years ago that are like 31. I think, how the hell did I fit in those? I am probably 39 not sucked in too. I recall saying things like "I could never get fat!" when I was 19. Karma's a bitch. All the fat is on my waist too. Typical right!?

The odd part is that I was actually in better shape when I did NOT work out. I didn't get fat on my waist until I started lifting about 4 years ago. I was eating hardly anything back then and was fairly skinny. Then I started eating "right" and gained fat on my waist. Looks like I need to tighten up my cals and cardio.

I think your ideal waist size is the size which you obtain when you have been eating a diet that fulfills all your nutritional requirements and keeps you satisfied at the same time. You'd be at your ideal weight at that point as well.

My ideal waist size while I was breastfeeding and looking after two young kids is a little different than it is now. Your ideal waist size at 30 years old is probably different than your ideal waist size at 18, especially if you have kids or a stressful job.

Comparing yourself to other people doesn't make a whole lot of sense unless you want to be a fashion model. (Though it's hard not to do. I do it all the time.)

I know Arnie's waist was 33" during his prime so I figure that is a good size to shoot for.

How big was his chest during his prime? Are you going to shoot for that too?

No I could never be comparable to Arnold obviously, I don't have amazing genetics nor am I a pro. His measurements at the peak of his career were;
Arms: 22 inches
Chest: 57 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Thighs: 28.5 inches
Calves: 20 inches
Weight: 235 pounds
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I do want 20" arms though(4 inches to go!) and a 33-34 inch waist. When these guys measure their waist, is that relaxed? So then someone who is 34 could suck it in to probably 31 yes?
I wonder how big Vin Diesel really is compared to people like Arnold. The camera always makes you look bigger. I'm sure people like Swolecat would make Vin look small in comparison.

I've actually asked myself this question a few times. I have a really hard time imagining myself at a 32 or so inch waist which is where I will probably be when I get down to around 175 (from 245).

I'm currently at 45 at my waist and 42 at my hips. I haven't had below a 36" waist since I was a sophmore in high school (12 years ago) and I weighed 175 then and was 3 inches shorter.

This is just one of those things that varies with each person. You will know your 'ideal' waist size when you see it. That is how I'm going about things anyway.

Yeah I had a 33-34" waist 4 years ago and its hard for me to remember being that lean. Jeremy Likness' transformation is a motivator!

Measurements 1/25/04
Waist 40
Hips 35.5

Measurements 5/8/04
Waist 35
Hips 33.5

depends on what you consider "waist" size. I wear my pants low. some guys yank em up to their tits and some have em around their belly button. so even though I can wear 32-33" pants, just looking at the numbers I should wear 35" which will fall down without a belt.

no I'm not bragging. 'k, maybe just a little :)

Here are a couple ideal body measurement calculators. It's all based on your wrist size somehow.

From a body building site: http://pages.zdnet.com/bodybuilder/id20.html

If you want to look like a Greek God: http://www.sandowmuseum.com/ideal.html

I'm shooting for the Greek God. A few of my measurements are already there. Not my waist though. :D

Oh, and your waist is your measurement at your belly button.

I'm shooting for the Greek God.

Greek God, yeah, okay. Good goal.

Mybodycomp.com says the waist is the smallest part of your torso. For many people this is about an inch above the navel. I'm scratching my head about born sleepy. This would never be the case for a woman. (smaller hips than waist = beer belly?)

If you'd asked me a year ago what my ideal waist size is, I would have said 27 inches. Today, I'm thinking it's just under 26 inches. Maybe next year I'll say 24.

It seems if I want to look like a Greek God then I need a waist size of 28.66", that's with a wrist size of 6.25"

My waist as of this morning (narrowest part of torso) was 28.75" so I guess that's not too far off, just got to work on the rest of me :D

Greek God, yeah, okay. Good goal.

Mybodycomp.com says the waist is the smallest part of your torso. For many people this is about an inch above the navel. I'm scratching my head about born sleepy. This would never be the case for a woman. (smaller hips than waist = beer belly?)

well, less belly than it was, but yeah.

maybe I'm confusing the two? hip to me is the measurement right above the butt. waist is around the bellybutton. at least that's where I measure because it's a good point of reference but it's sure not the smallest part of the torso for me.

is "hip" usually the measure around the butt or above?

Heres an easy way to figure out your weight

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kurilla5.htm

measure your waist at your navel and your neck. Subtract your neck from your waste and look at the chart on this page to get a pretty good guess of where you stand.

Heres an easy way to figure out your weight

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/kurilla5.htm

measure your waist at your navel and your neck. Subtract your neck from your waste and look at the chart on this page to get a pretty good guess of where you stand.

Unless of course you aren't on the table, then just solve the equation:

BF% = [ 86.01 x log( NAVEL - NECK ) ] - [ 70.041 x log( HEIGHT ) ] + 36.76

Where all measurements are in inches.