Umm.. huh?
 

I was trying out a few body fat calculators online* and one of the inputs is for waist size.

Now, I wear size 29-30 shorts/pants. I measured my waist using string and a yard stick, and my waist came to be 33". My shorts fit me perfectly, so how can this be? Are shorts just made that way? I think it must be, because the last time I got fitted for dress slacks, the guy measured me and had me put on size 35" at first, but I walked out with perfectly fitting 31" slacks.

*I know they're not very accurate, but I'm bored :)

Re: Umm.. huh?
 

Do yourself a favor and buy some bodyfat calipers. They are very cheap ($10 at your local health store, or $14 online), and they are much more accurate than tape measurements. Aside from underwater tests, the fat calipers are the most accurate way to figure out your BF% (they are simple to use). Hell, even doctors, nutritionists, and trainers at health clubs use the calipers.

Ditch the scale and rely on the mirror AND calipers :)

Well I appreciate the advice, but I'm more curious about the waist sizing thingy; not so much as my body fat. I have some size 33" shorts that are really big on me and size 29" shorts that fit me perfectly, yet my actual waist size is 33 inches.

I don't have a scale of my own, but I do check my weight in the gym everytime I go.. but I don't know how accurate it is because yesterday morning it told me I was 161 and tonight it told me I'm 149. I wonder what it would show if I put some weights on there.. I bet it'd be off.

could just be the brand of shorts. In women's clothing there are some stores where a size medium means size xxxxxxxxs in another store. Inconsistencies is probably the answer to this. Or maybe it's all a conspiray where clothing companies label their clothing sizes smaller to make us feel skinnier than we are. :p

yeah, calipers do the job. or go have your doc do it for ya. or join a gym and they will have some.

Most clothing brands are pretty consistent about the size of the waist being labelled smaller than what it actually is. Don't rely on what size clothes you wear to figure out your waist size. My guess is that they're probably thinking that you'll feel better about yourself buying something labelled a couple inches less than what you actually are and you'll be more inclined to by theirs.