I measure both my natural waist and my actual(around the belly button). When I started this I had no waist and was simply round. My goal is to get to the waist less than half my height..which is proving a struggle after the initial 4 inches.
Did you hear that lentils and chickpeas are supposed to be very food for getting rid of belly fat? I think that you would have to eat a lot, but as fibre is very very good for losing weight and health, it seems to be win, win.