I solved the problem by focusing on clothes, not measurements. I always have a pair of jeans in my closet that is one size smaller than the size I am currently wearing. I periodically try the too small jeans on to see how they fit. When they fit, I know I have lost inches and it is time to buy a pair in the next smaller size and go through the same thing all over again. I always buy the identical jeans (except for size), so it is a pretty good measure of whether or not I am shrinking!

I guess this doesn't work if you are worried about your top, but I am much smaller on the top than on the bottom, so it lets me focus on the area where I really want to lose. Not that I don't want to lose on the top also, but at this point the bottom is more crucial.