Problem: Article: There have never been more options in the undergarment industry for clothing that tighten, firm, and shape the midsection. Made mainstream by Spanx, tummy-control garments are available in many types for people of most sizes. Women's undergarments include tummy-control pantyhose, panties, high-waisted shorts, body suits, camisoles, and tank tops made of Lycra, elastic, or some combination. Most mainstream undergarment brands for women carry control top styles, but the most popular include Spanx, Soma, and TC Shaping. Buy your normal size and expect it to run small. There are many options for men, including Spanx or Sculptees brand tank tops for men that target the abdominals. These are essentially compression shirts that whittle the appearance of the midsection. While results will vary, these companies claim their products can reduce the midsection by 3 5 inches (7.6 12.7 cm). This method involves wearing a binding garment across the abdomen. If done in moderation, corseting can create a thinner silhouette without any other lifestyle changes. Some celebrities swear by corseting as a weight loss mechanism, and although doctors say it won't actually help you lose fat cells, it can help you lose weight by cinching in your stomach as you eat so that you don't have as much room to overeat. In addition, the fat cell can expand or shrink, according to how much fat it is storing. Be careful about wearing these too tight or too frequently. Because they can reduce your stomach capacity, you might vomit after eating even a normal sized meal. They can also contribute to heartburn and compress your organs. Purchase your corset at a store with a knowledgeable sales staff, who can help you fit it correctly and learn to lace it appropriately so that it is not too tight. Body wraps are spa treatments that claim to detoxify and slim the midsection. With training, these can also be done at home. While the process can vary, most involve several steps and the application of several types of body products. The aesthetician will start by massaging and applying a body scrub to your midsection, which will then be rinsed in a shower. The body scrub will contain a variety of herbs and minerals thought to cleanse the skin of impurities and reduce the appearance of fat or cellulite. The body will then be rubbed with a lotion or oil containing other emollients and properties. Next, the midsection will be securely wrapped in linen, plastic, or thermal sheets, and then an electric heated blanket will be used to warm the body for about 30 minutes, which will cause sweating. This step, in particular, is thought to remove impurities and reduce the appearance of fat. After removing the blanket and wraps, the midsection will be massaged again to increase blood flow. While this process is not supported for weight loss, many clients feel that it reduces the appearance of stomach fat and cellulite, especially with repeated treatments. Due to the sweating process (and loss of water weight), it is not uncommon for clients to experience a loss of a couple of inches, although this will be temporary. The body can retain water for various reasons, giving a bloated appearance particularly around the waist. Reducing water weight will temporarily slim the waistline. Hydrate. In many cases, water retention is the body's effort to prevent dehydration when you are not taking in enough water per day. This is especially true in hotter months. Be sure you are drinking at least eight 8-oz glasses of hydrating fluids a day (or 2 liters), which will help flush out your system and reduce bloating and puffiness. Reduce your sodium intake. Excess salt causes the body to retain water. Processed foods and restaurant foods are the major sources of sodium for the average American. These foods account for about 75% of the sodium in the diet. You should consume no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day, which is a little over 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Reduce your alcohol and coffee consumption. These drinks are known to cause dehydration, which can cause water retention in the body (as the body struggles to hold onto whatever water it can).
Summary: Try tummy-control garments. Take advantage of current trends in corseting and waist training. Consider a body wrap. Reduce your water weight.

Problem: Article: Rinse your potatoes in cool or cold water to wash away any dirt. Scrub them gently with a soft sponge to clean them. You may have to cut away some green or brown spots. Use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler to carefully slice away the blemishes. If you plan to season the skins, dry potatoes are much better at absorbing seasonings. Do not pierce the skins of the potatoes if you are not wrapping them. Piercing allows the moisture to escape, which will dry out the potato. This will prevent the potatoes from sticking to the grill and create a crispier skin. In a small bowl, mix cooking oil with a small amount of butter, salt, pepper, and garlic for a tasty seasoning spread. Placing your potatoes on skewers makes the grilling process easier. Place 3 to 4 potatoes on each skewer depending on size. You can also place your potatoes directly onto the grill if you prefer. Using indirect heat, place the skewered potatoes on the edge furthest from the direct heat source. Cook over the indirect heat for 30 to 40 minutes with the grill lid down. Gradually roll the potatoes toward the direct heat.
Summary: Wash the potatoes. Prepare each potato. Pat the potatoes dry. Brush the skins with oil. Place potatoes on metal skewers. Put your potatoes on the grill. Cook your potatoes.

Problem: Article: Place one end of the ruler flat on the floor and position it so it's pressed vertically against the wall. Mark the top end of the ruler with a pencil. Then, move the ruler up so the bottom aligns with that pencil mark and mark the new top edge. Repeat this process until you've reached the mark for your height. It may be easiest to keep track of each individual measurement on a separate sheet of paper so you can easily add them all together at the end. This is the simplest and most accurate way to measure your height without a measuring tape. There are a number of 12in (30cm) ruler templates that you can download online and print. Then, use the printed ruler just like a wooden or plastic ruler to measure the distance from the floor to your marked height. Other than an actual ruler, this will provide the most accurate measurement of your height. There are also ruler apps that you can download to your phone if you don't have a printer accessible. A dollar bill in the United States is 6.14 inches (15.6cm) long and 2.61 inches (6.6cm) tall. Press the bill flat against the wall and slide it down so one short edge of the bill is flat against the floor. Mark the top edge of the bill on the wall with a pencil. Move the bill up so the bottom edge is now flush with your original mark, then mark the new height. Continue until you've reached the mark you made recording your height. You may need to use the height of the bill2.61 inches (6.6cm)to measure the final few inches of your height. You can also fold the dollar bill in half to measure approximately 3 inches (7.6cm), or in quarters for 1.5 inches (3.8cm). A standard sheet of letter paper is 8.5 inches (22cm) wide and 11 inches (28cm) long. Use this sheet of paper to measure the distance between the ground and the mark you made by the crown of your head. Fold the paper in half or in quarters to create more precise measurements, which you can mark with a pencil to create a makeshift ruler. Make sure you're using a standard sheet of printer paper. Other sizes of paper have different dimensions. If you know your shoe size, you can roughly translate that number into a measurement. Look up a sizing chart online to estimate the length of your foot based on your shoe size. Then, place your foot on a sheet of paper and mark the distance. Use this to measure the wall between the floor and your marked height. For example, with European shoe sizing, size 35 is roughly 9 inches (23cm) and 40 is 10 inches (25cm). You could also cut a piece of string the size of your foot, then use the string to measure the distance from floor to marking.
Summary:
Measure the distance from the floor to the mark with a ruler. Print out a ruler for a more accurate makeshift measuring tool. Use an American dollar bill to measure the distance to the mark. Create a makeshift measuring tool with a piece of printer paper. Translate your shoe size into inches or centimeters.