Problem: Article: Pay attention to your friends and how they make you feel. Surround yourself with people who don’t criticize or judge you because it can negatively affect your body image. Friends can even help you work towards your health and fitness goals, which may help you feel more confident in your looks as well.  Find a gym partner or a hiking buddy. As easy and obvious as it sounds, smiling, even when you are forced to do it, can lower stress and make you feel better about yourself. Furthermore, people will see you as approachable and trusting. If you get a compliment, don’t deflect it, take it! If you are uncertain about your looks, it may feel awkward to get compliments and your anxious reaction might be to deflect or down-play the compliment. For example, if someone compliments your shirt, you might tell them it is a hand-me-down that you only wore because all of your other clothes are dirty. This is a reflection of your anxiety about your looks and can make both you and the person who complimented you uncomfortable. Instead, just say thank you and fully enjoy the compliment you earned. Whether or not exercise actually changes your physical appearance, it can change your perception of yourself, which can lead to increased self esteem. A national survey of physical activity and weight has shown that people who were not satisfied with their body size were less likely to be physically active, regardless of how much they actually weighed. This finding suggests that just being physically active can be related to a better self-image.  The amount of exercise needs to be enough to give you a sense of accomplishment and needs to be regular, but does not need to be any specific type of exercise or be done for any specific amount of time. Certain foods, such as those high in carbohydrates and sugar, can cause you to become sluggish and negatively affect your mood. Foods that can improve your mood are those that are low in fat and release their energy slowly. These foods give energy for sustained periods of time and do not carry the risk of weight gain, bloating, and irritability; they can also lead to stronger hair and nails, which can improve your overall self-image.  Avoid eating foods that are sugary, fried, or overly processed.  Eat more nuts and seeds, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly produce with vibrant, rich colors.
Summary: Choose your friends wisely. Smile and laugh as much as possible. Take a compliment. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Using a tape measure, measure the wall on which you’ll be installing shiplap boards from one side to the other. Then, use the tape measure to measure the same distance on each of your shiplap boards. Mark the distance with a pencil. Then, use a hand saw (or a table saw or band saw if you have one) and cut the boards so they’re the length of the wall where you’ll be installing them. Make all cuts outdoors, so that you avoid making a mess in the house or shed that you’re working in. If the width of your wall exceeds the length of your shiplap, you’ll need to stagger boards by butting 2 boards together. Measure and cut the second (shorter) board to correctly fill the gap between the end of the first board the wall.  For example, if your wall is 20 feet (6.1 m) wide and your shiplap siding is only 15 feet (4.6 m), you’ll need to cut an additional 5 ft (1.5 m) section of shiplap to finish the row. Even if your boards would fully span the width of your wall, consider staggering your shiplap anyway. It adds visual interest to the wall. Do this immediately before you attach the shiplap to the wall. Heavy Adhesive will make the boards adhere firmly to the wall.  This adhesive looks like a tube of caulk, and can be dispensed with a metal caulk gun. Check the inventory at your local hardware store or home supply store. Make sure that the tube of adhesive that you purchase will adhere to all materials (i.e. it should say “All Materials” on the packaging) and is suited for indoor use. The adhesive will hold the shiplap firmly against the wall, so don’t nail it in place yet. Place your level along the top of the board, and check that the bubble floats exactly between the 2 lines on the glass tube.  If the board is not horizontally level, you’ll need to lift out the board, then install spacers beneath the low side to elevate it.  You can start applying shiplap either at the top or at the bottom of your wall. If you start at the bottom, gravity will work for you. If you start at the top, you’ll have to prevent each board from falling before you nail it in place. It’s best to start at the top if your ceiling or floor is uneven so you can correct imperfections at the bottom with a baseboard. You can do this using a hammer, a compressed-air nail gun, or a screw gun. Use 2 in (5.1 cm) nails or screws to ensure that the nail will pass through the shiplap and deep into the studs. For each method, drive two 2 in (5.1 cm) nails or screws straight through the board and into the center of each stud. Use the chalk marks that you made earlier as your guide.  If you choose to use a compressed-air nail gun, you’ll need to purchase, borrow, or rent an air compressor and hose. All of these materials should be available at your local hardware store.

SUMMARY: Measure and cut the shiplap board to fit the wall. Stagger shiplap boards on a wide wall. Squeeze a line of Heavy Adhesive paste along the back of the shiplap board. Set the board against the wall and check that it’s level. Nail or screw the shiplap to the wall.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Because the wax will need to thoroughly adhere to any hair on your underarms, you need the hair to be at least .25 inches (0.6 cm) in order to use waxing as your method of hair removal. If your hair is too short, give it another few days before attempting to wax. Trim down any hair that is more than an inch long to prevent any complications or difficulties when waxing. If the hair under your arms is very long, it could make waxing more painful than necessary. Trimming especially long underarm hair prior to waxing can help alleviate this. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub, or simply a washcloth to exfoliate your underarms. This will remove any dirt from your pores and help prevent ingrown hairs when you are ready to wax. Try making your own gentle exfoliating scrub with a tablespoon of baking soda and enough mineral water to make a thin paste. Use your fingertips or a washcloth to gently rub the paste against your underarms, then rinse with warm water. Wax will not function properly if you apply it to wet skin. Before applying the wax, make sure your underarms are completely dry. This means no leftover water from exfoliating, and no sweat. You can even try dusting a little baby powder onto your underarms to ensure they are entirely dry. A bit of baby or talcum powder can also help alleviate a bit of the pain associated with waxing, so even if your armpits are dry, consider dusting on a light layer for your own comfort. Some waxing products can be applied cold or at room temperature, while others need to be warmed to be used. Whichever product you’re using, follow all directions on the bottle or box. This will ensure the product works its best. Make sure you stretch your arm up over your head and keep the skin of your underarms as tight as you can. This will help you make sure you apply the waxing strip evenly over your entire underarm, and insure you are able to wax away all hair. After you wax your underarms, you will want to soothe the skin. You can use a normal moisturizer, specifically one with soothing ingredients like aloe. Or, you can use a product made specifically for use after waxing. These products are available at drugstores. They not only soothe the skin after waxing, but can also help protect your freshly waxed follicles from infection or further irritation. Directly after waxing and prior to applying any cream or gel, you can also try putting an ice cube against your freshly waxed skin. The ice can numb the skin and soothe it instantly after waxing to prevent extra pain.
Summary:
Make sure hair is at least a quarter of an inch long. Exfoliate your underarms before waxing. Make sure your underarms are dry. Follow the directions on your chosen waxing product. Use an after-waxing lotion or gel.