Diet Belt

by mikeasaurus

12K10023

Intro: Diet Belt

Fat loss is not measured by weight alone. If you’re working out, you might be adding weight while losing fat. Your scale can’t tell you that, though. But, the Diet Belt can.

Wear the diet belt  it to track the inches you lose through dieting or the inches you add through breaking that diet. For better or for worse this belt will tell you how your circumference is changing. Unlike a significant other or friend who might wish to spare your feelings, the Diet Belt is as honest as it gets. And the nylon won’t stretch like leather, so you won’t need to worry about your measurements becoming inaccurate over time. (and if you don’t want to broadcast your width to the world, you can flip it inside out so your measurements are private!)

Maybe you don’t care about your waistline. Maybe you just need to measure stuff and don’t want a folded-up Ikea measuring tape in your wallet all the time. The Diet Belt has you covered.

STEP 1: Tools + Materials


Tools:
  • scissors
  • sewing machine
  • clear thread
  • rotary tool /w metal cutting bit
Materials:
  • solid-face trim-style belt buckle
  • fabric measuring table
  • fabric for belt
  • straight edge + marker
This project involves cutting metal, wear appropriate safety gear and work within your experience.

STEP 2: Sew and Trim

I didn't like the fabric my belt came with, so I used a wide, flat strip of black nylon instead. The fabric measuring tape was sewn onto my belt fabric using a transparent thread. I sewed my measuring tape with plenty of extra belt fabric on either end, then trimmed the 'zero' end with a straight cut and the end of the measuring tape with a tapered cut, just like a real belt.

STEP 3: Sketch and Cut

My trim-style belt buckle had a simple, solid face. An opening needs to be created in the face to expose the measurement belt that will run underneath. Using a straight edge and a marker I sketched a simple design on the face that would work as in measurement indicator.

Using a metal cutting wheel on a rotary tool the buckle face was cut along the sketch lines, then the sharp edges of the cut were smoothed. 

STEP 4:

All that's left is to insert the measuring tape and fabric belt into the buckle and you're ready to keep track of your waistline!

Remember, this belt is reversible, so you don't have to advertise your dimensions to everyone if you don't want to. Also, you can be the only person outside of a carpenter that always carries around a tape measure. perfect for all the times you need to make quick measurements on the fly.


Have you made your own version of the diet belt? Post a picture of your version in the comments below.

Happy making :)

23 Comments

Armzap 7 years ago

mike? i made it

Armzap 7 years ago

well going to make it..... i need to find a belt now

seamster 8 years ago

So I had (what I thought was) a brilliant and original idea today: "I should make a tape measure belt!"

Google led me here . . . and alas, it's already been done!

mikeasaurus 8 years ago

All the good ideas are taken. I blame the Internet.

HanakoHeals 12 years ago

This is so clever! I definitely have to try this out lol.

SWV1787 12 years ago

I made mine in one evening. It cost me ~$10.50 (USD). I tried making mine with a round window rather than a square but I believe a square hole would have been much less problematic for the Dremel cutting wheel I used, But I like the round look all the same. Please let me know what you think.

mikeasaurus 12 years ago

Great belt! Now you can keep track of your waistline changes. My rectangular opening was a function of the tools I was using, but I like your rounded window more.

For posting your version of this project you get a digital patch and a 3-month Pro Membership. Way to go!

HelenaTroy 12 years ago

I had an idea for making myself instantly slimmer years ago, when tape measure belts first came out - I'd make every "inch" 1.25 inches long, hey pesto, slim waist! never did it though

gloflyer 12 years ago

Actually, for professional studies of waist size they use a tape that has some elastic in one end, and than the tape is pulled until the elastic portion is one inch.

I was thinking that it might be possible to put a scale on both sides of zero so that when you put the belt on, it would not announce the total size, only inches gained or lost..

canucksgirl 12 years ago

Very creative. Would it be cheating to "alter" the numbers? lol :)

ChrysN 12 years ago

You are clever!!

canucksgirl 12 years ago

Maybe I need to write the instructable for altering the numbers in this ible. :)

bajablue 12 years ago

lol... I like the way you think! ;-D

canucksgirl 12 years ago

Thanks. You called me a Wizard recently, why wouldn't you like the way I think? ;)

The Gingham Ginger 12 years ago

If only I had done this at the beginning of my pregnancy to see how big I have gotten!

ChrysN 12 years ago

Cool idea for a belt , great way to show off your weight loss achievements.
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