Healthy Lifestyles

Part Three of Four:
Avoiding Unhealthy Habits

1
Avoid yo-yo dieting. Once you've lost weight thanks to your improved lifestyle, then work hard to maintain your weight instead of cycling up and down the scale.

2
Stay away from fad diets. Avoid liquid diets, diet pills and other diet supplements unless you are under the supervision of a physician. In general, if a diet plan or product does any of the following, it's probably a fad: Promises extremely quick weight loss (more than 1-2 pounds per week)Promises to help you lose weight without changing your habitsRequires you to spend a lot of moneyRestricts your food choices and doesn't encourage balanced nutrition

3
Exercise in moderation. Working out too long, too often or with too much intensity can increase your risk for injury. Make sure to build in some rest periods between your workouts.

4
Know what you weigh. Being overweight and being underweight are not healthy states of being. Consult your doctor or a reputable weight chart that shows ideal weights for your age and body type.

5
Avoid smoking and alcohol intake.Smoking is associated with a variety of health risks, including heart or liver disease and many cancers. Alcohol is also associated with health risks, including liver disease, cancer, heart disease, alcohol poisoning, and depression.

6
Don't skimp on sleep. Studies have shown that those who sleep less tend to weigh more. Adults should aim for between 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Children and teens need even more sleep. Young children may need between 10-14 hours of sleep, school-age children between 9-11, and teenagers between 8-10.

7
Don't skip sunscreen. Sun exposure creates many health risks, including cancer. Whenever you're outdoors, wear protective clothing and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Wear sunscreen even on cloudy days.