Now that the weather’s getting warmer, it’s time to spring clean – and your closet isn’t the only thing that could use it. Some of the “healthy” habits you practice religiously may be excessive, ineffective, and adding clutter to your already hectic life.
You drink eight glasses of water a day.
Why you can shed it:
- Eight glasses is a general recommendation and doesn’t take into account different lifestyles. You’re probably consuming water from other sources without even knowing it, such as in your morning tea.
Do instead:
- Have a glass of water right when you wake up in the morning, because you’re bound to be dehydrated after a night of sleep.
- If you find yourself forgetting to drink enough water, fill a half-gallon jug with water and aim to finish it by the end of the day.
You weigh yourself every day.
Why you can shed it:
- A focus on shedding pounds can cause anxiety about weight and also increase the risk of gaining weight back over time. Weight scales don’t always tell the whole story.
Do instead:
- Focus on body composition and how much energy you have on a daily basis.
- Pick a goal that’s measurable but gives you higher self-esteem once you accomplish it, like fitting into an old pair of pants or getting your blood pressure down.
If you’re trying to lose weight you may want to have a weight scale around so that you can track your progress. Although most diet experts say that you shouldn’t track your purpose every week by weighing yourself, other experts believe that it gives you more incentive to continue on your fitness plan if you know exactly where you are with your weight loss. Using weight scales can give you an accurate idea of your weight. There are four basic types of weight scales that you can choose from. You want to have accurate figures so that you can adjust your eating plan accordingly. The most common of these scales is the