12 bad health habits and how to fix them

10. Wearing the wrong shoes
Many women go to work in high heels, believing that fashion trumps comfort.

The effects: Even if you don't feel any pain, walking long distances in high heels can have negative long-term effects on your feet and back. Wearing heels accentuates the curve in your back, requiring those muscles to work harder. This causes muscle strain, which can easily lead to lower back pain, says Kirkwood. Worse, continually wearing and walking in high heels can cause long-term damage to your feet and ankles, which are strained when your heel is unnaturally higher than your foot. "The number of women who come in with plantar fasciitis [a condition characterized by painful tearing of the muscles on the bottom of the foot] is surprisingly high," Kirkwood says.

The fix: Wear flat, comfortable shoes for the commute and carry your heels to the office. Save your killer heels for meetings and presentations.

11. Getting on the scale every day
The bathroom scale can tempt you daily, especially if you're trying to shed weight in time for bathing suit season.

The effects: Associating a number with your wellbeing isn't a healthy or practical approach. "You can get obsessed and caught up in a numbers game," says Tsang, "but following good nutrition – not a number on your scale – is most important." Tsang recommends you think about how healthy you feel, and how you look (the fit of your clothes is a good indicator) instead of staring down at the scale every day.

The fix: Store the scale out of sight and take it out once a week, at most. If you're losing weight the healthy way – by cutting a maximum of 500 calories a day – then take comfort in knowing that you're losing about a pound a week, and leave the scale alone.

12. Heading to bed without brushing your teeth
By day's end, you're exhausted. Your bed is calling and you rationalize that you'll brush your teeth in the morning.

The effects: By not brushing at night, you risk affecting other areas of your health. Plaque buildup causes gum disease – which can lead to a risk of more serious conditions, such as diabetes and stroke, according to Health Canada.

The fix: Brush right after dinner. You'll have clean teeth before your bed calls – and you'll likely snack less in the evening.


Page 4 of 4 -- Skipping breakfast can have some serious consequences. Learn more on page 1.