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The bathroom scale may not be the best way to see if your diet plan is working. Health experts say things like water weight can throw off that measurement. What’s a better way to track your progress? Use a tape measure on your chest, waist, hips and thighs once a week and see if your clothes are beginning to feel loose. Source Link

Home buyers should beware of these red flags that warn of high maintenance ahead. Those soaring high ceilings increase heating and cooling costs and may require rented scaffolding for painting. Lots of natural stone flooring or tiny tiles takes extra work to keep clean, and a complex roof design with many angles and gables will require more maintenance. Source Link

Try these cleaning tips to help make your phone feel brand-new again. Remove the case and clean it with soapy water or a damp microfiber cloth and gently remove dust and gunk from the charging port. Finish up inside by uninstalling any apps you don’t use or reinstall space-hogging apps to clear memory and help your phone run faster. Source Link

Can the formula “20 over 40” help keep you out of the hospital? In a seven-year study of people over the age of 40, those who got 20 minutes of daily exercise cut their risk of hospitalization for things like pneumonia, stroke, diabetes complications and severe urinary tract infections. The numbers line up with recommendations to get 150 minutes of moderate activity each week. Source Link

Teaching your child healthy eating habits when they’re young can pay lifelong dividends. Help them understand the body’s cues for hunger or fullness and not to eat because you’re bored or doing something else like watching TV. Use child-sized plates to gauge how much food they need for a meal, keep junk food out of the house to avoid temptation, and have them get 60 minutes of physical activity each day. Source Link

That new TV you bring home to your young family should have a life-saving accessory. A tip-over kit lets you anchor the TV to the wall so it won’t fall on a small child if they climb up. And avoid displaying or storing items like toys and remotes near a TV where kids might be tempted to climb up to reach them. Source Link

Keeping bones stronger as you age may mean hitting the pavement harder. In a study, older adults who got more high-impact physical activity each day had less decline in bone mineral density. You can do this with running, brisk walking, climbing stairs or even an exercise like raising up on your tiptoes and then dropping down onto your heels. Source Link

Hit the “cancel” button on streaming services you don’t use to cut those monthly subscription costs. Drop the sports add-ons when your team’s season is over and take a hard look at what you watch or don’t watch regularly. Drop services that aren’t part of your viewing on a weekly basis and re-subscribe later to see a new show. Source Link

This kind of audit could save you money. A professional energy audit of your home looks at doors, windows, insulation and more to determine where you can seal leaks and stop wasting those heating and cooling dollars. And Uncle Sam is offering federal tax credits that could mean thousands of dollars back when you complete energy-efficient improvements. Source Link

Brown-bagging your mid-day meal doesn’t have to be boring if you can think outside the lunchbox. Try adding one new vegetable or fruit each week and pack more than lunch with healthy snacks to make it through the day. And watch out for too much sugar at lunchtime because it can fuel a mid-afternoon energy crash. Source Link

A few simple steps can make that guest room in your home more inviting for visitors. Dimmable lighting lets your guest set the scene to their liking and blackout drapes offer a perfect atmosphere for sleep. And stock that ensuite or nearby bathroom with fluffy towels, a cozy bathrobe and fresh greenery to give it a spa feel. Source Link

It’s something your mother probably did, but these days there’s little need to separate laundry before washing. Synthetic fibers and colorfast dyes in most of today’s clothes stand up better in a cold water wash that’s recommended for most items. The exception is athletic gear that’s moisture-wicking or breathable and needs to be washed separately. Source Link

Diet sodas may not be a healthy alternative because they’ve been associated with an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and heart attack. If you like the sparkle of soda, try plain seltzer with a squeeze of citrus fruit, grated ginger, chopped mint or a teaspoon of vanilla. Or replace soda with milk for more protein and calcium. Source Link

You probably have some things in the fridge that don’t need to stay there. Barbecue or hot sauce loses some kick in the cold, so pull it out to warm up before use. Jams and jellies can crystallize in the fridge and keep pickles on the pantry shelf because they’re already preserved. And warm-weather fruits like oranges or bananas taste best when stored on the counter. Source Link

Traveling with kids requires some savvy packing to keep them happy. Bring along comfort items like a favorite stuffed animal or familiar books for bedtime reading. For older kids, pack a book for them to read before any screen time. And on car trips, have a travel bingo game ready for fun involvement with what’s going by as you drive. Source Link

Just a few minutes of vigorous activity every day could help control blood pressure. Researchers found benefits from as little as five minutes of exercise that gets your heart pumping and meaningful results at 10 or 20 minutes. Cycling, running or stair climbing are among the things you can do to improve blood pressure. Source Link

Here are some ways to make winter more manageable. Switch to daylight color bulbs in rooms you use first thing in the morning to mimic the benefits of natural light. Pick up slow hobbies like reading, doing puzzles, crafting or knitting. You can also bring outdoor plants inside or add a pop of blue or green to a room for a warm weather feel. Source Link

A will isn’t just for distributing physical assets because your digital life also needs to be dealt with after you’re gone. Create a list of all social media, email, cloud photo storage and other online accounts you use and include usernames and passwords. A password manager is an easy way to do this and you can give the manager’s master password to your digital executor. Source Link