(BlackDoctor.org) -- Did you know only one-third of your health is determined by genetics? The rest of your health is determined by your lifestyle choices. Making simple lifestyle changes can enhance your health. Make these changes and you can lose weight, reduce stress and add years onto your life. Do the following everyday:

Weigh yourself.
Yes, your weight can fluctuate from day to day, but daily checks-ins have been shown to help protect against added pounds.

Stand when getting dressed.
It sounds way too simple to make a difference, but forcing your body to balance while you put on clothes strengthens your reflexes and core muscles.

Catch some rays.
Getting too little natural light not only affects your mood, but can also mess with your internal clock, making you drowsy during the day and wired when it’s time to sleep.

Take a break from the internet.
As useful as computers are, surfing the web can be highly addictive. It’s incredibly easy to unconsciously replace physical activities with web browsing.

Head for bed 10 minutes early.
About a quarter of African Americans get less than six hours of sleep a night, when most of us need at least seven to eight hours. Recent studies link chronic sleep deprivation to a weak immune system and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease, among other dangers.

Load up on healthy groceries.
Having nothing healthy in the house is an often used excuse for picking up something bad to eat on the way home from work.

Have a superlight lunch.
You will find you have more energy if you eat lightly because cells often work at their optimum level when they are not supersaturated with calories.

Oversleep a little on the weekend.
Ideally, you should follow the same schedule seven days a week, but if your not getting enough sleep, doctors recommend you sleep in a bit to make up for shortfalls.

By Candace Hall, BDO Staff Writer