Punxsutawney Phil may have foretold “six more weeks of winter” on February second, but in the San Francisco Bay Area, Spring is always alive and kicking by mid February. Bougainvilleas are one among many blooms, dotting green and fragrant hills. People’s thoughts turn to gardening, spring training and flip flop fashion. My own sign of Spring fever? I start scanning the calendar for an optimal three-week chunk of time in which to do a detox cleanse.

Many people think losing weight is simply about looking better physically. Some might also jump on the weight-loss bandwagon due to health concerns. But what many people fail to understand is that losing anywhere from several to more than a few pounds can effect the whole person by creating a positive outlook on life. Each of us is a whole being, made up of a mind, body, and spirit. When one of those entities is out of balance, the other two feel it – and are unfortunately “brought down” in the process. This can lead to low energy levels, depression, and eventually, disease. The key is not to try and work on all of those areas all at once, but rather to find your way in through one area, which will end up touching the other two.

Oh, yes, you know what I’m talking about. And not in that, “Curses, foiled again!” kinda way. We’re all bad girls (and boys) deep down. Don’t get me wrong – I think this is a good thing. The only problem is when it becomes a choice between being a bad girl and being healthy. This, in a nutshell, is my continuous problem, challenge, thorn in my side, whathaveyou. Has been (not as in I’m a has-bin…you know what I mean) since about age 24. Ok, it actually was even before then, but that’s when I first began to realize it. Hey, drinking a lot of alcohol isn’t good for my mental stability! Eating a lot of sugar, whether that be cookies and ice cream or lots of yummy fruit, jacks me up and then down! Jazz hands!