In my experience, there are two groups of people who really, truly love to talk enthusiastically about their bowel functions for hours on end: preschoolers, and people doing a detox cleanse. While I’ve never had an amazing must-tell-the-world experience in this arena, I do agree that if you’re going to do a cleanse, you need to be able to talk poo with your doctor (if no one else). Think of it like the scoreboard at a baseball stadium, in a game of you versus the undesirables. If you don’t keep an eye on your stats, you won’t play your best game.

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.