MANILA, Philippines?For less than the cost of a designer bag, your way to health is just a weekend away.

I?m talking about taking charge of your life and your health. For the body, mind and spirit to be balanced, each needs the same attention. The choices are there; all we need is make the decision to start a healthy lifestyle.

I made that decision when I had the ?flush weekend.? It?s a detox weekend. Most people shy away from such activity with various excuses. The cost, for one, which isn?t that back-breaking if you compare it to buying medicines or a hospital stay. This is a long-term investment on yourself.

Another excuse is lack of time.It is just an overnight stay--check in on Saturday morning at Discovery Suites, a pleasant place. You check out Sunday.

I prepared myself mentally. Since I?ve been through a journey of spirituality and healing, it was time I started to take care of my body and health. I enrolled in yoga, I meditate regularly for peace of mind, and I decided to lessen the stress by working on what I?m passionate about.

I also took the course on crystal healing and herbology. (More courses are set in the next two weeks.) In short, I tried to strike a harmony with my body, mind and soul.

Then, as serendipity would have it, I met an old friend. Jean Goulbourn who introduced me to Dale Flores, a wholistic nutritionist. As it goes, when you are meant to learn something, teachers are sent to you.

I was recently fascinated by the effects of food on emotions and well-being. So I was so happy to meet Dale.

We spoke of malunggay and how it is packed with calcium, potassium, vitamin C and other vitamins that fortify the immune system. He says an ounce of malunggay juice daily will give you thrice more calcium than milk, and seven times more vitamin C than oranges. It also adds oxygen into your system.

Then Jean and Dale invited me to the flush weekend?an opportunity for alone time and to discover how my body behaves, so that I can better care for it.

In a Discovery Suites function room, a full buffet was laid out?a surprise, because I thought they would starve us the whole day. It was an all-you-can-eat fruit buffet, a great way to start the day.

The talks introduced the flush process and what to expect from the two-day session. During the talk, soup was served intermittently from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., you hardly noticed the time.

Dr. Eugene Ramos, a cardiologist, spoke about the dangers of heart disease and how a proper diet and exercise could prevent or control heart disease and hypertension. Jeannie Javelosa conducted a workshop on breathing techniques and breath awareness and led the class in meditation.

Reiki healer and Dorn practitioner, Jocelyn Belisano, spoke on the causes of disease and conducted Dorn treatment on the participants. Fr. Dennis Paez gave an illuminating talk on emotional detox, pointing out that disease is really disease from blocked energy centers, due to pent-up or over-expressed emotions. We didn?t have a full lunch, yet, no one was hungry.

The ?cocktail? mixtures were given at 5 p.m., 8 p.m., 10 p.m. and at 6 a.m. in your suite. I went to sleep quite easily. I was surprised that not once did I feel discomfort.

Breakfast was served in your room. You went back to the function room and met everyone and compared weight loss. I lost 6 lbs. overnight, and I?ve even lost more.

Dale spoke on proper diet and nutrition?no fads, no carb deprivation, just common sense and proper eating habits.

It all boils down to attitude and to listening to what your body wants and needs. After a flush experience, you will not want to put anything in your body you know will harm it.

By overnight, I changed my lifestyle. I have effortlessly switched to red rice, I eat fish and veggies, and consume lots of fruits. I take malunggay juice in the morning, though it takes getting used to. It helps if you add apples and carrots.

Yes I still have ice cream and cake, but to a minimum. I feel good and I happy. I?m losing weight without starving. And the best part?my clothes are fitting better and I feel much better, physically and emotionally.

The next flush weekend is at Discovery Suites, Sept. 20 and 21. Call Joyce at 0917 823 -6738 or 843 2550.