A few months ago, I set out to lose 22.6 pounds, then to put back on at least half of it.

Huh? Anybody who's ever found herself stuck on a yo-yo diet is probably thinking that I am either crazy or planning way too hard for inevitable yo-yo heartaches. However, my plan is more sneaky than that.

First, I want to lose this rubber tire I've been carrying around my waist. Have you ever gotten stuck inside a rubber tire? It's not a pretty site.

Then, I want to put back some of that weight in form of muscle. It's my grand master plan to change my shape from looking like a silly pear to looking like an upside down silly pear.

Will it work?

I think I have "silly" part figured out. And so far, I have lost14.6 pounds, but I think I really lost a few more, because I have been getting ahead of schedule on adding those muscle pounds.

I would love to tell you what my weight is now, but that's very private information. Why should it be so private? I am not 100% certain, but I believe it is so that people can easily move between Earth and Moon without being detected by hidden scales. (Why people keep their age private is subject of my column on aging gracefully at http://www.thehappyguy.com/aging-gracefully.html .)

While there is more to healthy dieting than a few tips, these ten dieting tips should help you laugh away a few pounds (What a great way to lose!). Hint: tips are serious; explanations are not.

Tip #1: Never eat before bed. This is just common sense. It is so much more fun to eat IN bed.

Tip #2: Bake, don't fry. This is also common sense. Baking allows you to retain more friendships. When you bake in sun, you get a nice tan and go for a dip in pool to cool off with your friends. But when you fry, you get a sunburn and don't dare go in shower for a week...which scares your friends away.

Tip #3: Drink plenty of water before meals. This will help you eat less during meal. After all, few people can over-eat consistently while rushing off to bathroom.

MRSA occurs most frequently among persons in healthcare facilities and hospitals. Furthermore, some patients are at higher risks for MRSA, such as: patients having prolonged hospital stays, patients enclosed in an ICU (intensive care unit) or burn unit, patients who've had recent surgery; and even those who've had minor hospital procedures such as urinary or intravenous catherization.

Purportedly, rough estimates of persons hospitalized each year for MRSA infections number as much as 100,000.

* Are you at risk for MRSA? MRSA can be key invader that causes abscesses; boils, pneumonia, bone infections, and can even contaminate cuts such as accidental wounds or surgical incisions made by catheters or other surgical procedures. Initially, MRSA is a local infection, but can rapidly introduce dangerous toxins into body's blood causing blood poisoning.

* How is MRSA Prevented? Because MRSA is most commonly spread through skin contact, it can be widely contained by adhering to simple hygienic practices. Using proper hand washing and sufficient staff training can almost nearly eliminate possibility of patients contracting MRSA. In addition, avoiding physical contact with other people's wounds or contaminated wound material is helpful in preventing MRSA infection.

If you think you have a staph or MRSA infection, you should see your healthcare provider immediately. Delaying medical care can result in death.