Healthy Weight

Food-Clutter Principles

April 18, 2008 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

In the book Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?: an easy plan for weight loss and living more (Free Press 2008) Peter Walsh suggests several “food-clutter principles”. One of those principles is “organize where, how and what you eat as the fist step toward achieving your ideal body”.

Remember in the post from March 12, 2008 I talked about planning a weekly menu? Did you do it? Do you have a plan for eating healthy? By organizing your menu (and part of your life) you can gain a sense of control which will help you make consistent healthy food choices.

Well, at least plan tomorrow’s menu…that’s a tiny step.

Organization for Healthy Living

April 15, 2008 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

I have really enjoyed reading the book by Peter Walsh entitled Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?: an easy plan for losing weight and living more (Free Press 2008). It has many tips and ideas that can empower you to clear clutter from your life.

In the book the author proposes “clutter principles”. One of those principles is “live firmly in the present, not the past or the future.” It asks the question: Are you holding onto things you don’t use and if you are why? Do you have more stuff than space?

You have the space you have. If your house isn’t welcoming because it full of stuff, you won’t spend time there and you can’t expect to enjoy meals there. The author states “You must respect the limits of the physical space that you have because if you don’t the space can’t function and your vision is lost.” The author further states ” “You can’t lose weight if your home is out of control.”

If you are holding on to things you don’t use or don’t love, figure out why. Is it the memory, was it a gift or does it represent hope, guilt, or fear? If you don’t love it or use it, it has no place in your physical space.

What one thing can you get rid of today that you don’t love or use?

Clearing Clutter to Live the Life You Want

April 12, 2008 by clutterbusting Leave a Comment

Peter Walsh in his new book Does This Clutter Make My Butt look Fat?: an easy plan for losing weight and living more (Free Press 2008) says “clutter gets in the way of living the life you want…you need to clarify your priorities so that you can make choices to get rid of stuff.” He adds “…as your space becomes clutter-free and pleasant its easier to see your priorities and to make the right choices…”

Did you clear one hot spot as suggested in a recent post? I did. I cleaned my beside table.

Fuel Your Body

March 31, 2008 by clutterbusting 1 Comment

I had to end on the last day of National Nutrition Month® with a nutrition note.

Here are a few suggestions for fueling your body:

Make healthy eating easy. Have you been doing that weekly menu discussed in a previous post? If not, why not start now.
Eat nutrient dense foods. Can you add another serving of whole grains to your menu? Can you eliminate one high-sugar food?
Eat a variety of foods. Have you tried any quinoa recipes yet? I did. The Asparagus Quinoa Soup recipe was excellent!
Eat consciously and stop eating when you first feel full. Are you eating with the TV on? Try eating without the TV or reading or other distractions for a week. What is different?

Which suggestion from above will you focus on this week?

Weight Loss is Hard Work or is it?

March 17, 2008 by clutterbusting 4 Comments

Even as a Registered Dietitian I have had my own share of weight woes and have read many books on the topic for personal and professional reference. One such book is Body for Life® for Women: a woman’s plan for physical and mental transformation (Rodale 2005) by Pamela Peeke, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P. In the book Dr. Peeke suggests woman should accept that achieving and sustaining a mental and physical transformation takes work. She states “…mental and physical sweat, intensity, mindfulness, focus – all the things , by the way, that you apply to your job, your kids, and your relationships. Why shouldn’t you expend the same energy on yourself? Humbly accept that your self-care will take work, and you’ll make the journey so much easier.”

From a different perspective Authors Marla Cilley and Leanne Ely of Body Clutter: love your body, love yourself (Fireside 2005) write “Losing weight is not a game we play. It is not a challenge we take on to beat someone by losing more weight than she can. This is a lifelong attitude adjustment. It is okay that we are just now making the decision to change. We can jump in right where we are and not look back, but only look forward. This is not the hard work you have forced yourself to believe it is; wellness is a choice to live a balanced life. It’s not work unless we make it that way.”