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Tip of the Week: Clear Your Clutter: Lose the Weight

Do you have a lot of clutter and a lot of weight you want to lose? That's no coincidence.

For some people, there is a direct correlation between clutter and overeating. Both require a certain amount of self-regulation. This doesn't mean that you're lazy or messy, it just means that you might not have been taught the skills to manage things that need ongoing attention. I often recommend to people that want to lose weight to start by clearing out their clutter (yes, that means the basement and the garage, too). Why is that?

Here are a few reasons:

Our outer world reflects our inner world. More order in our living environment makes us calmer inside our minds.
Many people have reported that when their kitchens are clean they are more likely to cook good meals for themselves and less likely to just run in there and grab something.
The process of creating systems and de-cluttering actually reshapes your brain and creates new neural pathways that help you stick to other types of commitments (like eating well and exercising regularly).
When things are tidy there isn't this constant feeling that there is something that needs to be done and you can actually rest, relax and recharge (which leads to less stress eating).

Give it a try. Clean things up. Keep them Clean. And see how it affects your weight.


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30 Comments In the order they were posted.

shaun said...

motivation is lose 50 to 70 pounds of my body fat l will be glad if u can help mi out.pls

Mamahuhu said...

This article is right on the money. In 2000, the mess in my house finally got to me. I started cleaning and got rid of tons of junk, helped by a book called the New Messies Manual. It said that decluttering often led to weight loss. In 2004, I started losing weight, using an on-line food diary. I lost 55 pounds in a year and have kept it off. My life has changed completely for the better.

Jenn said...

This makes sense - I am going to start decluttering today - as I have five days off work! Thanks.

pollen said...

hi MAMAHUHU , can u give address with of on-line food diary ? thanks in advance

Lisa said...

I have always been a messy person, probably b/c I had a Mom and older sister who would clean up for me so when I married, it was a disaster, my husband is a neat person, and he was real frustrated with my messiness. I have learned to take my messes one basket at a time, and to get decluttered. This is truth, it does really help with the weight loss, and the mental change! How do you feel when you go to a resort/hotel and everything is clean? Relaxed!! Make your surroundings neat orderly and you will relax too which can only lead to a happier you!

Pat said...

Yes, I agree. I know from experience that when my house is clean, and clutter free, I feel so much better and I am better able to be in control my eating habits. For the last 3 years my life as been out of control and I have gained 26 lbs. This came from emotional eating. I plan to declutter a lot in my home next week while on spring break. Thanks for the article.

Greg said...

Wow, what resistance I feel welling up as I read this tip. Don't make me clean out my messes! I guess that means there's really something there for me to uncover. This may really be a revelation in my journey to conquering emotional eating. Thanks for the tip!

Meredith said...

this is such a great idea - now if only i could convince my husband

Deatra said...

YES I totally agree and feel that clutter stresses me out .BUT ! who do you give the bags of clothes to? besides the salvation army and good will? I want to give to the REAL NEEDY!

Rozan said...

to Deatra, Most communities have women and children shelters that always need clothes also the Catholic Church in your area probably has a program for the poor and needy. As for the tip I believe this is so true as when things are cluttered it is overwhelming to me and I choose to eat guess I better choose to clean from now on!

Pat said...

I want to join Shrink yourself. Anyone that has responded today a member? I just want to make sure it's legit. I've been scammed over the internet before with my cc.

Patricia said...

It is a great program...worth every penny. It is not easy--makes you work through some emotinal stuff but I lost weight and I still work the exercises when I feel like binging. Good luck!

Pat said...

Thank you. I'll do it!

mamahuhu said...

Pollen: sorry, I just saw your question. It's My Food Diary www.myfooddiary.com.

Ann said...

To Deatra and All, I used to and at times still think it's my responsibility to decide who gets my unneeded possessions. It is enough that you are able to do the decluttering. God, the Universe is the one who knows to whom those items should go to. Same for weight reduction. If we just do what we learn here the mental decluttering, the excess fat will go without any great effort on our part.

Nuala said...

Deatra - I used to thinik the same way you did - I wanted to find the perfect "home" for things I was giving away. I read the Messies Manual and found out this was a thought process common to people who have a lot of clutter. The charities Goodwill , Women's Shelters etc are set up to do that quite well. Ann is right - just getting the clutter out is fantastic - we can let ohers do their jobs and then we have more time to care for ourselves.

Pat said...

I'm picky too as to whom I think should get the items I want to donate. I usually ask a friend if they know of someone that could use the items and will 'appreciate' them. Their are many people out there who need the extras that we have. Yes, I agree, Goodwill, Women's Shelters are equipped to do this. I've got to learn to 'just let go'. As a matter of fact I asked a girl on my job today if she knew of anyone that could use pots, pan, dishes. She said yes. I started packing these items when I got home today. By the way, I'm in galveston county, we are still recovering from Hurricane IKE. So there are those that can use what I have.

Tina said...

I don't know about this clutter thing because I have a friend who is pretty thin and her place is always very cluttered but she's happy with the way it is. And she never allows her weight to get out of control.

Michelle said...

There are no absolutes but I've noticed that if you have both issues: clutter and weight you want to lose - that clearing the clutter helps with the weight.

Dolores said...

You should never be afraid who gets you clutter. You probably have it sitting there for years. Whoever gets it God probably intended it for them. Anyway your judge by the genorosity of the heart. And by the way isn't this about you losing weight!

janis said...

How do you get your husband on line. When his comment is why do you buy new things and then give your things away. Understand these are things that I have had for the better part of 20 years. Maybe they don't fit or I just don't want to wear them anymore. I agree that the clutter does weight you down,but it is hard to give it away.

April said...

To the person who thinks the Salvation Army is not for the REAL needy, I am a single parent and they have helped me with affordable childcare and summer camp as well as with food, probably funded by donations. Even though you cannot see where your donations go or the proceeds from your donations go, they are helping someone somewhere down the line.

GeenaZ said...

How do I stop feeling that I have thousands of $s in cash I ought to sell before donating. I feel powerless to act either way, always feeling "too busy" overwhelmed. I am extremely fit but do emotionally overeat binge and hate feeling bloated ill. Yes, due to clutter, messes' stress.

Loupy said...

This is true. At 62, I am still rebelling against my mother. Our house was so clean you could eat off the floors and it was never comfortable to me. My house is lived in...very lived in. I just don't want to turn into my mother and make things and cleaning more important than people. We are basically happy...just messy. If it's all cleaned up, it doesn't "feel" like my home. What do I do about that???

Jo-anne said...

So very, very thrue!!!! My table is full with administration, my rooms clutter to the top, and I'm hading behind my clutter, and my extra weight!!!! What a exylent timing on this emai! Few hours ago I started to clean my administration! Thank you, for your usually very confronting emails!

Nancy said...

Everyone's comments are great! I know for myself, if my home is dirty/messy, I feel dirty/messy. I wish my home looked like one of those model homes - everything in it's place. What do you do when you live with two people husband and son who are messy and you feel absolutely overwhelmed - about the mess and the weight?

Jackie said...

Great tip! Our house, etc always seems in a state of chaos. After years of trying to organize things and having others create more stress and clutter I finally gave up. I felt exhausted and depressed. It's interesting to learn that a persons external world can be a reflection of their internal world. Definitely need to create some new systems and start to reorganize, again. I found Greg's comment interesting. Just wondering what my mess is hiding. Just reflecting on the tip I also think having a less well stocked fridge also eliminates clutter and confusion and helps me make healthier food choices. I don't think I really appreciated how overwhelming I found excess abundant fruit and veg. Thanks for the tip!

Mi said...

My place is so cluttered and it feels 'heavy', I find de-cluttering so difficult and the connection to losing weight really makes sense.

PA said...

Hi All, Also, livestrong.com is a super site to post calories....SO easy and other incredible info.

LK said...

I notice that when my house gets too messy, I cant think straight or concentrate as well. It is an amazing connection. Anytime I have an important task or decision to work on, I clean up the house first. It's weird but it really helps me.

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Shrink Yourself

End Emotional Eating

Tip of the Week: Clear Your Clutter: Lose the Weight

End
Emotional
Eating