IT’S my house that’s overweight. Not me.
Chips and chocolate aren’t my problem.
It’s that pile of newspapers on the coffee table, my scattergun shoe cupboard, and pantry packed with “aspirational’’ out-of-date jars of quince paste, baby capers, and wattleseed.
I could drop 5kg just sorting out the cupboard under the kitchen sink and reorganising the linen press. Easy peasy.
Aussie organisational expert and Oprah regular Peter Walsh says when it comes to clearing clutter (the fat in our homes) it isn’t about the stuff itself, it’s about the life you want to live in the body you want.
In his new book, Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat? Pete tells us that diets don’t work because they focus on what foods we should and shouldn’t eat, but completely ignore everything else that makes us fat.
He reckons that the secret to successfully losing weight is to forget about calorie counting and weekly weigh-ins and to focus on how, why, and where you eat.
Let me count the ways . . .
The PR blurb boasts that: “This book shows you how to clean up not just the spaces where you eat, but the routines around them; from planning meals and shopping to dinnertime rituals.
“Peter knows all the pitfalls and all the excuses. He gives you the tools (and courage) you need to get over all your excuses, face the issues, and make the change to a better life.’’I know quite a few skinny slobs and just as many chubby neat-freaks. So what’s their excuse?Apparently, there’s a medical reason for messy people carrying extra kilos.
It goes something like this: stress induces the hormone cortisol. Cortisol elevates your blood sugar levels, therefore insulin is produced to help regulate your blood sugar. That, in turn, makes you hungry.
We’ve all been there, haven’t we? When a crisis strikes, pass the Tim Tams.
Another one of Pete’s theories is that chaos keeps us from having the time and desire to eat well and exercise.
Living in chaos? I think I covered that in the first column.
Just for the record, I went to the gym on Wednesday . . . for the first time in four weeks. (Hey, I’ve been really busy!)The work-out helped erase the not so distant memory of that two all-beef pattie, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickle and onion on a sesame seed bun that I ate the night before on the way home.
The gym felt good, like I knew that it would, so the James Brown song goes, but it’s tough making a commitment to exercise when you lead a hectic life.
My advice is, get a gym buddy who’ll drag you there, kicking and screaming.
But seriously folks, losing weight is not rocket science. If you stand in front of an oncoming bus, you’re going to get hurt.
If you sit on the couch in front of the TV every night drinking and eating takeaway, you’re going to get fat. Period. End of story.
Don’t blame your tubby tummy or thunder thighs on gland problems. No-one is big boned or inherits fat supercells - whatever they are.
Your life choices have consequences. There is no magic cure for being overweight. And food is not some hypnotic, evil force against which we are powerless.
Food is delicious. It gives us energy. Eating is joyous. It should give us pleasure, pleasure that we share with our friends and family.
You know as well as I do what constitutes a healthy diet: lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, some lean protein, and whole grains.
We know how to eat right, we just don’t do it.
And remember to exercise. You gotta move it to lose it.
So, here’s my challenge, or invitation, to you to join me on the Bendigo Bank Lakeside Fun Run on Sunday, November 9.
We’ll tackle the 5km circuit together - walk or run - as a team. The boss says he’ll even pick up the entry-fee tab for the first 10 readers who sign up.
Not only will we get out in the fresh air and have a laugh, we’ll be raising money for Bendigo Health’s Sanctuary for Kids Appeal.
You can email suem@bendigoadvertiser.com.au or SMS your name and address details to 0428 302 646 and we’ll send you an entry form.
- SUSAN MASTERS is the Advertiser’s News Editor.
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