If you’re leaving to get to work on time, it means you’re inviting your boss into my class, and he’s not allowed in there. And quite frankly, I don’t know one boss in New York City who wouldn’t be lenient if you told him that you have a class where you train really hard in the mornings, and that you’re willing to cut down on your lunch hour or stay an extra fifteen minutes later at the end of the day so you could finish your class without rushing and worrying about being late. Because after a hard training session, your brain is going to be on fire, and you’ll be bringing so much more to the office. You’re working out not just for you, but because you want to be the best team player possible.
A lot of times, getting over procrastination just means you need a jolt of energy to get you over that first hurdle. If so, set the egg timer for a minute or two and do twenty jumping jacks, or as many as you can until the timer goes off. This will get the blood flowing and your brain stimulated. Just jump. Then take a deep breath, jump in the shower, get ready for your task, and do it. You know how good you’re going to feel when the task is done, and then of course you’ll wonder why you kept putting it off.
It’s like that feeling you get when you finally clean out your out-of-control closet. I know how the feeling of where to start can feel paralyzingly overwhelming . . . and then when you’re in the middle of making the piles of clothing you wonder when you’ll ever finish . . . and then at the end, when you have bags of items to donate and you can see the closet floor for the first time in ages, suddenly, you’ve never felt better. Even your thoughts are clearer!
Key to all of this is to focus on the end result before you start. That will keep you going, and going, and going.
FIVE
CREATING SPACE FOR CHANGE
Once you’ve set your intentions and goals for a healthier lifestyle, there is one more thing you need to do before you start. In the next part of the book, I’m going to take you through my LET program, but first you need to get in the mood to crush it. And the way to do that, believe it or not, is to clean up your house. And your car, and your garage. You’re going to get moving to do this. Think of all the calories you’ll be burning while you get rid of stuff that is weighing you down. It’s a win-win, believe me!
“If you have clutter everywhere, you’re telling the universe your thoughts are a jumbled-up mess.”
CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER
Clutter clearing is not the same thing as creative visualization, but as a tool it’s just as important. (Trust me on this: I’ve never heard of anyone stepping over clutter in a visualization—your mind knows how unnecessary it is!) The mental task of deciding what to keep or not, and the physical task of picking it up and figuring out whether to give it away, throw it away, or recycle it lightens your load.
What you surround yourself with is extremely important to your ability to lose weight and keep it off and to improve your overall well-being. How you feel about yourself and your body is reflected in your home, car, and office. If you have clutter everywhere, you’re telling the universe your thoughts are a jumbled-up mess. If your house is dirty, you are telling the universe you don’t respect your living space. If you buy clothes you know you’ll never wear and your closets are filled to bursting, you’re telling the universe you’re filling a void that is replacing your common sense.
SG TRUTH I have way too many things. I need to do this myself, believe me, and I do it often but not enough. I have clothes everywhere, in every closet, on every rolling rack in my office, everywhere. But it is 90 percent organized, and there is always room to improve. . . . My girlfriend is asking me in this very moment to get a pair of my sneakers out of her office. Believe me, the cleanup never ends!
I absolutely love clearing my clutter—when I eventually get to it. I know that part isn’t easy. You have to schedule the time like a doctor’s appointment—and not cancel on yourself! I finally got around to the long-overdue clear-out thanks to my mentor, Tony Robbins. And yes, I’m the first to admit that my closets have been known to get a bit too full and my shoe collection takes up several walls in my office.
This task should not fill you with anxiety. Please don’t think of it as me telling you to get rid of everything. I’m not asking you to be in denial about or erase your past, or to be defensive about the reasons that led you to buy or obtain certain items. I’ve held on to plenty of things that I’ll never wear or use, but since they were given to me by someone important, I cherish them for their sentimental value. Maybe I’ll keep all of them, or maybe I’ll keep just a few.
I was reminded of this when, one day, a friend’s seven-year-old looked at the pile of all the drawings she’d done in her life—the huge pile her mother had kept because she loved all of them—and asked her mom, “Why do you have all of them? Some of them are really bad! Throw them away!” This child was a better editor of her own work than her mother would ever be. She didn’t feel the need to keep something just because she’d done it. What a smart little girl!
When you’re getting ready to start a decluttering session, find a slot where you won’t be interrupted. You don’t want to have to rush, as that’s when you’ll accidentally throw something out you meant to keep or just get fed up or frustrated and quit in the middle. I suggest that you start small and take it slow.
Focus on one area at a time. Don’t expect to clear the clutter all at once. Get out your trusty egg timer and set it for ten minutes at first. Stop when it dings.
Keep going, in ten-minute increments, if you have the momentum and are able to be honest and ruthless. If not, fix a date for the next session and set the timer for fifteen minutes for that session. It’s much easier to handle this kind of task when you know it will be over soon or that you can do it in small sessions.
Be prepared for how you’re going to feel. Clutter clearing is extremely empowering, but it can also trigger a lot of memories and the painful kind of thinking this book will help you leave behind, things like “Why did I waste so much money on this dress?” or “Was I ever this skinny?” The goal should be to look at your clutter and say, “I know somebody else really needs it and will love wearing this coat I never wore,” or “I am going to buy nice new clothes that fit me perfectly and enhance my figure now.” Whatever the internal dialogue you choose, make sure you stay positive with the affirmations, and never forget that you are your biggest cheerleader!
Ultimately, what I want you to do is fall out of love with your unnecessary possessions, and fall in love with what really matters.
For today, let’s start with the kitchen, because that’s where the food is.
How to Do a Kitchen Cleanse
The only way to have the healthy, strong body you want is by eating the right foods. If the foods you can’t resist are sitting on your pantry shelves, you’re going to eat them when the cravings hit. So let’s get cleansing.
First, get some large trash bags, some large recycling bags, and some large cardboard boxes.
SG TRUTH In our fridge at home we have things “on tap” like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, oranges, pineapple, sliced watermelon, and lots of water. They’re right there on every shelf when you open the door so all your eyes see are healthy choices. In the cupboard drawers we have carbs like dark pretzels and granola bars, so there’s always something grab-able and good for us.
Ditch these into the trash:
•All food that’s expired.
•All stale dried herbs and spices (anything you’ve had for longer than a year that’s lost its potency—sniff or taste the herb or spice if you’re not sure).
•All frozen food that’s been in the freezer longer than six months or has passed its best-by date. At the very least, it’ll have freezer burn and will not taste good.
Place these in the boxes for donation to your local food pantry, because you know there’s nothing worse than wasting food, even if it isn’t very healthy:
•All unexpired dry/canned goods that you forgot about or know you won’t eat.<
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•All packaged junk food.
Recycle:
•Any empty bottles or containers that you bought or kept for storage but never actually used.
Replace with:
•Nutritious food.
Clean out the refrigerator and defrost the freezer while you’re at it. Rearrange your pantry or cabinet shelves by category (grains on one shelf, legumes on another, etc.). Place the less-used or unhealthy items like flour and sugar on high shelves so you won’t see them when you open the cabinets.
How to Do a Closet Cleanse
Next, move on to your clothes and shoes, closets and drawers. It’s tough to be ruthless because there is often a sentimental attachment to articles of clothing. That’s okay. You can keep items that are important to you. Just not all of them!
As with food, get large trash bags and boxes.
Ditch these into the trash, cut them up for use as rags, or set them aside as playthings for your kids:
•Anything that’s torn, stained, falling apart, and/or beyond repair.
•Underwear, bras, and swimsuits that have lost their elasticity or support, and orphan socks.
Remove these and place in bags or boxes for donation* (be sure to ask for receipts, as donations are tax deductible):
•Anything that never fit and never will.
•Anything that reminds you of a bad time in your life.
•Anything that isn’t your style but was so expensive/bought on a whim/was super-marked down and the best bargain of your life so you fell for it anyway. If you’ve never worn it, it wasn’t a bargain even if it was 90 percent off!
•Anything you’ve worn only once, even if you still like it.
•Anything you haven’t worn in the last year, unless it has sentimental value and/or is a special-occasion item you know you’re going to need for your nephew’s wedding in a few months.
*For high-ticket items, consignment shops will pay you when the items sell. There are even online consignment sites likes Vestiaire that make the selling extremely easy, no matter where you live. Charities like Goodwill or shelters are always in need. No matter what you paid for it, clothing you donate will always be worth more to someone who can actually use it. This is also one of those good-karma moments in your life. Give it away!
Keep these:
•Clothing and shoes you wear all the time.
•Clothing and shoes you wear for special events so you don’t have to buy anything new. (Panic buying usually leads to never-gonna-wear-it-after-all mistakes!)
•Your grandmother’s favorite cashmere sweater, even though it doesn’t fit and it’s so out of style you’d never wear it in public.
•Special-occasion clothes you rarely wear but need to have (formal wear, a business suit if you work in a nonbusiness job, etc.).
•One item in your goal size, if and only if that helps you. For some people, having a wonderful article of clothing in the closet as Goal Pants or a Goal Little Black Dress is a great motivator—because losing the weight and finally wearing it is proof of your hard work and dedication. If that’s not you, get rid of it!
Replace with:
•Clothing and shoes that fit you now, are comfortable, stylish, and make you feel good. When you lose weight, you can have too-large items fixed. Here’s a fashion tip—practically any article of clothing can be altered by a good tailor. Smart women save a bundle by buying nondesigner clothes and having them tailored. It’s amazing how much better clothing looks when it fits you perfectly. Don’t forget that the donation sites for couture clothing also sell things! So if you’re looking for something high end, start there first before you head to the department store. You may find an expensive item at 70 percent off.
SG TRUTH I finally caved and hired a closet organizer. She saved me about two full days of cleaning and tossing anything I didn’t feel I could “release.” If you can afford a professional organizer to help you, do it. He or she will have zero attachment to any of your things and will help you make smart choices you’re unable to face on your own. It will be money well spent!
How to Do a Bathroom Cleanse
Now that you have nice, organized closets and drawers, it’s time to move on to the room many people ignore. Instead of looking at your bathroom as a space you need to use, consider it as a space you want to use—your sanctuary. It’s kind of hard to have your own Spiritual Bath space if the shelves are lined with yucky old nearly empty bottles of shampoo!
Ditch these:
•The scale. I never weigh myself. I don’t need to and you don’t, either. Weight fluctuates so much that constant (especially daily) weighing can truly impede your weight-loss progress, and I have always monitored my weight by how well my clothes fit. (For the record, I weigh 143 pounds and am usually a size 6.) You should do the same.
Muscle weighs more than fat, so if you’re working out a lot more than in the past, you might weigh the same but actually have dropped several sizes and lowered your BMI, or Body Mass Index. That’s what counts. The way your clothes fit your body is all that matters. This is the best way to keep on top of yourself. You don’t want to get bigger than your clothes—and if you do, please go to your physician for a physical. (You might have a thyroid condition or something else going on that could be affecting your metabolism. This is especially important if you have any sudden weight gain or loss.) And, if you still feel the need to see that number, hide the scale in the back of your closet, inside a suitcase, and weigh yourself no more than once a month.
•Beauty products you don’t use or never liked. As with clothing, you can have a cabinet full of items that might have looked good when the salesperson talked you into forking over the cash, but they don’t suit you. If they’re unopened, donate them to your local shelter. If not, toss it out, or donate it with your clothing (this is safe to do as long as you ditch any applicators and wipe any lipsticks with an alcohol-saturated tissue. The only exceptions are mascara and eye liner—these should be thrown out).
•Beauty items that have expired. Powders last longer than creamy products. Sunscreen expires after about a year, even though the packaging might say up to three years. Check the box or bottle carefully.
Replace with:
•Items that entice all your senses. I love my SB by SG bath products and use them every day. I also have my scented candles near the bath, and thick towels. My bath time is my time to unwind. Your bathroom should be a haven, not just a place to brush your teeth and poop.
How to Clear Your Living Room/Family Room
Many people have rooms with way too much stuff in them. Move things around so there is a clear flow of energy. I often suggest that you use this room for exercising, because there should be a TV or a table where you can set up a computer so you can do your workouts to music and/or along with a professional teacher/coach/trainer on the screen, and you’ll have space to move around. You need to choose a room where you’re most likely to do the workouts easily, without distractions. You also need a portable box filled with exercise bands, small hand weights, and a nonskid yoga mat for padding.
Ditch these:
•Furniture that’s broken, stained, or not comfortable anymore.
•Small items like vases and souvenirs that are just gathering dust.
Keep these:
•What you love, what you use, and what’s comfortable. Donate the rest, as long as it’s in good condition.
How to Do a Garage/Basement/Attic Cleanse
Many of my fellow New Yorkers don’t have to worry about excess clutter in attics or garages, as they live in apartments far smaller than many homes outside of the city. Most buildings charge for storage, too, which limits how much stuff you can accumulate. It’s amazing to realize how much you don’t need when you know you have to pay a large monthly fee to store it!
If you do have an attic, basement, and/or garage, they can be ideal spots for the clutter you know you should get rid of—but don’t have to because you have the space to hide it away.
Don’t let this be an excuse, because having nice clean and empty spaces atop and below where you live is wonderfully freeing. Clutter is heavy energy. You need clear channels all around you!
Ditch these:
•Anything you don’t need.
•Anything in a box that’s been there for so long you couldn’t even remember what it was and why you saved it.
•Broken tools and half-empty containers of decades-old antifreeze or paint.
SG TRUTH Now that there is a wallet on my cell phone with a thumbprint code, an Uber app where you don’t need cash to pay for a ride, and Apple Pay at most stores, leaving your wallet at home doesn’t have the worst repercussions—but leaving your phone does! Ha!
HOW TO NEVER FORGET YOUR KEYS AGAIN
I’m the kind of person who just plunges into a swimming pool, so I used to playfully chide the double-checkers—you know, those who have to test the water temperature first and then take twenty minutes to finally get in. But then I got over myself when I realized they had a system, and that I was the one who needed a system for all the things I was forgetting to double-check. Like what was in my wallet and pockets and bag when I left the house and then realized I’d forgotten something essential. Like, um, my keys.
What I finally figured out was that you need to clear the clutter to alleviate chaos before you leave. It’s the only way you can follow through with your intentions and have peace. Believe me, if you’re hours away from home and realize you don’t have your house keys, you are not going to have a peaceful moment until you figure out what to do!
So what I’ve seared into my brain is my leaving-the-house High Five. (A friend of mine calls this the Idiot Check—as in, if you forget anything, you’re the idiot!) Keys, wallet, cell phone, charger, smile. Five items so I can High Five myself.
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