How To Lose A LOT of Weight

I love the book Organized Simplicity.  I was so convincing in singing its praises to my mom that she bought one for each of my sisters and SILs.  (Then she sent me a check for the price because my mom is like that.)

Marianne told me to keep telling my mom how much I like books.

There have been many, many, many books and magazine articles written about decluttering.

Here is my advice: make it a pleasant experience.  It makes it much easier...and more likely to be successful.

1. Don't get overwhelmed.

Divide your rooms amongst months or weeks or days if you're really an eager beaver.  Doing one little bit at a time helps you focus and when you focus, you notice things you had become numb to.

2. Let time do the work for you.

Back in December, I turned all the hangers in my closet backward.  When I wear something, I turn the hanger back.  Without even thinking about it, I have come to realize what I'm wearing and what I'm not.  In June, everything with a backward hanger is going away.

3. Don't feel guilty.

It is painful for me to waste money and sometimes I don't want to get rid of things that I spent money on.  I feel guilty if it's perfectly good.  It's not doing me any good (or making me feel any less guilty) by taking up space though.  Let it go.

4. Find a worthy recipient.

I love seeing my children's old clothes on my nieces and nephews.  It is easy to give something away when you know it is appreciated.  If you find a good charity for all of the things your sisters aren't interested in, that helps.  Considering how you are blessing someone else's life with the dress that never fit you quite right makes it easier to pass on.

5. Separate your memories from your stuff.

We have stuffed animals around here.  Too too many.  There's a bin in my boys' closet filled with stuffed animals.  Inside is the Donald Duck I got at Disneyland when I was growing up.  I've hung onto it because I loved that trip.  I don't need the Donald Duck inside a bin in my boys' closet to remind me that I loved that trip though.  I hope Donald makes someone else happy.

6. Involve family members only in moderation.

Sometimes you need helpers...like when you're wondering if their clothes still fit or if they're still interested in reading a stack of books.  Sometimes, they are no help.  More often than not, they will never wonder what happened to the random/broken/never-played-with toy.  (But will be upset if they see you getting rid of it.)  Be sneaky.

7. Finally, prevent future clutter.

Marianne taught me this:  an elephant for a quarter is only a good deal if you have a quarter and need an elephant.  I am addicted to finding a bargain and it is hard to pass up a good buy.  I try not to buy anything that I don't have an immediate use (or place) for.  Also, I try to remember the sting of getting rid of past unwise purchases.


Taking boxes out of your house, boxes full of things you no longer need but that someone else may love, is a fabulous feeling.  It reminds me of how it felt as a child when winter was over and I no longer had to wear heavy snowboots.  Light and free.

It's the best way to lose A LOT of weight (and still get to eat chocolate).