by Marla Cilley and Leanne Ely
FlyLady and Company, $17.95
Purchase Body Clutter
Marla Cilley, aka FlyLady, has devised a sure-fire way to reduce household clutter: Take "baby steps" toward new habits and celebrate small successes. Now she's teamed with Leanne Ely, aka the Dinner Diva, to tackle those pounds of fat that "clutter" the bodies of so many women.
The authors liken fad diets to "stash and dash" housecleaning. Clutter stashed in closets or under beds comes back to haunt you because you haven't dealt with the habits that created it—you've just hidden it temporarily. Many readers will recognize themselves in the book's descriptions of denial (if I don't get on the scale, my weight gain isn't real), all-or-nothing perfectionism (now that I've eaten that cookie, I might as well eat the whole package), and self-soothing (I've had such an awful day, I deserve a treat).
Cilley and Ely write from personal experience. To stay on track, they suggest:
- Stock your shelves with healthful food. Cilley and Ely focus on stay-at-home moms, but their advice can be easily adapted to office meals and snacks.
- Stop being a "martyr." Skipping a meal is a sure setup for overeating at the next one, or snacking throughout the day.
- Get yourself at least one million-dollar outfit. Don't play the game of not buying new clothes until you reach your target weight. Find ways to start feeling good about yourself right now.
This book would be even more helpful if it addressed exercise at greater length or provided specific guidelines. Women with ADHD need all the structure they can get when trying to change long-term habits.
Despite these omissions, Body Clutter is a helpful addition to the crowded field of weight-loss books. Instead of offering yet another unrealistic diet, it offers a generous helping of wisdom and support and focuses on what most books leave out—the psychology behind chronic disordered eating.
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