Lose Clutter, Lose Weight, Peter Walsh Says in New Book

— -- Andrea Rothschild says she’s tried countless diets over the years.

“I've tried getting rid of all the sugar in my life,” Rothschild said. “I've tried a lot of deprivation-type diets.”

Now, she’s hoping to shed 20 to 30 pounds by getting rid of the clutter in her home.

Author Peter Walsh says there’s a link between mess, increased stress and weight gain, and he writes about it in his new book “Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight: The Six-Week Total-Life Slim Down.”

Scroll down to read an excerpt from the book.

In an interview with ABC News, Walsh said research shows that people who live in “cluttered” environments experience rising levels of stress.

“Once the stress increases, hormone levels increase. Now, the result of that is that you start to overeat,” Walsh said.

Rothschild, a public relations executive from Studio City, California, is willing to give the concept a try, and starts with her messy fridge. Walsh helps her get rid of the old food, making room for healthier items, including some which she purchased at a farmers’ market.

The refrigerator was divided into zones for storing different types of products. This makes it easier to cook at home, rather than order take-out, Walsh said.

They then tackled Rothschild’s untidy pantry and her closet.

“When you step in here I want you to feel like every single thing in here I love, it fits me and people compliment me on it,” Walsh told Rothschild.

Rothschild goes from being overwhelmed to feeling overjoyed.

“I feel a little lighter because there's just not all this clutter. There's not this confusion,” she said.

Nanette Cooley was part of a test panel for Walsh’s book. The Pennsylvania woman says her new, decluttered lifestyle led to a 50-pound weight loss.

“I think by uncluttering things, getting rid of the junk … I wasn't feeling stressed over the mess at home,” she said. “I was able to come home on the weekend and relax, and then more focus and more energy on what I needed to do to take care of myself.”

It gave her more time to dedicate to her weight-loss goals and to make healthy food choices at home.

“I feel healthy. I feel more confident. I feel like I have more energy,” she said.

Along with de-cluttering and eating healthy, at-home exercises are key, according to Walsh. These including performing kitchen counter tricep push-ups and even shoulder presses using canned goods.

“Lifestyle change is what it's all about," Walsh said.

BOOK EXCERPT
Lose the Clutter, Lose the Weight: The Six-Week Total-Life Slim Down