Claudia Zapata

"You cannot make the healthiest choices for you and your family in a cluttered, messy, disorganized space. It simply cannot be done," says Peter Walsh, organizational guru and author of "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" (Free Press, $25).

"Focus on your space first," Walsh says, "because if you don't have a physical space that nurtures you, and nourishes you, and creates a place of peace, calm, and motivation, how can you possibly have a balanced life?"

When you walk into a kitchen and can't see a clear surface or find what you need, Walsh says you're likely to enter default mode and grab one of two things: the car keys or the telephone. "Take out or eat out — the easy and the not good," he says.

Originally hesitant to write what he insists is not a diet book, Walsh says he made the connection between fat and clutter after years of helping people clean house. Overeating and amassing "stuff" really aren't that different, he says. "The reasons people go out and buy stuff are the same reasons people have problems with food: to deal with a bad day at work, or a crappy boss, to reward themselves, or distract themselves."

And just as overeating isn't about the food, clutter isn't about "stuff." Both are about underlying issues, such as fear of loss, or dealing with trauma, or holding on to a memory. If you don't focus on what's going on inside, Walsh says, "you never get organized. Ever."

He says tackling clutter begins with asking, "What is the life you want? What does it look like? What does your home look like?" Once that's answered, you have to take a "fat tour" and ask yourself whether your "stuff" fits into the plan. "Does the item help you create that life? Does it move you closer to that life? If it does, hold on to it. If it doesn't, what is it doing in your house?" Walsh asks.

After you clear the physical space, you end up asking the same questions about other aspects of your life, including the health choices you make. "It's transformative," says Walsh, who has seen many a client shed pounds after shedding extraneous "stuff."

And just as your bedroom should be a sanctuary, a kitchen should be a place of nourishment. That means getting rid of all the fat, and allowing your eating space to breathe again. One way to start is the "one-month cardboard box test." Put all your gadgets and utensils into a box and, for the next month, every time you use a spatula or a slotted spoon, put it back in the kitchen drawer. Unless it's the turkey baster, whatever's left in the box after the month should go.

A "quick purge" is another Walsh strategy. "Start at one end of the kitchen and spend half an hour just zooming through. Grab anything you don't need or use or want and toss it out," he advises.

Meanwhile, the pantry is really about the planning. Consider writing out a one- to two-week meal plan and shop according to that plan.

"Your pantry has to be the staging area for creating the kind of meals that you want," he says.

Forget excuses. I tried the "but who has the time?" rationale, but straight-talking Walsh isn't having it.

"Here's the deal: If you're not prepared to make a commitment to creating the kind of life you want, who is going to do that for you?" he asks.

And finally, how long does it take to organize?

"As fast as you can make a decision," says Cynthia Cunningham, a local member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (www.napo.net).

But don't think it stops there. Not unlike weight management, living clutter-free takes maintenance. Otherwise "it's like yo-yo organizing," Cunningham says. "You get rid of it, and it creeps back. After a while you get tired of doing it."

For more information on Cynthia Cunningham, call (210) 269-5424 or visit www. absoluteorganization.net.