Stop and Smell the ...

I have been on Julie's program for well over 2 years. Still have not strayed, fallen off the wagon, or cheated. Still going strong, and just have a peace inside of me that I WILL get to my goal.

I have noticed in the past few months I have begun an unusual habit. Certainly not a normal one in my book or in my husband's.

I have begun smelling food. Yup, you heard me right!

If my dear husband goes to eat something unusual, or that looks really yummy, I have to smell it. Poor Greg, he can't have a dessert without my sticking my nose in it first.

We were on vacation at an all inclusive the end of winter, and my dear hubby enjoyed a few desserts. Well, he enjoyed them AFTER my nose was in them!

Why do I smell food? Who knows! BUT I must say, some of the fragrances are absolutely delightful. They do not provoke a craving, I just enjoy the smell.

I was telling Theresa about this habit one day, and she likened it to smelling beautiful flowers. We love to smell a fragrant flower but it doesn't mean we are going to eat it. At least I am not going to!! Even though before Julie, I could have eaten everything in sight!!!

I work in a bakery now, have since before my trip to Italy in the fall. I love to bake and seeing no one eats it at home, it is the perfect job for me.

I guess I can pinpoint my strange new behavior as starting in Italy. My father ate the pastries and desserts. He kept telling me they were not sweet even though they sure looked sweet to me. Thus began my smelling food habit.

On an average day at the bakery, while stuff is baking I can not smell it. I figure Julie must have something to do with that. But once in a while I just have to stick my nose into something and smell it. My co-workers find it funny that it doesn't make me want to eat it, but I just enjoy the fragrance.

These are just some of the beautiful flowers in my garden.

Hopefully my food smelling habit doesn't get to out of control!! One of my friends, laughingly said to me, "I sure hope you can contain yourself in a restaurant and not start smelling everyones food! I can see you at therapy now for food smelling!"

LOL! Gotta love your friends!!!

I am going for a refresher this week and plan to ask Julie about this food smelling thing. Will keep you posted!

12 comments:

  1. I'll be curious about the smelling thing too. I've always done it but now WAY more than before. Keep us updated.

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  2. I enjoy smelling things that I wont eat; off and on-sometimes I think it's too just "test" myself....and then if it makes my mouth salivate, I say "I don't wanna want it". Never thought about it too much! Interesting post!

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  4. There are times when I enjoy the aroma of non-key foods and I take a deep breath in, but the buck stops there. I enjoy the fragrance, but I don't need to eat everything that smells good either.

    I enjoy looking at the beautiful items behind the bakery where I buy my coffee. I appreciate their beauty in the same way I enjoy looking at flowers. I have no desire to eat the baked goods than I would to eat flowers.

    Nice post Linda! And you have beautiful flowers in your garden!

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  5. Anonymous6/10/2014

    I to have this habit. I smell most things that my boyfriend eats/drinks that are not key friendly. It does not bother me. Nor do I get cravings immediately following. My boyfriend has gotten to the point of saying "do you want to smell this?" HAHAHA. Glad to know I am not the only one.

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  6. OK, I do this, too! My husband drinks microbrews, and even though I'm not a beer fan, I always used to take a sip of a new one to try it- now I smell his beer! I also do it sometimes with desserts- especially chocolate ones. It's never made me want to take a bite... I have no idea why I want to smell it!

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  7. I am THRILLED that I am NOT the only one doing this!!!!!!!!

    Thank you all for letting me know I am not alone with this habit!!! LOL

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  8. I have noticed the same thing about smelling the food. I find myself just enjoying a number of aromas - not just forbidden foods. I was thinking it has to do with having a clearer sense of smell and taste from enjoying more natural foods - without distracting flavors and smells.

    I have a question for the forum. I thought I had reached my goal, and was doing maintenance and had just reached the "sausage" stage when I went to see my doctor. He really wants me to have my goal as my highest weight, so it looks like I will not just be going "back in the river" for maintenance, but for further weight loss. I was nervous about maintenance to begin with - now I am even more uneasy. Any thoughts?

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  9. I would think the sausage stage would only be a 5 lb fluctuation- not sure why it would matter so much to him, unless he is unable to trust in the Julie process and thinks you'll gain more. Have you asked him why he feels that way?

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  10. Thanks, Alanna. I have a heart-lung issue, so before I went to the maintenance stage, I asked my primary care doc if my current weight was a good stopping place. He said yes. However, when I went to the lung specialist, he said that it would be important for me to be on the thinner side, and wanted me to lose a bit more. I don't think it is so much a matter of not trusting in the process, but in taking as much stress as possible off my heart and lungs.

    I also think that with the Julie program, we tend to lose more inches than pounds. Since I really don't know what I weigh, it may be more than I should for my condition, even though I am in a size 8.

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  11. Momomig: I just read about your decision to lose more after starting maintenance. I did the same thing. It has been HARD!!!! But, I persevered, and FINALLY after almost one year (yes, you heard right!) I lost one more size. I went to two refreshers, and bought a Fitbit-I THOUGHT I exercised, but after getting that, it caused me to be accountable. I also gave up most condiments-It finally all clicked! Anyways, at my October refresher, Julie said some bodies will go below their goal size on their own, others, no. Me, it was a no! I needed her help, and I had to TOTALLY commit to being patient!!! But, not once did I waiver. I told myself it takes as long as it takes!!!!! My original goal size was an 8, I am now a 4-6. Would I like to go more?? Absolutely! Will I? No. Enough is enough! It is time for me to get back to maintenance and loving my body as it is. THAT is what I will work on during maintenance as well! Good luck!!!!! AND BE PATIENT!!!!!!!!

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  12. Thanks, Jennifer. I figure this will be a long process, and probably more difficult because I am satisfied with my weight, but will defer to the doc, as he has worked hard to try and diagnose me. Am going to pulmonary rehab, which is allowing me to exercise - finally! Will just have to get "back in the river," I guess.

    Congratulations on your success! Sounds like you really have this down!

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