Hack my memory-induced cravings
 

My brain is playing tricks on me again. On days when I redouble my effort to cut calories, carbs, fats, etc., I experience twinges of something that triggers a memory of a food and I get cravings. Like just now, I thought I could smell orange juice. Minute Maid orange juice, the frozen stuff from the can. And then I wanted some. I wanted to taste how refreshing, sweet and tangy it used to taste to me. A big cold glass. Did I actually smell oranges? No. I'm in my bedroom, at my desk, on the computer, and there are no oranges around.

Earlier today, I thought I smelled KFC. I LOVE KFC. I am embarrased to admit that. I don't want to love KFC. The last time I ate there, sometime last year, everything tasted bad. But that part of my brain that's been conditioned to want it still wants it, bad! Nothing in my house even remotely smells like KFC. I live in a residential neighborhood and KFC is miles and miles away. But I smelled it, and I remembered how it tasted in my mouth and how it filled me up, the fat and the salt. Mmmmm!!!!

It's usually later in the day when I have these little attacks. That's when my willpower is lowest. My personal trainer asked me on Tuesday to figure out why I have these moments consistently in the afternoon. Am I tired? Cold? Emotionally drained? Lonely? Uncomfortable? Edgy? Yes to all the above. Is there something I can do that will address all these in a non-food alternative? I don't know. When I do deep breathing exercises, it triggers something in my brain that reminds me of the KFC or some other food that I want to smell. I'm going to spray some lavendar and see if that'll help me rewire that impulse.

Anybody else dealing with something like this and have you figured out what to do about it?

I used to get that frequently when I would have food scented air fresheners in the house. The food that would pop in my head rarely went with the vanilla or apple-cinnamon scent, but there it was. Most of it went away when I switched to rain/ocean/linen type scents. They smell fresh without smelling food-y.

I don't know if that is anything like what's going on with you, but that's the closest I can get.

Good luck figuring that out!