Hi and welcome to “In a Moment” where we get to see how every day humans use mindfulness to improve and enrich their lives. There are 1,440 minutes in a day, each presenting an opportunity to dive in, breathe, look around, feel within and authentically experience being alive. From there, we can make truly informed choices that align with our values. Let’s see what’s up with Henrietta!

While Henrietta loved this time of year, preparing for the holidays with the decorations, gift planning, food preparation and gathering of family and friends, she feared yet another 5 lbs added to her growing waistline. Her doctor had just warned her that if she didn’t make some life style changes she’d end up with the same condition that took her mother’s eyesight, toes and eventually, life. The mall run was a time she looked forward to, the lights and music wafting through the building, the colorful displays and extra friendly sales people. She allowed herself 3 hours to drift along the windows, deciding what she would get for her loved ones and pick the one item she’d ask her family to chip in for her. This year, she really wanted a multi-compartment cross body phone case so she wouldn’t have to drag her purse everywhere.

A jazz rendition of Jingle Bells dripped from the ceiling speakers as she noticed the first hint of warm cinnamon tickle her nose. “Goodness, how did I end up near my favorite pastry stand?” she laughed to herself. The scent of icing oozing down the tall sides of a fresh shell shaped bun propelled her closer to the store where a line of people patiently awaited their individually boxed bliss. “Maybe one last time?” A little part of her asked.  Closing her eyes she imagined the first bite of fluffiness coated in sweet white frosting that hid the ever so slightly spicy zing of cinnamon. Transported back to childhood at her grandmother’s house on a Sunday, she remembered watching her pulling the pan out of the oven and wrapping it in dish towels to take to church. Grammy let her lick the icing spoon and thus birthed a sweet tooth for life.

Now she was a grandmother to 7 and loved nothing more than their exuberant Sunday visits to her house where she could still toss a ball and dance with them. As the fantasy bite dwindled in intensity she stepped away from the store content with the sensory pleasure afforded by a simple aroma. She’d keep both her legs for DDR thank you very much!

The recent pandemic taught many of us who contracted the virus of the power of smell in stimulating and supporting appetite. The olfactory nerves are closely tied to our ability to speculate whether a food is safe, poisonous or rotten and thus is responsible for 80 % of the taste sensation we derive from eating. Take it away and bland is the order of the day.

A phenomenon called sensory satiation occurs when we’ve smelled enough of a food and the brain signals we’re done. It seems the longer and more intensely we experience the aroma of a food, whether we actually eat it or not, the less we’re actually going to consume! https://www.crossfitinvictus.com/blog/smell-weight-loss.

Mindful eating asks that we use all of our senses to experience food: sight, taste, smell, sound, touch. This particular sense might be key in helping us feel satisfied with less of any food we’re trying to limit for health reasons.

Keep practicing! I’ll see you in a moment.