Welcome to CambridgeDiet.org!

Many of us may not be aware of it, but a new idea in mind control is being used in your local malls, car dealerships, casinos, grocery stores, and even in model homes. It is “scent marketing” and it is influencing your decisions on how you spend your money and your time.

How many of you notice that as you leave your car in the parking lot of your local grocery store the overwhelming fragrance of fried chicken from the deli or cookies from the bakery wafting through the air? How many times has it encouraged you to make an impulse buy? Sometimes the order is so strong it is obvious that it is a marketing ploy, but you still find yourself heading for those counters as soon as you enter the store.

Oddly enough, at my Albertson’s grocery store, the scent of fried chicken is unbelievably strong in the parking lot, but when you enter the store…there isn’t any in the fryer! They are pumping out an artificial fragrance and are assuming that we are all dumb enough to not realize that.

I received this article from www.mercola.com which was taken from an article in The New York Times and I thought it was worth sharing with you all.

“Within a broader movement known as “full-sensory branding,” the practice of scent marketing — using specially formulated fragrances to make you buy unrelated products and services — is on the rise. Smell, it is said, has an unrivaled power to evoke emotion, and this power can be harnessed to boost sales.

Hundreds of companies already set your mood with piped-in aromas, in everything from real estate show rooms to shoe stores. Advertising Age named the practice one of the top 10 trends to watch in 2007. ScentAir, a producer of aroma-marketing systems, stated their business quadrupled between 2005 and 2006.

But why use scent?

Because companies have realized that to stay competitive, and be successful in an advertisement-crammed world where consumers are bombarded with sights and sounds, other avenues must be tapped. “Fragrance is the only thing left,” says Harald Vogt, founder of the Scent Marketing Institute. “You cannot turn off your nose. You have to breathe.”

So, with between $50 million to $80 million being spent on scent marketing in 2006 alone, does it really work?

According to researchers, yes. According to Martin Lindstrom, author of “Brand Sense,” the bible of full-sensory marketing, “People will make quicker decisions, be willing to pay more, and most likely be so emotionally engaged that they are removed from the rational part of their behavior.”

There are hurdles however, as one man’s scent is another man’s nuisance. Scent preferences are not only gender biased, there are also cultural and generational preferences — there is no such thing as a universally admired scent. Additionally, people often form negative associations to smells more easily than positive ones.

Another problem is the possibility of scent overload, similar to noise pollution. And smells might downright torture people with chemical sensitivities, for example. This is not a deterrent for many businesses though, who want to appeal not just to your mind, but also to your emotions, psyche, heart and soul, in an effort to make you buy, buy, buy.”

New York Times September 9, 2007

So how does it make you feel to be so manipulated? It doesn’t set well with me at all! On top of that, so many people are scent sensitive that these aromas can actually cause illness, but the greed of the retailers is stronger then their concern for their customers.

For those of you who are working on your weight loss and are still needed by your families to do the grocery shopping, I would encourage you to only shop at those stores that are not using this devious technique to manipulate your decisions. It can be overwhelming to be faced with these odors when you are in the early stages of your diet. If it is unavoidable that you shop there, then I would strongly suggest that you not go alone. Take a family member that has your best interest at heart along with you…someone that will not cave in to the smells themselves of course! Avoid the ready to serve deli and bakery, as well as the center isles that mostly contain highly processed junk foods. Shop the perimeter where you will find mostly fresh produce, meats, dairy and whole grains. Don’t automatically reach for the products at eye level. These are typically the most processed and unhealthy foods in the stores. Look at the top and the bottom shelves where you will usually find the healthier options. You will be making better choices for your family. Don’t forget about the health food stores in your area too! You can rest assured that they are NOT using aroma to sway their customers. Also, don’t make the mistake of assuming that the foods at these stores are more expensive. Most are not and in fact can be more economical then the processed foods at the regular stores. You will not be making the impulse buys as you might at the grocery stores and you will likely find that you save money. Your family and your wallet will think you, and you will not be supporting the devious marketing that is now so common in the world today.

It is hard to believe that we are already well in to the last quarter of 2007. Time is flying by! Have you used the year as you had planned so far? Many of you may have been thinking about trying to lose weight, but just have not found that magic moment to begin. While you have been thinking about it, you could have lost 50 or even 100 pounds by now! The truth is..there is no magic moment to begin your diet. there will always be some kind of obstacle that you will have to deal with. Holidays, Birthdays, anniversaries, vacations… something is always right around the corner and ready to derail you from your diet. If your true desire is to lose the weight and regain your health, then no event can take priority over that. Your health is the most important thing in your life and without it you can’t really enjoy all those celebrations fully.

A lot of people want to look good for the Holidays. Family gatherings and pictures are looming and you want to look your best. There is nothing better then getting that “WOW!” look from the people you care about when they see your transformation! If you begin now you can easily lose most if not all your weight depending on how much you have to lose. Don’t put it off another day. Make this your magic moment and commit to your health and your happiness.

If you have been working your program and have enjoyed the results that only Cambridge can give you, then congratulations! If you began at the first of the year then you should be feeling like a completely new you! The health benefits of weight loss are tremendous, but add in to that the nutritional boost that Cambridge gives your body and you are not only a slimmer you, but a healthier you as well. If you have more to lose, don’t quit now! Go all the way to your goal. Many people stop when they get comfortable and then struggle with those last few stubborn pounds. You can lose those pounds just as easily as you did the first if you have the same commitment that you had then. Stay focused, remember to exercise, and get excited! Life is going to be better then you can imagine when you are healthy and at your goal weight.