Cravings are naturally stronger in winter. Insulin levels are naturally higher and fat is easier to put on. Weight loss can be slowed or stalled or even reversed. In the winter an insulin surge and cravings can be caused by smells too--sweet smells, spicy smells, frying/oily smells. Cravings can even be caused by air freshener!! These things have less to do with the individual and his/her will power and determination (or lack thereof) and more to do with a natural seasonal cycle and genetic survival mechanism.

Many people are affected by seasonal changes who don't necessarily suffer full blown SAD. Read here

I live in San Diego and I'm affected by the seasons. Most of my life I've found late dec and jan tough months and feb I just start to come out of my cave.

I have been having a very hard time surrounded by all the food at my job. They keep a huge stock of stuff I can smell right by my desk and I'm a complete failure all week while at work. Today its pancakes and waffles, when I walked in I could smell the syrup, the sweet waffle smell and even the whipped butter. At lunch it will be pizzas, nachos and Mexican entrees. I haven't found any craving reducing diet strong enough to beat this.

nancy

Nancy
Hang on and hang in there! Spring will make it better. Meanwhile try a little fan for your desk to blow the smells away. See if you can move the desk or the food, temporarily.

thank you Zule,
You totally empowered me to move the food. I put it all in the lunchroom and sent out an email and the whole company made a party out of it all, I think the secretary was being a little lazy and just kept dumping it off at my desk. I felt really good seeing everyone else enjoying it for a change.

I'm glad. It's probably like the Hellers say. You have to make your WOE and your health your priority and take the steps demand/ask for what you need in order to stick to it.