Scents and Sensa-bility: an update

Can smelling food help make us feel full and lose weight?

I’m putting Dr. Alan Hirsch’s Sensa Weight Loss System to the test to find out. If you missed my first post on Sensa, you can read it here.

Sensa is unlike any other weight-loss program I’ve ever tried. It is a 6-month system of “Tastants” (it looks like white powder) that are sprinkled on foods. The tastants are supposed to make users feel full faster, stay satisfied longer and thus lose weight.

So does it work?

Well, I’ve been trying Sensa out for a couple of weeks now, or rather I should say, I’ve been trying to remember to try Sensa for a couple of weeks.  By far the biggest drawback to this method of weight loss is the fact that it is so easy to forget to sprinkle it on your food.

I’m not usually a forgetful person but we’re talking…every meal. Every snack. Grabbing a chip or two?…head for the Sensa before stuffing them in your mouth (or not. you could just forget like me. better yet, skip the chip.).

Because I haven’t been consistent, I can’t give it a fair review yet.

But I can give you my initial thoughts:

-I got a lot of shaking heads and eye rolls from my family when I shook it on the lasagna, the garlic bread and – gasp – the birthday cake. But once I explained what I was doing – um, no mom, I’m not doing drugs at the dinner table – my family was curious.  I almost missed putting Sensa on the cake because it was still being passed around.

-When I have remembered to use the Sensa tastants, I haven’t eaten as much food as I usually do* (see qualifier below). When I have sprinkled the tastants on, I’ve felt full more quickly.  Is it because of my self-awareness now that I have to take the time to sprinkle tastants on everything? Or does it actually work?  I think it is too soon to tell, but either way I’ve eaten less. The jury is still out, but I’ll let you know how it goes.

*When it didn’t work for me:  I know from speaking with my girlfriends that my habit of inhaling everything in sight the day before my period is typical of many women (I can literally eat and eat and EAT without feeling full on that one day of the month).  I remembered to use Sensa that day, but it made no difference. Result? Sensa didn’t overcome my hormonal surge on the one day I’m always out-of-control.

-Generally speaking, the tastants don’t taste like anything. You don’t even notice them.  They kindly tend to dissolve right away on any food that is not bone dry, so it’s not like you are eating powder-topped meals. You really don’t notice or taste much, if anything*.  Definitely a plus!

-*The above does not apply to sushi. Sushi and Sensa do not mix well.  I shook some on my salmon nigiri and thought my sushi was off. It just tasted foul.  (I actually had my friend taste hers to make sure it wasn’t, in fact, off). But so far sushi is the only food that I would never put it on again.  It might be fine on maki rolls, etc, but I’m not taking the chance of spoiling another lovely sushi dinner.

- I have lost 2 pounds in the past two weeks. But it’s too soon to tell if it is because of Sensa. Still, I’m pleased!

Bottom line: Sensa is easy to use, but difficult to remember.  I’ve now put reminder notes up and asked my kids to help me remember to use it. I’ll update again in about two weeks.

Sensa BOOK news: Dr. Alan Hirsch has written a book about Sensa called Sensa: No Diet, No Hunger Weight Loss System which should be an interesting read.  This book is available for presale at a discounted price through Amazon at the link on the title. It will go on sale on November 3^rd and will be available wherever books are sold.

Reviews on Girlgetstrong.com reflect the personal opinion of the writer, whether it is good, bad or ugly. The Sensa Weight Loss System product was supplied to GGS by the company for review purposes. No compensation was accepted by me or GGS Media Corporation for this review – the Girls just don’t do that!