SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

Sugar Addicts: Get Secrets to Go Mostly Sugar-Free - 15 Years of Sweet Success

Sugar addicts and carb junkies, I bring you hope!

Indeed, this is a BIG week for me. It's been 15 years since I bid bye-bye to my sugar addiction -- mostly -- yes, I wasn't totally perfect.

So let me help you now.

If you're tired of being a sugar or carb addict and are fed up with gaining weight, getting spaced out, or have other health issues, discover Secrets to Let Sugar Go by listening anytime to this special Gab with the Gurus 15-year-mostly-sugar-free-iversary Show with my sugar-free mentor Roberta Ruggiero.

Back in 1998, I was so blessed to find Roberta, who, after dealing with her own issues of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, went on to found The Hypoglycemia Support Foundation, Inc. She also wrote The Do’s and Don’ts of Hypoglycemia: An Everyday Guide to Low Blood Sugar, which has been acclaimed by the American Library Association as “one of best lay medical books public libraries.”

In our special Gab with the Gurus Show, you'll first learn our startling stories. You'll discover:

• How when Roberta simply changed her diet by quitting sugar and those quickie carbs (processed carbohydrates that are metabolized quickly), she personally overcame 10 years of illness during which she saw dozens of doctors, endured countless medical tests, took thousands of pills and even underwent electric shock therapy! 
• How when I finally let go of my sugar addiction -- very reluctantly, though -- presto, ALL 44 of my ailments (including crippling headaches, difficulty concentrating, awful PMS, excessive fatigue, cold hands and feet, embarrassing mood swings, scary heart palpitations, etc.) vanished! Wow!
• How most people are consuming too many sweets whether they know it or not, especially if they eat foods in boxes, cans or jars. That sugar or quickie-carb habit can be deadly, leading to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and an early death.

On our Gab with the Gurus Show, you'll also find out Secrets to Go Mostly Sugar-Free. While I share some tactics in my book, Beyond Sugar Shock, Roberta and I go into more depth on this program, and we give you the personal touch, of course, because you get to listen to us chatting.

Among the Secrets to Go Mostly Sugar-Free, you'll discover:

• How it's okay to be imperfect. In fact, not expecting that you'll do everything "right," frees you up to succeed marvelously.
• How most people around the world -- whether they know it or not -- are eating far too much sugar (roughly 170 to more than 200 pounds per year) and/or quickie carbs (possibly as high as 200 pounds), thereby paving the way to diseases galore.
• How you can take your slips and turn them into successes. You'll realize that your so-called "failures" lead you to lasting success.
• How you want to change your relationship with those persistent cravings. (We'll talk about how to embrace them -- yes! -- and how they can become major allies.
• How to take one of your absolute worst habits -- something almost all of us do -- and turn it into one of your biggest foolproof tools to bid your sugar addiction farewell.
• How some people are wise to let a little sugar (some tastes here and there) into their lives. (You'll discover that I've modified my stance over the years.)
• How, for many people, a few tastes can turn into a binge and they're better off to say sayonara to processed sweets.
• How before I quit sugar, first I binged on candies for three weeks after my doctor's orders to "Quit sugar or die young."
• How it's imperative that you keep track. Roberta discusses how it's very important to keep a symptom diary. (That way, you'll know what happens when you eat sweets. You want to get a clear message about how too much sugar leads to symptoms.)
• How you need to be prepared, wherever you go.
• How you can have fun replacing those sugary treats that you used to adore.
• How it's vital to get support and learn about success stories. 
• And much more.

Listen to internet radio with Gab With the Gurus on Blog Talk Radio

Share your bigggest Ahahs! about this Gab with the Gurus Show.

A very special thanks to B. Eco Chic and founder Bethany Gonzalez Moreno for this sugar image with the poison symbol on it. This photo accurately demonstrates how sugar can kill you over time. I highly recommend that you find out about B. Eco Chic now and get on the mailing list for this blog.

Northern Californians: Get Sweet Help to Shed Your Sugar Habit on April 13 at Book Passage

Sugar and carb addicts in the Bay Area or northern California, come meet me personally and get help so you can triumph over your potentially deadly sugar and carb habit.

Thanks to the amazing group, Left Coast Writers -- which supports new and established writers -- you can get simple tips and tools to free you from your addiction on Sat., April 13 at 7 pm at Book Passage in Corte Madera. 

FYI, the timing for this event is fortuitous. It takes place two days before my 15-year anniversary of  being mostly sugar-free!

In this April 13th program, "Break Free of Sugar with Ease and Glee," you will get "A hah" moments and easy information to put to use immediately.

You'll discover simple, but powerful starter secrets to:

• Become the master of your sugar cravings -- and then turn them into your reliable allies.
• Turbocharge your Sugar-Free Power.
• Dodge the #1 mistake nearly everyone makes when quitting or reducing sweets.
• Activate the positive power of procrastination.(Huh? Trust me -- it's a simple, calming tool.) 
• Pick yourself up after you’ve “slipped” and fallen off your less or no-sugar plan.
• Dissolve your desire for dangerous sweets but still enjoy tasty chocolate treats. You’ll even find out how to get recipes for healthy choco-goodies.
• Stop being duped by innocent-looking, seductive foods that are actually sugar traps.
• Laugh at my -- and your -- silly-on-sugar behavior. (You'll chuckle at my former Sugar Shrew ways!)

You'll also get to try tasty, sugar-free Power Balls and a Coco-Mousse, that will melt in your mouth! I'm bringing these yummy chocolate delights, courtesy of my friend Naomi Tomoda from the farmer's market. (Check back here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, for photos of these delicious treats from Naomi's company, Mami's Crunch.)

Special thanks to Left Coast Writers founder Linda Watanabe McFerrin, who invited me to this event. (Stay tuned to learn about Linda's sugar story.)

In case, you don't know my story, here's my short bio so you'll learn why I'm so committed to helping you break free.

Why I Want to Free You from Sugar: My Bio & Tale

Connie Bennett is a charismatic transformational speaker, bestselling author, life coach, health coach, and self-mocking former sugar addict, who is now known as The Sugar Liberator. An experienced journalist, Connie is author of the new book, Beyond Sugar Shock: The 6-Week Plan to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction & Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter, an international bestseller that has been endorsed by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and Dr. Daniel Amen. Her first book, Sugar Shock! How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life—And How You Can Get Back on Track, was a bestseller that was praised by America’s Favorite Doctor, Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Connie’s sour-to-sweet journey began in 1998, when she was pummeled by 44 scary ailments, including crushing fatigue, brain fog, horrible headaches, roller-coaster mood swings, heart palpitations, and severe PMS.  When Connie’s new doctor blamed every symptom on her excessive sugar habit and ordered her to "Quit eating sugar or die young," Connie very reluctantly shed her habit. Much to her surprise, all her ailments vanished, and Connie became energetic, focused, and free.

Connie finally succeeded in shedding her dangerous sugar addiction after years of failing, because while transitioning from sugar-gorging to becoming mostly sugar-free, Connie created or discovered simple, cool tools, which helped her transform the dreaded, difficult undertaking into a positive, fun-filled, life-changing adventure.

Since 2001, Connie has been coaching, guiding, inspiring and uplifting thousands of carb junkies worldwide to easily, playfully release their addiction to discover that Life is Sweeter When Sugar Doesn’t Seduce You™.

Connie runs the popular Sugar Freedom Now Retreat, a virtual and/or live event, which is the companion program to Beyond Sugar Shock. She also hosts the Gab with the Gurus Radio Show, for which she interviews top names in a variety of fields from health to the Law of Attraction.and hosts the Gab with the Gurus Radio Show. Connie studied at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Get free gifts at www.Connie-Bennett.com

Connie is now planning The Sugar Freedom Tour, which celebrates her 15 years of being mostly sugar-free and is dedicated to her recently deceased mother. To invite Connie to visit your area, apply here.

Sugar Addicts: Get Personal Help During The Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour

Bring me Into Your Living Room, Community Center, Place of Worship or Business to Discover "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter”

All Stops are by Request Only

Sugar addicts, let’s connect and let me help you in the flesh—not just virtually through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ or YouTube. 

Bring me into your living room, community center, place of business or worship so you'll discover "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter.”

Drum roll!

I’m thrilled to announce that, in honor of my 15 years sugar-free (mostly) -- or "my 15-year-sugar-free-iversary" -- in mid-April, I’m going on the road to personally help, encourage, and inspire thousands of sugar and carb addicts as part of The 2013 Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour.

You now have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to book me to speak to intimate groups (10 people and up) in your private home, community center, place of worship or business all across the United States and parts of Europe, including San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, Paris, and Sydney. 

Please note that all stops are by request only.

Apply here to be included as part of the 2013 Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour.

During my talks on the tour, I'll:

• Reveal never-shared secrets to effortlessly let go of your sugar habit and flip on your Sugar-Free Power.
• Give you 3 simple, powerful tools to stomp out scary sugar cravings as they strike.
• Help you identify your two biggest obstacles to success.
• Disclose the single biggest mistake most people make when trying to limit sweets and tell you how to easily avoid it.
• Share one simple tactic to fast-forward you to success.
• Give you the sour scoop--on how eating too many sweets doesn’t just make you gain weight. Overdosing on sweets—which most people do—can mess up your moods, ruin your concentration, squash your  libido, and trigger, heart, disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes.
• Personally answer your top question(s).  

This talk is for you if:

• You want to shed excess weight to get slimmer, sexier, and sweeter, as well as happier, positive, and more focused.
• You feel addicted to sugary foods or processed carbs. (You can relate to alcoholics or drug addicts.)
• You want to boost your energy.
• (Females) You have horrible female challenges during either your time of month (your period) or life (menopause).
• (Males) Your libido isn’t what it used to be.
• You have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), prediabetes, type 2 diabetes or heart disease.
• You suffer from one or more of the following symptoms: mood swings, severe fatigue, headaches, crying spells, difficulty concentrating, depression, forgetfulness, and lightheadedness.
• You’ve read one or both of my books, Sugar Shock or Beyond Sugar Shock, but would like personal guidance to Easily Achieve Sugar Freedom.
• You want to look and feel younger, turn heads whereever you go, and out-perform people 15 years younger.

The 2013 Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour kicks off mid-April in the Western part of the United States.

I'll reach the rest of the U.S. and parts of Europe and Australia later in the year.

Apply here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, to be included in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

Please note:

• Limited opportunities are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 
• You can choose between: A 45-minute talk, a 1-hour Smart-Sugar-Sleuth Supermarket Tour, and a 3-session Turbo Charge Your Sugar Freedom private coaching package.
• Your advance orders of 10 or more copies of Beyond Sugar Shock will be shipped in advance. 

The 2013 Sugar Freedom and Forgiveness World Tour is dedicated to my beloved mother, who recently passed away.

To bring me into your home, community or place of worship to discover "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter,” submit your application now.

If you have any questions, submit them here. (They will not be published unless you agree.)

Connie Bennett is a bestselling author (Beyond Sugar Shock and Sugar Shock), an internationally acclaimed transformational speaker, and a sugar-addict-turned Sugar Freedom Coach, who runs the popular Sugar Freedom Now Virtual Course.

Connie's sour-to-sweet story began in 1998 when she was ambushed by a whopping 44 mysterious ailments, including crippling fatigue, unpredictable mood swings, severe PMS, and scary heart palpitations. On doctor's orders, Connie reluctantly gave up her cherished candies, cookies and other "culprit carbs," and much to her delight, ALL of her symptoms disappeared. Soon, people kept asking Connie her secrets to breaking free, which led to her becoming now known as The Sugar Freedom Coach.

Connie's new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, has been endorsed by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and many others. Her first book, Sugar Shock, was praised by Dr. Mehmet Oz.

In mid-April, Connie will embark on The Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour. It is designed to help sugar addicts around the globe easily release their dangerous habit so they can get slimmer, sexier and sweeter -- and have fun at the same time.The tour -- which also is intended to help people discover that Life is Sweeter without Sweets™ -- will raise awareness about the harmful dangers of over-eating sweets and refined carbs. (The average person over-indulges in these fast-acting, non-foods, whether she or he knows it or not.) The Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour is commemorating Connie's 15-year-sugar-free-iversary (of mostly shunning those dangerous sweets). It is dedicated to Connie's recently deceased mother.

Connie has been featured by hundreds of media outlets, including "CBS News Sunday Morning," "Oprah & Friends Radio," "The Howard Stern Show," TIME magazine, Woman's World, Women's Health, Delicious Living, Shape, The Chicago Tribune, and Detroit News.

Connie is a certified life coach, who trained at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching or iPEC; a certified health coach, who studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition; and an accomplished reporter, who has master's of science degree in journalism from Northwestern University's esteemed Medill School of Journalism.

She hosts the popular Gab with the Gurus Show, for which she interviews bestselling authors and experts in a variety of fields, from wellness to relationships to social networking.

Get free gifts at Connie's website, BeyondSugarShock.com, and connect with Connie on Facebook.

Letter to Anne Lamott: Tempted by Sweets or Quickie Carbs? Read Me First! 10 Ways to Continue to Savor Sugar Freedom!

 For the past six weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of doing text-coaching with talented writer Anne Lamott, who I had the pleasure of meeting after the fabulous talk she gave at her church to launch her new, fabulous book, Help, Thanks, Wow. Anyhow, as a Sugar Freedom Coach, I don’t want to leave Annie in the lurch with no encouragement while I’m away for 10 days on a transformational retreat. So I came up with a way to support Annie while I’m gone. I wrote her this letter, which she now has given me permission to share with you.

Dear Annie,

I really want to be there for you while I’m off healing and taking back my power. (As you know, I desperately need to go on this transformational retreat until Feb. 10 to recover from My Bittersweet Last Year with Mom, which, as I shared with you and on my Sugar Shock Blog (www.SugarShockBlog.com) and my new Bittersweet Blog, www.BittersweetYear.com), was utterly grueling, draining and heartbreaking.)

To support and stand by you so you can continue to Savor Sugar Freedom, I’ve decided to create a 10 Ways to Continue to Savor Sugar Freedom Checklist for you. I invite you to bring this along with you wherever you go so you can whip it out if temptation strikes.

Whenever health-harming, tempting sugary non-foods—what I call Sweet Baddies (certainly not “goodies” or “treats”)—seem to tauntingly plead, “Eat me, eat me,” I urge you take the following steps first.

1)   Follow Your Own Smart Advice. Holler Help! 

Put a Sugar Freedom spin on the wisdom you eloquently impart in your book, Help, Thanks, Wow. When you can’t quit obsessing about a gorgeous cupcake, a chocolate-chip cookie or whatever sugary non-food or Sweet Baddie you want right away, lean on God, divine intelligence, or, as you playfully put it, “Howard.”

Just imagine: You’re so close to shoving a Sweet Baddie in your mouth. Your favorite dangerous, culprit-carb non-foods—which, for you and many others, are sure-fire gateways to glutting, depression and Sugar Slavery—keep taunting and tormenting you. They seem to be  whispering, “It’s time to stop feeling deprived. Go ahead, put one in your mouth. Now.”

Annie, when temptation like this strikes, it’s time to prove those Sweet Baddies wrong!  Let Providence whisk you to Savory Sugar Freedom instead.

You might want to pray like this. “Dear God, I could use a hand. Please help me. I feel out of control when it comes to [name of Sweet Baddie you want]. I know that I shouldn’t have them, but I want them anyhow. Please, Divine Wisdom, show me exactly what steps to take so I have the strength to turn away from [type of Sugary Temptation]. And, God, please help me to remember that this [cake, cookie, etc.] is so very bad for me and can lead to overeating, self-loathing and disease.”

2)    Eating Sugar Makes You Unspiritual.

Over-indulging in sweets, as you’ve been discovering, makes you so much less than you can and want to be. Specifically, sugary non-foods can take you down a path to non-spirituality. They can rob you of your sublime, divine-loving essence. People who haven’t gone sugar-free (or close to it) don’t understand this subtle connection, but you “get it.” So please ask yourself before you cave in to sweets or culprit carbs, “Is a piece or bag of [name of Temptation] worth straying off the spiritual path?”

3)    Remember How Clear-Headed & Better You Are When You Limit the Sugar.

As you know, eating lots of sugary non-foods can muddy up your thinking, mess with your moods and strip you of your power. When a sugary non-food is bugging you, instead delight in how wonderful you feel when you stick to such wholesome foods as lentils, organic veggies, organic meats, and healthy fats. Now ask yourself, “Is this [Name of Sugary Temptation] really worth losing my clarity, energy, and peace of mind? Wouldn’t I rather be my best self?”

4)    Revel in Your Former Success & Then Challenge Yourself to Recreate it.

Think of the accomplishment of which you’re the most proud. Is it that you’ve stayed away from alcohol for so long and enjoyed sweet sobriety? Perhaps you’re delighted that you made your last book deadline? Now, stretch yourself. Realize that, “Hey, if I did [quit alcohol or whatever else you picked], then I can surely stay away from sugar, even if it is addictive.” Annie, you can even have fun and quip, “I continue to choose Savor Sugar Freedom. It’s a piece of cake!” (Pardon the pun!)

5)    Do Sugar Procrastination. (Delay).

As we’ve discussed, one very effective sugar-avoidance approach is to procrastinate on purpose. By that, I mean delay eating your temptation of the moment. To refresh your memory about this simple tactic, just read this blog post I wrote about the power of delaying.  http://www.sugarshockblog.com/2011/05/delay-away-your-sugar-cravings-.html

6)    Write Away Your Cravings and Have Fun With It.

One of the most powerful ways to kick your pesky cravings is to get in touch with the feelings behind them. Journaling is highly effective, research shows. So take 10 minutes before you put anything sugary in your mouth and write about it. And be playful, too. You, of all people, could write the most amusing, entertaining, enlightening Sugar Danger poems or musings. When I return, I’ll look forward to reading what you write. (Even if you weren’t a writer, I’d recommend this. Jotting down your thoughts and feelings is that powerful. Anyone—writer or not—can do it.) Also, read this article I wrote about cravings. http://www.healyourlife.com/author-connie-bennett/2013/01/wisdom/inspiration/craving-sugar-and-carbs

7)    Power up with PFF.

As you know, one sure-fire way to become vulnerable to sweets is to skip eating something healthy when you get up in the morning. Temptation also has a way of getting to you when you don’t re-fuel your body at least three times a day with ample protein, fiber, and fat. So make sure to fill up regularly on those quality foods.

8)   Ask Yourself the 5 W’s & 1 H.

Of course, knowledge is power. So whenever you’re tempted, ask yourself the questions every journalist needs to answer when writing a story. You want to discover the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. In doing your sugar discovery or Sugary Soul Searching, ask yourself, “Who do I become when I indulge? What is it I really want? When do my sugar cravings get most powerful? Where could I go instead (someplace more nurturing and fulfilling)? Why, oh why, do I want those sugary non-foods? And how would eating those Sweet Baddies make me feel?  (Read more about this process in pages 65 to 66 of my book, Beyond Sugar Shock, which I gave you.)

9)    Scare Yourself with the Sour News. Then, Create Your Sugar-is-My-Foe List.

Whenever you really, really, really want something sugary, I urge you to get the sour news first. Just take out Beyond Sugar Shock, and read Chapter 3, which tells you about “The Big Preventable Killers: Your Sweet Tooth Can Kill You.” Then write down 5 Reasons Why Sugar is My Foe. In other words, what are the worst things that can happen to you when you eat the sugary stuff. Then rewrite your reasons to avoid Sweet Baddies on a 3-by-5 index card and carry it with you wherever you go so you’ll remember why it’s important to overcome those cravings.

10)    Text Me & Then Text Yourself, Too.

Finally, since I can’t read your texts for the next 10 days, text me anyhow when you’re having a challenging time. Just pretend that I’m there on the other end of the phone and that I’ll be replying shortly. Then, until I return on Feb. 10 or 11, reply to yourself with what you think I’d say. Now, if you’re unclear as to how I’d text-coach you, pull out your copy of Beyond Sugar Shock,  shut your eyes and open a page. That’s what I’d say to you. In other words, your inner wisdom will guide you to the exact page with the exact information you need. (By the way, I do this technique a lot with your book, Help, Thanks, Wow and with books by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Louise Hay, and Dr. Ken Druck. Just trust that you’ll be guided to get the advice or guidance you need. It has worked every time for me.)

11)    Share your challenges on my Facebook page.

If or when something sweet tempts you, just rely on people who understand how dangerous it is to go down that sugary path. Post something on Facebook—on both my (www.Facebook.com/SmartHabitsFans) and your (www.Facebook.com/AnneLamott) fan pages. I’ll bet you that someone who “gets it” will write to you with just the wisdom you’re seeking. Make sure to dash me an email each time (marked high importance) so that I can read these inspirational words upon my return and thank the person.

Annie, I know that you can continue to Savor Sugar Freedom.

Remember, you have the power to say no. Remind yourself that eating sugar and other quickie carbs is a choice. It’s yours to make—or not make. What you put in your mouth helps create your future and the way you handle it. Why not choose the path of joy, inner peace, and health?

I’ll be with you in spirit and rooting for you to continue to Savor Sugar Freedom. Talk to you soon.

 

Warmly,

 

 

Connie Bennett

 

P.S. Since you like to share your musings and inspirational thoughts on Facebook, feel free to post this entire letter from me to you. It would be my honor to help your sugar-addicted fans. And feel free to take tidbits and tweet them, too.

P.P.S. Thanks again for your very kind words and letting me share them here.

 

“I was so sick and tired of feeling sick and tired beyond my sugar. With the help of Beyond Sugar Shock and Connie’s smart, caring text-coaching, I am beginning my 6^th week of being off sugar. To me, that is a miracle. I feel so much happier and healthier, more energetic and free.” …I most like to know you are on the other end of the phone and get my texts, help me through temptations, remind me what works and why I am trying a new way of life.” --Anne Lamott

 

I am Thankful for You: Connect with Me on Facebook

Thank you, wonderful readers, for continuing to visit this Sugar Shock Blog although I've been gone a lot due to my mom's terminal illness over the last year and lately have been grieving over her recent death. 

I'm very grateful to you.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about, you can learn more about my tender, but trying time in this previous blog post.

I had hoped to get back to posting regularly a lot sooner than this, but I just needed more time to heal.

I've also been -- and still am -- experimenting with various healing techniques so that I can let go of my grief.

Soon, you'll be able to to listen again to top experts on my Gab with the Gurus Show, and to join my Sugar Freedom Now Course.

Also, connect with me on Facebook. I've now begun to regularly post articles and thoughts again. I also am beginning to ask you intriguing (I hope) questions again, and I'd love to read your replies. See you soon on Facebook!

Reformed Sugar Addict Alec Baldwin Interviews Dr. Robert Lustig on "Here's the Thing"

Did you know that the formerly overweight actor Alec Baldwin is now a reformed sugar and carb addict, who used to consume  "a fish-tanked sized bowl of pasta" and other sweets but now is a sugar-free crusader?

Alec Baldwin also now has a fascinating podcast, Here's the Thing, which you can learn about here.

Now listen to this intriguing interview Alec Baldwin had with Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric endocrinologist at UC San Francisco, about our country’s addiction to sugar.

What a fabulous interview!

But here's my overriding concern: We keep hearing about sugar's dangers, but we're not learning enough about how to quit this national addiction.

That was the impetus for my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock: The 6-Week Plan to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction & Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter.

Given Alec Baldwin's keen interest now in sugar addiction, I'd be honored to have the opportunity to share some tips for his listeners on how to break free of their sugar prison.

Is Sugar Addictive? Gab with the Gurus Spotlights Provocative Issue

If you're a sugar addict, you're convinced that sugar is addictive.

Turns out that you're right. 

Discover how and why Sugar is Addictive with Dr. Nicole Avena, one of the top experts in the country on my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show. 

Listen live or later, at your convenience.

What is Sugar Shock? What is Beyond Sugar Shock?

Wondering what I mean by the phrase Sugar Shock?

After noticing that one baffled person needed help to learn if she or he was in Sugar Shock, let me share my definition.

As you may be able to guess, I've given this considerable thought over the course of five years, while working on my first book, Sugar Shock, and then my second book, Beyond Sugar Shock?

Below, you'll find the definition that I've developed. Bear in mind that this is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, including an estimated one-quarter to two-thirds of the U.S. population.

Sugar Shock!™ - A mood-damaging, personality-bending, health-destroying, confusion-creating constellation of symptoms affecting millions of peoople worldwide, who often turn to processed sweets and much-like-sugar carbs, which send their blood sugar levels wildly soaring and plummeting.

The term Sugar Shock is intended to encompass the often-misdiagnosed and maligned condition of reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as well as other blood sugar disorders, from insulin resistance to diabetes.

Considerable research reveals that repeatedly overconsuming sweeteners, dessert foods, and culprit, quickie carbs (such as white rice, French bread, chips, etc.) wreaks havoc on your blood sugar levels, overstimulates insulin release, triggers inflammation, and could contribute to some 150 health problems, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome, severe PMS, failing memory, depression, mental confusion or "brain fog," mood swings, Candida, sexual dysfunction, infertility, wrinkles, acne, and early aging.

Victims of Sugar Shock also may experience such baffling symptoms as excessive fatigue, headaches, dizziness, cold sweats, anxiety, irritability, tremors, crying spells, drowsiness or the opposite (sleeplessness), forgetfulness, heart palpitations, nightmares, blurred vision, muscle pains, temper outbursts, suicidal thoughts, and more.

Ultimately, this insidious Sugar Shock roller-coaster effect brought on by eating too many inferior carbs hampers sufferers' ability to function at full throttle--or even half throttle.

My mission, of course, is to take you Beyond Sugar Shock to Sugar Freedom. That's, of course, the goal of my second book, Beyond Sugar Shock.

When you've moved Beyond Sugar Shock, you break the mesmerizing stranglehold that sugar and toxic carbs have over you.

When you've journeyed Beyond Sugar Shock, you achieve a now-elusive feeling of independence, excitement, joy, delight, and exhilaration, which is unlike anything you've ever felt.

It would be my pleasure to take you on an adventure so you can move Beyond Sugar Shock. A good first step is to get my book, Beyond Sugar Shock.

I do hope that this book helps you achieve the freedom, sweetness, and glorious life that you so richly deserve.

Free Program: 4 Sweet Success Secrets to Declare Your Sugar Independence

Please note: See your invite below to my free program, 4 Sweet Secrets to Sail through the 4th & Declare Your Independence.

The July 4th holiday weekend is around the corner. 

Sure enough, every holiday weekend, you are inevitably faced by sugary and carb temptations galore at family gatherings and celebrations. 

In fact, in this country (the U.S.), being patriotic is synonymous with eating sugar-laden, and high-starch temptations.

Before Independence Day, it's time to Declare Your Independence from Sugar & Other Dangerous, High-Carb Non-Foods!

Let me help you breeze through the July 4th weekend by calmly facing those nutrient-lacking "treats" so that you'll either not need or want to indulge or just partake a little. (Yes, I'm going to show you how to "sin a little" with sweets and quickie carbs so you don't pig out.)

Join me for a free, short-and-sweet (only a half hour) program on Wednesday, June 27 at 4 pm PDT (7 pm EDT) to help you enjoy your July 4th weekend (and any holiday weekend).

If you can't attend live, just sign up below anyhow, and you'll get a replay.

Go below now and fill out your name and email address to attend my free program, 4 Sweet Success Secrets to Sail Through the 4th & Declare Your Independence. 

In this free, half-hour program, 4 Sweet Secrets to Declare Your Independence, you'll discover goodies that will nourish you and sustain you during the July 4th weekend. 

For instance, you'll discover: 

• Four powerful words that can nourish and nurture you throughout your weekend celebration. 
• A sweet Independence Practice that will help liberate you. 
• An empowering way to lean into temptation without being tempted. (Don't worry -- this will make sense soon.)
• A fun way to bring alive the meaning of independence. (Yes, in this program, you'll declare your independence from your sugar habit.) 

Sign up now for this free half-hour program, 4 Sweet Secrets to Declare Your Sugar Indepence.

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Please note: Special thanks to Crestock.com and Brighton.com for the above artwork. Hope it was okay to use these images -- I'm not an artist and don't have one right now to help me create something. My  intern is creating one now. 

Welcome, Fans of The Hannah Murray Show on Talk Radio Europe

Welcome, fans of The Afternoon Show with Hannah Murray on Talk Radio Europe.

I truly hope that I brought you valuable information about sugar addiction that speaks to you during my interview with Hannah.

In addition, it's my deepest wish that I've inspired you to leave behind your Sugar Sadness and instead embrace a life of Sugar Freedom.

Make sure to take advantage now of my contest to win complimentary admission to my Sugar Freedom Now Course.

To enter, all you have to do is submit your comments here on this Sugar Shock Blog.

You want to briefly answer the following two questions:

• How your sugar addiction has caused challenges and misery for you.
• What does life look like when you're Beyond Sugar Shock?

Enter the contest now and let me guide you from Sugar Shock to Beyond Sugar Shock, where you'll enjoy delicious Sugar Freedom. 

To catch my interview with Hannah, who has interviewed such amazing guests, visit The Hannah Murray Show blog.

Remember, enter the contest to win admission for one to my Sugar Freedom Now Course.

Tony Horton is on Gab With The Gurus

Connie's exciting Beyond Sugar Shock book launch continues.

Today, listen to a replay of an exciting Gab With The Gurus Show with fitness guru Tony Horton, who is founder of P90X. 

Listen to Tony shares his ideas on:

• - How to add a daily workout to your busy schedule
• - How sugar is dangerous

• The importance of fitness
• How to get you motivated
• How to add a daily workout to your busy schedule
• And much more

Listen to internet radio with Gab With the Gurus on Blog Talk Radio

By Lauren Hales

Note from Connie: I'm pleased to introduce you to my new Radio Production Assistant Lauren Hales, who will be posting here often. Yeah, she'll relieve me of some of my work! Welcome, Lauren!

Win a Copy of Beyond Sugar Shock as Sugar Shock Blog Celebrates Its 7th Birthday

Today is a special day for the Sugar Shock Blog. It's our 7th birthday!

I guess that makes me an old-timer!

See my first post in 2005.

What a great time to have a blog birthday or blogiversary. I'm now knee-deep into sharing the joy about my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock.

To celebrate the Sugar Shock Blogiversary, I'm holding a contest: one of you can win a copy of my book, Beyond Sugar Shock.

In addition, I'm giving away admission for one to my Sugar Freedom Now Course.

So convince us to give you a copy. Tell us here why you should win either my book, Beyond Sugar Shock, or admission to my Sugar Freedom Course.  

And make sure to join my other contest, which is co-sponsored by Typepad, the blogging platform, where I host this Sugar Shock Blog.

Get details here.

This is an ideal opportunity to blog away your sugar addiction! Apply now.

Win a Year of Typepad! Part of the Beyond Sugar Shock Launch

Have you heard that Typepad, the blogging platform where I host this site, is giving away a free year of Typepad?

For those of you sugar or carb addicts who want to blog about your journey to Sugar Freedom, I urge you to get the details here.

Then join the contest now!

Thanks to Typepad for featuring this.

I'm also honored and grateful that Typead chose to select me as a Featured Blogger. Check it out.

 

 

FlyLady Marla Cilley Shares Juicy Tips

Catch today's exciting, special Gab with the Gurus Show with the inspiring "FlyLady" Marla Cilley.

You'll get so many wonderful pointers in this show from Marla, whose mission is to teach you how to FLY (Finally Love Yourself).

During this show -- which is part of Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch Week -- Marla shared:

• Her turning point -- the one that led her to trim the carbs.
• A foolproof way to celebrate without using sugar or food.
• How to deal with the fact that you slipped.
• One very funny way on how to limit your intake of desserts at restaurants.
• A valuable way of coming to peace with comfort foods.
• Tips on how to lead a Sugar-Free Summer to Donna Smith, who is coordinating such an effort.

 

 

Listen to internet radio with Gab With the Gurus on Blog Talk Radio

Win a Year of Typepad: Blog Contest in Honor of Beyond Sugar Shock's Book Launch

Today marks the official launch of my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, and I've been seeking to provide lots of fun programs and activities for you. 

To my delight, Typepad, the easy-to-use blogging platform where I've been hosting this Sugar Shock Blog since 2005, has generously offered to help me hold a contest.

Calling all would-be bloggers or current bloggers (on other platforms) -- because the winner of this contest will get a year of Typepad Unlimited ($179.40 value).

Now, if you're a blogging newbie, this contest should be especially appealing. And it's also ideal if you're a person with a strong, savvy voice about a certain topic.

In particular, sugar and carb addicts and people with weight goals, this is your big chance. If you've been thinking about writing a blog about going sugar-free, leading a healthier life, or sharing tasty recipes, I urge you to apply. This is an ideal opportunity for you to write about a topic that's dear to you -- and get support from your readers in the process.

By the way, in my book, Beyond Sugar Shock, I discuss the value of blogging or journaling to help you release your sugar addiction.

You even get some helpful blogging pointers from veteran journalist Dana Kennedy, who ran her popular Year Without Candy blog from Feb. 28, 2010 to Feb. 28, 2011.

Entering the contest is simple. In order to win, you have to be either new to Typepad, or have to want to migrate your blog from another provider to this more-user-friendly platform.

Here's how to join the contest:

• To enter, leave a comment on this post, stating why you want to win a year of Typepad Unlimited.
• We invite to decide in advance the goal and theme of your blog. Tell us the blog's topic and title, even if it's tentative. Will this be a weight loss blog? Will this be your safe haven where you can write about eating sweets instead of splurging? Would you post recipes?

Your deadline to enter the Typepad giveaway is Friday, June 15 at midnight (EST), and I'll announce the show later that day.

To select a winner, I'll confer with Typepad and a panel of two other experts (like on a TV game show) to select that special person, who seems most motivated to create and maintain her or his blog to further an important goal.

By the way, I've thought quite a bit about how people should apply. This is such a nice offer from Typepad so I want the applicant to be serious. In other words, I want both you and Typepad to find this to be a worthwhile endeavor

I'll announce the winner on June 20. And please, of course, only entry per person, please.

Remember this giveaway is only open to those who aren't already blogging with Typepad.

So why would you want to be with Typepad? From my perspective, as a non-techy kind of person, I've found it easy to learn. What's more, their customer service is excellent -- you can actually reach a live person via a Help ticket.

That's one of my favorite features of Typepad. If I ever have a question about how to use a particular function or program, I just fill out a support ticket, and a Typepad representative generally gets back to me within about 24 hours with a detailed answer.

I just love that Help section. It makes life so easy for me. Because they're so good at explaining things, I no longer have to scramble to find answers.

So, what are you waiting for? Enter this blogging contest now.

Please note that while Typepad agreed to sponsor this giveaway, I will choose the winner. 

In addition, all opinions are my own, and I wasn't compensated by Typepad in any way to sing their praises. I've just been a happy customer for seven years, because it's so easy to use!

By the way, I'm thrilled to report that Typepad is also doing something else very nice for me.

Any moment now, my Sugar Shock Blog will be featured shortly in the Everything Typepad section.

Stay tuned for details. 

Now just post a comment here to enter the contest and get one year free at Typepad.

Special thanks to Hollywood Housewife for giving me some ideas regarding this contest.

The Most Important Blog Post I Ever Wrote

Dear Wonderful Visitors to this Sugar Shock Blog,

This is the most important post  I’ve ever written.

As you no doubt know, obesity has skyrocketed among adults and youths alike; and children are on a track to die before their parents if they don’t change their unhealthy ways.

At the same time, coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease have become our nation’s top killers. You probably know — or love — someone who has suffered from one or all of these.

But all of the above diseases are largely preventable.

I call them The Preventable Big Killers. And ALL of these potentially fatal illnesses — and many more — can be caused by overdosing on sugar and/or refined carbs.

Think this doesn’t include you? That’s what I used to believe. 

But the average American — and person in any civilized country is consuming (either consciously or unconsciously) HUGE amounts of sweets and quickie carbs on a DAILY if not many-times-a-day basis.

Each of you may be taking in roughly 170 to 228 pounds of sweeteners per year and another 200 pounds of sugar’s sinful sisters, which I dub “culprit carbs.”

And every day, it seems, the news gets more frightening.

One of my favorite recent studies revealed that sugar can make you dumb!

More research suggests that it can make you violent.

Your sweet tooth even can trigger type 2 diabetes, even though your doctor may vehemently deny it.

Simply put, millions worldwide are in Sugar Shock.

For the past decade, it has my personal mission to inspire and empower sugar 
and carb addicts worldwide.

I want to help them (you?) Get a Life that Rocks™, as I like to put it. (I began coaching people to Sugar Freedom in 2002, four years after I reluctantly quit sugar on doctor’s orders after being waylaid by 44 debilitating ailments.)

So I invite you now: Help me to help transform the lives of millions of sugar and carb addicts around the world!

 

 

Join Me Tomorrow (Tuesday) & Email Your Friends, Loved Ones or Entire 
Address Book to Get Beyond Sugar Shock 

Please join me tomorrow (Tuesday), starting at midnight.

On Tuesday, email your friends, fans, colleagues, health and wellness experts, etc. and invite them to buy my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, all day and night.

Invite your loved ones or special acquaintances to go online.

Just send them to ==>> http://www.BeyondSugarShock.com/Book

Or encourage them to visit their local Barnes and Noble store. (Beyond Sugar Shock will be on the front table of 200 stores. If you go, please take a photo and send it to me, and we'll post it on Facebook.  

By the way, Beyond Sugar Shock already has been praised by numerous empowering gurus and wellness experts, including Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Daniel Amen, Brian Tracy, Dr. Joe Vitale, Kathy Smith, Marci Shimoff, and many others. 

Joshua Rosenthal, founder and director of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition — which I attended in 2005-2006 — was even kind enough to write the foreword.

On Tuesday, the official launch day for my new book Beyond Sugar Shock, my intention is to reach millions across the world with powerful, nourishing, life-changing messages about the joy, excitement and exhilaration of Sugar Freedom.

But I can ONLY reach and HELP millions with your HELP!

So please help me to help millions take back their Sugar Power! 

Millions need to discover how to break the seductive, powerful hold that tempting sweets and quickie carbs have over them.

Millions need to stand strong in the face of clever, deceptive marketing of dangerous junk foods and empty-calorie sugary beverages.

Millions need to get back their energy, vitality, and sex drive.

And, of course, millions need to slim down and get healthy.

Beyond Sugar Shock Helps People (You?) Break Free

Beyond Sugar Shock is designed to empower, educate and inspire sugar addicts and carb junkies of any size (yes, even slim people can be hooked). 

My goal is to help them – you? -- easily, effortlessly, joyfully, even gleefully break free of this dangerous 
addiction to sweets and quickie carbs. 

Just letting go of your sugar addiction can quickly peel off pounds, help you improve your 
focus, and even boost your libido. 

(Just read Michele’s Sweet Success Story in Beyond Sugar Shock.)

 

Quitting Sugar Can Be Tough: My Goal is to Make it Easy, Effortless and Fun for You

Let’s face it, kicking or cutting back on a sugar or carb habit can be one of the toughest 
challenges you’ll ever face. 

That’s why I’m determined to make this simple for you.

And that’s why it’s absolutely necessary for you to put on a sweet suit of armor. You want to discover and use cutting-edge tools and tactics that strengthen and empower you so food manufacturers can’t seduce you to you eat their processed, nutrient-lacking junk just to boost their bottom line—which can add extra pounds to your bottom. 

But sugar does a lot more than just make you fat, as I pointed out earlier. Lately, you’ve even 
probably heard the phrase, “sugar is toxic.” 

You also may have seen the provocative “60 Minutes” piece on the subject reported by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

It’s easy to ignore this sugar-is-toxic warning. Even back in 1998, I knew that sugar was
bad for me, but I still indulged. (Learn my story in Chapter 1 of Beyond Sugar Shock.)

Now, I urge you to ask yourself: Are you, too, cheating yourself because you mindlessly stuff 
those nutrient-poor silly sweets or quickie carbs into your mouth?

It would be my pleasure and privilege if you’d allow me to help you, your loved ones, friends 
or colleagues easily break free of your sugar or carb addiction. 

In fact, it’s my burning mission. Let me guide you to the Luscious Land of Sugar Freedom and Carb 
Consciousness.

My desire to help you is why I poured my heart (and many years) into this book and the 
companion Sugar Freedom Now Course.

Why am I so committed to helping you regain your Sugar Power?

Because when you undertake recommended Adventurcises (adventurous exercises) and 
other suggested activities in Beyond Sugar Shock, you’ll experience a massive transformation 
unlike anything you've ever experienced. 

That’s my prediction — no, my promise to you. 

Sure, your goal may be just to lose weight, and yes, you will easily peel off extra pounds, but that’s only a small piece of the story. 

Letting go of your sugar or carb addiction will turn your life around. It will make happier, sexier, stronger, more focused and balanced. 

You’ll be a far better you without needing to rely on carbs as your crutch. 

So, I invite you: will you tell your fans, loved ones, colleagues and acquaintances about Beyond Sugar 
Shock on Tuesday, June 5? 

Just send them to ==>> 
http://www.BeyondSugarShock.com/Book

Now, let’s take back our Sugar Power!

 

Wishing you a Life that’s Sweeterlicious (That's my word for Sweeter, delicious, scrumptious, luscious and elicious, and sensuous)

 

Connie Bennett, CHHC, CPC, ACC 
Your Sugar Freedom Coach Author, 
Sugar Shock! and Beyond Sugar Shock 

P.S. It will be a pleasure to connect with many of you on Facebook or in my Sugar Freedom Now
Course.

P.P.P.S. Stay tuned for many exciting free Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch programs 
on Tuesday and Wednesday. For instance, renowned TV personality Jane Velez-Mitchell 
will be on my Gab with the Gurus Show tomorrow; I’ll be on two webinars, and I’ll give radio interviews. 
I’ll even be on a Facebook chat tomorrow afternoon, thanks to my publisher, Hay House. And you'll be 
able to read my new article at www.HealYourLife.com. 

Just get regular updates at my blog, www.SugarShockBlog.com or on my Facebook page at 
www.Facebook.com/SmartHabitsFans 

P.P.P.S. Feel free to share this blog post with whomever you like. Better yet, I encourage you to share this email with your entire address book. And invite them to check out 
http://www.BeyondSugarShock.com/Book

Woo Hoo! Beyond Sugar Shock Out Today - SAVE the Date, Tues., June 5 for Offical Book Launch

Woo Hoo!!  Today's a REALLY, REALLY BIG day for me!

In 1998, I very reluctantly quit sugar on doctor's orders. (He blamed sugar for my 44 symptoms, including my fatigue, brain fog, migraines, and severe PMS.)

FINALLY, today, 14 years after I desperately kicked sugar on doctor's orders, my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, is officially released.

It is hitting bookstores nationwide (in the U.S. and Canada). On Monday, it will be published in the U.K.

If you buy a copy of Beyond Sugar Shock, please send a photo of you and the book, which can help YOU easily, joyously release your sugar addiction, too.

When you send your photo, I'll even post it here, too.

Please note that right now, we're building momentum for TUESDAY, JUNE 5.

On TUESDAY, JUNE 5, you're invited to tell your loved ones, fans, friends, relatives, and sugar-addicted co-workers -- even people  you don't like too much! ( they're probably high on sugar!) -- to buy Beyond Sugar Shock.

Find out why this book has been praised by Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Dr. Daniel Amen, Brian Tracy, Bernie Siegel, Dr. Jonny Bowden, Dr. Joe Vitale, Marci Shimoff, Kathy Smith, Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. and many others.

Keep checking back here to the Sugar Shock Blog for more news about our Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch on TUESDAY, JUNE 5, when we seek to HELP sugar addicts worldwide.

And make sure to SAVE THE DATE, TUESDAY, JUNE 5 to spread the word about Beyond Sugar Shock.

Do you have a large mailing list? If so, sign up here to join my book launch on Tuesday.

Bloggers, Wellness Experts, Authors, Health Coaches, Low-Carb Advocates & More: Join My Bestseller Book Launch for Beyond Sugar Shock on Tuesday, June 5: Help Build Grass Roots Momentum & Buzz

Attention:

Mommy and health bloggers, wellness experts, authors, health coaches (who, like me, are graduates of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition), low-carb advocates, Paleo gurus, and former sugar addicts, as well as stay-at-home moms, business executives, struggling sugar addicts and others interested in health and wellness,

Please help me to help millions of sugar adddicts or carb addicts around the world.

On Tuesday, June 5, you're cordially invited to join the launch of my second book, Beyond Sugar Shock, which was recently released in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

If you've never participated in a book launch before, let me explain how it works. Trust me, it's really easy, personally rewarding, and even potentially lucrative (later on) to join us!

So, on Tuesday, June 5, you're invited to send out a beautiful email prepared by my wonderful publisher, Hay House, to your entire mailing list.

Now, if you don't have a mailing list, don't worry. You can still join us. Just think about it: Everyone is either a sugar or carb addict herself or himself or knows one, right? (Just look at the people around you mindlessly polishing off those quickie carbs .)

For those of you with no mailing list, simply dash off this snazzy email to 50 to 100 or more of your colleagues, friends, neighbors, relatives -- whether they're hooked on sugar or not. Then, send to people who help  you such as your chiropractor, fitness trainer, hairdresser, or physician -- even if they don't "get it" yet. Just ask them for their email adress.)

We've done more to make this easy for you. Go here to get copy for your ezine (long, medium or short in length), as well as Facebook posts, tweets and LinkedIn comments.

Join our massive grass-roots effort to reach people who need help to gain control over their sugar or carb addiction and Get a Life that Rocks™, as I like to put it.

Why Millions Need Our Help: Sugar Is Toxic & It Can Kill You Before Your Time

Why do millions need our help? And why can Beyond Sugar Shock come to the rescue? Because the average person in the U.S. -- perhaps you? -- consumes at least 170 pounds of sugar and other sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup, crystalline fructose, etc. per year. Insider figures cite far higher figures -- 228 pounds per person per year! (In Great Britain and other civilized countries, sugar consumption rates are high, too.)

In addition, the typical U.S. resident -- you again? -- unthinkingly takes in nearly 200 pounds per year of sugar's culpable cousins -- refined white-flour products such as white bread, white-flour pasta, white bread, mashed potatoes, and white rice. All these processed foods -- what I call quickie carbs or much-like sugar carbs -- also are speedily metabolized in our bodies.

All those sweets and refined carbs put you into Sugar Shock often. That means these quickie trigger elevated blood sugar levels, repeatedly over-stimulate insulin release, cause excessive inflammation, and pave the way for nearly 150 devastating, mostly preventable diseases or conditions, including obesity (of course), but also heart disease, blood sugar disorders (from hypoglycemia to type 2 diabetes), cancer, and even Alzheimer's disease. 

To put it bluntly, if you put yourself into Sugar Shock on a regular basis -- as most people in civilized countries do -- you can get fat and sick, and die well before your time.

Will You Join Us to Help Save People's Health, Moods, Inner Peace, Relationships & More?

So will you join our worldwide effort to help millions of people worldwide to shed pounds, become more energetic, reverse or halt type 2 diabetes, prevent heart disease or cancer, and even boost their libido? Yes, quitting or cutting back on sugar and refined carbs can do all of that -- and much more, as you can learn in Beyond Sugar Shock.

How Will this Book Help Sugar or Carb Addicts? And How Did it Come About? 

You're probably wondering why I think this book is special. Well, in Beyond Sugar Shock, I present a six-week Mind-Body-Spirit program, that gently, compassionately takes sugar or carb addicts on a fun, empowering adventure so they can easily, joyously release their dangerous, potentially deadly habit.

Briefly, here's the back story. Beyond Sugar Shock has been about 14 years in the making.

Back in 1998, when I quit sugar on doctor's orders, I didn't know how to go about doing it. So while kicking sugar, I began to create simple techniques to help me easily let go of my over-attraction to those tempting sweets. In Beyond Sugar Shock, I share these easy tools.

Then in 2002, four years after quitting sugar, I began in earnest to coach people to achieve that exhilarating state I now call Sugar Freedom. At the same time, I interviewed hundreds of experts to learn about sugar's dangers and to discover new cool tools, which I also share in Beyond Sugar Shock. (In between, my first book, Sugar Shock, also was published, and much to my joy, it was even praised by Dr. Mehmet Oz. Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra was the medical consultant, and Dr. Nicholas Perricone wrote the foreword.)

Beyond Sugar Shock  -- which has been endorsed by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Daniel Amen, Joe Vitale, Marci Shimoff, John Assaraf and many others -- gives sugar and carb addicts what they need and seek. (That's my intention, at least!

In fact, this book is what I would have loved to have in 1998, when my physician insisted that quitting sugar would make all 44 of my awful ailments disappear. (He was right!)

How to Join the Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch 

It's simple to join us. Here are the 2 quick steps to take:

1. Sign up now to join the Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch. (Many thanks to Hasmark Services for their vital support to coordinate this Book Launch.)
2. Email the snazzy email my publisher, Hay House, provided to either your mailing list of hundreds or thousands or, if you don't have one, to a group of 50 to 100 friends, colleagues, and relatives. Just go through your email list. (By the way, you can send either this HTML version or an text version.  (Huge gratitude goes to Hay House for creating this dazzling email for you to send.)
3. Get more marketing copy to use in your ezine, on Facebook or LinkedIn. You even get some fun tweets.

Attention, Bloggers: Another way to join our Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch is to blog about this book or to post a review. We're also offering you two books -- one for you and one to give away as a prize. For details on the Blogger Book Launch, please contact me, and I'll send you details. 

Note to Colleagues of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition: When you get involved with my book launch, I'll help you help your sugar-addicted clients. In fact, on June 28, I'm hosting a private program just IIN-ers. Please contact me to get details. 

Here's a quick reminder how to join us:

1. Sign up now to join the Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch. 
2. Share this special email from my publisher, Hay House, to either your mailing list or your group of 50 to 100 friends, colleagues, and relatives.
3. Get pre-written marketing copy for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and your ezine.

By the way, you may be wondering why I'm holding a grassroots effort. Suffice it to say that in these times of social media, as an author, you have an amazing opportunity to directly reach many of the people you serve, which is very exciting.

Also, did you know that launching a book is a huge endeavor, and if your budget is limited, you need to use some innovative ways to get the word out? That's why I am so very grateful in advance for your help so that I can help sugar addicts worldwide.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart for joining us! 

Questions? I'm here for you. Just ask away. 

Cupcakes on the Cover of Beyond Sugar Shock: Backlash?

Oh goodness!

The fact that cupcakes are on the cover of my upcoming book, Beyond Sugar Shock -- officially out June 1 but available for pre-order now through Amazon and my publisher Hay House -- has triggered some fascinating and even strong reactions. Quite surprising to me! 

Discussion about cupcakes on the cover began when my Facebook friend Natalie told me on my fan page that the cupcakes bothered her so she simply covered them up with a piece of paper.

See her photo here and my response as to why cupcakes were on the cover.

Natalie's reaction and clever cover-them-up response got my wheels turning.

So last night, I sent an email to people on my mailing list to invite them to share their opinions about the cupcakes on the cover.

Did we make a cupcakes no-no, or is the cover a good one?

After all, I want to help people, not entice them!

So here are some of  many replies I received about the cupcakes on the cover of Beyond Sugar Shock.

Mary wrote:

"I do not like the cover! I am sorely tempted by such things, visually speaking! It's just like today's women's magazines, with a picture of chocolate cake on the front with the constant headlines that feature the latest diet underneath. Cruel. I really do not like the cupcake cover. I do love cupcakes though : )The cover needs to be changed or I will never recover this addiction and I need all the help I can get. I mean, a book on how to give up pornography with half naked women on the cover makes no sense either, eh?  : )"

What intriguing comments. I never even looked at it that way!

Next, Bonnie had some brilliant observations:

"I think the cover is fine. But I guess I can say that because cupcakes aren't my weakness, cookies are!! Homemade cookies!

"I have a couple ideas: One is to make a jacket that has something covering the cupcakes, and when you are ready, you can take the jacket off the book to reveal the original picture with cupcakes.

"The other one is the cupcakes would have things like insulin needles, bottles of medication etc. sticking out of it.  Maybe one could have legs and be standing on a scale. One could be holding doctor's bills!"

Oh how funny, Bonnie! We'll see what my publisher, Hay House, says about your innovative ideas for future covers (once they sell out the initial books).

Meanwhile, Karen weighed in:

"Connie - I think cupcakes are a brilliant idea - I walk around NYC these days and see seemingly normal looking people strolling down the street eating giant cupcakes. I see cupcake bakeries on every corner, and cupcake TV shows on several cable channels. Good luck with the book!"

Linda also was upset with the cupcakes on the cover of Beyond Sugar Shock:

"I find the cupcakes on the cover offensive and sense that it is a marketing ploy to get people to notice the book. I feel it is manipulative. The title on the book is enough to take notice but the cupcakes make me feel that my problem is being taken lightly."

Please, Linda, you know that I take your problem very seriously. Remember, I used to suffer myself from a very serious sugar addiction. (In fact, you can read my sour story in Beyond Sugar Shock.) You also may want to know that I've been dedicated to helping people break free of their sugar addiction since 2002, and I quit four years before that.)

Frances, a nutritionist, offered a more measured perspective:

"Connie, Congratulations on your upcoming book!! As for the cupcakes, I haven't actually seen the cover.........however seeing those moist delicious sugar bites is hard to refuse. When I read the Wheat Belly book, they had gorgeous bagels on the front that I could smell --they looked sooo good.

"I am a Nutritionist and all my clients are sugar addicts. Seeing the pictures of our favorite foods is hard, but hey, perhaps it will help us as we see the real thing out and about in our day to day living. Thanks for all you do to make this world a better place! Blessings to you!"

And Dina wrote on my Facebook fan page about the cupcakes on the cover:

"WHY [did you do this]? Sabotaging decision that probably has roots in marketing. Not funny if you're addicted to sugar. Would you put a booze bottle on the front a text for Alcoholics Anonymous? It is a concern that we even have to have this discussion. You and the publisher could apologize and put an appropriate image in its place."

Dina, I apologize if the cupcakes bother you.

I also said I'm sorry here, too. And the day before, I conveyed my sincere regrets here, too.

Nicole also posted on Facebook:

"Yeah, it would have been much better to make a photo of a generic young women / man in fitness gear to showcase the 6 week aspect! ;) i think the cupcakes are bit too simple, suggesting its a cooking book or something similar, missing the 'move beyond' aspect but otherwise it is just a book cover - who ever is 'offended' by that needs to get a life. :)"

And then Mary wrote:

"Hello Connie, I honestly would have used something other than cupcakes for the cover...but, your intent will perhaps launch a whole new wave of Sugar Consciousness...because of the cupcakes! Onward and good luck! Mary"

Thanks, readers, for sharing your thoughts. 

. 

Just know that my goal and intention is to give you and millions like you tools so that you can easily achieve a state of what I call "Sugar Freedom." You can and will rise above feeling a prisoner to your habit, I believe, if you buy Beyond Sugar Shock, no matter what cover it has. 

Please join our discussion. What do you think about the cupcakes on the cover? I'm eager to learn your opinion.

Post your thoughts here or on my Facebook page.

By the way, if you have a sugar addiction, I'm here for you. And please know that I've put years -- more than a decade -- into bringing you Beyond Sugar Shock. So, please don't judge my book by its cupcakes cover!

Eager to get help personally from me? Join my Sugar Freedom Now Course, which you can attend either live or via pre-recorded programs. 

Tempted by Cupcakes On My Book, Beyond Sugar Shock? Cover Them Up!

Are you hooked on cupcakes but want (and need) to get my book, Beyond Sugar Shock?

Follow the advice of my creative Facebook friend Natalie Rothman, who came up with an innovative way of dealing with those enticing cupcakes on the cover of my book: Just cover up those annoying (but pretty) cupcakes by pasting a piece of paper over them!

Thank you, Natalie, for this brilliant idea and for sharing a photo with would-be readers of Beyond Sugar Shock about how you got rid of temptation.

Here's what prompted Natalie to cover the cupcakes on the cover of my book:

"For me 'out of sight is mostly out of mind' and seeing the cupcakes on the cover was really bugging me -- making me think of cupcakes -- so I covered them up! Maybe when i'm done the book and the process, it won't matter!"

When I learned about Natalie's cupcake challenges, I invited her to send a photo of her holding up a copy of my book. When I got the photo, I cracked up. (Please forgive me if that's politically incorrect!)

Now bear in mind that I'm not laughing at her -- I'm cracking up at Natalie's ingenious way of dealing with the enticing cupcakes. She was quite clever. Indeed, sugar addicts, as I've discovered from working with them for a decade, are really sharp people.) Also, I can relate to Natalie, because I, too, was once tempted by just about any sweet I saw. I daresay that the sugar-addicted Connie of 1998 might have had the exact same reaction upon viewing the cupcakes.

It's now time for an apology to all you sugar addicts out there.

Please, please, please forgive me if the cupcakes on the cover of my new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, are too enticing for you right now!

But bear in mind that at the end of our six-week Mind-Body-Spirit adventure together, those cupcakes won't bother you if I do my job right as your Sugar Freedom Coach/guide and you use the innovative tools you get in this program.

So Why Are Cupcakes on the Cover of Beyond Sugar Shock? Am I Being Mean to You Readers?

In case you're wondering why cupcakes are on the cover of my book, here are thoughts from my perspective. My astute publisher, Hay House, probably has other brilliant marketing ideas.

• Wherever you go these days, whether it's to the corner market, the drug store, a restaurant, or even a hospital, you will -- without fail -- be tempted, tortured or even taunted by sweets galore from cupcakes to donuts to sweet rolls to cakes. Usually, those tantalizing "treats" are really gorgeous, too. So what you see on the cover of Beyond Sugar Shock represents what's already facing you when you're "out there" in the real world.
• My role, as your Sugar Freedom Coach and guide to the book's six-week program is to help arm you and make you strong enough by teaching you simple, but powerful tools and techniques so you can easily face temptation, whether they come in the form of cupcakes, cookies, or pies. So, over the course of our six weeks together, you'll learn to make peace with cupcakes or whatever dessert foods most tempt or bother you. My goal is for you to finish reading the book and doing the Adventurcises (adventurous exercise) and be unfazed by these cupcakes on the cover of the book.  For instance, when I look at the cover of Beyond Sugar Shock, I just see something pretty -- those cupcakes don't entice me in the least. Make sense?
• Another reason cupcakes are on the cover of Beyond Sugar Shock  is to draw the attention of sugar addicts everywhere. If the cover intrigues them -- you? -- enough, you'll pick up the book or go online to discover how it can help to dramatically change your life, right? (And my goal is lofty. I seek to help millions of sugar addicts. What better way to reach you than to have a book, which has a snazzy book cover such as this?)
• Now, for one final thought as to why cupcakes are featured. I suggested to my publisher, Hay House, to put cupcakes on the cover, becuase lately, cupcakes have become all the rage. In fact, if you do a Google search for cupcakes today, you get 102,000,000 hits! But what's missing from just about every post featuring cupcake recipes and information is the dirt -- you just don't learn how dangerous these sweets can be -- how too many cupcakes or any kind of dessert can trigger disease and an early death. 

So I hope you forgive me for the cupcakes on the cover. Now, let me help you overcome your desire for cupcakes or any other sweet, dangerous foods.

By the way, I just love getting feedback from readers. And coaching sugar addicts is something I feel compelled to do.

I also applaud Natalie for challenging me and asking me why cupcakes are on my book cover. You sugar addicts always give me amazing ideas! Thank you again, Natalie, for telling me about your cupcakes challenge and making me think about this.

For those of you who want to get help from my book but find the cupcakes too tempting, here's what I now recommend: Take the cupcakes test before you buy Beyond Sugar Shock!

If the cupcakes on the cover tempt you too much, cover them up as Natalie did after you bring it home. (Bear in mind that you're creating something that's only temporary.) Then, keep the cupcakes covered from you for as long as you need.

When you've succeeded in breaking free of your sugar addiction, then go back to the original cover.

And stay tuned, because we're going to hold a contest to see who can come up with the most creative interim cover to put over the three cupcakes on my book cover. (Bear in mind that your goal is to be able to see those cupcakes and not be tempted.)

So, are cupcakes your Achilles heel? Tell us now. And I'd love to hear from you -- was putting cupcakes on the cover a good idea?

Please note: Beyond Sugar Shock is not officially published yet, but you can pre-order it now from either Amazon or my publisher, Hay House. The official publication date is June 1 in the United States and Canada and June 4 in Great Britain. Please keep checking back here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, to find out about exciting Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch activities planned from June 5 to 14. You will, for instance, have opportunities, to listen to my interviews on my Gab with the Gurus Show with top health experts and leading thought leaders such as Jane Velez-Mitchell (on June 5, the official Beyond Book Launch Day) and Jeff O'Connell, author of the amazing book, Sugar Nation, on June 6. In addition, you'll have a chance to catch me interviewed on a number of radio shows and teleseminars or webinars.