SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

Connie's Confession: Taking Back My Power & Healing My Broken Heart

After a loss—whether it’s the death of someone you love or the end of a relationship—have you ever felt suspended in limbo? Plus, you just couldn’t find your mojo again?

Well, I feel ready to come clean with you. Ever since my dear mother passed away recently, I’ve been a grieving, heartbroken, stymied health coach and wellness author in crisis. In short, I’ve been feeling “off.”

While I’m working to get closer to being “on” so I can serve you again, I’m now ready to make a confession.

My mom’s death and my subsequent discoveries about things she did or didn’t do have hit me hard. Recently, I’ve been crying at least once or twice a week—like the time I found NO mention in her datebook that I was moving nearly 3,000 miles to be with her in her dying days. Ouch!

Plus, Cheerful Connie isn’t around as much anymore. Not only that, but I’m not sure where I should live now.

A little bit of history is in order. Slightly more than a year ago, I gave up my apartment in New York City (where I’d been for a decade) and moved back to California to be of service to my dear dying mother, who had stage 4 lung cancer. (But she decided to let the disease progress at its own course -- she choose to forgeo chemotherapy and meds for fear of horrible side effects.)

Now that I’ve lost my mother, I’m all alone in another part of the country, without her and without my friends in the Big Apple.

Loss, I’m discovering, can wallop you. It can toss you into turmoil and turbulence. And if your dear mommy died, that can send you whirling.

I’ve also been in a quandary. I’m a health coach, life coach, and bestselling author (Sugar Shock and Beyond Sugar Shock). How can I share with you my intense pain and sad truth that I’m just not back to being my best me?

And why is Cheerful Connie taking so long to return? While she’s starting to make a comeback, she’s still often frustratingly elusive.

Previously, I didn’t tell you the full truth about how Mom behaved badly in her last year, how horribly she treated me at times, and how My Last Year with My Mother was an utterly grueling ordeal.

The reason I told you a half-truth before is because I was simply too embarrassed, hurt, and heartbroken.

What's more, I want to honor, respect, and put the best foot forward on behalf of my Mom, whom I dearly loved, admired, and respected.

I really, really adored my mother, and I was very, very reluctant to share her weaknesses.

Before, in this blog post, I offered only glowing praise for my mother and how she taught me—and you—how to leave Planet Earth with spunk and style.

Yes, fall 2011 to fall 2012 was a charming, wonderful, poignant time, during which my beloved mother shared valuable lessons with me. She blazed (often with me along) through her impressive culinary and cultural bucket list, and we had many pleasant moments together.

In other words, My Last Year with Mom was full of sweetness. But it was glutted with bitterness as well. That’s why I now call this time My Bittersweet Last Year with Mom.

Now, I feel ready to tell you a little about the bitter part.

What made My Last Year with Mom especially gut-wrenching and tear-jerking for me was that the calm, coherent, often-poised mother I loved and knew vanished.

Instead, as her brain and body were invaded by cancerous cells, she became Crabby Cancer Mom, someone who could be accusatory, angry, argumentative, confrontational, controlling, cruel, demanding, difficult, distrustful, hostile, insulting, irrational, manipulative, mean, and vindictive.

For reasons I still don’t quite understand—other than that dying people take it out on people they love the most—Crabby Cancer Mom displayed a particular vengeance and viciousness towards me. That was especially tough to take since I’d given up my apartment in New York City and relocated for her. (I’m now living in a cramped but peaceful place I hurriedly took after Mom angrily threw me out of her home for the umpteenth time.)

By the way, the reason it was urgent and imperative that I relocate for Mom is that I was her closest living relative. If I hadn't moved, my poor mother would had no family members there for her often in her dying days. (My sister and mom had been estranged for more than a decade.)

So to summarize, during My Bittersweet Last Year with My Mother, I was a victim of Mom Abuse.

Bear in mind that my mother’s mistreatment of me was unintentional. It was the cancer’s fault.

Real Mom was in the dark. She didn’t know what she was doing. At least I don’t think she did.

But although I knew Crabby Cancer Mom was NOT my Real Mom, I still often felt confused, frustrated, exasperated, aghast, helpless, devastated, sad, downright shattered, and absolutely frightened to be myself.

Of course, experts recommend that you set limits in your relationships.

“Speak up for yourself,” they suggest. That’s good advice, but when you’ve made a strong commitment to yourself to be there no matter what for your angry, dying mother, you can’t set boundaries, especially if—as her disease infects her thoughts and behavior—she treats you abysmally. (In fact, she treated me so horribly that some people who witnessed her putdowns were shocked that I stood by her.)

Anyhow, I’ve been reeling in aftershock for the past four months. And I’ve had enough.

It’s time to take back my power. I’m determined.

To get to a centered place where I can serve you again, I’ve now mapped out my comeback.

1. I’m taking time out every day to nurture myself, including going to the gym, meditating, attending a grief support group, listening to James Twyman’s The Moses Code, or reading inspirational passages from authors such as Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Dr. Ken Druck and Anne Lamott. I’m also back in therapy, and I work with a coach from time to time.
2. I’m cleaning up my food. In particular, I’m limiting or steering clear of quickie carbs such as sweet potato chips, corn nuts, and popcorn. (More about that later, but suffice it to say that I haven’t been perfect since Mom died. I did, however, stay away from the sugar so for those of you wondering, I am still sugar-free.)
3. I’m healing and getting perspective, as well as honoring my mother, by writing a new book, which I’m tentatively calling, Bittersweet: How to Stand by Your Difficult, Dying Loved One and Learn from My Rollercoaster Last Year with Mom. (The book title may change. I also started the Bittersweet Year Blog, where I'll be blogging parts of my next book. A beautiful design from the talented Hillary Carlip is going up shortly.)
4. At long last, I’m going on a 10-day transformational retreat from Jan. 30 to Feb. 10 to get my act together, so to speak. Please note that I’m NOT taking a vacation. Rather, I’m going to dig very deep so that I can become a better me and be better able to serve you.
5. I’m going on e-mail and phone silence. Admittedly, this is a requirement for the program I’m attending, but I would do it anyhow. 
6. I’m turning many times a day to the endearing, inspirational best-selling author Louise Hay for help. For instance, I’m listening over and over again to the forgiveness track on Louise’s CD of I Can Do It. “Forgiveness of yourself, and of others, will release you from the prison of the past,” she knowingly says. Later, she charmingly puts it, to “it’s time to move with joy into the now.”
7. I’m honoring myself and my need for healing time by allowing myself to postpone presenting my Sugar Freedom Now Virtual Retreat and delay taking on new coaching clients.

Of course, you want me to be there fully so right now, I’m dedicating myself to “refueling,” regrouping, rediscovering my true calling, uncovering my strengths, finding inner peace, and reaching a higher plane. 

I invite you to join me. Go on your own voyage of healing and rebirth so you can Take Back Your Power.

Even if you aren’t grieving the loss of a loved one, you can become dedicated to rediscovering your own beauty and wisdom. 

Please let me know what transformational methods work best for you to Take Back Your Power. I’m eager to explore tactics that I may be overlooking.

By the way, please stay tuned.

On April 15, I will be celebrating 15 years sugar-free (mostly). Yikes!

In honor of that landmark, I’ll be giving lots of radio and TV interviews about my most recent book, Beyond Sugar Shock, which came out while Mom was dying. (I’m so grateful that before Mom passed away, she saw and was very proud of me for my new book.)

I’m also planning a newly improved six-week Sugar Freedom Now Virtual Retreat. It begins March 6.

Thank you kindly for your patience during this challenging, but transformative time.

Special thanks to Jessica Urmanec for creating the above illustration.

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. 

Before You Indulge this Holiday Season, Consider Nearly 150 Ways Sugar Ruins Your Health

As 2011 winds down and we approach the holidays, we're about to enter what I call the Season of Overeating and the Season of Sugar Gorging.

So before you over-indulge this holiday season, I urge you to learn the sour news. You need to know that when by continually chomping on delicious desserts, sugar can ruin your health in nearly 150 ways.

Below you'll find an extensively researched list from my mentor and heroine, Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author of Suicide by Sugar: A Startling Look at Our #1 National Addiction.

If you doubt the facts on this list, bear in mind that Nancy has been researching sugar's dangers for more than three decades, and she found (and cites) medical studies to back up all of the claims on this list.

An avid researcher, Dr. Appleton is also the best-selling author of Stopping Inflammation and Healthy Bones. In addition, she lectures extensively throughout the world, has appeared on numerous television and radio talk shows, and maintains a private practice in San Diego, California.

Incidentially, to this day, more than 13 years after I quit sugar myself, I'm grateful to Nancy. In fact, her book, Lick the Sugar Habit, helped me quit sweets back in 1998.

Now review Nancy's shocking list of nearly 150 ways that sugar can ham you before you continue to overdo it on sweets this holiday season.

Nearly 150 Ways Sugar Can Ruin Your Health by Nancy Appleton, Ph.D. (Reprinted with permission.)

1. Sugar can suppress your immune system.

2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.

3. Sugar can cause juvenile delinquencey in children.

4. Sugar eaten pregnancy and lactation can influence muscle force production in offspring, which can affect an individual’s ability to exercise.

5. Sugar in soda, when consumed by children, results in the children drinking less milk.

6. Sugar can elevate glucose and insulin responses and return them to fasting levels slower in oral contraceptive users.

7. Sugar can increase reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage cells and tissues.

8. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, inability to concentrate and crankiness in children.

9. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.

10.  Sugar reduces the body’s ability to defend against bacterial infection.

11.  Sugar causes a decline in tissue elasticity and function – the more sugar you eat, the more elasticity and function you lose.

12.  Sugar reduces high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

13.  Sugar can lead to chromium deficiency.

14.  Sugar can lead to ovarian cancer.

15.  Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.

16.  Sugar causes copper deficiency.

17.  Sugar interferes with the body’s absorption of calcium and magnesium.

18.  Sugar may make eyes more vulnerable to age-related macular degeneration.

19.  Sugar raises the level of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.

20.  Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.

21.  Sugar can lead to an acidic digestive tract.

22.  Sugar can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.

23.  Sugar is frequently malabsorbed in patients with functional bowel disease.

24.  Sugar can cause premature aging.

25.  Sugar can lead to alcoholism.

26.  Sugar can cause tooth decay.

27.  Sugar can lead to obesity.

28.  Sugar increases the risk of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

29.  Sugar can cause gastric or duodenal ulcers.

30.  Sugar can cause arthritis.

31.  Sugar can cause learning disorders in school children.

32.  Sugar assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).

33.  Sugar can cause gallstones.

34.  Sugar can cause heart disease.

35.  Sugar can cause appendicitis.

36.  Sugar can cause hemorrhoids.

37.  Sugar can cause varicose veins.

38.  Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.

39.  Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.

40.  Sugar contributes to saliva acidity.

41.  Sugar can cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.

42.  Sugar can lower the amount of Vitamin E in the blood.

43.  Sugar can decrease the amount of growth hormones in the body.

44.  Sugar can increase cholesterol.

45.  Sugar increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which form when sugar binds non-enzymatically to protein.

46.  Sugar can interfere with the absorption of protein.

47.  Sugar causes food allergies.

48.  Sugar can contribute to diabetes.

49.  Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.

50.  Sugar can lead to eczema in children.

51.  Sugar can cause cardiovascular disease.

52.  Sugar can impair the structure of DNA.

53.  Sugar can change the structure of protein.

54.  Sugar can make the skin wrinkle by changing the structure of collagen.

55.  Sugar can cause cataracts.

56.  Sugar can cause emphysema.

57.  Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.

58.  Sugar can promote an elevation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL).

59.  Sugar can impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.

60.  Sugar lowers enzymes ability to function.

61.  Sugar intake is associated with the development of Parkinson’s disease.

62.  Sugar can increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.

63.  Sugar can increase the amount of liver fat.

64.  Sugar can increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.

65.  Sugar can damage the pancreas.

66.  Sugar can increase the body’s fluid retention.

67.  Sugar is the number one enemy of the bowel movement.

68.  Sugar can cause myopia (nearsightedness).

69.  Sugar can compromise the lining of the capillaries.

70.  Sugar can make tendons more brittle.

71.  Sugar can cause headaches, including migraines.

72.  Sugar plays a role in pancreatic cancer in women.

73.  Sugar can adversely affect children’s grades in school.

74.  Sugar can cause depression.

75.  Sugar increases the risk of gastric cancer.

76.  Sugar can cause dyspepsia (indigestion).

77.  Sugar can increase the risk of developing gout.

78.  Sugar can increase the levels of glucose in the blood much higher than complex carbohydrates in a glucose tolerance test can.

79.  Sugar reduces learning capacity.

80.  Sugar can cause two blood proteins – albumin and lipoproteins – to function less effectively, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.

81.  Sugar can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.

82.  Sugar can cause platelet adhesiveness, which causes blood clots.

83.  Sugar can cause hormonal imbalance – some hormones become underactive and others become overactive.

84.  Sugar can lead to the formation of kidney stones.

85.  Sugar can cause free radicals and oxidative stress.

86.  Sugar can lead to biliary tract cancer.

87.  Sugar increases the risk of pregnant adolescents delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.

88.  Sugar can lead to a substantial decrease the in the length of pregnancy among adolescents.

89.  Sugar slows food’s travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.

90.  Sugar increases the concentration of bile acids in stool and bacterial enzymes in the colon, which can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer.

91.  Sugar increases estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.

92.  Sugar combines with and destroys phosphatase, a digestive enzyme, which makes digestion more difficult.

93.  Sugar can be a risk factor for gallbladder cancer.

94.  Sugar is an addictive substance.

95.  Sugar can be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.

96.  Sugar can aggravate premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

97.  Sugar can decrease emotional stability.

98.  Sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese people.

99.  Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit disorder (ADD).

100.   Sugar can slow the ability of the adrenal glands to function.

101.   Sugar can cut off oxygen to the brain when given to people intravenously.

102.  Sugar is a risk factor for lung cancer.

103.  Sugar increases the risk of polio.

104.  Sugar can cause epileptic seizures.

105. Sugar can increase systolic blood pressure (pressure when the heart is contracting).

106. Sugar can induce cell death.

107. Sugar can increase the amount of food that you eat.

108. Sugar can cause antisocial behavior in juvenile delinquents.

109. Sugar can lead to prostate cancer.

110. Sugar dehydrates newborns.

111. Sugar can cause women to give birth to babies with low birth weight.

112. Sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia.

113. Sugar can raise homocysteine levels in the bloodstream.

114. Sugar increases the risk of breast cancer.

115. Sugar is a risk factor in small intestine cancer.

116. Sugar can cause laryngeal cancer.

117. Sugar induces salt and water retention.

118. Sugar can contribute to mild memory loss.

119. Sugar water, when given to children shortly after birth, results in those children preferring sugar water to regular water throughout childhood.

120. Sugar causes constipation.

121. Sugar can cause brain decay in pre-diabetic and diabetic women.

122. Sugar can increase the risk of stomach cancer.

123. Sugar can cause metabolic syndrome.

124. Sugar increases neural tube defects in embryos when it is consumed by pregnant women.

125. Sugar can cause asthma.

126. Sugar increases the chances of getting irritable bowl syndrome.

127. Sugar can affect central reward systems.

128. Sugar can cause cancer of the rectum.

129. Sugar can cause endometrial cancer.

130. Sugar can cause renal (kidney) cell cancer.

131. Sugar can cause liver tumors.

132. Sugar can increase inflammatory markers in the bloodstreams of overweight people.

133. Sugar plays a role in the cause and the continuation of acne.

134. Sugar can ruin the sex life of both men and women by turning off the gene that controls the sex hormones.

134. Sugar can cause fatigue, moodiness, nervousness, and depression.

135. Sugar can make many essential nutrients less available to cells.

138. Sugar can increase uric acid in blood.

139. Sugar can lead to higher C-peptide concentrations.

140. Sugar causes inflammation.

141. Sugar can cause diverticulitis, a small bulging sac pushing outward from the colon wall that is inflamed.

142. Sugar can decrease testosterone production.

143. Sugar impairs spatial memory.

144. Sugar can cause cataracts.

Go here now to find find Nancy's extensive references, which back up the citations on this list.

To learn more about sugar's dangers, I urge you to get Nancy's book, Suicide by Sugar. I also invite you to read my book, Sugar Shock.

In addition, find out more about more about sugar's dangers by listening to a special Gab with the Gurus Radio Show on which I interviewed Dr. Nancy Appleton.

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

Experts Industry Association Forms to Guide Authors, Speakers, Coaches, Etc.

If you're an author, speaker, coach, consultant, seminar leader or information marketer, you'll want to know about the exciting new organization, the Experts Industry Association.

The Experts Industry Association was created to help authors, speakers, coaches, and other experts to "collaborate, share best-practices, generate new leaders, and recognize and honor excellence and . . . legends."

According to the association, this is the "world's first membership community of professionals who make a difference and a living as authors, speakers, coaches, consultants, seminar leaders, and online information marketers."

You can learn about the association's code of ethics here. 

Check out the roster of amazing leaders and professionals, who served as founders of the non-profit Experts Industry Association:

• Brendon Burchard, New York Times bestselling author of "The Millionaire Messenger" and founder and President of Experts Industry Association 
• Jack Canfield, New York Times bestselling author of "The Success Principles" and co-creator of "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series
• Dr. Daniel Amen, New York Times bestselling author of "Change Your Brain Change Your Life" and producer of a number of successful PBS shows. 
• Darren Hardy, Publisher of SUCCESS Magazine and author of "The Compound Effect"
• Reid Tracy, CEO and Publisher, Hay House Inc. 
• Marci Shimoff, New York Times bestselling author of "Happy for No Reason"
• John Assaraf, featured expert in "The Secret" and author of "The Answer"
• David Bach, New York Times bestselling author of "The Automatic Millionaire" (and 11 other NYTimes bestsellers)
• Brian Tracy, author of "Maximum Achievement" and worldwide best-selling creator of "The Psychology of Achievement"
• Chris Attwood, New York Times bestselling co-author of "The Passion Test"
• Robert Allen, New York Times bestselling author of "Nothing Down" and "The One Minute Millionaire"
• Gay and Katie Hendricks, co-author of many bestsellers, including "Conscious Loving" and "Five Wishes"
• Harv Eker, New York Times bestselling author of "The Millionaire Mind"
• Jeff Walker, creator of the "Product Launch Formula," the #1 online marketing training for product launches of all time
• Frank Kern, creator of "Mass Control" and the highest paid internet marketing strategist in the world
• Joe Polish, creator of the #1 bestselling marketing training in Nightingale Conant's history called "Piranha Marketing"
• Rick Frishman, founder of Planned Television Arts, and Publisher, Morgan James Publishing
• Dean Graziosi, New York Times bestselling author and the successful real estate educator 
• Bill Harrison, founders of Radio-TV Interview Report (TRIR), the twice monthly magazine that is used by 4,000 radio/TV producers to find guests
• Scott Hoffman, literary agent and founder of Folio Literary
• Andy Jenkins, founder of "The Video Boss" and online marketing strategist 
• Jeff Johnson, the #1 online affiliate marketer for high-priced programs  
• Janet Bray Attwood, New York Times bestselling co-author of "The Passion Test"
• Mike Koenigs, founder of Traffic Geyser and creator of Main Street Marketing Machines
• Jim Kwik, creator of Kwik Learning and Warmth Marketing
• Jon Walker, Product Launch Manager
• And more.

I'm looking forward to the first annual Experts Industry Association Conference, which is coming up soon. FYI, it's open to anyone interested in learning and mastering the advice and how-to industry. Learn more about RESET, the upcoming Annual Conference here. 

Sugar Shock Blog Now Promotes Quality Foods, Products & Services

As you may have noticed, recently the Sugar Shock Blog began promoting certain foods, products or services with affiliate links or banner ads.

I've resisted doing this since the Sugar Shock Blog made its debut on June 7, 2010 because I was focused on bringing you great information and I wanted to maintain the quality of this blog.

Furthermore, I grew weary of being asked to review or comment on various foods or services that did not meet my rigorous standards. You never heard about this before, because I've been refusing to write about these sub-standard (in my opinion) foods and products. For years, however, I have, recommended many books I like.

In retrospect, I realize that Ii've been doing you a disservice by not seeking out and recommending foods, products and services that I love or respect.

So now, on this Sugar Shock Blog, you'll find ads or affiiate banners for foods, products, services and events that I consider to be of the highest caliber.

This means that for foods, NONE of them will ever contain sugar, fructose, maltodextrin, agave (which I consider worse than fructose), honey, artificial sweeteners or even organic cane sugar. (At least, as far as I now.) Meanwhile, I'll also strive to tell you about superior self-growth and other programs and services. 

Anyhow, I intend to continue to behave like a woman and blogger of high integrity. To that end, I'd lke to share with you my Sweet, But Stringent Standards.

Thank you for supporting fabulous companies such as Vital Choice, U.S. Wellness Meats, the makers of the amazing X-iser and Hay House, which is publishing my next book, Beyond Sugar Shock. Speaking of my new publisher, will I see you at the upcoming I Can Do It Conference in Florida?

I also invite you to visit my new Sugar Shock Shop on Open Sky, where you can find organic nut butters, chia seeds, colorful Buddha Bowls, organic shea butter, organic lavendar bath salts, organic cacao nibs,  a yoga mat cover and much more.

If you'd like to recommend a company, food or product to advertise here, let me know. But first, please read my Sweet, But Stringent Standards.

 

Grateful to Bike!

I just came back from my first bicycle ride since slamming head first into glass (while running) on July 4.  I'm so excited and grateful that I could get on my beloved bike again.

At the beginning of the week, I was struck by dizziness and ferocious headaches. Then, I held five episodes on my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show about gratitude with 21 amazing experts. Get details about the shows here.

In addition, I saw my wonderful acupuncturist for the sixth time. (I call him my "miracle worker."

Plus, I kept repeating this affirmation recommended by the renowned, inspirational, self-help author Louise Hay to use whenever there is a problem. I've been saying over and over again, as she suggests:

"All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this experience, only good will come and I am safe."

Now, here I am at the end of the week able to begin exercising again. I've been on doctor-ordered rest for a while, which meant "no exercising." (Ugh! Something that's been a challenge.)

Granted, now I'm pooped out big time -- I even had to take some stops along the way to rest -- my head is now throbbing, aching, hurting and I need to lie down -- but I suspect that I'm feeling better because :

1. I've been expressing gratitude a lot 
2. I've been very focused on gratitude all week because of my five radio shows
3. I've been stating the affirmations Louise Hay recommends
4. I've been seeing my acupuncturist.
5. I've been listening over and over again to a healing download from my hypnotist friend Debra Berndt.

What do you think? Why do I feel better?

And have you ever relied on gratitude to get you out of pain or a mess?

P.S. I just finished lying down, falling asleep while listening to my healing download, and my head is only mildly achy! How exciting! 

All I can say is I highly recommend that you try my five-pronged approach when you're in emotional or physical pain. 

High Fructose Consumption Linked to High Blood Pressure

The evidence keeps pouring in pointing to the dangers of fructose, which are found in soft drinks and most processed foods, from breads to cookies to crackers.

The latest study, which finds that people who consume the amount of fructose found in two-and-a-half soft drinks a day appear to have a higher risk of hypertension, appears in the current issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

People who took in at least 74 grams (about 18.5 tsp.) per day had 26% to 77% greater odds of crossing various thresholds of elevated blood pressure (P<0.05 for all), compared with lower levels of consumption, according to Diana Jalal, MD, of the University of Colorado Denver, and colleagues.

"Limiting fructose intake is readily feasible, and, in light of our results, prospective studies are needed to assess whether decreased intake of fructose from added sugars will reduce the incidence of hypertension and the burden of cardiovascular disease in the U.S. adult population," they wrote online in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

One of the best ways to improve your health is to reduce your consumption of high fructose corn syrup -- and that means, just nix the soft drinks. There is no human requirement for soda!

Over this holiday weekend, I encourage you to drink water rather than soda. You can pay a price for gulping all that fructose-laden sweetness.

To get a flavor for how soft drinks can pack on the pounds -- one that will make your stomach turn -- watch this "Pouring on the Pounds" ad from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Tap Your Way to Breakthroughs: "The Tapping Solution"

Have you heard the much-talked about documentary film, “The Tapping Solution,” which spotlights the amazing power of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to change lives?

This breakthrough film -- which features such renowned experts as Jack Canfield, Cheryl Richardson, Bruce Lipton, Carol Look, Dr. Joe Mercola, Joe Vitale, Dr. Norm Shealy, Bob Proctor, Carol Look and Dr. Patricia Carrington -- documents EFT's effectiveness to change the lives of people around the globe.

It explores meridian tapping, a healing tool based on the body's subtle energy systems and meridians.

In this riveting 90-minute film, “The Tapping Solution,” you may laugh and even cry, but most importantly, you'll learn the secrets to getting the most out of tapping so you, too, can experience the miracles and breakthroughs that are cited in the film.

Now the creators of the "The Tapping Solution" have raised the ante. I'm intrigued by what they're proposing.

I recommend that you find out now what’s going on here. 

FYI, this incredible opportunity is only available for FIVE days. So you'll want to act fast.

By the way, this film is ONLY for those of you who are ready to change. To create and manifest what you most dream of and desire in life, learn about "The Tapping Solution" now.

In case you haven't heard about EFT, it has been used:

• To help people overcome addictive patterns like over-eating and smoking
  
• To overcome fears related to public speaking, concentration and sports.
  
• To release pain and trauma
• To clear limiting beliefs
• To put the Law of Attraction into effect
• To let go of fears
• To resolve insomnia.
• To manage your depression, anger and other disturbing emotions.
• And much more.
  

I invite you now to check out "The Tapping Solution" and to share this with your friends, too. Just send them to http://tinyurl.com/TappingSolution-Connie

FYI, I'm a compensated affiliate for this program, which means that I can continue to bring you high-quality services and information. Please note, however, that I only share information about events, people or products in which I believe. Please stay tuned for an upcoming Gab with the Gurus Radio Show in which I interview experts in "The Tapping Solution."

Sugar Sugar Time (And I Don't Mean Sweets!)

Thanks to talented journalist Dana Kennedy -- creator of the clever blog,  A Year Without Candy -- for reminding me of the fun pop song, Sugar, Sugar by the Archies.

This song makes me smile. I can't begin to remember how many times radio hosts have played this song before they interviewed me about my book Sugar Shock!

Please enjoy this. And of course, I'm not posting this to make you think about sweets (as in the sugary kind) but to think about having (non-sugary) sweetness in your life -- something I invite you to find, get and create.

And, readers, please join me in congratulating Dana for making it 90 days without candies, cookies, etc. Way to go, Dana!

See my interview with Dana here, in which she articulately shared why she's choosing to go A Year Without Candy. 

Would you like to join her? Can you go A Year Without Candy or another unhealthy substance or activity?

An Overlooked Health Epidemic: My Op Ed Piece on AOL News

"We're in the midst of a terrifying epidemic, although you wouldn't know it to talk to most doctors and health specialists."

That's what I wrote in my opinion piece, that was posted on AOL News on Friday.

Just in case you were on vacation, I wanted to make sure you see this.

"The disease is growing at a rate faster than AIDS," I continued.

"From 2006 to 2008 alone, the number of cases jumped a whopping 77 percent. In 2008 alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed 28,921 "confirmed" and 6,277 "probable" cases of the disease, but there could be as many as 420,000 because of underreporting."

"Prominent victims include Parker Posey, Richard Gere, President George W. Bush, Alice Walker and Christie Brinkley," my op ed piece on AOL News points out.

"If any other disease had stricken so many people, the medical community would be scurrying for knowledge, scrambling for cures or rushing to warn patients (think swine flu).

"But that's not the case with Lyme disease -- a disease carried by ticks.

"Instead, ill-informed doctors are often flummoxed when patients complain of fatigue, headaches, fever or chills, muscle or joint pain, mental confusion, swollen lymph nodes and neurological symptoms. It's an appalling display of indifference." 

Anyhow, at last, two years after my own terrifying health experiences, my op ed piece is on AOL News.

Learn more about this terrifying epidemic on Wednesday, June 2 at 2 pm EST on my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show when I interview several Lyme disease experts.

And please share your or your friends' experiences and insights here and on AOL about your or their terrifying, often-misunderstood disease.

Many thanks to my smart health friend JJ Virgin, to whom I'm greatly indebted for helping me to quickly find out why I was so sick two years ago. 

In addition, my gratitude goes to the following for their support and invaluable help:

• Knowledgeable Lyme disease expert Kris Newby, senior producer and researcher for the eye-opening documentary, "Under Our Skin."
• Talented editor/writer Abby Ellin
• Katie Orenstein and Danielle Grace Warren of the fabulous Op Ed Project (which you can learn more about soon on an upcoming radio show)
• Talented editors/writers Susan Shapiro and Gerry Jonas

Please read my important op ed now on AOL News now.

And please join us Wednesday, June 2 for my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show about Lyme disease.

Sugar Shock Blog Appreciates Your Tips or Donations

Dear readers, I hope you enjoy reading this Sugar Shock Blog. Ever since this blog made its debut on June 7, 2005, I've been seeking bring you high-quality content that is inspiring, educational, eye-opening, entertaining and provocative.

My goal is to help you achieve a life of glee, passion and sweetness -- preferably one where you're less reliant or break free of your addiction to sugary foods and drinks, as well as unhealthy activities.

As a trained journalist and author, I've enjoyed this blogging adventure, but, frankly, this Sugar Shock Blog is a very timely commitment, and I've never received a dime for bringing you lots of (what I hope) is quality content. (I've also been naughty quite a bit, because often I've worked on this blog instead of seeking writing for pay.)

Therefore, for the first time in five years, I invite you to make a contribution so that I can continue to inspire, encourage and nurture you. In the past, I've debated whether or not I should even do this, and blogger Darren Rowse's comments give me pause, but I figured what the heck -- why not give it a try. 

If you've enjoyed this Sugar Shock Blog and would like to thank me for the great content, I'd be very grateful for your contributions. Just check out the tip box to your right. Thank you very much in advance for making a donation, which will help me continue to posting on this blog.

I'll appreciate every dollar you send my way. And who knows, perhaps some kindly, generous Angel will emerge, who will toss $100,000 my way? A girl can hope, right?

Warmly,

Kelly Ripa, Kim Kardashian, Seth Green, Eva Langoria Parker Go for Over-the-Top Cakes

Many of us would-be, health-conscious people strive often (or at times) to cut culprit carbs and shove candies, cookies, cakes and chips out of our lives for our emotional or physical health.

But who can blame Tori Spelling, Kelly Ripa, Kim Kardashian, Eva Langoria Parker, Guy Ritchie, Flavor Flav, Seth Green, Spencer Pratt and Kid Rock for using creative, elaborate cakes to memorialize major occasions?

I don't mean to unnecessarily entice you with these images (to your left), but I'm amused, entertained and intrigued by these over-the-top, sugary concoctions that People Magazine shares with us in a snazzy photo essay.

My sugar-free -- albeit sometimes jealous -- funny bone nudges me to poke fun of this sugar-filled hoopla in this way: Well, let them eat cake!

(For the record, my comment was NOT intended to be malicious -- it was my silly, sleep-deprived remark.)

Hey, sometimes you just have to laugh at -- and accept -- our nation's habit of celebrating events with sugar-filled cakes. Let's face it, this is a trend you just can't buck.

So I invite you to set some limits for yourself at your next beautiful cake-celebrated event. I urge you to have just one teeny, tiny piece -- and to have it after a good meal with healthy foods (quality protein, healthy carbs such as veggies and a small amount of fat like olive oil). That's right, I challenge you to partake of one tiny slice!

Speaking of challenges, it can be a challenge to figure out how to observe important milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, bar mitzvahs, christenings and graduations without cute cakes.

So, now I'm presented with a challenge. Given that I don't eat sweets, how the heck should I celebrate my 12 years off sugar on April 15?

I invite your suggestions. Because frankly I'm at a loss! Please send in your ideas!

In case you're new to this Sugar Shock Blog and your'e wondering why I would want to pass up such delectable treats as those shown here, consider this: Would you rather suffer from 44 horrible ailments or skip the sweets and feel great?

That's the choice had to reluctantly make back in 1998, when my doctor ordered me to quit my sugar habit. To learn about my sad-to-sweet story, read it in Chapter One of my book SUGAR SHOCK!

If you're annoyed with me for unnecessarily enticing you, come join me tonight when low-carb blogger Jimmy Moore -- who lost 180 pounds and kept it off, partly from cutting out cakes -- and I tell you "The Top 10 Reasons You Failed to Lose Weight or Kick Sugar." Just sign up here. (If you can't make it live, you can listen to an audio replay later, for a limited time.)

Agave is Worse for You than High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): Please Stay Away From the Stuff!

In recent years, health-minded people and health food restaurants have been excitedly ingesting and switching to the supposed, "safe, "all natural" sweetener agave or agave nectar.

Time and time again, since 2003, four years before my book SUGAR SHOCK! was published in January 2007, I've been warning people that agave is not safe. In fact, I've been telling people, it may be worse for you than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Again, for some seven years now, whenever people have asked me if agave is a good idea to use, my answer has always been the same: "Stay away from agave, because it's very high in fructose and may have more fructose than high fructose corn syrup."

In fact, for years, I've been sadly observing and warning people that agave is a marketing scam (if not a stroke of brilliant promoting). Agave is one of the biggest dupes of the health food industry.

Increasingly, for the last few years, I've become more and more frustrated and annoyed as more and more new "health products" in health food stores and desserts (or even entrees) in health food restaurants have become sullied and made unhealthy by adding agave. Worse still, these products are almost always marketed as being healthy.

Sadly, I've had to become wary and vigilant about eating anything that I find in a health food store or health food restaurant, because inevitably, they use agave -- and a lot! But my cautions have fallen on deaf ears.

Interestingly, when my book SUGAR SHOCK! came out in January 2007, it seemed like I was one of only a handful of people raising questions about agave's safety and its potential dangers.

For instance, in SUGAR SHOCK! (in Chapter 22, on pages 307 to 308, in the Frequently Asked Questions chapter), I warned that:

• Agave is a non-GRAS (not generally recognized as safe) label for highly refined fructose, which is metabolized in your body like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). 
• Agave has "twice the intensity and sweetness of high-fructose corn syrup," according to food and beverage formulator Russ Bianchi. And overconsuming HFCS, as you can learn from listening to one episode of my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show, has been linked with a host of health ailments, including heart disease, cancer, obesity and metabolic synmdrome. HFCS is found in thousands of processed foods, which you can learn about in this 3 Minute Ad Age piece, for which I was interviewed. (Watch the short YouTube video here.)
• Agave may not even be from the Mexican cactus plant, according to experts, because there's been a shortage of blue agave, which is also used to make tequila.

What I didn't include in my book SUGAR SHOCK! is that I'd heard that high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) was being either added to agave or even swapped for it! You heard me right.

For years, I never  expressed this alleged concern in writing, because I didn't have proof. (As a trained journalist, it's imperative to verify facts, and I was seeking additional substantiation before going public with this.) But then other people began to make the same claims that your agave may really be HFCS.

Over the years, just about whenever I gave a talk, attended a conference or offered tips online, in my KickSugar group, people would inevitably ask me about the increasingly popular sweetener, especially if they hadn't yet read my advice in SUGAR SHOCK! So in late 2008, a year after my book was released, I also spoke out publicly against agave here, on this Sugar Shock Blog.

Even so, the agave questions -- and doubt about my answers -- kept coming. So I cautioned against agave again here, then again here and most recently here.

Interestingly, despite my very vocal and strong objections to agave, a number of my health-oriented friends, including those from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (a wonderful nutrition school I attended), refused to believe my anti-agave rant and continued to rave about agave's wonderful, sweet taste. Worse still, they would distribute recipes that suggested using agave nectar. Brr! Always, I would silently shudder in horror.

But thankfully, in recent years and especially months, a number of other health experts have joined me in blasting agave and its alleged virtuousness.

As best as I can reconstruct it, here's the timeline.

Michelle Obama Urges Companies to Use Less Sugar, Fat & Salt

Our First Lady is now serving as a conscience to food companies.

Indeed, Michelle Obama is now urging the nation's largest food companies to "step it up" and make healthier foods by using less sugar, fat and salt.

What's more, she is also encouraging them to make efforts to reduce the marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

What's intriguing is that the Grocery Manufacturers Association – whose members include Kraft Foods Inc., Coca Cola Co. and General Mills Inc., known for its sugar-salt-and-fat-filled foods – invited her to speak at its science forum.

At her talk Tuesday – even though she exhorted them to make their products healthier – the attendees even gave her a standing ovation, as the Huffington Post's Mary Clare Jalonick pointed out.

"We need you not to just tweak around the edges but entirely rethink the products you are offering, the information that you provide about these products, and how you market those products to our children," she advised the food companies.

Mrs. Obama also asked for less confusing food labels and portion sizes, increased nutrients and less bad ingredients.

As the Huffington Post's Jalonick notes, "This is the first time she has confronted the food companies that make the snacks and junk food that stuff grocery aisles and school vending machines."

Comedians Jeff Garlin & Ellen DeGeneres Shun Sugar

Please visit AOL today to read my opinion piece, in which I praise both comedians Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Garlin for the wonderful examples they're setting for the rest of the nation.

Ellen DeGeneres, who, of course, hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show and is now also a judge on American Idol, and Jeff Garlin, the star and co-producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm, have both kicked sugar and they've experienced amazing results, from weight loss to more energy.

As an advocate of leading a happy, healthy, energy-filled life, I'm thrilled by what the two comedians are doing. 

I invite you to read my my op ed piece now: Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Garlin Could Inspire Others to Kick the Sugar Habit - AOL News.

Feel free to share this article with friends and loved ones.

Please spread the word now Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Garlin Could Inspire Others to Kick the Sugar Habit - AOL News.

Unfortunately, right now the comments section on AOL is closed so please post your comments here on the Sugar Shock Blog and also on the Facebook Smart Habits Fans page.

Meditate for a Moment, Thanks to Barbara Biziou

Enjoy this calming, rejuvenating Meditation Moment from Barbara Biziou, who I had the pleasure of meeting recently at an event sponsored by my friend Dr. Diana Kirschner, to launch the paperback release of her book, Love in 90 Days.

Eat All the Pancakes You Want & Leave Happy, Ad Says. Huh? Wrong!

Frankly, I don't get it. Here we are in the midst of a horrific nationwide obesity epidemic, and a certain national chain is now enticing people and tempting them via a TV ad to eat can eat all the pancakes they want and leave happy!

You've got to be kidding!

Eating as many pancakes as your heart desires will not make you happy!

Isn't it more accurate to say: "Eat all the pancakes you want, especially ones smothered in butter and syrup, and leave feeling bloated, gross and angry at yourself for pigging out!"

Just imagine: After you eat a pile of pancakes, you'll probably say, "Ugh! I can't believe I ate all those pancakes! I'm so unhappy!"

Wait, that's not all! Let's assume the restaurant's deal really entices you. So, after overeating for several days running on all that sugar (think syrup), fat (butter) and those refined carbs or sugar (the pancakes work in your body like sugar), you can expect to get even more unhappy when you look on the bathroom scale!

Admittedly, you may feel "happy" ever so briefly. In other words, you'll be upbeat and "high" from all the sugar and refined carbs for maybe 1/2 hour or even an hour. But soon, you'll come crashing down and reality will set in. Unfortunately, you may even have more sugar cravings later that day.

What baffles me is that this particular eatery does sell other food fare that's not carb-centered. How can this company permit their ad agency to create such a politically incorrect ad in this weight-worrying climate? Why not promote all-you-can-eat salads or something more healthy instead?

In case you believed the TV bunk that eating pancakes to your heart's delight can will make you happy, I'd recommend that you learn about the dangers of all those refined carbs and sugars. Would you like to be healthy and happy? If so, then gobbling pancakes is not the answer.

Eating pancakes, along with other processed carbs and sweets can, over time, lead to health troubles galore, from heart disease to cancer to type 2 diabetes, as you can learn my book SUGAR SHOCK!

Still want some pancakes? I hope not!

Stay tuned for my healthy "pancake" recipe, which I'll post here tomorrow,

New Year's Resolutions: 10 Simple Steps to Stick to Them

Now that it's a new year, most people wonder how to stick to their new year's resolutions.

Even if you've already broken them, that's no reason to throw in the towel. You can still pick yourself up and create smart habits to better your life.

Many of you are seeking, for instance, to shed excess weight and release such health-harming habits as over-consuming sugar, coffee or diet soda. Many of you want to quit procrastinating, smoking, being habitually late, obsessively checking emails or biting your nails.

Before you begin to make positive changes, it's helpful to focus on the Benefits of Breaking Your Bad Habits or what I call “Babits™.

Let's take the case of quitting sugar. As I learned back in 1998 when I cut out out sweeteners and refined carbs on doctor’s orders, ALL 44 of my baffling ailments, from crushing fatigue to brain fog, completely disappeared, as I recounted in my book SUGAR SHOCK!,

For instance, licking sweets (pun intended) and other health-robbing substances and unproductive habits from caffeine overloading to diet soda guzzling can help you to:

• Shed excess weight,
• Get consistent energy,
• Boost your moods,
• Calm you down,
• Become more spiritual and centered,
• Increase your passion and productivity,
• Reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer or hypoglycemia,
• Manage these conditions, if you have them,
• Rev up your libido,
• Reduce your PMS symptoms,
• And so much more!

In short, when you remove sugar and other negative patterns, you leave room for positive activities to take their place and you can begin to get a Life That Rocks!™. Here are 10 smart steps, which can help you break free of your babits™ (bad habits) so you can to replace them with smart habits.

1. Congratulate Yourself. To begin your journey to health and wellness, I invite you to pat yourself on the back. You may wonder why you would want to do that, especially if you’ve spent years abusing your body. You want to applaud yourself, because the mere fact that you’re beginning to look at your sugar addiction or other bad habit is big! The first step to break away from sweets, refined carbs and other babits™ is to NOT beat up on yourself. Granted, you may have gobbled or guzzled high-calorie nutrient-poor sugary foods and drinks over the years, but now is a time to be gentle with yourself, to treat yourself with compassion and to take pride that you’re taking the much-needed first step to treat your body with love and care. Go ahead: Lavish some praise and kudos on yourself now that you’re finally confronting the bad habit that’s been plaguing you—perhaps for years. Share your excitement in your journal or in a heart-to-heart conversation with a loved one. Then imagine that you’re at the starting line of a race like a runner athlete and that you’re ready to make a massive positive shift. Please also remember to acknowledge and celebrate your every little accomplishment. For example, when you make it through a meal without sugary foods, diet soda or caffeine—or if you at least consume less of them—take pride and applaud yourself. After all, each time you make healthier choices, you get closer to more energy, a trimmer body and a better life. 

2. Move With Your Mind & Mantra. Before you begin to try to kick your sugar addiction or another babit™, it’s time to embark on Seven Smart Starter Habits (through Step #8) to cement your confidence that good health, inner calm and new patterns await you. That’s because whenever you seek to remove an old habit and replace it with a new one, your work begins before you even try to make changes. In other words, before you begin to “diet” or make important lifestyle changes, you want to convince your mind that you CAN succeed. Begin each day knowing in the depth of your being that you’ve already licked your unhealthy habit. To get both your subconscious and conscious mind to accept that you’ve succeeded—or are on the path to succeeding—create an easy-to-repeat phrase, affirmation or mantra such as “I, [Your Name], choose only nourishing foods and drinks, which keep me slim, toned and healthy.” Repeat your positive statement at least 30 times a day. Make sure to say it in the morning, right after you wake up, and in the evening, before you go to sleep. Repeating it about 10 to 20 times before meals also can help. Back in 1998, when I finally kicked sugar, repeating my mantra enabled me to succeed. Now, my clients find this technique effective, too.

Sugar Addiction: Get Help to Break Free, Beginning Jan. 5 at the New York Open Center

With the new year coming soon, people often decide that it's high time to break free of their sugar habit.

And I'm here to help you conquer your habit in early 2010. 

Join me on Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 6 pm, when you can get inspired and educated during a fun, often-interactive, life-changing free introductory class at the New York Open Center. which is the largest urban holistic center in the United States.

But that isn't all. You also can sign up for the four-week course at the New York Open Center from Jan. 12 to Feb. 2.

Please note that you get a free gift if you sign up for the Jan. 5 or the 4-week program because of reading about it on this blog.

But first join us for a complimentary introduction on Jan. 5.

In case you're wondering why you may want to consider kicking sugar, if you do so, you can:

• Lose weight
• Finally feel in control of their habit of consuming sugar and refined carbs
• Feel free!
• Get more energy on a consistent basis
• Become more productive 
• Walk your talk by consuming only healthy foods and drinks
• Tap into your spirtuality
• Be unfazed when desserts and sweet snacks abound
• Feel exhilarated and excited about your many projects
• Relish moving your body in a way you've never done
• Enjoy more enriching, satisfying relationships
• Boost your libido
• Learn to calmly watch your sugar desires slide away
• And much more

Here's the description of the four-week course at the New York Open Center:

Do you “need” a candy bar or soda just to get through the day? Are you yearning to lose weight for good? Would you like to improve your moods, banish brain fog, triple your energy and boost your libido? You can peel off pounds, gain energy and improve your relationships just by kicking sugar and refined carbohydrates. But removing culprit carbs can be challenging.

Join “Smart Habits Girl” Connie Bennett, author of the best-selling book SUGAR SHOCK!, who will show you that breaking free of your sugar habit can be fun, exhilarating and life-changing. In this four-week course, you’ll participate in empowering exercises, eye-opening discussions and coaching scenarios to discover how to identify your tempting triggers and well-meaning saboteurs; how to soothe and nurture yourself in healthy ways; how to use the “5 Ds” to squash your cravings; how to save money on food; what to eat; how to “say no with sass”; if you should quit cold turkey or phase out sweets; how to find hidden sugars; how to release your bingeing-self-loathing cycle; if sugar substitutes are safe; and how to find sweetness naturally.

Hope to see you there! Remember, if you sign up for the course because of learning about it on this blog, you get a free gift from me.

• Lose weight
• Finally feel in control of their habit of consuming sugar and refined carbs
• Feel free!
• Get more energy on a consistent basis
• Become more productive 
• Walk your talk by consuming only healthy foods and drinks
• Tap into your spirtuality
• Be unfazed when desserts and sweet snacks abound
• Feel exhilarated and excited about your many projects
• Relish moving your body in a way you've never done
• Enjoy more enriching, satisfying relationships
• Boost your libido
• Learn to calmly watch your sugar desires slide away
• And much more

'Tis the Season to be Stressed: 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress

Are you stressing out now that the holidays are here?

Fret not. You can get some help to calm down.

Get 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress, which PsychologyToday.com kindly posted on its home page Monday.

Thank you, PsychologyToday.com, for joining with me to help people have a soothing rather than stressed-out holiday season. 

Get 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress.

Now, take advantage of your free holiday gift -- three guided visualizations -- with Love-Mind Expert Debra Berndt so that you can feel relaxed and refreshed.