SUGAR SHOCK! Blog

3 Gifts to Have a Sweeter Holiday Season

For many of you, the holiday season is filled with anxiety, stress, financial worries, loneliness, family arguments, gift-giving concerns, many irritations (from flight delays to family squabbles) and many tasty temptations -- mostly high-calorie and sugar-filled that you find hard to resist but that pack on the pounds, sap your energy and ruin your moods.

 In fact, many people leave the holiday season feeling drained, deprived and 5 or more pounds heavier.

But I'm here to help you lose weight, get organized, become more organized, joyful, calm down, look younger, plan a vision for the future, attract abundance, and much more.

In other words, my goal is to bring you peace of mind, happiness, and super-simple cool tools to start using so you can have a Sweeter Holiday Season. 

Therefore, it's my pleasure to give you three special gifts.

All three gifts were the opening programs in last year's much-acclaimed Sweeter Holiday Season, which featured a whopping 38 programs featuring a Who's Who in the fields of health, wealth, fitness, personal empowerment, feng shui, organizing, happiness, Law of Attraction, and so much more.

So here are the gifts you're getting now:

Your First Gift with Law of Attraction Guru John Assaraf

For your first gift, you'll get inspired and educated by the remarkable John Assaraf, one of the stars of The Secret, founder of several multi-million dollar companies, a Spiritual Entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author.

In our special program, John -- who is also a Law of Attraction expert and certified life coach -- will help you ll discover:

* What's blocking you from abundance.
* How the super-successful John didn't come from a family of scholars or multimillionaires, but somehow he managed to learn about quantum physics and neuroscience and build several 5 multimillion dollar companies and write a couple of New York Times bestselling books along the way.

• How oceans and stars are not the last frontier for mankind but the human brain is.
• Why some people achieve enormous business and financial success while others don't.
• How there is an inner game to wealth and success and an outer game.
• Why it's so hard for people to change.
• What are the exact steps people can take to change from the inside out so that their results are 5,10 20 times better in the next 12-24 months.
• How some people settle for less than what they can achieve and how you can easily break free from that pattern, achieve huge transformations; and become incredibly confident.
• How to find out about John's super-sophisticated, amazing brain training program (which I love).

Your Second Gift with America's Relaxation Expert Darrrin Zeer

For your second gift with Relaxation Expert Darrin Zeer, you'll get some very simple, fast techniques to tame your stres.

For instance, you'll discover:

* How to do what Darrin calls "The Bear Claw."
* How to calm down with "The Ragdoll Pose."
* What to do if you get headaches.
* How to do "Keyboard Calisthenics.:
* How to do something called "Email Meditation" (yes, meditation!)
* How to do the "Really Fun Laughter Exercise."

Your Third Gift with the Renowned "FlyLady" Marla Cilley

Then, your final gift -- also from the Sweeter Holiday Summit -- comes from the renowned "FlyLady" Marla Cilley, who will give you tools galore to help you get through the holidays. For instance, Marla will reveal:

* How to change your life in 15-minute increments.
* How to crisis-clean your home.
* What to do which days of the week so you don't feel so overwhelmed.
* How to avoid last-minute, gift wrapping challenges.
* What to do before you go to holiday parties.
* How to put the fun in your cleaning and decluttering endeavors.
* How to give "action" gifts.
* How to go on a "cruise" this holiday season.
* And much more. 

These three programs were all part of the Sweeter Holiday Summit, last year's amazing program, during which You'll also get one bonus gift on "How to Relieve Holiday Stress."

In this program, with Love Hypnotist Debra Berndt, author of Let Love In, you'll get easy ways to calm down quickly, no matter where you are. 

To get your three exciting gifts (and the one bonus gift, go here:

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How You Found Us	Article by Connie Book Signing BlogTalkRadio.com Carbwire.com Connie's Radio Show (Gab with the Gurus) DietDetective.com eDiets.com Facebook Friend Live Talk By Connie HealthNewsDigest.com Howard Stern Show Huffington Post (Connie's Blog) Hypoglycemia Support Foundation Institute for Integrative Nutrition Newspaper/Magazines OprahSelects.com Other Website Press Release Radio Interview Search Engine SheKnows.com SparkPeople.com SUGAR SHOCK! (Connie's Book) SUGAR SHOCK! Blog Teleseminar 'The FlyLady' Marla Cilley Psychology Today (Connie's Blog) TV Interview Trade Show/Convention Twitter (Smart Habits Girl) Arielle Ford Marci Shimoff

Make sure to tell me how you like your gifts and what A Hah moments you've had. Just talk to us on my Facebook fan page.

Attract Abundance with Steve G. Jones

World renowned hypnotherapist Steve G. Jones was the guest earlier this week as part of the Sweeter Holiday Summit, which is presenting 35+ experts in the fields of health, wellness, fitness, Law of Attraction, wealth and personal empowerment.

In his Sweeter Holiday Summit program, Steve showed you How to Feel Filled Up (Not Deprived) at Holiday Parties & How to Tap Into Your Wealth Mindset, Starting Now.

You'll love the short (about 5 mins.) hypnosis session, in which Steve guided you to modest amounts and not to overindulge at holiday parties. He also led us through another fabulous session to help you attract abundance.

In this exciting program:

• You'll discover how your internal thinking limits your external success.
• You'll get tips on how to avoid making the biggest mistake—failing to believe in yourself.
• You'll also find out how to re-train your inner dialogue whenever it becomes negative
• You'll learn what you can do to combat frustration.
• You'll find out about the value (for many) of a “A Guilt-Free Play Plan”
• You'll get pointers on how to distance yourself from a situation that may appear to be negative.
• You'll discover how to tap into the abudance mentality.
• And much more.

The exciting Sweeter Holiday Summit replay is available for free until Sunday so that you can benefit from these amazing tips.

Because you're so busy this holiday season, you can upgrade any time to the Sweetest VIP All-Access to listen anytime to all 35+ speakers in the Sweeter Holiday Summit. That way, you'll gain admission to a private website to be inspired whenever you want from these amazing speakers.

Some of the amazing experts coming up include:

• Marilyn Migliore, an emotional eating expert
• Marilee Tolen, an aromatherapist and holistic nurse and
• Weight loss Brad King, who will help you to lose -- not gain weight -- this holiday season

To sign up for FREE to listen to all the experts presented in the Sweeter Holiday Summit, just go here: www.SweeterHoliday.com

Special thanks to Tanya Lily-Reid for help on this blog post.

Hurrah! Computer Fixed!

After a fabulous weekend getting inspired and exhilarated by the Hay House I Can Do It! Conference in Tampa and listening to such fabulous people as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Cheryl Richardson, Marianne Williamson, Robert Holden and Dr. Brian Weiss, I came back home to a tempermental computer.

Suffice it to say that a virus blasted my computer to smithereens.

For two days, it was downright tough to work, because everythng was SLOW, SLOW, SLOW.

Every little step I took would stall my computer.

Firefox wouldn't stay open -- it was shutting down often.

Sending emails was pretty much impossible.

In short, my computer was so sluggish, sputtering and malfunctioning that I was fearful it would just die in the middle of my Sweeter Holiday webinars/teleseminars.

So I had to make a tough decision. I had to cancel last night's programs with Gift Guru Robyn Spizman and acclaimed hypnotherapist Steve G. Jones. Don't worry: we're rescheduling them.

How awful it would have been if my computer had shut down in the middle of a program!

For hours -- I think it was five, maybe six or seven -- my computer guy worked hard at fixing my computer. (He's still catching up.)

Ultimately, he had to take out my hard drive, put in a new one, install a new Windows 7, move over all my data, including the book I'm writing (Beyond Sugar Shock for Hay House), set up my email account again, etc., etc.

Now, I'm hunting for documents and I'm way behind!

But, yeah! I'm now a very happy woman with a super fast computer that's making it possible to get my work done so much quicker!

My computer guy says it's now even better than new. And thankfully, I have lots more space, too, because I was running out of space, too! (Lots of space is NICE and NEEDED since I'm now writing my next book, Beyond Sugar Shock, for Hay House.)

So we're back today for the Sweeter Holiday Summit. Join us tonight's exciting programs at 6 pm Eastern with Steve G. Jones.

Wondering what the Sweeter Holiday Summit is?

This event features 40 experts, whose mission is to help you thrive this holiday season.

Sign up now at www.SweeterHoliday.com, and you'll be able to listen to the fabulous program with the acclaimed FlyLady yesterday. (Thankfully, I was still able to hold that program before my computer got even worse. Stay tuned for a post about our fabulous webinar/teleseminar with her.)

Just submit your email address at www.SweeterHoliday.com. Then, you can listen for FREE for 48 hours to all programs. If your schedule is hectic, don't fret, because you can listen afterwards, at any time if you upgrade to the V.I.P. All Access Anytime Pass.  

We'd love to have you join us. But hurry and sign up now, because space is limited.

Please note that the figure is incorrect. We're now having more than 30 experts -- at present 40 Gurus in health, wealth, wellness, Feng shui, inner peace, finance, Law of Attraction, weight loss and more will help you to make this your best holiday season yet.

New Year's Day: Get Inspired in New York & Break Free

Dear Sugar Shock Blog readers, do you live near New York City?

If so, I invite you to join me New Year's Day at the JCC in Manhattan for a very exciting New Year's Day Fitness Fair.

In particular, from 1 pm to 2 pm at the JCC in Manhattan, come have fun with me while getting motivated, educated and charged up to take positive actions in the new year. 

Of course, as the new year rings in, this is an ideal time to begin to create a new, improved you.

One of the best ways to better yourself is to gently, compassionately look at yourself and how you've been treating your lovely body.

During my New Year's Day talk from 1 pm to 2 pm at the JCC in Manhattan, you will have an opportunity to have fun while beginning to kick your sugar habit or other bad habits (or what I call babits™).

My intention is to help gently guide you to look at your bad habits (babits™) and to engage in fun, uplifting, adventurcises™ (adventurous exercises) so you can get you can inspired to take some positive, life-changing actions in the new year.

Why study your babits™ such as over-reliance on sugar, caffeine and artificial sweeteners?

Because if you set aside your babits™, you can get more energy, shed excess pounds, lift your moods, get along better with your loved ones, become more productive, accomplish more, boost your confidence and even rev up your libido. The benefits are HUGE if you break free!

Please do spread the word. Invite your friends and loved ones and my talk from 1 pm to 2 pm at the JCC in Manhattan. If you come as a result of reading this blog post, let me know, because you get a free gift from me.

Here is more information about my program:

Break Your Sugar Habit & Turn Your Babits™ (Bad Habits) into Blessings to Get a Life that Rocks™!

Would you like to release excess weight, get energy and boost your libido? You can do ALL that—and more—by quitting sweets, refined carbs and other bad habits (babits™). Get easy tips and exercises you can enjoy as you discover:

•   The “5 Ds” to squash cravings for sugar or other babits™.
•   The 2 types of foods that drive away your “sweet tooth.”
•   The truth about sugar substitutes.
•   The single biggest mistake people make when trying to change a bad habit
•   3 ways to save money on food.

Please spread the word to your friends and loved ones about this New Year's Day event at the JCC in Manhattan. You're encouraged to tell your Facebook friends and Twitter followers, too. See you there!

Grateful for You

It’s Connie here to tell you that I’m VERY grateful to you, dear readers.

I really appreciate your support so that I can continue to serve you.

Now that it’s the holiday season, I feel that I want to tell you how grateful I am.

Grateful, as www.Dictionary.com tells us, means you’re “warmly Or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.”

YOU, dear readers, are so important to me.

Because of YOU and 1) your willingness to learn, 2) your open-mindedness, 3) your desire to have a happier, healthier life and 4) your spreading the word about this Sugar Shock Blog, my book SUGAR SHOCK! and my coaching services, I can continue to help YOU and many more to break free of this health- harming, mood-dampening addiction to sugar, refined carbs, artificial sweeteners and other bad habits
(or what I call babits™).

So thank you, YOU magnificent creature, YOU.

I love you, and as “Think Big” author Michael Port puts it, “not in a weird way.”

YOU Special One, I’m also here to remind you to remember that YOU are a wonderful, special, dazzling person with so great qualities.

So for the holidays through the end of the year, I invite you to remember to treasure your glorious body, which has been here for you no matter what.

When was the last time you thanked your body for all it does for you?

Let me gently suggest that you think twice before putting junk foods and sugar-filled, calorie-packed drinks into your body this holiday season, OK?

Before you slip a sweet “treat” into your mouth or nosh on fake, junk foods (that are artificially sweetened or filled with dyes and other additives), why not ask yourself, “What does my wonderful body really want?”I do hope that this post inspires you to treat your body like the temple it is. Wishing you all a fabulous rest of the  year!

Sugar Addicts No More! Happy People Share Success Stories

At this time of year, with all the sweet temptations around you, from candy canes to gingerbread cookies to eggnog, you feel a desire to just throw in the towel and not worry about how you eat.

It's certainly understandable. But what you put in your mouth can affect your moods, your energy levels, your immune system and your ability to get along with others. That's why you want to be at your best this holiday season. 

That's why I'd like to share a gift with you. You'll enjoy this present, I predict.

Listen now to happy people talking about their triumphs over their sugar habit.

You'll be shocked, inspired and awestruck (in my opinion) after hearing tales of how their sugar habit was ruining their lives and how life changed for them after kicking sweets and processed carbs and adopting a low-carb or quality-carbs meal plan.

You can even hear my story, too. (I embarrass myself for your benefit! LOL!)

Listen now to how Sugar Addicts became Successful Sugar Kickers.

Let me know what you think of their sour-to-sweet stories.

Stay tuned for an announcement about my five-week Break Free With Connie teleseminar/webinar program, beginning Wed., Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. (Save the dates now -- Wed., Jan. 6, 13, 20, 27 and Feb. 3 at 8 pm EST.)

Please note that this program is accessible from anywhere around the world, and if you can't catch the program live (due to your work or family schedule or different (out-of-the-U.S.) time zone, you can listen later for 48 hours afterward. Details are coming later.

Get Your Gift: Be Calm this Holiday Season

This holiday season, wouldn't it be nice NOT to be stressed out?

To give this a more positive spin, would you like to be calm, relaxed and refreshed? 

Break away from your worries.

Join creative visualization expert Debra Berndt, the Love-Mind Expert, and me for 3 soothing, guided visualizations. This is our holiday gift to you.

Claim your gift now. Just listen here (below), or go to our replay page.

Relieve Holiday Stress with us now.

You'll feel renewed and rejuvenated after hearing Debra's soothing voice and meditation. Now learn about her amazing s Complete Relaxation Set (9 MP3s) and Weight Loss Set (4 MP3s). 

SUGAR SHOCK! Defined

Since gingerbread cookies, eggnog, candy canes and chocolate geld (coins) abound at this time of year and you'll undoubtedly often be offered those and other tempting sweets this month, I invite you to start a process of self-discovery.

That's right, in my opinion, December is not the month to kick your sugar habit (unless you insist!)

Instead, I encourage you to learn what shock is and then do what I call "sugary soul searching" so you can learn if this applies to you.

Ask yourself such questions as:

When do sugary "treats" call out to you? Why do you cave into your candy cravings? How do you feel after eating sweets?

Then, just pay attention to how you behave all month. (Next month, we'll delve into the value of doing sugary soul searching and how it can help you to break free of your harmful habit.)

Now, let's revisit the definition of SUGAR SHOCK! -- which I gave here on this blog, in October 2006.

The idea to do this hit me, because my new Facebook friend Terri asked me, "What do you mean by Sugar Shock Connie?? I love how it sounds!!"

So here's my definition of sugar shock, which is also included in my book of the same name. (You can get a sneak peek of my book SUGAR SHOCK! here.)

Please bear in mind that sugar shock is a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, including some one-quarter to one-half of the U.S. population.

SUGAR SHOCK!™ defined - 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 more than 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.

Does this sound like something you or a loved one is going through? Would you like to learn more about sugar shock?

Grab a sneak peek now of my book SUGAR SHOCK! now.

Or just get your copy of SUGAR SHOCK! now to read during or after the holidays. This book is ideal to read in January so you can break free of your habit to lose weight, get energy, focus better, become happier and, of course, healthier.

Gift for You to Release Your Holiday Stress

Happy Chanukah to those of you who are Jewish. Here's my holiday gift to you, no matter what your religion.

Get your free download now to Release Holiday Stress.

This is a replay of a soothing program with creative visualization guru and Love-Mind Expert Debra Berndt, who has created the amazing Complete Relaxation Set (9 MP3s) and the Weight Loss Hypnosis Set (4 MP3s).

To help you have a holiday season, read my 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress article at my Huffington Post blog.

Listen to your complimentary Relieve Holiday Stress program now. You can listen our guest through the end of the month.

Free Shopping List, Free Sugar Shock Quiz & Free Talks in New York

You don't need to feel imprisoned by your addiction to sugar or refined carbs!

Rest assured, help is here. To help you break free of your sugar habit, over the years, I've been compiling lots of goodies for you to ease your transition into a healthy life, as well as to encourage and motivate you.

First off, you can find lots of interesting content on my Sugar Shock website.

For instance, you can read Inspiring Sugar-Free Success Stories and find Recipes.

And you can get all kinds of  FREE STUFF.

For instance, you can get a free shopping list.

You can take the free Sugar Shock Quiz.

You can find Inspirational Quotes.

You can download a sneak peek of my book SUGAR SHOCK!

You can sign up for my free, weekly Motivating Morsels ezine (formerly called Stop Sugar Shock Minute) to get encouraged, entertained and educated weekly. 

Releasing sugar can also be fun as you reclaim a healthy life. That's why your'e invited to check out the lighthearted ways you can Say No With Sass!

You can even chuckle at cartoons. (The one to your left is part of a larger one.)

And if you need to find a nutrition-savvy M.D. or naturapath, get help to Find a Doctor.

Make sure to get your Holiday Gift, too -- an audio replay of our Release Holiday Stress program.

You're also invited to join our fast-growing community on Facebook and Ning. Chat with us. Let us support you. 

Become one of the Smart Habits Fans on Facebook and join in our discussions. And join the Stop Sugar Shock social networkwork on Ning.

You also can hear me speak for free twice in January if you live in the New York area.

On Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, I'll tell you How to Break Free of Sugar at the JCC in Manhattan for their health and wellness fair.

Then, on Tuesday, Jan. 5, you can hear me for an introductory talk on Breaking Free of Sugar at the New York Open Center.

The following week, starting on Jan. 12, I'm giving a four-week course there.

Claim your FREE STUFF now, and New Yorkers, sign up for your free introductory talk at the New York Open Center on Jan. 5.

Institute for Integrative Nutrition Grads Offer Heartfelt, Healthy Gifts

Now that it's the season to be merry, are you wondering what kind of Heartfelt, Healthy Gifts to get for loved ones?

Get great ideas here, on my Sugar Shock Blog, and also on a special Gab With the Gurus Radio Show.

Special thanks are due to the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and its founder/director Joshua Rosenthal, MScEd..

You see, because of IIN, I was fortunate enough to connect with three guests, who appeared yesterday on this Heartfelt, Healthy Holiday Gifts Gab With the Gurus Radio Show. Listen to the show now (see below).

These three guests, like me, are grads of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the world's largest nutrition school, which Joshua founded in 1992.

Get your questions answered about the Institute for Integrative Nutrition here, on my Sugar Shock Blog. (As you'll soon learn, I highly recommend IIN.)

Anyhow, learn about wonderful, Heartfelt, Healthy Gifts, especially those offered by the following, fellow IIN grads:

1) The talented nutritionist Randi Luckman, founder of HealthGifts.com, whose Sleep Tight HealthKit is shown here (above left). Randi offers many incredible packages, which she often custom creates for a client.

Please check back here soon, to the Sugar Shock Blog, to see a picture and get a complete list of the items included in (drum roll here, please) The Sweeter Life Gift  Basket that Randi and I are now creating for you.

For instance, The Sweeter Life Gift Kit may include ginger herbal tea, bath salt, bubble bath, fish oil, organic almonds, a relaxation CD and powdered stevia. (FYI, we're very excited about this product, which we've been planning to develop for a while.)

You'll also learn on this Heartfelt, Healthy Gifts Gab With the Gurus Radio Show about:

2) The creative Arielle Fierman, founder of Be Well With Arielle and creator of beautiful I Love Me rings and other jewelry (shown above).

You'll also get to hear from IIN grad:

3) Terry Walters, author of the acclaimed, award-winning book,  CLEAN FOOD: A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source With More Than 200 Recipes for a Healthy and Sustainable You..

4) Although he couldn't appear on the show, thanks to IIN, I also met Jared Koch, another IIN grad, who is  performing a vital service for New Yorkers.

Jared is co-author, with experienced restaurant critic Alex Van Buren, of Clean Plates N.Y.C., a handy guide to healthy places to eat in Manhattan.

5) Finally, if you'll permit me, I invite you to get my book SUGAR SHOCK! How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life--And How You Can Get Back on Track as a holiday gift for loved ones.By the way, I was researching and writing this SUGAR SHOCK! while attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. (What a welcome relief it was to head over to classes as a break from all the working!)

Anyhow, my book is intended to help wake you up to the dangers of sugars and refined carbs and then to give you valuable tips and tactics so you can break free from your dangerous habit of over consumption.

This post is in honor of these four and the thousands of fellow graduates over the years of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

I continue to be amazed by the wonderful projects and activities former IIN-ers are doing! Read about some amazing success stories here.

You're also invited to listen now to this radio show I hosted last year, which featured more than a dozen graduates of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Listen now to the Heartfelt Gifts Radio Show with Randi Luckman, Terry Walters and Arielle Fierman.

Recipe: Kale Chips from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition

Feel like crunching something tasty or serving fun but healthy munchies at your holiday get together?

There's no need for you and your guests to chomp on fatty chips full of carbs. Try Kale Chips instead.

Here is a delicious recipe, provided courtesy of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), which I attended in 2006.

Kale Chips

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Yields: 10 servings or more

Ingredients:
1 to 2 bunches kale
Olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Remove kale from stalk, leaving the greens in large pieces.
3. Place a little olive oil in a bowl, dip your fingers and rub a very light coat of oil over the kale.
4. Place kale on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until it starts to turn a bit brown. Keep an eye on it as it can burn quickly.
5. Turn the kale over and bake with the other side up. Remove and serve.

Notes:

* Try different kinds of kale or collard greens.
* For added flavor sprinkle with a little salt or spice, such as curry or cumin after rubbing on olive oil. 

Thank you, IIN, for this fabulous recipe! Get more great recipes from IIN here.

Share your tale with us here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, and/or on the Facebook Smart Habits Fans page, about your experiences making and serving these scrumptious Kale Chips to your guests.

Heartfelt Holiday Gifts

Wow! What a wonderful Gab With the Gurus Radio Show we had about Heartfelt Holiday Gifts!

Five charming, dazzling guests just appeared on the show to offer you suggestions for Heartfelt Holiday Gifts.

1) On this Heartfelt Holiday Gifts show on BlogTalkRadio.com -- which you can listen to at any time (see below) --  you'll hear from Randi Luckman, founder of HealthGifts.com. Randi, who I met while attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), tells you about ... drum roll here... The Sweeter Life Gift Basket that we've developed for you.

This Sweeter Gift Basket will contain such things as ginger tea, bath salt, a relaxation CD, cinnamon, aromatherapy oil, some organic almonds, fish oil, powdered stevia and body oil.

Please note that the basket shown (above left) is Randi's Stress Buster package. Stay tuned, because you'll soon get more details and have a chance to see a photo of our new Sweeter Life Gift Basket, which will be available in standard delicious and deluxe packages. 

2) In addition, on this Heartfelt Holiday Gifts show, you'll also get inspirational, heartwarming suggestions and thought-provoking thoughts about gift-giving from the "Queen of Gift Giving" Robyn Spizman,  founder of TheGiftionary.com and author of The Giftionary: An A-Z Reference Guide for Solving Your Gift-Giving Dilemmas . . . Forever! .

TheGiftionary.com has thousands of ideas that can help you to show your loved ones you care by offering Gifts That Give Back.

3) Meanwhile, Debra Berndt, creative-visualization guru and love-mind expert Debra Berndt -- author of the upcoming book Let Love In -- tells you about two life-changing products that she's steeply discounting just for you.

You can get her soothing Complete Relaxation Set (9 MP3s) and Weight Loss Hypnosis Set (4 MP3s). You'll be shocked when you learn how the low price at which she's offering them to you.

To get your special discount, all you need to do is type in the code "sweet" to get the special discount.)

To get a flavor for Debra's amazing talents at relaxing you, check out our free, soothing holiday gift. That's right -- you get a free download from our Relieve Holiday Stress program which we held last week.

We're offering this present to you as our way of wishing you a happy, healthy, calm holiday. You can listen to your audio download now, through the end of the month.

To get there quickly and easily, just go to

Please feel free to spread the word, too, to your friends around the world about this free holiday gift. Just  send them to: http://tinyurl.com/RelieveHolidayStress.

When you've listened to our free holiday gift, pleae let us know what you think.

4) You'll also hear from Arielle Fierman, who creates amazing jewelry, especially the I Love Me rings shown above).

Again, just give her the code "sweet" to get your discount only available to readers of the Sugar Shock Blog, listeners of the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show and fans and followers of all of guests appearing on this show.  

5) On this Heartfelt Holiday Gifts show, you'll get ideas for inexpensive healthy gifts that you can cook from Terry Walters, author of the wonderful, award-winning book, CLEAN FOOD: A Seasonal Guide to Eating Close to the Source With More Than 200 Recipes for a Healthy and Sustainable You.

Terry will even tell you how you can cook edible, healthy gifts on a budget.

For further information, I encourage you to visit all of our guests' websites.  (If you buy something from them, you're invited to mention how you heard about them -- through this Sugar Shock Blog, the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show or one of the guests on the show today.) Please check out their beautiful sites, which contain wonderful, heartfelt, high-quality products.

• HealthGifts.com (Randi Luckman)
• TheGiftionary.com (Robyn Spizman), also VoiceQuilt.com, GiveApp.com and BabyBop.com
• Terry's Kitchen (CLEAN FOOD)
• BeWellWithArielle.com (Arielle Fierman)
• Complete Relaxation Set and Weight Loss Hypnosis Set (4 MP3s) (Debra Berndt)
  

On the Heartfelt Holiday Gifts show, I also mentioned four of my favorite books, which would make great gifts, in my humble opinion.

I also highly recommend:

The fabulous books, The Art of Extreme Self-Care and Take Time for Your Life from life coach and bestselling author Cheryl Richardson. I cannot rave enough about these books, which will help you to take back your life and become a master at treating yourself well.

Clean Plates N.Y.C. from Jared Koch and Alex Van Buren. Every health-minded New Yorker will enjoy having this handy little book, which is a guide to the healthiest, tastiest restaurants in Manhattan. (And it's small enough to fit in your handbag or briefcase.)

SUGAR SHOCK!, which, admittedly, is my book. By giving this to a friend or loved one, you're saying that you care about them and their health and you'd like to help them to live sweeter lives. In the book, which involved my interviewing hundreds of health experts  and connecting with thousands of sugar addicts worldwide, you get educated about the dangers of sugars and refined carbs. In addition, you get many simple, useful tips to help you to break free of your harmful habit. In SUGAR SHOCK!, I strove to take a gentle, compassionate approach, and my intention is to serve as your friendly, compassionate, sugar-free guide, who holds you by the hand to help you become more healthy, happy and centered.

Now that you have a number of ideas for Heartfelt Gifts, let me also help you breeze through the holidays with poise, dignity and peace of mind.

Read my 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress story on my Huffington Post blog.

FYI, please note that the last live Gab With the Gurus Radio Show of 2009 will take place next Tuesday (Dec. 15) at 2 pm EST, when you'll learn how to Love Your Body, Love Your Life with Sarah Maria, a body image expert.

Later in the month, you'll also have a chance to listen to replays of two favorite show from 2009. 

Listen to the Heartfelt Holiday Giving show now.

The Wonders of Sleep & Get Your Free Holiday Gifts

As you may have read yesterday, I confessed that I've been skimping on sleep by working too hard, and now I'm gotten sick -- scratchy throat, cough, headache and strange voice, which a friend called really sexy. (LOL!)

Yeah, I feel much better after many hours of those valuable, recuperative zzz's -- one the best vitamins out there!

Ah the wonders and benefits of sleep!

Despite my being sick, I still would like to help you have a sweet holiday season. Get your 3 gifts:

1) Go here now to learn how to receive your complimentary audio replay on how to Release Holiday Stress. Or go straight to the download now here. You'll get three wonderful guided visualizations.

2) Listen later today to my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show to learn from Dr. Audrey Nelson How to Talk to Men Over the Holidays. (Thanks to BlogTalkRadio.com, where I host my show for featuring this show today.)

You can listen to it below either live at 2 pm EST or later:

3) Catch my special Gab With the Gurus Radio Show tomorrow about How to Find Heartfelt Gifts from gift-giving guru Robyn Spizman and Giftionary.com founder, health gifts expert Randi Luckman, relaxation/guided visualization expert/Love-Mind Guru Debra Berndt, (who will tell you about her amazing Complete Relaxation Set (9 MP3s) and Weight Loss Hypnosis Set (4 MP3s) and Arielle Fierman, who creates amazing jewelry, especially the I Love You ring. *If you get any of their amazing gifts, make sure to tell them that Connie Bennett sent you.) 

Listen to it below either live at 2 pm Wed. or later, at your convenience:

Do you live in New York or nearby?

Learn tonight, Dec. 8, How to Stay Slim Through the Holidays with my friend Donna Sonkin. (I'm sorry, but you won't see me there tonight since I'm sick, but you'll have a chance to win a raffle for one of two copies of my book SUGAR SHOCK!)

And on Jan. 5, catch my Breaking Free of Sugar Addiction talk on Jan. 5 at the New York Open Center.

Dear readers, please know that I value your comments, suggestions and feedback. So please connect with us on Facebook, the Stop Sugar Shock social network or write to me personally.

I'm going back to doze more and meditate so I can heal quickly and present my radio show at 2 pm EST today on How to Talk to Men Over the Holidays. 

Worried about what to give to friends and loved ones for the holidays? Give them the gift of relaxation. Send them now to this free holiday program -- http://tinyurl.com/RelieveHolidayStress.

Connie's Confession: I'm a Health Hypocrite! Help Each Other

Normally, I don't reveal my vulnerabilities here, on this Sugar Shock Blog. Nor do I share a personal plight, but today, I feel a need to confess to you that I feel like the ultimate Health Hypocrite.

Sure, I eat healthy, wholesome, real foods. Yes, I religiously avoid sugary foods and carbs -- and have since 1998 with only a handful of very minor infractions. I don't even smoke anymore. (Inhaling two packs of cigarettes is a thing of the past.) What's more, I've been shunning caffeine since a doctor suggested I do so more than a decade ago. And I don't even chew sugar-less gum or eat candies with artificial sweeteners anymore. In addition, I've triumphed over my diet soda slugging. Plus, I'm huge exercise aficionado. But feeding my body well and moving just aren't nearly enough.

My body craves -- as does yours -- ample sleep. We desperately need those zzzzzz's.Otherwise, I'm headed for sniffles, sneezing, coughing and congestion.

Well, lately -- especially in the last week -- I haven't walked my talk. Despite the fact that I know about the wonders of a good night's sleep and I'm even mentioning it as a "Smart Diet Habit" in my next book, I skimped on sleep myself last week. Now that I'm a health coach, I'm not going to indulge in self-blame. Rather, I'm going to use this realization as an opportunity.

The irony is that lately, I've been thinking a lot about and striving to do excellent self-care, because of my training as a health counselor and life coach and because I've been completing Cheryl Richardson's fabulous book, Take Time for Your Life, which was required reading for my life coaching program through iPEC.

I even just bought Cheryl Richardson's latest book, The Art of Extreme Self-Care, this weekend at this remarkable Hay House ouse Movers & Shakers conference. Both books have motivated me to think a lot about how we all will benefit if we devote ourselves wholeheartedly to treating ourselves with respect and reverence, even it it means we have to let go of current projects and disappoint people. 

Well, despite my commitment to treating myself right, last week, I neglected my needs when it came to snoozing. You see, I felt compelled to help you you a lot this month. I really wanted to:

• Help  you have a happy holiday, which is why I wrote and posted 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress on both of my new Huffington Post and Psychology Today blogs.
• Offer you the chance to learn from Dr. Audrey Nelson, who will tell you tomorrow, on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show, How to Speak to Men Over the Holidays.
  
• Add a special radio show so you can get valuable ideas about Heartfelt Holiday Gifts.
• Present a life-changing, mood-boosting, calming Relieve Holiday Stress teleseminar with master visualization expert Debra Berndt. (As our gift to you, you're even getting an audio replay through the end of the month.)
• Attend this amazing Hay House Movers & Shakers conference..

Last week, I wanted to find time to:

• Work on the book proposal for my next book, The Smart Diet Habits of Highly Successful Losers.
• Promote my 6 talks (so far) in January -- the one on New Year's Day at the Jewish Community Center in New York City on the Upper West Side, my free introductory talk on Jan. 5 at the New York Open Center and the four-week program, beginning Jan. 12, also at the New York Open Center.
• Finish the 5 book reports, which are required to complete my certification from iPEC as a life coach. (I'm almost done.)
• Coaching and counsel my wonderful clients, who seek to lick their sugar addiction and create a better, more fulfilled life.
• Change the content on my autoresponders that automatically go out to you when you sign up for Free Stuff from my website.
• Connect with you more and build my community on Facebook and Twitter, as well as in our Stop Sugar Shock social network, so I can offer you valuable tips and inspiring messages.
• Educate you with Sugar Shock Blog posts about new studies such as this scary one about soda, pregnant woman and diabetes.  (More posts are in the works when I bring someone on board to help. See below.)

My goals also are to:

• Help support a friend or two, who is doing valuable work. This week, I spread the word about Donna Sonkin's event tomorrow, which unfortunately I may not be well enough to attend now.
• Send send out an email blast to my mailing list about the exciting programs offered.
• Plan the 2nd annual Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge in mid January, which includes lining up  top experts to join in our 24-hour twitfest and inviting them to add their names to a press release that will go out to members of the media as it did last year.
• Send a pitch to The Dr. Oz Show suggesting a show about sugar addiction in January and to invite the producer to book both Stephen (Dr. Sinatra) and myself as well as other sugar experts and sugar addicts to appear on a much-needed episode. (Please help me suggest that we come on as guests to The Dr. Oz Show. And if you're a sugar addict in need of help, feel free to recommend yourself, too.)
• Plan my radio shows for January. For example, on Wed., Jan. 6 at 2 p.m., you'll get valuable ideas from Gretchen Rubin on how to be happy. She is author of the new book, The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. I'm also lining up shows tips with Gary Ryan Blair, the Goals Guy and author of the new book,Everything Counts: 52 Remarkable Ways to Inspire Excellence and Drive Results; and Annette Fix, who will give relationship pointers to use in the new year. (Stay tuned for details.)
• Clear clutter in my apartment.
• Buy a new printer, because my previous one broke down. 
• Take time to exercise, meditate, do creative visualization, read inspiring passages and lay the groundwork to manifest a loving relationship.

Wow, I'm exhausted just reading my list. Clearly, last week, I overworked, didn't work out enough and ignored valuable sleep time. One day I even put in about 20 hours. Or was it 22?

Clearly, I know better! For goodness sake, I'm both a health counselor and a life coach. People even dub me as the "Smart Habits Girl" (on Twitter), "Smart Habits Coach" or "Sugar Liberator."

But skipping sleep sent me straight to a sore, scratchy throat, hacking cough, a stuffy head and sheer exhaustion. Ironically, recently, I began to research the subject of sleep deprivation for my next book by reading articles such as this one and this one. Now I have to miss two holiday parties tonight because of being sick.

While I'd rather be sleeping now, I'm writing because I really need your help. In return, I will help to bring out the absolute best in you. With  your assistance, I could get more sleep, help more people, have more fun, be more energized, take more time for me and lead the kind of balanced life that I help my clients to achieve.

...So I'm currently seeking several part-time independent contractors (2 to 10 hours a week). My goal and intention is to find:

• An assistant producer for my Gab With the Gurus radio show (a fun gig!);
• Several people to help build my community through social media -- especially my new Facebook fan page and Stop Sugar Shock social network on Ning (also fun!);
• 2 health writers or bloggers to research, write and post pieces about recent medical studies and other health and lifestyle developments on my Sugar Shock Blog and radio show updates on my Gab With the Gurus blog. The writers also would prepare press releases about upcoming programs to submit to ExpertClick.com (another fascinating project);
• A marketing consultant, who can make suggestions about expanding my reach so I can help the people who most need my expertise;
• 1 or 2 assistants to warmly greet attendees at my talks, make them feel welcome, pass out fliers at a variety of places in New York (or wherever I'm booked) and help line up more talks. (Right now I'm seeking people for my January talks -- you just need to be warm, friendly and into serving others);
• A tech-savvy person, who can do website updates (on Microsoft Front Page) and/or possibly move my entire Sugar Shock website to Wordpress. This person also would set up my new Smart Habits Blog on Wordpress before I add too much content on its current site.

At present, don't have a budget for these independent contractors. The good news is that I do have a BIG desire to help you live a better life. Plus, I have superb training from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), as well as my own experience being the Bad Habits Babe. I also have a proven track record, along with testimonials from clients about my ability to motivate, guide and coach people to break free of their self-sabotaging habits. (Check back here soon for more client kudos. I've been too busy coaching to get more testimonials.)

Even if you're free of destructive patterns, we can still swap services.

I can coach you so you'll finally realize your dreams. (I can help anyone, but I do specialize in health, wellness and personal empowerment, and, in particular, I work with sugar addicts, stay-at-home moms, small business owners, authors, writers, health counselors, marketing experts.)

In addition, if you need writing or marketing services, I'm your gal.

Here's how it will work. You would devote a designated amount of time each week to help me in one of the above areas. In exchange, I'll either coach you in health, wellness and writing, or I"ll help you to write and/or edit something. Depending on how many hours you work for me, you would get either private coaching or you would be part of one of my Break Free With Connie group coaching programs. 

Sound intriguing?

If you're a fellow health expert, please join in the discussion here and on Facebook. Do you, too, feel sometimes like a Health Hypocrite? How? How have you overcome this? I'd love your ideas to improve.  (Plus, I'm working on a story for several sites.)

Enough writing. My shoulder and arm are very sore from typing, and I need to sleep, drink liquids, finish my chicken soup, take herbs and supplements and recuperate.

Hope you will take advantage of this amazing offer to help you set and reach your goals, tap into your inner purpose and passion and connect that with your outer goals to achieve extraordinary and sustainable results.

In the meantime, I'm now committing to you, dear readers, that I will conquer my destructive sleep deprivation habits. I need to live up to my "Smart Habits Coach" title. Besides, I know that I can lick this bad habit just as I have all my other bad habits over the years. But feel free to wish me luck!

Please spread the word about this offer -- and feel free to share your thoughts here and on Facebook about my unhealthy hypocrisy!

Gab With the Gurus Presents Exciting Experts for Year-End Shows

The Gab With the Gurus Radio Show rounds out 2009 with three exciting shows for you.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, December 8 at 2 p.m. EST, you'll learn How to Talk to Men Over the Holidays with Dr. Audrey Nelson, author of Code Switching: How to Talk so Men Will Listen. 

Specifically, you'll get tips on chatting with males at parties, family gatherings and in quiet times alone during this hectic season.

Then, on Wednesday, Dec. 9, in a special holiday show, you'll learn about Heartfelt, Holiday Gifts that boost your health and nurture you.

My guests so far, Robyn Spizman, Randi Luckman and Debra Berndt will tell you about memorable presents that will give meaning to the recipient.

If you'd like to recommend any additional products or experts, please let me know ASAP.

And, Tuesday, December 15, for the last show of 2009, you'll get hot tips on How to Love Your Body & Your Life with body-image expert Sarah Maria, author of a book of the same name.

Again, you'll get valuable tips to help you through the holidays.

Tomorrow, you'll be able to visit Gab With the Gurus Blog to listen to all three shows or go straight to the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show and listen at Blog Talk Radio.

The Gab With the Gurus Radio Show will then take a holiday break, but we'll post links so you can listen to replays of our most popular previous shows.

I'm off to sleep -- I'm now home sick. That's what I get for neglecting to get enough sleep. Eating healthy, real foods and exercising just aren't enough to maintain your health. Because of my situation, you'll get valuable help from me so I can help you learn the values of sleep!

New Yorkers, Stay Thin Through the Holidays

New Yorkers, would you like to “Stay Thin Through the Holidays" or if you have weight to lose, slim down?

Yes, you can peel off pounds over the holidays and stay slim if you're already there.

Just join my friend, holistic health expert Donna Sonkin, HHC, AADP, who is offering a three-hour workshop on Dec. 8 to help you learn what you need to know to keep healthy, vibrant and in your skinny jeans this holiday season.

Donna, who I met when we both were studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition three years ago, is founder of Get Thin for the Camera, which has had tremendous success in helping models, actors and all types of people get healthy thin in a healthy way.

At her upcoming workshop, Donna will tell you:

• How to eat what you really want
• What foods to pass up
• How to party on and not pork out
• The top three secrets to a healthy immune system
• The #1 secret to anti-aging 
• The tools you need to have better sex, starting tonight

Come join Donna, a recognized expert on health issues such as IBS, depression, emotional eating, sugar addiction and chronic fatigue, who will give you tools and techniques to take charge of your life and your waistline this holiday season.

Visit Donna's website, Get Thin for the Camera, to learn about how she has led a variety of similar workshops for Elite modeling agency, NYU Drama, SUNY Purchase Drama and at Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as Credit Suisse. 

In case you're wondering, yes I'll be there, too, to lend my support and to donate two copies of my book SUGAR SHOCK! and a complimentary coaching session.

Here are the details: Date:  Tuesday December 8th 2009 from 6 to 9pm at the Kathlin Argiro studio, 265 West 37 Street, 7th Floor (corner 8th ave.) Fee $50 (use code DIVA for a discounted price of $35) Click here… DIVA DISCOUNT for $35. Order now. You can stay and shop later for gorgeous Kathlin Argiro dresses and get a super discount! Refreshing spring water provided by Mountain Valley Spring water.

7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress

While 'tis the season to be merry, for many of us, it's also a season for stress, anxiety and angst, which leads us to behave in ways we're sure to regret later. During this time of year, people often resort to bad habits--they may cave into sugar cravings, go for the booze and overdose on caffeine.

In part, that's because, during the holidays, people tend to experience heightened emotions. You may feel overcome by loneliness, become annoyed by meddling relatives or lose patience with your loved ones. And in the present economy, you also may be worried about how you'll be able to pay for good gifts without maxing out your credit cards.

In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly half of all women in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays, which puts their health at risk. The APA also found that during this time, 41 percent of women use food and 28 percent use alcohol.

Unless you lean on effective relaxation and self-love techniques, as well as positive self-talk, all your worries may trigger overeating or binging, overloading on alcohol, arguments with your loved ones, skipping regular exercise, not getting enough sleep and neglecting your needs.

Of course, we all that devouring a bag of cookies, guzzling booze, venting to a loved one or spending too much money on holiday presents are not smart ways to sooth your holiday stress.

To help you have a happy, relaxing season, I'm come up with 7 Tips to Help You Relieve Holiday Stress.

Visit my blog at either the Huffington Post or Psychology Today  to get these 7 Tips to Relieve Holiday Stress.

Remember, tonight is a free Relieve Holiday Stress program. Sign up below.

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Free Relieve Holiday Stress Program on Wed., Dec. 2

For many, 'tis not the season to be jolly. Instead, it's a time for stress, anxiety and worry.

To help you be calm and peaceful this time of year, join my free Relieve Holiday Stress teleseminar program on Wed., Dec. 2 at 8 pm EST with master creative visualization expert and hypnotist Debra Berndt.

You can join us live either via phone or on the Internet from any part of the world.

Just provide your email below to join us in our life-changing program.

Since listening once on Dec. 2 may not be enough to help you relieve stress for the holidays -- and beyond -- click here to order an audio replay so you can listen again and again to be calm during the holidays and beyond.

FYI, research shows that repeatedly listening to creative visualization/hypnosis replays can help you make lasting changes.

To sign up for tomorrow night's program, provide your email below, and directions will be mailed to you.

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To order replays and be calm throughout the holiday season, go here.

Learn here about Debra's many other programs to help you Manifest Anything, Release Weight, Feel Good/Release Anxiety and Healing Loneliness. Check out her Complete Relaxation Meditation MP3 Download Sett, too.

Spread the word to your friends and loved ones about this exciting Relieve Holiday Stress program.

Relieve Holiday Stress With Us & 3 Tips to Calm You Down

During the holidays, millions get stressed out and anxious. In fact, research shows that people overwhelmed and anxious more now than any other time of the year.

As we all know, being stressed out can lead to overeating or binging, short tempers, neglecting exercise, arguments with your loved ones and ignoring your needs.

To help you out, I'm presenting a life-changing teleseminar, Relieve Holiday Stress on Wed., Dec. 2 at 8 pm EST, with Debra Berndt, an acclaimed master of creative visualization and hypnosis author of the upcoming book, Let Love In: Open Your Heart and Mind to Attract Your Ideal Partner.

Our Release Holiday Stress teleseminar on Dec. 2 at 8 pm -- which is free to attend live and also available via audio replay -- may help you to:

• Lose or maintain weight;
• Be happier throughout the holiday season and beyond;
• Relax around your family and friends;
• Curb your sugar cravings;
• Find love or get along better with your partner;
• Feel good about your body no matter what;
• Be calm when you’re short on funds;
• Attract money;
• Exude confidence; and
• Become the master of your life by dissolving your stresses

In addition to presenting this Release Holiday Stress teleseminar, we're also offering 3 Tips to Calm You Down now:

1. Transform your thoughts. While you may not be able to alter your circumstances, you can change the way you think about them. For instance, when you start to get upset about about your annoying Aunt Jean, who is prying into your love life, or your cousin Cindy, who keeps urging you to try her apple pie and other sugary "goodies," take a deep breath and interrupt your negative thoughts. Then, see these circumstances with rose-colored glasses. Your Aunt Jean and cousin Cindy are just showing that they love you. Tap into how they feel for you. Be thankful that they're so concerned, even if the way that they show it is misguided. Now, see your situation calmly, with gratitude instead. 

2. Take calm-down breaks. Soon after you awake, close your eyes, take several deep breaths and meditate or just relax. Imagine yourself in a beautiful place, think of a happy memory or visualize yourself succeeding at a cherished goal. Quieting down your mind before you begin your day can help it get off to a great start and things will flow for you. In addition, throughout the day, whenever you feel overwhelmed, take quick calm-down breaks of 1 to 5 minutes to bring you additional peace of mind. 

3.  Make 2 lists -- one that's "Nice To Do For Me" and another that's "Need to Do For Others."  Putting down your to-do lists on paper can help to see how manageable they are. As you go down the list, tackle one item from each list. So in addition to buying gifts for your mom or significant other, you will make sure to go to the gym. By completing both lists at once, you won't feel deprived, because you're also thinking of yourself. Better yet, as Cheryl Richardson suggests in her fabulous book,Take Time for Your Life: A 7-Step Program for Creating the Life You Want, prepare an "Absolute Yes" list, which will reflect priorities that inspire you to use your gift of time well. "When you practice extreme self-care and put yourself first, you are then fully available to others without resentment or anger." she aptly points out.

Between putting those 3 Tips to Calm You Down Now and attending our teleseminar, you'll be able to feel joyous, peaceful and loving during this holiday season.

Sign up now for this free Dec. 2 teleseminar, which is expected to fill up quickly.

If you can't make the program, just order your replay now. In fact, we highly recommend that you get your replay even if you also listen live.  That way, you can get relaxed and relieved over and over again when holiday worries overcome you. 

By the way, Debra and I are holding this Relieve Holiday Stress program at this time of year, because research shows that's when you most need help to combat stress.

In fact, the American Psychological Association (APA) found that nearly half of all women in the United States experience heightened stress during the holidays, which puts their health at risk.

During this time, 41 percent of women use food and 28 percent use alcohol, according to a 2006 study.

For instance, people become burdened by:

• That annoying, but well-meaning parent, sibling, cousin or distant relative;
• Worries about weight and how you look; 
• Marital strife or loneliness, especially if you don't t have a significant other;
• Money woes;
• Health problems;
• Insecurities about giving the right gifts (and wondering if you have the money to buy them);
• The loss of your loved ones (either recently or in previous years);
• The depressing economy; and
• Credit card debt.

Devouring several pieces of pecan pie, spending more money than you should on holiday presents or arguing with your loved ones aren't the answers to heal your holiday stress.

Let us help you calm down this holiday season. Join us to get simple tools and techniques to breeze through the holidays with peace of mind rather than cave in under stress.

Sign up now to join master relaxation expert Debra Berndt and me for a free teleseminar on Dec. 2 at 8 pm EST so you can, Release Holiday Stress.

Order your replay now, too, so you can listen to this program at any time during the holiday season.

Spread the word, too, to friends and colleagues about this helpful program.