If you're grappling with sugar or carb cravings and weight challenges, I highly recommend that you start tapping, a simple, but powerful process. You can learn about this remarkable technique in Nick Ortner's new book, The Tapping Solution: A Revolutionary System for Stress-Free Living. Thanks to the publisher, Hay House, I'm now presenting an excerpt so you can discover more how tapping can help you to break the hold that sugar, carbs or food has over you. At the end of this Sugar Shock Blog post, you also can get the link to Nick's and my Gab with the Gurus episode. Losing Weight and Letting Go of Fear, Guilt, and Shame around Food "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. -- Thomas A. Edison “Tapping,” is said to be a combination of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology, and works with the body’s meridian points. Meridians, the basis of the ancient Chinese medical system of acupuncture, are defined as energy channels that carry the vital life force, or qi, to the organs and others systems of the body. Running up and down either side of the body, each meridian is associated with a different organ—stomach, gall bladder, kidney, etc. Each meridian also has what’s called an “endpoint,” a specific location where you can access the energy channel on the surface of the body. This point can be manipulated using acupuncture needles or simple touch (acupressure) to balance or unblock the energy flow through that particular meridian. “EFT,” or “Emotional Freedom Techniques” is a single tapping sequence that is designed to hit all the major meridian endpoints, and starts with the hand, then moves to the inner eyebrow, the outer eyebrow, underneath the eye, under the nose, the chin, the collarbone, and the side of the rib cage, then ends at the top of the head. When you’re experiencing a negative emotional state—angry or upset or fearful—your brain goes on alert. Your adrenaline pumps, your muscles tense, and your blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar all rise to give you extra energy to meet the challenge; your body is preparing you to fight or flee. The ongoing fight-or-flight response leaves us worn down, sick, upset, overweight, and stressed out. What tapping does, with amazing efficiency, is halt the fight-or-flight response, or stress response, and reprogram the brain and body to act—and react—differently. Why Does Tapping Help with Weight Loss? The Stress Connection The stress response can cause a massive cascade of events in your body, including: On average four times less blood flow to your digestive system. Lower absorption of nutrients. Less enzyme production in your gut. (As much as 20,000 times less! This is one of the reasons why, when you eat a meal while you’re stressed, you’ll often feel bloated and uncomfortable.) Decrease in gut flora population. Increase in cholesterol. Increase in cortisol and insulin levels. The last item is particularly important for weight loss, because when your cortisol is consistently elevated, it’s hard to lose weight or build muscle. In fact, you’re more likely to gain weight, particularly around your midsection. When you lower your stress level (and obviously it’s not just stress about food, but lowering stress about everything and everything) your body will respond. You’ll lose weight, increase the absorption of nutrients, increase enzyme production (so you won’t feel bloated), increase healthy gut flora population, lower your cholesterol, and lower your cortisol and insulin levels. What is this magic diet? What do you eat? Whatever you want! Just relax while you’re doing it. . . . EFT for Food Cravings Another problem I often turn to is food cravings, because those are also easy to witness and measure. Working with food cravings in front of a live audience follows a similar trajectory every time. First, we all have some good laughs as I introduce a bag of candy, chocolates, cookies, or other treats people often crave. I pass around the bag and have people pick their favorite. I have them look at it, smell it, and do whatever else it takes to bring their craving levels up. Then I ask for a few volunteers who want to work live onstage to reduce those cravings. I first ask the volunteers to describe the intensity of their craving on a 0-to-10 scale—and what, in particular, they are feeling or noticing about the candy or chocolate. I immediately get answers like this: “The craving is a 10. It smells so good . . . can I have a little bite? I love Snickers, and I’m so hungry!” “It’s an 8. I didn’t eat much at lunch, and this would really fill me up.” We all have some more laughs, as it becomes obvious that the volunteers are desperate to eat these treats! And then we begin some very general tapping, and we tap through the points for several rounds. This generally dulls the edge of the craving—that almost crazed desire for the food—and it’s what you can use yourself whenever you’re having a craving. Start with the most general and basic tapping to calm the body down. The next question I usually ask is, “If there was an emotion behind this craving, what would it be. If we don’t get to the root of the craving, to what’s causing it in the first place, it’s likely to come back a few hours or days later. Sure, you can tap it down each time. But why not handle the emotion right up front and get rid of the craving once and for all? As people tune in to the emotions behind the craving, that’s when the laughter often turns into tears. Many of us use food to suppress or dampen negative emotions, events, and the overall stress in our lives. As my friend Carol Look likes to say, “It’s not about the food!” The food is covering up or masking what’s really going on underneath. When you address the underlying patterns, emotions, events, and beliefs, that’s when your relationship with the food can shift toward something much more healthy. Now, catch the Gab with the Gurus Show with Nick Ortner, who discusses the wonders of tapping. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gabwiththegurus/2013/04/24/nick-ortner-on-the-tapping-solution/scrub/120 Continue reading

It was my pleasure today to present Nick Ortner, author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Tapping Solution on the Gab with the Gurus. Learn how this simple, but revolutionay technique can change your life. Please make sure to see the other Sugar Shock Blog post in which you'll get an excerpt from this amazing book. Listen to internet radio with Gab With the Gurus on Blog Talk Radio Continue reading

Have you heard yet about tapping, the simple, but remarkable technique, which can help you easily manage and get to the core causes of your cravings, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, excess weight and just about any situation or challenge you're facing? via www.sugarshockblog.com Continue reading

Have you heard yet about tapping, the simple, but remarkable technique, which can help you easily manage and get to the core causes of your cravings, stress, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, excess weight and just about any situation or challenge you're facing? No matter what you're facing, you absolutely MUST learn about tapping or EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), which is revolutionary, but extraordinarily easy-to-do process. Stay tuned, because next week (April 24), on my Gab with the Gurus Show, you'll have a chance to learn about tapping from Nick Ortner, author of the fabulous New York Times bestselling book, The Tapping Solution. (As with all Gab with the Gurus Shows, you can listen live or later.) Nick will explain to you that tapping or EFT is based on principles of both ancient acupressure and modern psychology. You'll concentrate on specific meridian endpoints while you focus on negative emotions or physical sensations. (Yes, you want to zero in on what's going on that's driving you to sweets, making you anxious, or creating agony. Last night, tapping helped me so much with my grief-triggered insomnia -- darn, did I sleep well afterwards!) Nick, who is quite personable (he was on on my Sugar Freedom Now Virtual Camp a while back) will explain how, when you combine tapping with the spoken word, you'll calm your nervous system to restore the balance of energy in the body and rewire your brain to respond in healthy ways. Anyhow, make sure to join Nick Ortner and me on the Gab with the Gurus Show. Spread the word to your friends, too. All who listen to the Gab with the Gurus Show with Nick Ortner and buy his book, The Tapping Solution, will be able to get two free gifts. These will be of special interest to sugar or carb addicts or people, who want to shed weight. You'll get a program in which Nick helps sugar and carb addicts by helping you come up with the right words to use as you bid your addiction bye-bye. (This is a program Nick and I did to help members of my Sugar Freedom Now Virtual Retreat.) You'll also get a program, in which I interviewed tapping expert Carol Look, who helps you to deal with your cravings. Both of these programs are quite powerful. Obviously, you can guess that I'm a HUGE fan of tapping or EFT. In fact, I'm so excited about this simple, but revolutionary technique to help people with cravings, trauma, stress, and pain that I'll soon undergo training myself to become a tapping practitioner. Plus, I'm working with an expert referred by Nick to help me triump however my traumatic last year with mom and its devastating aftermath. Remember, to save the date: April 24 at 9 am PST to learn about tapping with Nick Ortner, author of the fabulous New York Times bestselling book, The Tapping Solution. Continue reading

I'm now devoting the next week to healing bigtime from the most grueling 16 months of my life. I'll share more later, but I'm recovering from My Bittersweet Last Year with Mom, her death, and the devastating aftermath. Continue reading

It's time to put on my Sugar Liberator hat on this Bittersweet Year blog. When you're recovering from a loss, eating too much sugar can lead to more grief. So I invite to learn more about my special Gab with the Gurus Show, in which you'll get Secrets to Let Sugar Go. Continue reading

Sugar addicts and carb junkies, I bring you hope! Indeed, this is a BIG week for me. It's been 15 years since I bid bye-bye to my sugar addiction -- mostly -- yes, I wasn't totally perfect. So let me help you now. If you're tired of being a sugar or carb addict and are fed up with gaining weight, getting spaced out, or have other health issues, discover Secrets to Let Sugar Go by listening anytime to this special Gab with the Gurus 15-year-mostly-sugar-free-iversary Show with my sugar-free mentor Roberta Ruggiero. Back in 1998, I was so blessed to find Roberta, who, after dealing with her own issues of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, went on to found The Hypoglycemia Support Foundation, Inc. She also wrote The Do’s and Don’ts of Hypoglycemia: An Everyday Guide to Low Blood Sugar, which has been acclaimed by the American Library Association as “one of best lay medical books public libraries.” In our special Gab with the Gurus Show, you'll first learn our startling stories. You'll discover: How when Roberta simply changed her diet by quitting sugar and those quickie carbs (processed carbohydrates that are metabolized quickly), she personally overcame 10 years of illness during which she saw dozens of doctors, endured countless medical tests, took thousands of pills and even underwent electric shock therapy! How when I finally let go of my sugar addiction -- very reluctantly, though -- presto, ALL 44 of my ailments (including crippling headaches, difficulty concentrating, awful PMS, excessive fatigue, cold hands and feet, embarrassing mood swings, scary heart palpitations, etc.) vanished! Wow! How most people are consuming too many sweets whether they know it or not, especially if they eat foods in boxes, cans or jars. That sugar or quickie-carb habit can be deadly, leading to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and an early death. On our Gab with the Gurus Show, you'll also find out Secrets to Go Mostly Sugar-Free. While I share some tactics in my book, Beyond Sugar Shock, Roberta and I go into more depth on this program, and we give you the personal touch, of course, because you get to listen to us chatting. Among the Secrets to Go Mostly Sugar-Free, you'll discover: How it's okay to be imperfect. In fact, not expecting that you'll do everything "right," frees you up to succeed marvelously. How most people around the world -- whether they know it or not -- are eating far too much sugar (roughly 170 to more than 200 pounds per year) and/or quickie carbs (possibly as high as 200 pounds), thereby paving the way to diseases galore. How you can take your slips and turn them into successes. You'll realize that your so-called "failures" lead you to lasting success. How you want to change your relationship with those persistent cravings. (We'll talk about how to embrace them -- yes! -- and how they can become major allies. How to take one of your absolute worst habits -- something almost all of us do -- and turn it into one of your biggest foolproof tools to bid your sugar addiction farewell. How some people are wise to let a little sugar (some tastes here and there) into their lives. (You'll discover that I've modified my stance over the years.) How, for many people, a few tastes can turn into a binge and they're better off to say sayonara to processed sweets. How before I quit sugar, first I binged on candies for three weeks after my doctor's orders to "Quit sugar or die young." How it's imperative that you keep track. Roberta discusses how it's very important to keep a symptom diary. (That way, you'll know what happens when you eat sweets. You want to get a clear message about how too much sugar leads to symptoms.) How you need to be prepared, wherever you go. How you can have fun replacing those sugary treats that you used to adore. How it's vital to get support and learn about success stories. And much more. Listen to internet radio with Gab With the Gurus on Blog Talk Radio Share your bigggest Ahahs! about this Gab with the Gurus Show. A very special thanks to B. Eco Chic and founder Bethany Gonzalez Moreno for this sugar image with the poison symbol on it. This photo accurately demonstrates how sugar can kill you over time. I highly recommend that you find out about B. Eco Chic now and get on the mailing list for this blog. Continue reading

Do tempting cookies, candies, and cakes "call out" to you? via www.sugarshockblog.com Continue reading

Sugar and carb addicts, get help to free yourself from your potentially deadly habits on Sat., April 13 at 7 pm at Book Passage in Corte Madera. via www.sugarshockblog.com Continue reading

Do tempting cookies, candies, and cakes "call out" to you? Do you yearn for potentially deadly sugary treats or its quickie-carb cousins (chips, corn nuts, and popcorn) when you're somber, angry or down -- in other words, S.A.D.? In other words, are you a victim of sugar seduction? Please take a moment now to laugh at your sugar habit. It's actually funny if it wasn't so sad! First, enjoy this fabulous cartoon, which was conceived by Mike Adams and created by talented artist Dan Berger, smile and chuckle, if you can. Now, do what I call Sugar Soul Searching™, which is a powerful process I created to help you discover dispassionately--without any emotional attachment--how enslaved, ruled, and directed you are by your sugar or carb addiction. (You can learn more about this fun technique in my book, Beyond Sugar Shock.) How are you like these trapped, caged people? Count the ways. ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Are You Addicted to Sugar Continue reading

Connie celery_clean copySugar and carb addicts, get help to free yourself from your potentially deadly habits on Sat., April 13 at 7 pm at Book Passage in Corte Madera. Indeed, it's now my honor and privilege to personally guide, coach, educate and empower sugar and carb addicts in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday, April 13, which is, coincidentally, two days before a momentous time for me. Yes, on April 15, I will have gone 15 years sugar-free (mostly)! Bear in mind that I wasn't perfect, and not beating up on myself too much or slipping is one of the keys to my success. (You'll find out how you, too, can be imperfect but still triumph over your sugar addiction.) The program at Book Passage is being presented, thanks to the remarkable organization, Left Coast Writers, a fabulous group that supports new and established writers. Please note that this appearance at Book Passage is my first talk and book signing since the publication of my book, Beyond Sugar Shock: The 6-Week Plan to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction & Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter. The reason that I didn't do any book signings or give any solo talks in 2012 (other than one appearance as part of a group of authors) is because I wanted to spend as much time as possible with my terminally ill Mom before she passed away. Recently, I lost her. (In fact, I moved from the East Coast to the West Coast to be near her and be of service to Mom before she passed away. (One of our most fabulous moments during our last year together was when two boxes of books arrived from my publisher, Hay House, and my mother raved, "Absolutely terrific" and "Beautiful." I have a video of the special occasion.) Anyhow, during my first Beyond Sugar Shock appearance on April 13, I'll give you insights and simple starter secrets so you can: Activate the positive power of one of procrastination. (Huh? Trust me -- it's a simple, calming tool.) Quickly decode and then welcome (really!) your annoying sugar cravings. Remember the sour scoop about sugar (that it can lead to cancer, type 2 diabetes and even kill you early) when you're overcome by must-have-sugar-now! feelings. Pick yourself up after you’ve “slipped” and fallen off your less or no-sugar plan, especially after emotionally trying times. Dissolve your desire for dangerous sweets but still enjoy tasty chocolate treats. You’ll even find out how to get recipes for healthy choco-goodie and get to savor tasty sugar-free desserts. Stop being duped by innocent-looking, seductive foods that are actually sugar traps. Laugh at my -- and your -- silly-on-sugar behavior. (You'll chuckle at my former Sugar Shrew ways!) In short, in our time together, you'll get to Turbocharge your Sugar-Free Power. The event on April 13 takes place at: Book Passage 51 Tamal Vista Blvd Corte Madera For those of you who don't know my background, here's a short bio: Bestseller Beyond Sugar Shock BSThe Sugar Liberator Connie Bennett is transformational speaker and author of the international bestseller Beyond Sugar Shock: The 6-Week Plan to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction & Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter. The Hay House book has been praised by a Who’s Who of health and empowerment experts, including Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and Dr. Daniel Amen. Connie’s second book is the eagerly awaited follow-up to her acclaimed bestseller, Sugar Shock! How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life—And How You Can Get Back on Track, which has been praised by America’s Favorite Doctor, Dr. Mehmet Oz. Connie’s sour-to-sweet journey began in 1998, when she was pummeled by 44 ailments, including crushing fatigue, brain fog, horrible headaches, rollercoaster mood swings, and severe PMS. When Connie’s new doctor blamed every single symptom on her excessive sugar habit and ordered her to quit consuming her cherished sweets, she reluctantly complied. Much to her surprise, all her ailments vanished, and Connie became energetic, focused, and free. She succeeded, because while shedding her dangerous habit, Connie created cool tools to ease her dreaded and difficult transition and turn it into a positive, fun-filled, life-changing adventure. Since 2001, Connie has been coaching, guiding, and inspiring thousands of people worldwide on how to easily triumph over their carb addiction so they can discover that Life is Sweeter When Sugar Doesn’t Seduce You.™ Now, Connie runs her popular Sugar Freedom Now Retreat (virtual, recorded, and live), which is the companion program to Beyond Sugar Shock. She is also host of the Gab with the Gurus Radio Show, for which she interviews top names in a variety of fields from health to the Law of Attraction. Connie studied at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Get free gifts to help you reach Sugar Freedom at www.Connie-Bennett.com Continue reading

As I gear up to embark soon on The Sugar Freedom Tour -- which I'm holding to celebrate my 15 years of being mostly sugar-free -- I'd like to again thank many acclaimed thought leaders, doctors and personal empowerment experts for endorsing my book, Beyond Sugar Shock. via www.sugarshockblog.com Continue reading

Save the date. On April 8 at 9 am PST (12 noon Eastern), you can listen to me interview the fascinating anti-sugar advocate Robert Lustig, M.D., author of the provocative new book, Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease. via www.sugarshockblog.com Continue reading

Save the date. On April 19 at 9 am PST (12 noon Eastern), you can listen to me interview the fascinating anti-sugar advocate Robert Lustig, M.D., author of the provocative new book, Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease. I've been a fan of Dr. Lustig's for years, because he's brought much-needed attention to this important sugar issue, as I previously revealed on my Sugar Shock Blog and Huffington Post blog. Dr. Lustig -- whose whose video, Sugar: The Bitter Truth, went viral on YouTube -- is professor of pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology and director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) at UCSF Medical Center. He has spent the past sixteen years treating childhood obesity and studying the effects of sugar on the central nervous system and metabolism. He is the Director of the UCSF Weight Assessment for Teen... Continue reading

As I gear up to embark soon on The Sugar Freedom Tour -- which I'm holding to celebrate my 15 years of being mostly sugar-free -- I'd like to again thank many acclaimed thought leaders, doctors and personal empowerment experts for endorsing my book, Beyond Sugar Shock. I'm so honored, grateful, and humbled that so many amazing wellness experts, gurus, and even fellow sugar-educators have endorsed Beyond Sugar Shock, which I wrote to help you sugar addicts and carb addicts easily and effortlessly let go of your sugar and carb addiction. In this Hay House book, I gently take you by the hand and bring you along on a fun, compassionate six-week Mind-Body-Spirit adventure so you can easily release your sugar addiction using a variety of simple, but powerful tools and tips. By book's end, you'll be leading -- that's my goal -- a life that's sweeterlicious (the word I coined to convey sweeter, delicious, scrumptious, luscious, and sensuous). Now I'd like to share what all these wonderful people said. JoshuaRosenthalTo begin, I'd like to thank one of my mentors, Joshua Rosenthal, the pioneering founder and director of the remarkable Institute for Integrative Nutrition, for writing the foreword to Beyond Sugar Shock. IIN is the largest nutrition school in the world. (I attended IIN in 2005-2006 and am now a certified health coach.) Now, it's time to thank all the other wonderful gurus, who endorsed Beyond Sugar Shock. Here's what they said: Dr. Wayne dyer_photo"I have taken the advice and guidance that Connie offers here and used it to reclaim my own well being. We have unknowingly and unwittingly become a nation of addicts, and here in this book you are given a blueprint for living a life of perfect health. Follow the easy-to-apply guidelines, and then you will be able to look in the mirror and say, `I AM finally living a healthy life.' There is no greater feeling and it is your birthright. You were not designed to walk around in shock. A much needed book. --Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, internationally renowned author and speaker and bestselling author of more than 30 books Dr. Christiane Northrup“We are born loving sugar for its sweetness and its ability to help us store up fat for lean times. Times are no longer lean for most and too much sugar is ruining our health and our lives. Beyond Sugar Shock gives you everything you need to bring more sweetness and health into your life..... without the risk of sugar!" -- Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of the New York Times bestsellers:Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause BernieSiegel2 “If you are ready to love yourself and your body, abandon the wounds of your past, and free yourself from unhealthy addictions, then read Beyond Sugar Shock. Then, combine the information it contains with your new-found inspiration.” –Bernie Siegel, M.D., author of A Book of Miracles and Faith, Hope & Healing Daniel-amen“Sugar is NOT good for your brain. It increases erratic brain cell firing, promotes inflammation and is clearly addictive. Beyond Sugar Shock can help you get sugar out of your life and replace it with health and vitality. It is a powerful program full of easy tips and tactics.” –Daniel G. Amen, M.D., bestselling author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Body, Magnificent Mind at Any Age, and Change Your Brain, Change Your Life Brian-Tracy1“This enjoyable book shows you how to change your diet, reduce your sugar intake, lose weight and enjoy greater energy than ever before.” –Brian Tracy, motivational speaker and author, Earn What You’re Really Worth Dharma Singh Khalsa"If you have any trouble at all losing weight and keeping it off or feel like you may be aging too fast, then you absolutely must read Beyond Sugar Shock by Connie Bennett. Everyone must seek out this life-saving information before it's too late." -- Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D., President/Medical Director, Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation Jj-virgin(3)“Quitting sugar is no easy feat, but Connie Bennett’s life-changing book, Beyond Sugar Shock, makes it simple, fun, and do-able. I’ll be recommending this book to my clients.” – JJ Virgin, Ph.D., Celebrity Fitness Nutrition & Fitness Expert, author of Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy co-star of the TLC reality series, “Freaky Eaters” Kathy-smith-beach-275x175"If you're a sugar addict like most people, you need to read Beyond Sugar Shock. This compassionate, comforting, uplifting book will change your life." --Kathy Smith, International Fitness Expert Debbie Philliips"Sweet! Connie Bennett has done it again. Only this time she offers a step-by-step guide that includes the best tools to detox from all levels of sugar addiction. This informative handbook for the mind, body and spirit includes quizzes, affirmations and "adventureizes." It's a simple and fun approach to a more joyous life -- just like having Connie by your side." --Debbie Phillips, Founder, Women on Fire and author Women on Fire: 20 Inspiring Women Share Their Life Secrets (and Save You Years of Struggle!) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Fellow Sugar Experts and Authors When you're an author, it's always an honor when your colleagues support your work, which is why it's heartwarming that fellow sugar experts have endorsed Beyond Sugar Shock, too. “Connie Bennett’s Sugar Shock! is one of the best books ever written about the toll Jeff O'Connelltaken by excess sugar consumption, and Beyond Sugar Shock! is a worthy and logical follow-up. Anyone can use her six-week action plan to break their sugar addiction—and make no mistake, sugar is addictive, not to mention complicit in diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and an long list of other health calamities when consumed to excess. Connie is a true expert in the field, and this latest book of hers represents yet another major contribution. I give it my highest recommendation.” –Jeff O’Connell, Bodybuilding.com Editor-in-Chief, author of Sugar Nation Jacob_teitelbaum“Tired of being a sugar junkie? Ready to feel better instead of guilty? Then this book is for you. Connie Bennett, Sugar Freedom Coach extraordinaire, will show you how to ditch your sugar addiction by treating your body, mind and spirit with tenderness, compassion, and even humor!”–Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., integrative physician and author, Beat Sugar Addiction Now! Kathie Dolgin 11128874-high-voltage “Thank you, Connie, for continuing your important mission to WAKE America up to our S.A.D. relationship with SUGAR and what to do about it!!!!! Your new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, answers a huge hunger millions have for an easy way out of their horrible addiction. You’re changing people’s lives with your powerful, amazing books!--Kathie Dolgin (a.k.a. “High Voltage,” health and pioneer; sugar addiction expert; author of Energy Up, and founder of the Energy Up Voltage-Approved (EUVA) inner city health and wellness program, which is spearheading the first Sugar Free public school in New York City Richard J. Johnson“Connie has written another engaging book that makes the reader a participant in a fun ride to better health. Beyond Sugar Shock offers an engaging, interactive, approach to quitting sugar and losing weight in which the reader not only becomes an active participant but becomes the conductor to gain control of his or her own health. Bravo, Connie!” –Richard J. Johnson, M.D., Tomas Berl Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado, Denver, and author, The Sugar Fix: The Sugar Fix: The High-Fructose Fallout That Is Making You Fat and Sick Jill Escher “As Connie shows, just cutting out sugar and processed carbs is the fast track to weight loss and vastly improved health. If that seems challenging, or even impossible, think again. This book will show you that even though sugar drugs and addicts us, anyone with the right tools can break out of Sugar Bondage forever. A respected pioneer in this field, Connie packages her considerable experience and knowledge with her always-spunky writing style in a motivating, readable, invaluable book.” –Jill Escher, author, Farewell, Club Perma-Chub: A Sugar Addict's Guide to Easy Weight Loss, and founder, www.EndSugarAddiction.com Now, thanks go to more empowering experts. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ann-louise-gittleman3"Beyond Sugar Shock fearlessly tackles the nation's Number One health crisis - the diabesity epidemic. Connie Bennett offers real life solutions, recipes, take-action programs and spot on science to help break the sugar addiction that is fueling our nation's health epidemic. In the right hands, this book could change the course of America's health with Connie Bennett's unique 6-week plan for a slimmer, sexier and sweeter YOU!” –Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., C.N.S. author of The Fat Flush Plan and Fat Flush for Life Joe Vitale“Break free! This refreshing and enlightening book shows how to release sugar addiction easily. It can save your life. Read it!” –Dr. Joe Vitale, author, The Attractor Factor John_assaraf_02"Beyond Sugar Shock ambitiously breaks new ground in the field of sugar addiction! Connie shows you how to bravely and easily shift away from negative and harmful thinking to positive and productive thinking to help get you healthier and happier. She will show you how to develop hobbies and activities that nurture and nourish you; and use cutting-edge techniques that lift you to a higher plane. You must read this book if you are serious about making a change in your health and lifestyle to finally live the life you want and more importantly, deserve!” --John Assaraf, New York Times Bestselling Author, The Answer and Having It All and featured in the featured in the Blockbuster Movie, “The Secret" Marci_Shimoff_headshot_lg“As I’ve discovered myself, one of the keys to being happy is eating well, which includes limiting sugar consumption. But as any sugar addict knows, this is a tough habit to kick! In Beyond Sugar Shock, Connie Bennett shows you an easy and empowering way to say farewell to those `sweet poisons.’” --Marci Shimoff, NY Times bestselling author, Happy for No Reason and Love for No Reason Anncooper“If we as a nation are going to stop the obesity crisis, we must overcome our addiction to sugar. We have raised a generation of children, who think sugary cereals, chocolate milk, gummy candies and the like are part of every meal: This must change. We absolutely must overcome our sugar addiction, and Beyond Sugar Shock—with its powerful tips, stories and recipes—can help you. This book is an important tool in the fight against obesity.” --Ann Cooper, "The Renegade Lunch Lady" and author of Lunch Lessons: Changing the Way We Feed Our Children Oz garcia nov2001_cover_oz_01 “Wow! Beyond Sugar Shock is a must-read book for millions of overweight and sugar-addicted people worldwide. At the end of this six-week program, you’ll wonder why you ever wanted sweets in the first place, because your life will be so much happier, fuller, and healthier without those nasty insulin-blasting non-foods.“ –Oz Garcia, Ph.D., Celebrity Nutrition Expert, whose clients include Oscar winner Hilary Swank and singer Roberta Flack BrianAlman-sm "It's very easy and expected to become hooked on sugar and refined carbs. Just look at what the millions of overweight or obese Americans are eating and you'll see why they stay that way. But breaking free of sugar's hold can be incredibly tough. That's why Connie's book, Beyond Sugar Shock, is exactly what people need. Get this book and save your waistline, your relationships, your moods, and even your life." –Brian Alman, Ph.D., Best-selling weight-loss expert and author of The Voice: Overcome Negative Self-Talk and Discover Your Inner Wisdom _______________________________________________________________________________________ Fellow Hay House Authors As a Hay House author, it's now my honor to receive endorsements from a number of fellow authors.Indeed, I feel privileged to be in the company of dozens of dynamic, life-changing movers and shakers, including Colette Baron-Reid, Donna Gates, Caroline Sutherland, Dr. Ken Druck, Julie Daniluk, and Lauren Mackler. Colette Baron-Reid “If you’re one of millions who feels trapped by your sugar and carb addiction, you want to get Beyond Sugar Shock from Connie Bennett, a former sugar addict-turned-life-and-health coach. This book will take you on a fun, exciting, transformative six-week adventure, from which you’ll emerge healthier, sexier, slimmer, and happier. Plus, you’ll finally feel free!” –Colette Baron-Reid, internationally renowned intuitive coach and author of the groundbreaking new book and program Weight Loss for People Who Feel Too Much and The Map: Finding the Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your Life Donna-Gates-cropped1-270x300 “’Avoid Sugar!’ That’s a reminder we can’t hear often enough—this substance is so bad for us! So why are you still eating it? Connie Bennett knows exactly how to help you break your habit. She struggled with and conquered the addiction herself. Now, her easy-to-read and solidly convincing book, Beyond Sugar Shock, is full of soul-satisfying tools you can implement immediately to nourish your natural, innate desire for a sweeter life. A must read!” – Donna Gates, author of The Body Ecology Diet and The Baby Boomer Diet: Body Ecology's Guide to Growing Younger: Anti-Aging Wisdom for Every Generation Lauren Mackler“Are you hooked on sugar and fed up with your excess weight? If you’re like most people, you’ve been trapped for years and keep failing over and over again. There’s good news for you sugar addicts. Beyond Sugar Shock is the only book you’ll ever need on the subject. Read this book, and you’ll release your addiction at long last—and be able to get a balanced, peaceful, delicious life in the process.” –Lauren Mackler, author of the bestseller, Solemate: Master the Art of Aloneness and Transform Your Life Caroline_Sutherland_Heal_Your_Life_keep_aspect_215x215 “Sugar is a DRUG! Sugar feeds cancer cells, robs you of vital energy, and keeps you hooked. If there is one item to leave out of your diet, it’s sugar! Connie Bennett shows you how to do it easily in her book, Beyond Sugar Shock.” –Caroline Sutherland, bestselling author of The Body knows…How to Stay Young Ken Druck"Beyond Sugar Shock masterfully shows us how to finally get control our sugar or carb addictions -- and go from self-loathing to self-love." –Ken Druck, Ph.D., pioneer of life coaching and author, The Real Rules of Life: Balancing Life's Terms With Our Own “In her book, Beyond Sugar Shock, Connie Bennett gives an excellent step-by-step guild to help break free of one of the world’s most addictive substances...sugar! It is well known that that spiking Julie_danilukyour blood sugar can wreak havoc with your body and mind. By using Connie’s techniques, you can reduce your mental and physical dependence on refined carbohydrates and heal yourself from their harmful effects. Removing sugar from my own diet made revolutionary changes to my health, and I support Connie in her mission to help people get off the roller coaster of sugar imbalances.” –Julie Daniluk, TV Host and author, Meals that Heal Inflammation _______________________________________________________________________________________ Jimmy-moore"For many years, Connie Bennett has been on the forefront of warning us of the dangers of what she describes as SUGAR SHOCK! Now she's taking us 'beyond' that on a journey to healthy healing from our sweet obsession with an effective six-week plan devised to help you beat your sugar addiction through a methodical path through your mind, body and spirit. It's time to make life a lot more 'sweeterlicious' than it's ever been before and to get inspired to make it happen for yourself as well through real-life examples of those who did and lived to tell about it." - Jimmy Moore, founder, Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Blog & Podcast, http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog and author, 21 Life Lessons From Livin' La Vida Low-Carb: How The Healthy Low-Carb Lifestyle Changed Everything I Thought I Knew Marc_david"There's no more time to waste when it comes to empowering ourselves around diet and health. Connie Bennett has taken on perhaps the most powerful nutritional challenge of all – sugar – and has come out victorious. With an approach filled with the right ingredients – good facts, smart suggestions, and topped with a little Vitamin L, Love, Beyond Sugar Shock is a powerful tool for transforming your health, weight, and happiness.” –Marc David, bestselling author of Nourishing Wisdom and The Slow Down Diet and Founder of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating Mark-sisson-2“Most people want to lose weight, increase their energy, gain muscle, reduce stress or just look and feel healthier. Of course, we all know that we need to eat fresh, organic, unprocessed food—and that means no junk! But, for most people, if you tell them to NOT do something, they want to do the exact opposite. That’s why Beyond Sugar Shock is so needed. Even if you do NOT want to quit sugar or reduce your intake of processed carbs, Connie Bennett will help you make your habit history—and easily, too! Get this book or risk being trapped in a sugar rollercoaster for years to come—or getting diabetes, cancer, and other deadly diseases.” –Mark Sisson, founder of Mark’s Daily Apple and author of The Primal Blueprint 21-Day Total Body Transformation: A step-by-step, gene reprogramming action plan Janet-Attwood "If you have a sugar addiction, who should you turn to for help? Someone who walks their talk and has been there too! In her book, Beyond Sugar Shock, Connie Bennett—a journalist and former sugar addict-turned-life-and-health coach, who runs the groundbreaking Sugar Freedom Now program—presents a brilliant, foolproof plan to rescue you even if you’ve been trapped for years.” –Janet Bray Attwood, - Co-author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Passion Test - The Effortless Path To Living Your Life Purpose Diana Kirschner “Beyond Sugar Shock is fabulous!!! It’s loaded with secrets to for you to release your sugar addiction and create what Connie calls a Sweeterlicious Life. Follow this program and break free to real happiness and joy!” –Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., author of Love in 90 Days and Sealing the Deal: The Love Mentor’s Guide to Lasting Love “I’m so proud of Connie. When she came to see me in 1998, she had severe hypoglycemia exacerbated by her powerful sugar addiction. Now, 14 years later, she’s not only still sugar-free, but she’s a best-selling author, a renowned Sugar Freedom Coach, and acclaimed speaker. Her eye-opening first book, Sugar Shock, was brilliantly researched and eloquently presented. Now, in her follow-up book, Beyond Sugar Shock, Connie is giving millions exactly what they need—a simple, do-able plan that’s full of compassion and that bedside manner we doctors aspire to possess. As a physician for more than two decades, I’ve seen firsthand the many ailments and diseases sugar can cause and the incredible difficulties patients face in overcoming their sugar addiction—even though they know their carb addiction can be deadly. All sugar addicts need to read Beyond Sugar Shock. I’ll be recommending it to all my patients. –Keith R. DeOrio, M.D., D. Hom JonnyBowden"Connie Bennett's Beyond Sugar Shock is a valuable and important addition to the growing literature on sugar addiction." --- Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS, aka "The Rogue Nutritionist"(TM) author of Living Low Carb and The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth Roberta Ruggiero“Connie Bennett’s determination to educate people about sugar’s devastating effects are nothing short of impressive! Since learning she had hypoglycemia in 1998, Connie has valiantly forged a campaign to empower millions so they, like her, can successfully triumph over their horrible habit. Now, in her latest book, Beyond Sugar Shock, Connie compassionately presents amazing tools that really work! To everyone who has a sugar problem—and that’s almost all of us—you must read this remarkable book!” –Roberta Ruggiero, President/Founder The Hypoglycemia Support Foundation, Inc. and author, The Do’s and Don’ts of Hypoglycemia: An Everyday Guide to Low Blood Sugar _________________________________________________________________________________________ PatriciamorenoFellow Graduates of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition: “Thank you, Connie for writing Beyond Sugar Shock. It’s amazing! I am telling everyone about it! I love how easy to read and yet how informative it is!” –Patricia Moreno, ounder, intenSati, and author of The intenSati Method “Kicking your sugar addiction is one of the most difficult challenges on the path to healthier Jared-Koch-articleeating. Beyond Sugar Shock provides you with a powerful and valuable program to do it once and for all.--Jared Koch, nutritional consultant and founder, Clean Plates, guides (in various cities) to the healthiest, tastiest, and most sustainable restaurants for both vegetarians and carnivores StaceyAndCarey"Beyond Sugar Shock is a must read for everyone who's got a sweet tooth that just won't quit. Connie will show you how to say no with sass, so you can say YES to more life." –Stacey Morgenstern & Carey Peters, Creators of Holistic MBA “If you're addicted to sugar, tired of feeling tired and blue, and just want to end the sugar cravings for good, Connie's book is for you. With detailed lifestyle and food plans, Beyond Sugar Shock is a new way to improve your health, love your food, and enjoy your life without the pain.” –Alex Jamieson, certified health coach, healthy gourmet chef, and author (The Alex JamiesonGreat American Detox Diet and Vegan Cooking for Dummies. Featured in the award-winning documentary, Super Size Me and appeared on "Oprah" _______________________________________________________________________________________ Mark-Patrick-Hypnotist “As a health expert and hypnotherapist, I know how tough it is for people to quit sugar and processed carbs. But Connie Bennett has made the process smooth, simple, and powerful in her book, Beyond Sugar Shock. You must read this book if you’re among the millions who can’t say no to cookies or candies.” –Mark Patrick, author of Wake Up Skinny Roberta-lee"Beyond Sugar Shock spells out the insidious and destructive nature of how sugar addiction robs you of your health. But once you discover that you are addicted you realize that stopping the addiction is not simple. Experts have shown that every effective health change always has better success with a concrete plan and this book does just that." --Roberta Lee, M.D., Vice Chair , Department of Integrative Medicine, Continuum Center for Health and Healing, Beth Israel Medical Center, and author, The SuperStress Solution Brigitte-Mars1"Finally a book that teaches one to let go of sugar addiction by following a personal body, mind and spirit program that gets to the emotional core of sugar addiction, allowing those hooked on sugar to be their own best ally in letting go of a harmful substance." --Brigitte Mars, author of Rawsome!, Addiction Free Naturally, The Country Almanac of Home Remedies and The Sexual Herbal CarolynDean "People crave sweetness in their lives, but as Connie Bennett wisely points out, you have many more choices than refined sugar. If you’ve substituted sugar for love, you can find out how to get the Real thing by following Connie’s 6-Week Plan." --Carolyn Dean M.D., N.D., creator of the Completement Now! Online Wellness Program Russ_bianchi feature“Connie Bennett has done it AGAIN! More succinct and 100% empirically valid assistance on how to not be poisoned, by the food and beverage chain. We are grossly over fed in current western dietary intake, we are heavily under nourished. Connie provides straight forward FACTS and SOLUTIONS on how to take back your life and not be harmed by food and beverage companies and (and death profiteers and regulators harming you and your family). I STRONGLY recommend this book for anyone seeking how to make at least 100 years of quality life through good nutrition! --Russ Bianchi, Managing Director & CEO, ADEPT SOLUTIONS, INC., A Global Food, Beverage, Drug, Cosmetic, Flavor, and Functional Nutrition Product Development Corporation Jill Baron"Beyond Sugar Shock gives us the tools and techniques to deal with our sugar addiction and affliction. Connie empowers us to move beyond our need for sugar, and in the process, she helps us create a life of balance and health. I can't wait to recommend this book to my patients!" –Jill R. Baron, M.D., P.C.., Integrative Physician and Weight Loss Coach Cynthia Rowland “Connie’s new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, is written from her heart and soul. This amazing wan really walks her talk—and has since 1998! Now, let Connie help you kick sugar to the curb like she has countless others. I will definitely recommend this book to my audience—women and men, who use facial exercise to maintain their youthfulness. Let Connie transport you Beyond Sugar Shock so you can stay healthy and whole on the inside and have healthiness show on your face and body.” –Cynthia Rowland, anti-aging specialist and creator of Facial Magic® and Luscious Lips® Debra Berndt “Beyond Sugar Shock is a not your average healthy-eating book, but it offers a complete life transformation! Unlike other health books that just tell you about the right foods to eat, Connie Bennett helps you get to the root of your eating behaviors and heal the body, mind and spirit for lasting change. The book is informative, fun and easy to follow to make the shifts you need to live healthy and happy ever after.” –Debra Berndt, author of Let Love In: Open Your Heart & Mind to Attract Your Ideal Partner Dawn Strickland “WOW!! Connie is so right on target. When you read this book, you’ll become a happy sugar kicker, too. It’s been three years since I gave up sugar, thanks to Connie and her fabulous coaching. I owe my freedom from sugar to her. You, too, will never have to go back to that pain. I recommend this book to all those who want energy, feel good, and reach their full potential.” –Dawn Strickland, D.C., CFT, chiropractor, certified fitness trainer and former coaching client of Connie’s RobertaMittman “At last the long wait for the perfect follow-up to Sugar Shock is here! I have been waiting for Connie to add her wit, wisdom, insight, and research to a subject that is dear to my heart and is in need of up-to-date information, can-do strategies, and direct yet compassionate guidance. Thanks to this book, my patients, clients, and I will be rewarded with a definitive resource on how to win the sugar addiction war once and for all.” --Roberta Mittman, L.Ac., Owner, Park Avenue Center for Wellbeing, Wellness and Weight Loss Mentor Droz-290x219By the way, for my previous book, Sugar Shock, many experts also came on board to praise it, too. For instance, bestselling author and renowned physician Dr. Mehmet Oz, who, at the time, hadn't started the much-loved "Dr. Oz Show," said: “Connie’s work spills the beans on the shocking impact of simple carbohydrates on aging and quality of life—a double whammy for humanity.” Others who endorsed Sugar Shock included: Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee Dr. Joseph Mercola, founder, www.Mercola.com, the # 1 ranked natural health website Marilu Henner, actress and author of Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover Film Producer Harvey Weinstein ("Chicago," "The English Patient," "Life is Beautiful," etc. Human relations expert and bestselling author Dr. Barbara De Angelis Shane Ellison, M.Sc., author, Health Myths Exposed Mark Hyman, M.D., bestselling author Fred Pescatore, M.D., author of The Hamptons Diet Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author, Lick the Sugar Habit and Lick the Sugar Habit Sugar Counter; who has studied sugar’s dangers since the 1980s Mark Victor Hansen, co-author of One-Minute Millionaire and co-author of more than 65 titles in the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series Julia Havey, eDiets.com Master Motivator and author of The Vice Busting Diet Chiropractor Dr. Eric Plasker, Founder and CEO, The Family Practice, Inc. Liz Lipski, PhD, CCN, Author, Digestive Wellness and Digestive Wellness for Children and founder of Innovative Healing and Access to Health Experts Now, would you be kind enough to spread the word about Beyond Sugar Shock? Here's how you can help. Just "like" this page and spread the word to your friends on Facebook and Twitter. Send a link to this blog post to your sugar-addicted friends. I'm deeply grateful for your help as, I hope, will be the millions I believe I can help with this book. Continue reading

Sugar and carb addicts in the Bay Area or northern California, come meet me personally and get help so you can triumph over your potentially deadly sugar and carb habit. Thanks to the amazing group, Left Coast Writers -- which supports new and established writers -- you can get simple tips and tools to free you from your addiction on Sat., April 13 at 7 pm at Book Passage in Corte Madera. FYI, the timing for this event is fortuitous. It takes place two days before my 15-year anniversary of being mostly sugar-free! The Left Coast Writers Book Launch at Book Passage officially marks the start of The Sugar Freedom Tour, during which I'll personally help sugar addicts nationwide and later worldwide. (To bring me to your area, submit your request here.) In this April 13th program, "Break Free of Sugar with Ease and Glee," you will get "A hah" moments and easy information to put to use immediately. You'll discover simple, but powerful starter secrets to: Become the master of your sugar cravings -- and then turn them into your reliable allies. Turbocharge your Sugar-Free Power. Dodge the #1 mistake nearly everyone makes when quitting or reducing sweets. Activate the positive power of procrastination.(Huh? Trust me -- it's a simple, calming tool.) Pick yourself up after you’ve “slipped” and fallen off your less or no-sugar plan. Dissolve your desire for dangerous sweets but still enjoy tasty chocolate treats. You’ll even find out how to get recipes for healthy choco-goodies. Stop being duped by innocent-looking, seductive foods that are actually sugar traps. Laugh at my -- and your -- silly-on-sugar behavior. (You'll chuckle at the former Sugar Shrew ways!) You'll also get to try tasty, sugar-free Power Balls and a Coco-Mousse, that will melt in your mouth! I'm bringing these yummy chocolate delights, courtesy of my friend Naomi Tomoda from the farmer's market. (Check back here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, for photos of these delicious treats from Naomi's company, Mami's Crunch.) Special thanks to Left Coast Writers founder Linda Watanabe McFerrin, who invited me to this event. (Stay tuned to learn about Linda's sugar story.) In case, you don't know my story, here's my short bio so you'll learn why I'm so committed to helping you break free. Why I Want to Free You from Sugar: My Bio & Tale Bestseller Beyond Sugar Shock BSConnie Bennett is a charismatic transformational speaker, bestselling author, life coach, health coach, and self-mocking former sugar addict, who is now known as The Sugar Liberator. An experienced journalist, Connie is author of the new book, Beyond Sugar Shock: The 6-Week Plan to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction & Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter, an international bestseller that has been endorsed by Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and Dr. Daniel Amen. Her first book, Sugar Shock! How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life—And How You Can Get Back on Track, was a bestseller that was praised by America’s Favorite Doctor, Dr. Mehmet Oz. Connie’s sour-to-sweet journey began in 1998, when she was pummeled by 44 scary ailments, including crushing fatigue, brain fog, horrible headaches, roller-coaster mood swings, heart palpitations, and severe PMS. When Connie’s new doctor blamed every symptom on her excessive sugar habit and ordered her to "Quit eating sugar or die young," Connie very reluctantly shed her habit. Much to her surprise, all her ailments vanished, and Connie became energetic, focused, and free. Connie finally succeeded in shedding her dangerous sugar addiction after years of failing, because while transitioning from sugar-gorging to becoming mostly sugar-free, Connie created or discovered simple, cool tools, which helped her transform the dreaded, difficult undertaking into a positive, fun-filled, life-changing adventure. Since 2001, Connie has been coaching, guiding, inspiring and uplifting thousands of carb junkies worldwide to easily, playfully release their addiction to discover that Life is Sweeter When Sugar Doesn’t Seduce You™. Connie runs the popular Sugar Freedom Now Retreat, a virtual and/or live event, which is the companion program to Beyond Sugar Shock. She also hosts the Gab with the Gurus Radio Show, for which she interviews top names in a variety of fields from health to the Law of Attraction.and hosts the Gab with the Gurus Radio Show. Connie studied at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC), the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Get free gifts at www.Connie-Bennett.com Connie is now on The Sugar Freedom Tour, which celebrates her 15 years of being mostly sugar-free. It is dedicated to her recently deceased mother. To invite Connie to visit your area, apply here. Continue reading

As I mentioned on this Bittersweet Year Blog, lately, I've been on a campaign to forgive. I'm convinced that I need to do lots of forgiveness to get beyond My Bittersweet Last Year with Mom. Today, I found this great post on why we should forgive from Everett Worthington, Jr., Ph.D. from A Campaign for Forgiveness Research. Also, see this research into the Strength of Forgiveness. Continue reading

All Stops are by Request Only via www.sugarshockblog.com Continue reading

Bring me Into Your Living Room, Community Center, Place of Worship or Business to Discover "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter” All Stops are by Request Only Sugar_freedom_finalSugar addicts, let’s connect and let me help you in the flesh—not just virtually through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google+ or YouTube. Bring me into your living room, community center, place of business or worship so you'll discover "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter.” Drum roll! I’m thrilled to announce that, in honor of my 15 years sugar-free (mostly) -- or "my 15-year-sugar-free-iversary" -- in mid-April, I’m going on the road to personally help, encourage, and inspire thousands of sugar and carb addicts as part of The 2013 Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour. You now have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to book me to speak to intimate groups (10 people and up) in your private home, community center, place of worship or business all across the United States and parts of Europe, including San Francisco, Atlanta, New York, Paris, and Sydney. Please note that all stops are by request only. Apply here to be included as part of the 2013 Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour. During my talks on the tour, you'll get: New (never-shared) secrets to easily let go of your sugar habit. 1 super-simple tactic to get started on your way to being sugar-free, slimmer, sexier and sweeter. Super-cool tools to help you easily get back on track after you've "slipped," "fallen off the wagon" or “blown your diet.” A way to avoid the single biggest mistake -- and easy-to-avoid error -- that most people make when trying to quit or limit sweets. A fun, interactive Adventurcise (adventurous exercise) so you can identify your biggest block to sugar-free success. Larger groups (50, 200, etc.) of interested women, parents, or teachers also can book my talk, "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter." I’m also available to work privately with health or life coaches, as well as other health professionals, to help them help their clients. This talk is for you if: You want to shed excess weight to get slimmer, sexier, and sweeter, as well as happier, positive, and more focused You feel addicted to sugary foods or processed carbs. (You can relate to alcoholics or drug addicts.) You want to boost your energy. (Females) You have horrible female challenges during either your time of month (your period) or life (menopause). (Males) Your libido isn’t what it used to be. You have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), prediabetes, or type 2 diabetes. You suffer from one or more of the following symptoms: mood swings, severe fatigue, headaches, crying spells, difficulty concentrating, depression, forgetfulness, and lightheadedness. You’ve read one or both of my books, Sugar Shock or Beyond Sugar Shock, but would like personal guidance to Easily Achieve Sugar Freedom. You want to look and feel younger, turn heads whereever you go, and out-perform people 15 years younger The 2013 Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour kicks off mid-April in the Western part of the United States. Apply here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, to be included in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Please note: Limited opportunities are available. You can choose between: A 45-minute talk, a 3-hour Sugar Freedom Play Camp, a 1-hour Smart-Sugar-Sleuth Supermarket Tour, and half-hour private coaching. First-come, first-served. Beyond Sugar Shock notebooks and pens will be provided as my gift. (Until they run out.) Your advance orders of 10 or more copies of Beyond Sugar Shock will be shipped in advance. The 2013 Sugar Freedom and Forgiveness World Tour is dedicated to my beloved mother, who recently passed away. To bring me into your home, community or place of worship to discover "Secrets to Fast Forward Beyond Sugar Shock to Get Slimmer, Sexier & Sweeter,” submit your application now. If you have any questions, submit them here. (They will not be published unless you agree.) Connie Bennett is a bestselling author (Beyond Sugar Shock and Sugar Shock), an internationally acclaimed transformational speaker, and a sugar-addict-turned Sugar Freedom Coach, who runs the popular Sugar Freedom Now Course. Connie's sour-to-sweet story began in 1998 when she was ambushed by a whopping 44 mysterious ailments, including crippling fatigue, unpredictable mood swings, and scary heart palpitations. On doctor's orders, Connie reluctantly gave up her cherished candies, cookies and other "culprit carbs," and much to her delight, ALL of her symptoms disappeared. Quickly, people wanted to know Connie's secrets, and she's now known as The Sugar Freedom Coach. Connie's new book, Beyond Sugar Shock, has been endorsed by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer and many others. Her first book, Sugar Shock, was praised by Dr. Mehmet Oz. In mid-April, Connie will embark on The Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour. It is designed to help sugar addicts around the globe easily release their dangerous habit so they can get slimmer, sexier and sweeter -- and have fun at the same time. The tour -- which also is intended to help people discover that Life is Sweeter without Sweets™ -- will raise awareness about the harmful dangers of over-eating sweets and refined carbs. (The average person over-indulges in these fast-acting non-foods, whether she or he knows it or not.) The Sugar Freedom & Forgiveness World Tour is commemorating Connie's 15-year-sugar-free-iversary (fifteen years of mostly shunning those dangerous sweets). It is dedicated to Connie's recently deceased mother. Connie has been featured by hundreds of media outlets, including "CBS News Sunday Morning," "Oprah & Friends Radio," "The Howard Stern Show," TIME magazine, Woman's World, Women's Health, Delicious Living, Shape magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and Detroit News. Connie is a certified life coach (Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching or iPEC), certified health coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition), and accomplished reporter (with a master's of science degree in journalism from Northwestern University's respected Medill School of Journalism). She hosts the popular Gab with the Gurus Show, for which she interviews bestselling authors and experts in a variety of fields, from wellness to relationships to social networking. Get free gifts at Connie's website, BeyondSugarShock.com, and connect with Connie on Facebook. Continue reading

If you've been a caregiver (or still are one) or if you've a devoted family member to a dying, loved one, this fascinating piece from Judith Graham of The New York Times will give you valuable perspective and insights. Continue reading

Today, it's my pleasure to present a guest post with 4 sleep tips from Sam Sugar, M.D., F.A.C.P., director of Sleep Services at the Pritikin Longevity Center and Spa. If you, too, would like to contribute a blog post, see guidelines below. 1. Change your mindset about sleep. Many of us think of sleep as something that we need to cram in between living, like a skinny piece of bologna slapped between two big chunks of bread. That is so wrong. We need to change our mindset and think of sleep as a gift. We need to think of poor-quality sleep, or insufficient sleep, as a curse. Because of poor-quality or poor-quantity sleep, we are often hit with problems like daytime fatigue or sleepiness, morning headaches, anxiety or depression, addiction to sleeping pills, increased risk of diabetes and other cardiovascular-related disease, and even trouble losing excess weight. With good-quality sleep, and plenty of it (7 to 8 hours nightly), we enjoy the exact opposite: better health, better lives, happier lives. And we even significantly boost our success in shedding excess weight. That's because good sleep results in lower levels of hormones in our body that trigger appetite." 2. Improve your sleep hygiene. Don’t crawl into bed at night with the TV blaring and the lights on, as well as newspapers and other reading material spread out on your bed. When you get rid of the noise and lights, and keep your room temperature nice and cool, it’s much easier to fall into soothing, deep, restful sleep." 3. Skip Alcohol, Caffeine & Exercise After 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., don’t partake of such sleep robbers such as alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine. And, while a commitment to exercise is admirable, don’t take off for the gym in the evening hours. That nighttime workout may wake you up, which is the last you need when you’re trying to fall off to sleep later in the evening." 4. Say No to Sugary Foods & Lose Weight. After 7 p.m., you also want to avoid fatty, heavy, high-sugar, and/or spicy foods. Sleep loss induces weight gain for several reasons. For instance, two hormones – leptin and ghrelin are affected by lack of sleep. If you’re not getting enough sleep, your leptin levels go down, which is a problem because leptin suppresses appetite. Ghrelin does just the opposite – it stimulates appetite. Sure enough, this hormone increases when you sleep less.When you don't sleep, your body tells you to eat, which is why so many reach for the refrigerator late in the night. 4. Talk to your doctor and don’t minimize your symptoms. Poor sleep could be the result of a very serious condition called obstructive sleep apnea. Having sleep apnea can greatly increase your risk of life-threatening problems like heart attacks and strokes, so it’s important to pay attention to symptoms such as daytime sleepiness, snoring, needing to urinate repeatedly during both day and night, and waking up with a dry mouth. All could be symptoms of sleep apnea. Your doctor can likely recognize these symptoms, and others and prescribe treatments that can be very effective. The benefits of treating sleep apnea are lowering the risk of heart disease, right heart failure and sudden death. Talking to your doctor and getting treatment for sleep apnea, if needed, can improve your life tremendously. The benefits of treating sleep apnea include better blood pressure, more daytime energy, far less snoring at night, and a much lower risk of heart disease, right heart failure, and sudden death. You’ll also shed weight more easily. Your body is no longer fighting pound-producing hormonal disturbances caused by sleep loss. In fact, losing just 10 to 15 percent of excess body weight may improve sleep apnea so much that it disappears." Would you like to write for this Sugar Shock Blog? To have your blog post considered, please see the guidelines on this Sugar Shock Blog. Continue reading

As I shared here recently on this new Bittersweet Year Blog and on my Sugar Shock Blog, lately, I've needed to take time to Take Back My Power and recover from a terribly grueling, but tender Bittersweet Last Year with Mom. (My mother passed away recently after valiantly defeating stage 4 lung cancer for a year.) via www.bittersweetyear.com Continue reading

As I shared here recently on this new Bittersweet Year Blog and on my Sugar Shock Blog, lately, I've needed to take time to Take Back My Power and recover from a terribly grueling, but tender Bittersweet Last Year with Mom. (My mother passed away recently after valiantly defeating stage 4 lung cancer for a year.) Recently, I realized that to fully heal, I needed to do lots and lots and lots of forgiving. So I'm now on a Mission to Forgive. I've been immersing myself in thoughts and exercises to forgive. For instance, I love this quote from best-selling author and metaphysical lecturer Louise Hay: "Forgiveness of yourself and of others will release you from the prison of the past." Anyhow, my forgiveness list is very, very long. Continue reading

When you're grieving the loss of a loved one, it can be really frustrating, discouraging, and downright infuriating when people say the most insensitive and downright silly things. via www.bittersweetyear.com Find out what to say when someone's grieving, thanks to grief guru David Kessler. Continue reading

When you're grieving the loss of a loved one, it can be really frustrating, discouraging, and downright infuriating when people say the most insensitive and downright silly things. Since I've been grieving the loss of my mother, I've realized that we're in a horribly grief-illiterate society. Frankly, I've been absolutely appalled by some of the insensitive remarks (people who, I believe, should know better) have made to me since Mom has died. For instance, about a month or two after Mom passed away and I was dealing with lots of challenging, logistical and emotional repercussions, one friend and coach, who I greatly respect, basically told me to just "get over it." She also said it was time for me to get back to coaching sugar addicts release their addiction and reclaim their Sugar Power. (I tried to but realized that first, I needed to take time to heal. Stay tuned, because soon, I'll make an announcement about how I will soon be back to helping sugar addicts worldwide.) Then, another friend and consultatant advised me to just "let go." Trust me, I've been trying by doing lots of things like tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique), meditating, and working out to do just that. And a third person, who I had just met professionally and didn't know well, didn't even want to meet me for lunch or dinner (as I'm feeling more social) although we live nearby because she likes to surround herself with positive people. Ouch! (Little does she know that I'm normally an enthusiastic, optimistic woman.) Anyhow, since I've been healing from the loss of my dear mother, it's evident that people need to educated on how to react and how to comfort us grievers. Thanks to grief guru David Kessler, you can get a great list of the 10 Best and Worst Things to Say to Someone in Grief. Please share this valuable list with all your friends. After all, just about all are either grieving the loss of a loved one or we know someone who's doing that. People desperately need to know how to react appropriately to us grievers. Thank you, David Kessler, for your great ideas. By the way, thanks to the empowering, inspirational Louise Hay--who's been dubbed "the closest thing to a living saint"--I'm now easily letting go and rediscovering my joy, passion and determination to serve. More about that later. Continue reading