Today’s Feel-Good Tune is Waka Waka! Get A Fun Song Every Day in Smart Habits Fans on Facebook!

Today’s Feel-Good Tune is “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” from Shakira.
This Feel-Good Tune of the Day is a new fun feature in the Smart Habits Fans on Facebook.
Every day, in Smart Habits Fans, you’ll find another upbeat, exhilarating, cheery, confidence-generating Feel-Good Tune that at cheers you up, empowers you, and lifts you to a great place!
Shakira Waka Waka Dance (1) Right now, when you can, take just a few minutes — the song’s only a quick break — and get up and boogie!
So how does this amazing song, Waka Waka make you feel?
It’s far better and sweeter than food, junk food or sugary chocolate, isn’t it?
Join us now in the Smart Habits Fans to get Daily Feel-Good Tunes.
By the way, I’m posting on Facebook — at http://www.facebook.com/smarthabitsfans — instead of here, on this Sugar Shock Blog, because it’s easier, quicker, and it allows us to become more interactive. Also, you can easily share the tunes from friends and fans.
By the way, I got the idea for posting a Feel-Good Tune of the Day on the Smart Habits Fans page on Facebook, because I need to come up with ways to get away from the computer — I need to cut back on my constant exposure to those harmful EMFs or electromagnetic fields from my computer, etc. (When on deadline, as I cam now for my next book, The Sugar Shock Diet, I tend to put in 10, 12, 14 hours a day, and all that electropollution has been dragging me down. So it’s time for Feel-Good Breaks! Learn more about the dangers of electropollution on my recent Gab with the Gurus Radio Show.
Like this post now, and share it on Facebook with your friends or fans. Then get up and boogie!
Been writing too long on the computer. Time to get away from those EMFs. It’s dancing time to Waka Waka!

Delay Away Your Sugar Cravings (Creatively Procrastinate)

Here’s an article I wrote to help you those of you, who are sugar addicts or junk food junkies, who need help to sweetly say, “No, thank you!” when offered those tempting, unhealthy “treats.”
Delay Away Your Sugar Cravings™: Creatively Procrastinate to Ditch Your Sugar Addiction & Excess Weight
By Connie Bennett, MSJ, CHC, ACC, CPC
Whenever people meet me, join my Sugar Freedom Now program or work privately with me or read my book SUGAR SHOCK!, they almost immediately ask me (either in person or via e-mail), “How can I overcome my sugar cravings?”
It can be challenging to say “No, thank you!” when your favorite, tempting dessert is right there, in front of you.
Because it’s what you do in that very first one or two minutes that can make or break your diet, I’m determined to help you get over that “Must-Have Sugar Now! hurdle.”
Let me share a tactic that helped me on many occasions (back in 1998) and that now helps my clients and Facebook Smart Habits Noww fans.
One of the most powerful and effective strategies is so simple that you’ll wonder why you never tried it in the first place.
It’s this: Simply DELAY before you put any sugar or dessert foods in your mouth. That’s right, DELAY before you something that you’ll later regret such as when you look at your scale a day or two later or when your pants don’t fit anymore or when you become edgy and unfocused after your Sugar High.
Let’s be honest: If you do mindlessly nosh on those fast-acting sweets or much-like-sugar carbs™ into your mouth, won’t you become feel headachy, wiped out, spaced out, moody, depressed or even angry at yourself (and maybe your loved ones)?
Let me introduce you to the Delay Away Your Sugar Cravings Method™ (also called Do Creative Sugar Procrastination™).
Think about it: Most of us excel at putting things off or procrastinating, right?
We have every good intention to clear off our desks, donate old clothes, organize our drawers, ditch (recyle) those not-needed papers, help kids with their homework, throw out the garbage, etc.?
Clearly, all of us have things we’ve been planning to do but we just haven’t got around to doing it.
Well, I invite you to take a positive look at procrastinating. It can be a wonderful, Won’t-Have-Sugar-Just-Yet Strategy.
I hit upon this incredible simple technique back in 1998 when I reluctantly kicked sweets and refined carbs on doctor’s orders. To this day, I continue to be amazed at how easy, effortless, and darn effective it is to just delay.
What’s so wonderful about this Delaying Now Method is that people of all ages—unless maybe you’re a tot—can easily cultivate this tactic.
So, here’s how to do it: Just promise yourself to delay eating that tempting “treat” for a certain amount of time, say 10 minutes. You can do that, of course!
In other words, you will Delay Away Your Sugar Cravings for 10 minutes at a time. Then, you can delay over and over again — for another 10 minutes — for a while, like an hour even. It’s that easy!
Now think ahead to the next morning when you’re so relieved and proud of yourself that you didn’t cave into your cravings.
Here are 7 ways Delaying or Creatively Procrastinating becomes your ally to help you pull the plug on your unwanted sugar addiction. (Delaying is one of the “7 D’s” that I developed to help “Sugar Kickers.”)
First delay 10 minutes before you eat that cookie, candy bar or brownie that’s calling out to you. When you do that, you begin to detach from your destructive impulses.
When you delay for 10 minutes, then another 10 minutes, and another 10 minutes, your cravings will subside while you get involved with other things. At that point, you’ll also be able to put your cravings into proper perspective.
When you Delay Away Your Cravings, you’re taking powerful, positive, health-promoting action by simple inaction. Yes, doing absolutely nothing can be pivotal when you kick or cut back on sweets and quickie carbs. See how simple this is?
When you delay, you turn procrastinating into a useful, proactive skill. Procrastinating becomes a good thing!
When you delay, you can take time to find out which foods—if any—you’re really craving. Is your body really needing cookies, cake, and pretzels? Of course not! Your Amazing Body might instead be begging you for water, fresh vegetables and fruits, high-quality protein or healthy fats?
When you delay, you can get in touch with your true feelings. By putting your sugar binging on hold for 10 minutes or more, you can figure out what the heck is really going. Ask yourself, “Why do I feel like I must have these sweets now?”
When you delay, you’ll be so proud of yourself! You’ll be filled with a longer-lasting joy than the very short-lived, self-defeating immediate gratification you’d get from a cookie. What is your real goal? Are you seeking to shed excess weight, get more energy, concentrate better, improve your health and boost your libido? So delaying gives you a chance to think about what you really want rather than suffer the consequences of your moment of weakness.)
In short, simple delaying or creatively procrastiating is one of the most effective tools a successful Sugar Kicker can use.
Tips to Delay Away Your Cravings or Creatively Procrastinate
It’s time to learn how to put this in action. Shortly, you’ll become a Delaying Artist or a Creative Procrastinator.
The next time you want something sweet (that’s processed) or something white (as in a refined carb), delay for 10 minutes. That’s it — just 10 minutes. You can do that, right? Feel free to set a timer or look at your watch, clock or cell phone to keep you honest, so to speak.
Now, imagine that you’re stepping outside and leaving behind your obsessive sugary thoughts. Now, get going with some project you’ve been delaying.
After 10 minutes, if you still want sweets or quickie carbs, Delay Away another 10 minutes. Be creative while you delay. You may want to do the dishes, put away your clothes, organize your closet, color your hair, organize your CD collection, meditate, work out, fix your nails, etc. Doing these things can help you pass the time and pull the plug on your food thoughts.
Then challenge yourself for even longer! Wait 1 hour or even 2 hours, or maybe even the whole evening. Do something really fun in the meantime. Jump into that project that you’ve been putting off doing. Fill your time with satisfying activites that help you “forget” about the sweets calling out to you. (If you pick going to a movie as a way to delay, do NOT stop at the concession stand! Bring along your own water or snack.)
Finally, write about your experience in a journal or notebook. Just jotting down your feelings can be eye-opening, as many of my Sugar Kicker clients have revealed to me, and as I personally discovered years ago.
Ultimately, when you just delay or creatively procrastinate, you can learn a lot about yourself and the power of a focused mind.
To this day, I’m thrilled that I hit upon this Delay Away Your Sugar Cravings Tactic back in 1998 so that I could learn that Life is Sweeter Without Refined Sweets™.
Copyright © 2011, Connie Bennett, Sugar Shock Blog, Stop SUGAR SHOCK!™
Connie Bennett is the “Sugar Freedom Now Coach.” She is a former sugar addict and author of the bestselling book, SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books), which has been praised by Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Joseph Mercola and others. Her next book, The Beyond Sugar Shock Diet, will be published in 2012 by Hay House. Connie is also founder of the Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks Program (also called Sugar Freedom Now Course). Learn more at www.BreakFreeWithConnie.com. Connie’s Sad-to-Sour-Sugar Story began in 1998, when she reluctantly kicked sweets and quickie carbs on doctor’s orders, and all 44 of her ailments disappeared, including throbbing headaches, severe PMS, and mood swings. Nowadays, Connie jokingly dubs herself a “Sugar Shrew No More!” She has coached thousands of people around the world to Break Free of their sugar addiction and other unhealthy habits. Connie is a certified life coach, certified health counselor, certified vision board coach, popular radio host (Gab with the Gurus), journalist and essayist, who has contributed to many publications and websites and has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning, Oprah & Friends Radio, and The Howard Stern Show. To get free kick-sugar tips and other updates, sign up for her free Motivating Morsels e-zine. This article first appeareed on the Sugar Shock Blog. Connect with Connie on Facebook in the Smart Habits Fans page or the Gab with the Gurus page.
Please note: You may publish the above article on your blog or website, but you must use this entire piece, including the above credit informationabove. Please contact us to let us know that you’re using this article.

Exercise Helps Your Brain

A fascinating new medical study reveals that exercise improves your brain health. Specifically, as the research points out, "Increasing evidence suggests that […]

Connect on Facebook, Master Your Subconscious Mind & Name My Next Book

Motivating Morsels
This week’s Motivating Morsels will be quick, because I’m supposed to be on bed rest, according to my new neurologist.
4 Quick Things:
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Post-Concussive Syndrome
2) Name My Next Book – The Follow-Up to Sugar Shock
http://tinyurl.com/NameMyBook-SugarShockFollow-Up
3) Master your Subconscious Mind with Debra Berndt & Bob Doyle of “The Secret”
4) Connect With me on Facebook & Follow me on Twitter
5) Are You Single? Learn about Love Mentoring with Dr. Diana Kirschner
Now here’s this week’s Motivating Morsels.
1) Post-Concussive Syndrome
Well, my suspicions were correct. My aching head was telling me something.
Learn more here: http://www.sugarshockblog.com/2010/07/postconcussive-syndrome-dr-says.html
2) Name My Next Book – The Follow-Up to Sugar Shock
http://tinyurl.com/NameMyBook-SugarShockFollow-Up
Have you shared your ideas yet on what to name my next book, the follow-up to Sugar Shock?
Please let me know what you recommend – http://tinyurl.com/NameMyBook-SugarShockFollow-Up
Power-of-your-subconscious-mind 3) Master your Subconscious Mind
My hypnotist friend Debra Berndt – whose healing downplay is helping my head a lot – is presenting an amazing 4-week program, beginning Tuesday night, with Bob Doyle of “The Secret” on how you can Master Your Subconscious Mind. Sign up now here: http://letloveinbook.com/MasteringSub.html
4) Connect With me on Facebook & Follow me on Twitter
Are we connected yet, thanks to social media? I invite you to take the next step.
My goal is to inspire, motivate, educate and nurture you using a variety of social media platforms.
First off, I invite you to become one of the Smart Habits Fans on Facebook. There you’ll be able to get links to interesting articles, Daily Smart Habits Tips, pointers to break free of your sugar addiction and other bad habits and much more.
Facebook-logo Just go here: http://www.facebook.com/smarthabitsfans
Once you connect, please make sure to post your thoughts, comments and insights.
Twitter_logo_header Also make sure to follow me on Twitter. Just go to http://www.twitter.com/smarthabitsgirl
(If you don’t have an account yet, just start one at http://www.twitter.com and then follow me. It’s that easy.)
I hope I inspire you!
Feel free to share interesting articles and ideas, too.
5) Are You Single? Learn about Love Mentoring with Dr. Diana Kirschner
If you’re single, you’ll definitely want to know about this exciting fr*ee program on Wed., July 14 at 9 pm Eastern (6 pm Western) with my friend, the acclaimed relationship expert Dr. Diana Kirschner, author of “Love in 90 Days.”
Diana — who has helped thousands of people find love — is doing a a wonderful fre*e teleseminar with another friend Cynthia Rowland, to tell you about the value of love mentoring to find love.
Study after study has shown that adults who are mentored are more successful in their careers and in school. Women, in particular, have greatly benefited from mentoring with reports of greater self-esteem and a heightened ability to break through the “glass ceiling.” And love is no different. Learn more here about this fr*ee program to educate you about love mentoring: http://tiny.cc/ks0su

Jeff Garlin & Ellen DeGeneres Set Sugar-Shunning Trend – AOL Runs My Opinion Piece

You know the expression, “Love is in the air?”
Well, thanks to comedians Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Garlin, kicking sugar is in the air!
For instance, Jeff Garlin, Jeff Garlin, the star and co-producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm, recently talked about his sugar-stopping activities on Regis and Kelly while publicizing his new book, My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World.
Before that Ellen DeGeneres, who, of course, hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show and is now also a judge on American Idol, announced to the world that she, too, is shunning sugar.
Please visit AOL now to read my opinion piece, in which I praise both comedians for the wonderful examples they’re setting for the rest of the nation and world.
As an advocate of leading happy, healthy, energy-filled, sugar-free lives, I applaud the two comedians for what they’re doing.
I invite you to read my my op ed piece now: Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Garlin Could Inspire Others to Kick the Sugar Habit – AOL News.

It’s International Coaching Week: Call Me Friday 3 to 5 pm EST

It’s International Coaching Week through Feb. 13.
In honor of this week-long global celebration of the coaching profession, I’ll be taking calls and giving YOU complimentary 20-minute Strategy Sessions for 2 hours this Friday, from 3 to 5 pm EST.
(If you call during that time and I’m busy, I’ll call you back by the 13th, when International Coaching Week ends.)
That’s right — YOU can call me, and I’ll call you right back so you can get a taste of coaching and how it can help you.
In your FR*EE Strategy Session, we’ll zero in on your goals and dreams, whether it’s kicking sugar, writing a book or finding the love of your life.
To get details on how to reach me for your complimentary Strategy Session, join my Facebook Smart Habits Fans page.
Originally founded in 1999 by ICF member Jerri N. Udelson, MCC, International Coaching Week is “a designated time each year for coaches and clients to educate the general public about the value of working with a professional coach and to acknowledge the results and progress made through the coaching process.”
This week is a “perfect time for coaches to get out in their communities and show people what coaching is and how it can benefit their lives.”
As my clients have found, coaching has been proven “to help people attain their personal and professional goals and those who use it can expect to see a solid return on their investment.”
Talk to you Friday from 3 to 5 pm EST? To learn how to reach me, get details at my Smart Habits Fans page on Facebook.

My ABC’s to Break Free of Sugar & Other Bad Habits (Babits™)

Have you seen my video yet on YouTube, in which I shared My ABC’s to Break Free of Your Sugar Habit and Other Bad Habits?
Here’s a companion article to give you more information and tips to release your bad habits or what I call babits™.
My ABC’s to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction & Other Bad Habits by Connie Bennett, CPC, CHHC
If you’re like most people, you’re often tempted by gorgeous, mouth-watering, nutrient-poor “treats”—dazzling donuts, colorful cereal or buttered bagels—and other bad habits such as excessive coffee-drinking, negative thinking, procrastinating and obsessive texting.
As I mentioned on my companion YouTube video, It’s certainly understandable if you feel tempted. Wherever you go and wherever you live, you’re inevitably bombarded by unhealthy foods, substances, thoughts and activities.
But I invite you to look inside and decide: Do you feel trapped or imprisoned by your sugar habit or other bad habit (what I call a babit™)?
And are you plagued by baffling health issues such as annoying weight gain, ferocious headaches or even type 2 diabetes?
I’m here to reassure you. You can escape from the prison of a bad habit.
In fact, I respectfully challenge you. Get out from under your sugar habit or other babits™ so that you can have a life that rocks!
You may be wondering WIFY (What’s In It For You?) if you overcome your bad habit. You can benefit in many ways!
You can get more energy, concentrate better, lose weight, become more productive, enjoy better relationships and so much more. And, as many clients have delightedly shared with me, if you cut out sugar and refined carbs, you even may be able to boost your libido!
So let me share my Double ABC’s to Break Free of Your Sugar Habit & Other Bad Habits (or what I call Babits™).(In my companion YouTube video, I share some of these tips. You’ll find more here.)
A is for Assume & Accept.
Just assume and accept that just about wherever you go, you’ll be tempted.
Your favorite aunt will nudge you to eat her favorite chocolate cake. You have to pass that vending machine at work. And no matter what, you’ll be taunted by candies galore while purchasing sundries at the local drug store.
But if you prepare for temptations—ones way more unhealthy than apples in the Garden of Eden—you can be prepared and always have healthy snacks on hand such as edamame (soy nuts), pumpkin seeds, hard-boiled eggs and sugar-free crackers or an apple (preferably organic) with almond butter.

Food Diary Time: Soul-Searching Food Journal™ to Help You Now

At the end of the day, have you completely lost track of what you ate? Are you at a loss as to what sweets, culprit carbs or fatty snacks you’ve put in your mouth? Do you wonder why you’re packing on the pounds or feelingsluggish and unfocused?
Well, research shows that if you keep a food journal, you stand a greater chance of losing weight and achieving better health.
Indeed, people who’ve happily peeled off the weight — “Highly Successful Losers™,” as I call them — report that one of their Smart Diet Habits™ is to “Keep Track of Your Favorite Lab Rat™.
In other words, watch yourself as if you were lovingly monitoring the intake of your ailing beloved pet.
When you Keep Track of Your Favorite Lab Rat™, you don’t mindlessly shove nutrient-lacking non-foods into your mouth.
You begin to think before you eat, because you know you’ll be writing down whatever you put into your mouth — and will preferably (I hope, for your benefit) share it with an accountability partner.
To help you out, I’m sharing a food diary that I’ve created.
Feel free to share The Soul-Searching Food Journal™ with your friends, co-workers, gym buddies, bosses, hairdressers, fitness trainers, loved ones and even frustrating frenemies. In short, spread the link love, as some like to say. (Of course, please provide the proper credit though, as indicated below.)
The Soul-Searching Food Journal™ — © Copyright – Connie Bennett, Smart Habits Coach & Author, SUGAR SHOCK!