Category: Catching Up With Connie

Gratitude Week: Thank You to All Experts

Now that Gratitude Week has come to a close, I want to extend a very special thank you to the 21 gracious, articulate, amazing experts and bestselling authors, who made this week possible.
My deepest desire is that these empowering gurus will change your life.
For my part, I know that I’ve been dramatically transformed just from holding these shows and hearing the remarkable thoughts shared by our guests.
Indeed, I’m feeling much better after accidentally smashing head first while running into glass. (In fact, I’m thrilled that my headaches are subsiding — concussion begone!) Learn about the origins of Gratitude Week on Gab with the Gurus by reading the press release about the event.
Please note that in all 5 shows for Gratitude Week, different angles were covered. And every show was equally fascinating, inspiring and helpful. So I urge you to listen to each and every show.
During Gratitude Week, you received insights on:
* How a practice of gratitude can completely transform your life.
* How being grateful can take you away from your pain
* How gratitude can help you to become creative.
* How grateful people are more optimistic.
* How when you are thankful, your grouchiness takes a hike.
* For what celebrities such as Alicia Keys and Morgan Freeman are grateful.
* How being grateful can help to diminish your stress.
* How an attitude of gratitude helps you become spiritual.
* And much more
You also received:
* Many wonderful, practical pointers on how you can fit gratitude your daily routine.
* Tips on how you can slip gratitude exercises here and there to enhance your happiness.
My heartfelt thanks goes to the following people:
Gratitude Week, Day 5: On Goal Setting, Creativity & Moving through Pain
* Cami Walker, author of the New York Times bestseller, 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life and founder of www.29Gifts.org, a site that encourages people to sign up for a free 29-day giving challenges. Became more grateful after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a month before getting married.
* Dr. Larry Iverson, clinical psychologist and author of Unleash Your Success. www.DrLarryIverson.com
* Rabbi Irwin Kula, author of the award-winning Yearnings: Embracing the Sacred Messiness of Life and recipient of the 2008 Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award. (See Dr. Kula give great suggestions on “Oprah” here.)
Listen to Day 5 here: http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay5-GabWithGurus
Here were Day 4’s wonderful guests.
Gratitude Week, Day 4: On Optimism, Managing Stress, Getting in Balance & Being Spiritual
* Dr. Terry Paulson, a psychologist, professional speaker, columnist and author of the new book, The Optimism Advantage. www.optimismadvantage.com
* Howard Martin, author of The Heart Math Solution and founding member of www.HeartMath.com, which researches the heart-brain connection and develops science-based solutions to reduce stress and improve performance
* Mary Treacy O’Keefe, co-founder and president of Well Within in St. Paul, Minnesota. Uses gratitude for stress reduction and spiritual growth. www.WellWithin.org
* Nora Firestone, journalist and founder of www.ThankingOfYou.com, a Web-based forum for posting (and discovering) stories of gratitude to “recognize, affirm and honor” the people who’ve made a difference in your life.
* Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression, founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, and a leader in the field of yoga and mental health. Amy’s evidence-based yoga protocol is featured on the award-winning DVD series LifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues. www.yogafordepression.com.
Listen to Day 4 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay4-GabWithGurus
Gratitude Week, Day 3: On Celebrities, Gratitude Lists & Grouchiness
* Todd Aaron Jensen, an award-winning entertainment journalist, a Kundalini yoga instructor, youth baseball coach, father of six and author of the upcoming book, On Gratitude: 50 Celebrities on the Power of Giving Thanks (to be published Sept. 21, World Gratitude Day).
* Ciji Ware, a former KABC radio commentator, who has been keeping a “Gratitude List” for 2666 days (as of July 7). Jotting down 3 things a day for which she is grateful helped her turn her life around. Ciji is also author of the book, Rightsizing Your Life: Simplifying Your Surroundings While Keeping What Matters Most.
* Sally Marks, author of the ebook, Erase Negativity and Embrace the Magic Within. She contends that lack of gratitude is probably the number one cause of grouchiness.
* Sue Lundquist, author of “I’m Thankful” and owner of the I’m Thankful™ Network, which is syndicated syndicated across the country. www.ImThankful.com
Listen to Day 3 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay3-GabWithGurus
Gratitude Week, Day 2: On Optimism, Love, Empowerment & Getting “Enough”
* Dr. Stephen G. Post, director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care and Bioethics at Stony Brook University and author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People http://www.stephengpost.com
* Dr. Diana Kirschner, psychologist and author Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love. http://www.lovein90days.com
* Elizabeth “Lily” Hills, author of the new book, A Feminine Manifesta, which delves into how women have sabotaged themselves by being their own worst critics. It shares how the power of gratitude can transform your life, freeing you up to be the best of who you can be. www.AFeminineManifesta.com
* Sue Lundquist, author of I’m Thankful and owner of the I’m Thankful™ Network, which is syndicated syndicated across the country. www.ImThankful.com
* Erika Oliver, a Positive Approach Coach and author of Happy Crap: The Power of Positive Assumptions! www.erikaoliver.com
* Corinne Gregory, President and Founder of SocialSmarts, a nationally-recognized program for teaching kids and adults positive social skills, character and values, and author of It’s Not Who You Know, It’s How You Treat Them
Listen to Day 2 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay2-GabWithGurus
Gratitude Week, Day 1: On Happiness, Forgiveness, Coping & Resolving Food Issues
* Dr. Philip Watkins, psychology professor at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington. Conducted research on how gratitude contributes to happiness, your ability to cope and be healthy.
* Dr. Philip Friedman, psychologist and director of the Foundation for Well-Being in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Published three clinical research articles on gratitude and forgiveness as they relate to well-being and change over time using empirical measures (GQ6 and GRATS) www.ForgivenessSolution.com
* Dr. Sharon Livingston, a psychologist who helps people with emotional eating problems and uses gratitude as an essential piece of healing this problem. www.EmotionalEatingSecrets.com
* Robert Mack, positive psychology expert and author, Happiness From the Inside Out: The Art and Science of Fulfillment and a positive psychology expert. www.happinessfromtheinsideout.com
Listen to Day 1 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay1-GabWithGurus
Here are the links to all 5 shows:
Day 1 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay1-GabWithGurus
Day 2 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay2-GabWithGurus
Day 3 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay3-GabWithGurus
Day 4 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay4-GabWithGurus
Day 5 – http://tinyurl.com/GratitudeWeekDay5-GabWithGurus
Please note that you can subscribe to Gab with the Gurus on iTunes.
Get more details by reading the following press release about Gratitude Week on Gab with the Gurus.
Stay tuned for another Gab with the Gurus Radio Show on Sept. 21 for World Gratitude Day and another show (date TBA) with a couple of gratitude researchers, who were unable to participate in Gratitude Week.
Also, here’s another recent Gab with the Gurus Radio Show about gratitude with Stephanie Gunning.

Gratitude Week: Day 5 (Last Day)

Wow! What an amazing week!  Gratitude Week concluded today with another fabulous show featuring top experts on the Gab with the Gurus […]

Gratitude Week: Day 4 — On Optimism, Managing Stress & Being Spiritual

Gratitude Week continued today with yet another amazing program for Day 4!
These were the wonderful guests.
Thursday, July 22: Gratitude Week: On Optimism, Managing Stress, Getting in Balance & Being Spiritual
* Dr. Terry Paulson, a psychologist, professional speaker, columnist and author of the new book, “The Optimism Advantage.” www.optimismadvantage.com
* Howard Martin, author of The Heart Math Solution and founding member of www.HeartMath.com, which researches the heart-brain connection and develops science-based solutions to reduce stress and improve performance
* Mary Treacy O’Keefe, co-founder and president of Well Within in St. Paul, Minnesota. Uses gratitude for stress reduction and spiritual growth. www.WellWithin.org
* Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression, founder of the LifeForce Yoga Healing Institute, and a leader in the field of yoga and mental health. Amy’s evidence-based yoga protocol is featured on the award-winning DVD series LifeForce Yoga to Beat the Blues. www.yogafordepression.com.
Listen to the show now.

“Post-Concussive Syndrome,” Dr. Says

Sure enough, my suspicions were correct.
I just came back from the neurologist, who gave me a verdict that explain my headaches, vertigo, sudden fatigue and minor concentration issues after my scary July 4 collision with a glass (that had no stickers on it.)
“Post-concussive syndrome,” he pronounced.
I’m now on doctor-ordered bed rest, drinking lots of liquids — and you’ll love this, “don’t spend a lot of time cooking.” (He didn’t mention no blogging!)
As for reading, he said, “Well, don’t read War and Peace.” (Pretty cool to get a doctor with a sense of humor!)
In other words, I’m on doctor’s orders to be a couch potato! And frankly, my aching and dizzy head thanks him!
Oh, and I’m so bummed, because for now, I have to hold off training for my 100-mile bike ride to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Don’t worry, you’ll still get compelling content on this blog, but I need to turn to fellow health experts. Please contribute your short, snappy, provocative posts.
And look for tweets from me. So please follow me on Twitter.
Just go to www.Twitter.com and start following the Smart Habits Girl
Gotta ice my head now and rest. But first I’ll skim this fascinating article.

Sugar Shock Blog Turns 5 Years Old

A month ago, Sugar Shock Blog turned five years old, but I forgot to announce it, because I was busy blogging about other things.
I also was in the middle of creating another new blog, my Write a Book Before You Die Blog
Anyhow, I hope you like the Sugar Shock Blog. See the first entry here on June 7, 2005.
FYI, at present, I’m seeking short, concise, compelling guest entries, because I’m on doctor’s orders to rest my head.
What would you like to contribute? I want to hear from you.
Please follow me on Twitter, where I’ll be posting shorter items and links to interesting articles, etc. — it’s easier to send tweets than write blog entries with a head that hurts.

Support my Team in Training Bike Ride for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: 100 Miles (Gulp!)

On Friday, I finally signed up to start working out with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s respected Team in Training program.
My goal is rather bold: Go 100 miles (or at least 60) on my bike in the Seagull Century Race on Oct. 9 in Maryland!
To be frank, the idea of riding 100 miles sort of scares me. The most I’ve ever done is about 35 or 40 miles. (And that was when I was in better shape — pre-Lyme disease hit me.)
But I’m excited that I found a way to do two of my favorite things — biking — and do good at the same time by raising money for a worthwhile cause.
Would you be kind enough to donate to this worthwhile cause? All your contributions go straight to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Anyone who contributes will be invited to a special teleseminar with health experts. More details later.
Please make your contribution below.

News for Sugar Addicts: Sugar Shock’s Successor is on the Way — Please Help Me Name the New Book

Are you a sugar addict? Would you like to easily shed excess weight? Do you often get headaches, “brain fog” and fatigue? And are you suffering from a low libido, severe PMS or infertility?
Either way, this is for you.
I’m really excited and thrilled to announce that – after repeated requests from many of you – the follow-up book to my book Sugar Shock is on the way.
Hay House images Sugar Shock’s successor is coming to you, thanks to my new publisher, Hay House, which is the international leader in self-help and transformational publishing.
How will this new book help you? Well, let’s face it, cutting out – or even cutting back – on sugar and refined carbs is really tough for most people.
In fact, sugar addiction is a challenging situation to solve EVEN if you know that overcoming it can help you to lose weight, get more energy, boost your libido, prevent or reverse diabetes and live longer.
So, in my follow-up book to Sugar Shock, you’ll get valuable tools and tips that will make letting go of your sugar addiction simple – and even fun.
You may be wondering how this new book will be different from my first book, Sugar Shock.
Sugar Shock is primarily an exposé that spotlights sugar’s many dangers. One of my goals is for it to shock you into wanting to kick your bad habit. For instance, this book includes scary information about the link between excess sweets and obesity, memory loss, mood swings, troubled relationships, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, female problems and early aging.
On the other hand, my next book will give you a simple, compassionate, step-by-step plan to help you stop sugar shock and break free of your sugar habit for good.
In other words, my first book Sugar Shock dishes the sour DIRT about sweets.
Now, my intention with Sugar Shock’s baby (so to speak) is to tell you HOW to ditch desserts and get a healthier, happier, longer and much sweeter life.
After reading my new book, you will — I hope and believe — escape sugar shock, easily release weight, say goodbye to mid-afternoon crashes, experience joyous freedom, look and feel better than you have in years, and build a better life in the bedroom, if you catch my drift.
In this follow-up book to Sugar Shock:
* You’ll get many tried-and-true tactics — ones I created when I kicked sugar back in 1998 and ones recommended by dozens of other health experts. And you’ll benefit from my 12 years of coaching or connecting with people around the world so they can break free of their sugar addiction.
* You’ll undertake simple, interactive adventurcises™ (my word for adventurous exercises).
* You’ll discover several dozen ways to stomp out your sugar cravings.
* You’ll learn what color sugar lover you are. (Yes, we’re all different in our relationship with sweets, and this knowledge will empower you to make the right choices for you.)
* You’ll detox gradually so that your body, mind and even soul won’t go into shock.
* You’ll get meal plans and tasty recipes from a recognized nutritionist and exercise physiologist.
* You’ll learn to Enjoy a Sweeter Life Without Refined Sweets™.
* And much more.
But I’d like your help to name my upcoming book.
You see, although I know what I’m including in the follow-up to Sugar Shock — thanks to questions and feedback I’ve received from many of you — my wonderful Hay House editor and I still haven’t settled on the book’s title.
We have a number of thoughts, but right now, we’re going to let ideas percolate for the next week or two.
So would you be kind enough to give me your input?
Since you’re my target audience, what is a title — and subtitle — that would entice you to buy this follow-up book to Sugar Shock?
If my Hay House editor and I pick your title, you’ll get several gifts.
1. You’ll get one hour of complimentary coaching from me very soon.
2. You’ll get complimentary admission to an audio replay of my Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks program, which includes access to a private, members-only website. (Learn more at http://www.BreakFreeWithConnie.com)
3. And you’ll be one of the very first people to get a copy of my new book, the follow-up to Sugar Shock.
4. That’s not all. You’ll also get my profound gratitude.
5. Then, I’ll thank you in the book.
6. And I’ll also spotlight you here, on my Sugar Shock Blog.
Please share your great ideas for book titles now. What should my follow-up book to Sugar Shock be called? And, in your opinion, what is the best subtitle?
Now, before I part, let me take a Gratitude Moment. I just want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my new friends at Hay House for deciding to help me help you by agreeing to bring my follow-up book to Sugar Shock into the world.
Louise_hay_pic By the way, I highly recommend that you look into the life-changing, empowering Movers & Shakers events from Hay House, a company that was founded in 1984 by inspiring author Louise L. Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life and Heal Your Body as a way to self-publish her first two books.
Both of Louise’s books books went on to become international bestsellers, and You Can Heal Your Life has sold a whopping 35 million copies worldwide and it established Louise as a leader in the transformational movement.
Events sponsored by Hay House are amazing, as I discovered upon attending the Movers & Shakers conference in New York City in December. (That wonderful event was, in fact, where I met Louise, which was a big thrill for me, because I’ve been a fan of hers for years. In fact, You Can Heal Your Life was one of the books that helped inspire me to overcome my sugar addiction.) At the Movers & Shakers conference in New York, I also had the pleasure of meeting Hay House’s motivating president and CEO Reid Tracy, my new editor and the dazzling author Cheryl Richardson, author of the life-changing book, The Art of Extreme Self-Care.)
I encourage you to learn more about Hay House’s programs and products that have a positive self-help slant and are conducive to healing planet Earth. Just go to ==== >>>> http://tinyurl.com/HayHouseMoversAndShakersConnie
Perhaps I’ll even see you in November at the I Can Do It conference in Toronto?
Movers & Shakers 2010 468×60
Please note that I’m an enthusiastic, compensated affiliate for Hay House. But I only share information about programs or services that I recommend.
What Do You Think? What Should My Next Book Be Called?
So have you come up with some ideas for the title of my upcoming book?
I hope you’ll give this some thought as you go off and play, eat healthy foods or try to steer clear of health-harming, sugary desserts.
Remember, if your title for my follow-up to Sugar Shock is selected:
1. You’ll get one hour of complimentary coaching from me very soon.
2. You’ll get admission to an audio replay of my Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks program, which includes access to a private, members-only website. (Learn more at http://www.BreakFreeWithConnie.com)
3. And you’ll be one of the very first people to get a copy of my new book, the follow-up to Sugar Shock.
4. That’s not all. You’ll also get my profound gratitude.
5. Then, I’ll thank you in the book.
6. And I’ll also spotlight you here, on my Sugar Shock Blog.
Please post your great ideas now for the title to my follow-up book to Sugar Shock.
Feel free to invite your colleagues and loved ones to share their title suggestions, too. Just send them to:
==== >>>>
http://tinyurl.com/NameMyBook-SugarShockFollow-Up
I look forward to your contributions.

Sugar Addicts: Share Your Success Stories from Sadness to Sweetness

Calling former sugar addicts: Have you kicked sugar and refined carbs?
And are you a reader of SUGAR SHOCK! who was then inspired to remove refined sweets from your life?
Did cutting out sugar enable you to boost your energy, release weight, become more cheerful, have better relationships and get other amazing benefits? If your sugar addiction is a thing of the past — or is under control — we want to hear from you!
Share your Sugar-Free Success story with me so I can share it on this Sugar Shock Blog and other places. Please help me to encourage, educate and inspire other people.
Wondering what a Sugar-Free Success Story sounds like? Read motivational Kick-Sugar Success Stories shared previously on the Sugar Shock Blog.
* Jimmy Moore, who I interviewed recently on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show
* Jaime Jackson
* Felicia DesRosiers
* Karly Pitman
To be featured as a Kick-Sugar Success Story on this Sugar Shock Blog and on other places, you should have either cut out or heavily cut back on your sugar and quickie-carb consumption for at least 3 months and achieved wonderful results. By sharing your story, you agree that I can publish all or parts of it on my Sugar Shock Blog, any other websites or in an upcoming book or books. You agree that I can use your name and photo and that I will edit your story for accuracy and readability. You agree that you are contributing this piece to help others and that you are sharing it without compensation. (Sorry!) To tell your sour-to-sweet story and to be considered for inclusion in this column, just write to me with answers to the following questions. Please also send photos — preferably before-and-after photos.
* Your Name (full or first name only), City, State & Country (or just list state, if you like) & Age (if you choose):
* Your Previous Weight & Height & Your Present Height:
* Favorite Hobbies & Activities Now:
* When did you kick sugar? Have you quit other foods, too? If so, what?
* What are the biggest BENEFITS you’ve received from kicking sugar?
* What was your rock-bottom moment before you decided you needed to change your diet?
* Just how bad were you feeling? What ailments did you have? Please be specific.
* Please describe any pivotal moments. For example, you could share something that happened in your doctor’s office, how you behaved towards a loved one (like I confessed in Chapter 1 of my book SUGAR SHOCK!), or what embarrassing event made you decide that it was high time to tackle your sugar habit, etc.
* What made you finally decide to eliminate sugar and refined carbs to help with your health issues?
* Describe the day that you finally decided it was time to break free!
* What were the very first 3 things that you did to prepare yourself to quit sweets?
* DS (During Your Sugar Days), what did you used to eat?
* Tell us how bad you felt. What was your lowest point? What was it like?
* What do you think most people don’t know about processed carbs that they need to know?
* How did you first learn about the dangers of sugars and refined carbs?
* Did you find a doctor or other health professional (acupuncturist, nutritionist, etc.), who understood all about how eating sugar triggers drastic blood sugar swings, etc. Tell us about him or her.
* What were your biggest challenges when kicking sugar and refined carbs? Please help prepare others for any potential pitfalls ahead.
* Do you have any favorite websites, blogs, books, organizations or support groups that have helped you to lick your habit?
* What are your best 3 tips and tactics to help other people kick sweets and quickie carbs?
* Please share some final words of wisdom, inspiration, encouragement or motivation to others who are thinking of cutting out sugar and simple carbs.
* Add your own question and response, if you like:
Please feel free to share this call for Confessions of Sugar Addicts No More on your blog or website, in your ezine, on your Facebook page or via Twitter. Please note that Connie Bennett, author of SUGAR SHOCK!, and the founder of the Sugar Shock Blog (http://www.SugarShockBlog.com) is compiling this collection. Please let me know if you’ve shared this call to action.
If you are not yet a success story but want to me, learn how to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks.