Category: Cause of the Day

The Soul-Searching Food Journal™ — Forms to Keep Track So Your Weight Disappears

Did you know that 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 Like a Lab Rat™.” (In other words, watch yourself as if you were a scientist conducting an experiment or monitor yourself as if you were your beloved pet.)
When you Keep Track, you don’t mindlessly shove nutrient-lacking non-food in your face. You think first, because you know you have to write it down — and possibly share it with an accountability partner.
To help you out, I’m sharing a food journal that I’ve created.
Feel free to share The Ultimate, Soul-Searching Food Diary™ with 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 Diary™ — From Connie Bennett, Author, SUGAR SHOCK!
Name ________________________________________
Date _________________________________________
What did I eat and drink?
(Any sugary foods or drinks? Any refined carbs? Any artificial sweeteners? Any foods with gluten? How much salt? How did I I feel? Was I physically or emotionally hungry? (On the 1st line, state what you ate. On the 2nd line, jot down how you felt — tired, famished, angry, edgy, frustrated, furious, stressed out, etc.)
7 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
7 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
8 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
8 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
9 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
9 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
10 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
10 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
11 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
11 a.m. _______________________________________________________________
12 noon _______________________________________________________________
12 noon _______________________________________________________________

Feel Special & Enrich Your Life With True Love – Guest Blog Post

You can enrich and energize your life with true love rather than sugar.
You can feel so rewarded and fulfilled in a marriage or committed relationship that those quickie carbs completely lose their allure.
With proactive techniques that you’ll learn here, love can fill you up, not an empty, tragic sugar addiction that you need to frequently re-fuel with empty-calorie, health-harming carbs.
Today’s special blog post is for single ladies (never-married, divorced or widowed) — or even unsatisfied married women — who long for fulfilling, amazing true love with a remarkable, adoring man.
The author of this post is the charming, long-married, personable psychologist Dr. Diana Kirschner, the bestselling author of Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love.
Dr. Diana, who gave you many helpful tips on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show last Tuesday, reminisces here about her early days as a child when her mom used sugar as love. Then, she offers you tangible guidelines to find and keep true love. (She wrote this post especially to help you, because we ran into each other and became friends this past weekend at a wonderful Book Publishing 2.0.program.
This is a rare treat to get a special Sugar Shock Blog post from Dr. Diana, who is a media darling. The friendly therapist/bestselling author has appeared on Oprah, The Today Show and recently The Mike and Juliet Show, where she ran a 90-day Love Challenge. (Sure enough, Amelia, the love mentee, did find someone.) So here’s Dr. Diana’s post:
Feel Special & Enrich Your Life with Fulfilling, Nurturing True Love — Not Unfulfilling, Unsatisfying Sugar by Dr. Diana Kirschner, the bestselling author of Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love.
When I was a child, my mother often showed her love by secreting me away from my other siblings and sharing a cookie, a piece of cake or candy just with me. In fact, she stressed that she was sharing it with me because I was so special. I certainly felt special—even though the sugary love drug usually made me sick to my stomach. (Ring a bell?)

Bloggers: Learn How to Nab Eyeballs & Peacefully Win the “War” from a Pro, the “Copyblogger”

If you’re a fellow blogger, you always yearn for more traffic, right?
To garner more fans and followers, I heartily urge you to read this fabulous post from Copyblogger, “Your Blog vs. The World: 7 Steps to Winning the War for Attention.”
Blogger Jonathan Morrow eloquently presents the plight facing us bloggers.
We’re waging four battles at once, including “against anything that distracts your reader from making it all the way through your content,” Jonathan explains.
“Here, you’re at war against the world. You’re up against the child that knocked over her apple juice onto the rug, the dog barking to go outside, the phone ringing at work, and the e-mail that just arrived in their inbox.”
Read the Copyblogger’s thoughtful eight-pronged solution so you can win the blogging battle and get your posts read from start to finish.
This post sure provoked me to thought — and to action. For instance, I need to think about a strategic content plan. Dear readers, let’s hope it does the same with you!
Did you like this post? If so, please spread the word.

Sugar Addicts, Dieters, Hypoglycemics & Diabetics: Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge Kicks Off at 12 Noon Eastern Today

Today’s a big day for sugar addicts around the globe. You will get 24 hours of help. Here’s a press release that’s going out. Feel free to pass this along to friends in its entirety. Please note that we need someone overseas (Australia, Great Britain or other non-American countries) to help send out tweets when we’re asleep over in the U.S. Write to me if available.
Obese and Overweight People and Sugar Addicts Can Get Back on Dieting Wagon By Joining The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge from Jan. 16 to Jan. 31
Learn Sour Sugar Facts and Get Sweet Benefits by Listening to Experts Dr. Peter Gott, Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, Dr. Nancy Appleton, Dr. Hyla Cass and Others
Millions of Americans who, like Oprah, have fallen off the diet wagon and are now obese or overweight can get inspiration and education for the next two weeks by joining the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, which kicks off Jan. 16.
This is the first time that health and wellness experts—including authors of so-called “competing” sugar books—have banded together to issue a wake-up call to help obese and overweight people for whom food (often culprit-carb snacks) is their “drug of choice.”
The health experts — who are seeking to help the 34 percent of Americans who are obese and the 32.7 who are overweight — feel compelled to speak out in this New Year’s resolution-oriented month to deliver the sour sugar news: Over-consumption of sugar and refined carbohydrates could lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, infertility and Alzheimer’s disease. (The experts warn about all caloric sweeteners, including sucrose, high fructose corn syrup and dextrose.)
While most Americans may think they they’re not big sugar eaters, the facts disagree. The average American consumes about 170 pounds a year or one cup a day. Figures for people overseas vary, but excessive sugar consumption is also a huge problem in Great Britain and Australia, among others.
But the health experts also bring lots of hope, too, to people in all parts of the world.
Already, millions of people have discovered the enormous benefits of kicking or reducing sugar and refined carbs. For instance, they could lose lots of weight, as well as reverse or prevent type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease and Azheimer’s disease.
For years, many celebrities have been savvy about sugar’s dangers and the many benefits you get from eliminating it or cutting back on consumption of it.
Marilu Henner, Suzanne Somers, Daisy Fuentes, Vanessa Marcil, Halle Berry, Mariette Hartley and Susie Coelho are among those who’ve previously spoken to reporters about this subject.
Meanwhile, people of all ages and sexes around the world — even if they don’t think they have a sugar problem — are invited to find a buddy and take the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge for the next two weeks.
The challenge kicks off Fri., Jan. 16, at noon Eastern, with a fast-paced, two-hour, sugar-consciousness-raising program on the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show (http://tinyurl.com/sugar-out-challenge-radio-show) featuring numerous health experts and authors of sugar books.

Experts, Authors & Sugar Kickers Support The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge

Quotes are starting to come in from supporters of The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, which takes place virtually around the world on both my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show on Jan. 16 at 12 p.m. Eastern and via tantalizing tweets on the new TwitAsYouQuit site (from 12 noon Eastern on Jan. 16 to 12 p.m. on Jan. 17).
Check back here to this Sugar Shock Blog and to my three-week-old Gab With The Gurus Blog to get updates about this first-of-a-kind event that I’m presenting with Dr. Scott Olson, a naturopathic doctor and author of Sugarettes.
Hyla_cass_big2 “Many so-called mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, addiction and even bipolar illness have a strong relationship to blood sugar imbalance, caused by eating–you guessed it, sugar! These often-serious conditions can be overcome by eliminating sugar, eating a healthy diet, and taking specific supplements, as needed. I have helped many of my patients and readers replace medication using this natural approach, with excellent results!….”
– Hyla Cass M.D., integrative psychiatrist and author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health and Natural Highs
“As a Certified Nutritional Microscopist (live & dried blood analysis, trained by Dr. Robert O. Young), I have seen the devastation caused by the fermentation of sugar in the body. You see, sugar will either burn as a fuel (because you have enough oxygen present) OR since our body has limits to how much oxygen we can intake… sugar that cannot have oxygen to be able to burn will ferment which increases ACIDITY considerably. ”
– Rick Panson, Certified Nutritional Microscopist, Raw Food Creator of Raw Jaw Foods & Water Filtration/ionization Consultant

Sign Up Now for the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge on Jan. 16

Are you like Oprah — tired of lugging around excess weight?
Do you feel that you have no control over your sugar or carb habit?
Are sugary foods your “drug of choice”?
Would you like to get more energy, focus better, rev up your libido, get along better with loved ones and get a hot, trim body?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you’ll want to join the First Annual Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge, which takes place Jan. 16.
Many of us experts are here to help you begin to lick your sugar habit.
We’re here to give you the support, compassion, information and education that you need and deserve.
My co-organizer Dr. Scott Olson and I invite you to take our challenge by submitting your comment here.
Spend time on Jan. 16 to look at your sugar issues, learn about the dangers of sugar overloading (which people around the world are doing) and cut it out totally on that one day.
Wondering what could happen if you kick sugar? Read these amazing success stories now.
So sign up here now.
Make sure to tell us about your sugar history, what a lot of sweets do to you and what you envision for the future if being sugar-free was a reality.
What are you waiting for? Join us now.
And spread the word. We want to get a huge viral campaign going.
After you sign up, mark your calendar.
Our festivities begin Jan. 16 at 12 p.m. Eastern on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show for the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge,.where we’ll be joined by some of the biggest health and sugar experts in the country. (You can listen live or later, at your convenience, to a podcast.)
For instance, we’ll be joined by Dr. Ann Louise Gittleman, author of Get the Sugar Out; Elizabeth Abbott, author of Sugar: A Bittersweet History; Dr. Eric Westman, director of Duke Lifestyle Medicine Clinic; (?), Dr. Hyla Cass, integrative psychiatrist and author of 8 Weeks to Vibrant Health and Natural Highs; MeMe Roth, founder and president of the National Action Against Obesity; Dr. Nancy Appleton, author of Lick the Sugar Habit; Dr. Woody Merrell, author of Unleash Your Natural Energy; Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of The Hamptons Diet; Amy Kalafa, co-founder of “Two Angry Moms,” which is dedicated to cleaning up the school food environment; Susan Linn (?), director of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood; Dr. Yvonne Sanders Butler, principal of Browns Mill Elementary School in Lithonia, Georgia; the first sugar-free school in the country; Roberta Ruggiero, founder of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation;; Dr. Larry McCleary, author of The Brain Trust Program; Dr. Roberta Lee, vice chair of the Department of Integrative Medicine at Beth Israel’s Center for Health and Healing in New York City; the “Nutrition Twins” Tammy Lakatos Shames and Elysse (“Lyssie”) Lakatos, authors of Fire Up Your Metabolism; and integrative medicine practitioner Steven J. Bock, M.D.
In addition, several happy, successful “Sugar Kickers” will participate, including popular low-carb blogger Jimmy Moore, who lost 180 pounds, mostly by cutting out sugar and refined or starchy carbs, and Amanda Lerner, who shed 25 pounds and got more energy, clearer skin, increased focus, creativity and a profound feeling of freedom. In addition, her cravings, depression, eczema, candida and fainting spells disappeared.
Then from 12 noon Friday to 11:59 Saturday, we’ll conduct a supportfest on Twitter. If you don’t have an account yet, just sign up at Twitter and then start following @TwitAsYouQuit.
Frustrated right now? Want support this minute? Get going now by becoming a member of my free online Kicksugar discussion group.
Remember, if you have sugar issues, this Sugar Shock Blog is your place to get news updates, information about upcoming programs and much more.
Sign up now for the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge.

The Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge: Ann Louise Gittleman, Nancy Appleton, Dr. Larry McCleary, Dr. Scott Olson & Other Experts Offer Inspiration & Information to Sugar Addicts Everywhere

Whenever a new year arrives, millions of Americans and people around the world put losing weight, improving health and getting in better shape as top resolutions.
A group of us health experts challenge you to confront and defeat your sugar habit as a vital, potentially life-changing step to help you peel off pounds and perhaps resolve numerous health issues.
Please join about a dozen of us — authors of books about sugar, doctors and nutritionists — on Jan. 16 at 12 noon Eastern on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show when we issue the Great Worldwide Sugar-Out Challenge.
On Jan. 16, a little over two weeks into the new year, we will invite you sugar addicts out there (you know who you are) and overweight or obese people, to either cut back or totally kick sugar and refined carbs to lose weight, as well as help your mind, moods and overall health.
We also want to draw attention to the fact that the average American consumes about 170 pounds of sugar per year or one cup a day. (By “sugar,” we mean all caloric sweeteners, including high fructose corn syrup, glucose syrup and dextrose and honey.) People in other countries take in too much sugar as well.
All of these excess sweeteners could lead to more than more than 100 health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s Nancy Appleton disease, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), failing memory, anxiey, mental confusion, sexual dysfunction and infertility.In addition, too much sugar can cut your life short and age you more quickly.
Among the experts who will join us for the special, hour-long Gab With the Gurus Radio Show is Dr. Nancy Appleton, Ph.D., author of Lick the Sugar Habit. Nancy — one of my inspirations — is an anti-sugar pioneer, who has been warning about the dangers of sugar since the 1970s. Perhaps you’ve seen her jaw-droppingly large list of 146 Reasons Why Sugar is Ruining Your Health, an amazing, continually expanding checklist that’s been been widely circulated.
We’ll also be joined by “First Lady of Nutrition” Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., the diet/detox expert, visionary and author of the really helpful, practical book, Get the Sugar Out: 501 Simple Ways to Cut the Sugar Out of Any Diet. (Ann Louise’s picture is at the top of this page.)

Memory Woes? Sharpen Your Mind, Stop ADD & Defeat Depression… Learn How & Ask Your Questions Tuesday

Are we all destined to lose our minds?
Why does there seem to be an epidemic of people with mood problems such as depression and irritability; attention and behavior problems such as ADD/ADHD and autism; and aging problems such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s?
Are we all going to lose our focus, concentration and memory? And will we all become depressed, anxious and tired much the time?
Of course NOT, according to a fascinating new book, The UltraMind Solution: The Simple Plan to Defeat Depression, Overcome Anxiety and Sharpen Your Mind, from three-time New York Times bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman, a pioneer in the cutting-edge field of functional medicine.
Dr. Mark Hyman brings you more good news, too.
You can use a simple 7-step solution right now to “unleash your body’s hidden ability to dramatically improve mood, memory and thinking speed,” according to “Oprah” regular Dr. Mehmet Oz, who endorsed this exciting new book.
I was so fascinated by what I read in The UltraMind Solution that I had to drop you a quick note about it.
In addition, I rushed to book Dr. Hyman on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show so you could learn about this amazing solution and even ask him questions.
Catch Dr. Hyman today (Tuesday, Jan. 6 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern).
He’ll even answer your questions about how to get an “UltraMind” for the last third of the show. Just reach him at the show call-in number: (347) 426-3366.
You’ll be really surprised at how simple, yet powerful the solution is to getting an “UltraMind.”