Category: Get Inspired

Tired? Wiped Out? It’s Staycation Time (A Vacation at Home)

Are you exhausted? Burnt out from your work, financial stress and all the things you have to do?
If you’re short on funds or if you’re just not in the mood to leave town but still want to relax and chill out, it may be time for a staycation — i.e., a vacation at home.
Lately, lots of publications are touting the merits of a staycation.Consumer Reports and SuperEco give you tips to have a great one. And today’s Daily News even has some ideas.
A staycation is on my mind, because, after taking lots of time off earlier this summer, I’m taking a staycation this weekend.
Actually, more to the point, I have lots of homework to do for my life coach training and I want to be done with all the requirements before I get my certification as a CPC (Certified Professional Coach).
This weekend, I’m bicycling in the parks, going to fun events, catching a movie or two, hosting a Labor Day Meetup to see Madama Butterfly at Lincoln Center and doing lots of homework to wrap up my life coaching certification requirements from my training at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC). (Great school. If you want to go there, tell them Connie recommended you.)
Want help to kick sugar, write or promote a book or find passion in your life? Grab me now at my pre-CPC rates. Learn more now about Coaching With Connie.

Sugar Addiction: Are You Committing Suicide by Sugar? Nancy Appleton Shares the Dirt on My Gab With the Gurus Radio Show: Listen Live or Later

Did you know that eating sugary foods and drinking sweet beverages can send you early to your grave?
Well, health expert and former sugaraholic Nancy Appleton — who’s been warning about sugar’s dangers since the 1970s — will appear on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show on Oct. 2j0 at 3 pm EST to dish you the dirt about America’s sweetheart, sugar.
Now, the friendly, enthusiastic, always-energetic Dr. Appleton has come out with a new book, Suicide by Sugar: A Startling Look at Our #1 National Addiction, which offers some startling information about this legal but dangerous, nearly ubiquitous, addictive white powder.
You’ll be shocked when you listen to this radio interview, which you can catch either live at 3 pm EST on Oct. 20 or later, here on this SUGAR SHOCK Blog, by clicking the player at the bottom of this post.
Some of you have asked me, “Connie, why do you promote other sugar experts and sugar books when you’ve got your own to publicize?”
Well, I strongly believe that all of us sugar authors and experts have something special and unique to offer. Together, we can give you the information and inspiration that you need to begin to remove sweets to live a happier, healthier life.
Besides, as my tormented, frustrated sugar-addicted clients often reveal, people yearn for lots of scary information and eye-opening facts from a variety of sources so they can get more motivated to conquer their overpowering addiction. For instance, when I kicked sugar back in 1998, Nancy’s book Lick the Sugar Habit was one of several that I read. I also appreciated having the books, Sugar Blues and Get the Sugar Out, to spur me to action. And now, part of what I’m doing is banding with other sugar addiction specialists to help serve you. For instance, I’m now working with fellow life coach James Hahn, II — also a former sugar addict. Together, we just launched our Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Social Network, which you’re invited to join.
NancyAppleton Back to Nancy. Of all sugar experts other than myself, she is hands-down my favorite. She has been my sweet, kind mentor for years.
I cannot rave enough about Nancy, my idol, who I had the pleasure of finally meeting in late April at a Food Addiction: The Obesity Epidemic Connection conference at IslandWood on Bainbridge Island. (You can watch a video here of me interviewing Jack LaLanne at the conference.).
Back to Nancy. For some four to five years, while I was researching and writing my book SUGAR SHOCK!, Nancy was incredibly kind, generous and helpful to me. She gave time to me and answered my many, many questions without hesitating and with no thought of herself. Her only goals were to get accurate information out to as many unsuspecting, sugar-addicts as possible.
When I was writing my book, Nancy has absolutely no way of knowing that SUGAR SHOCK! would sell well, and that years later I would finally be able to help her.
So I encourage now, go out and buy Nancy’s amazing new book, Suicide by Sugar: A Startling Look at Our #1 National Addiction.
To listen to the Gab With the Gurus Radio Show with Nancy either live on Oct. 20 at 3 pm EST — or later, at your convenience, just click on the player below or listen live at BlogTalkRadio.com.
For more news about upcoming radio guests, visit the Gab With the Gurus Blog.

New Yorkers: Join My Happy, Healthy Dreamers & Doers in the City Meetup

If you live near New York, you’re invited to join my Happy, Healthy Dreamers & Doers in the City meetup group.
Join us tomorrow night, Wednesday, and Monday night, when we will attend the free Met HD Festival
On Wednesday, we will watch and listen to the Barber of Seville and on Monday, we’ll catch Madame Butterfly.
In addition, on Monday, a group of us will bicycle in Central Park.
Click here to check out
The Happy, Healthy Dreamers & Doers in the City!
This group is an offshoot of my earlier group, Happy, Healthy Diners, Dreamers & Doers in the City, which was shut down by mistake.
As mentioned earlier, the previous meetup was shut down by mistake. I would like to especially thank Meetup for being generous and helpful after the first group was inadvertently closed. In particular, I’d like to express my gratitude to community manager Antonio Ortiz for his assistance in starting the new group.
This is a week of exciting new programs.
* Learn about my new Break Free Group Coaching here, which is reasonably priced to help you — plus you can bring a friend of free.
* Join the new, free Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Social Network.

New Yorkers in Sugar Shock: Hear Me Speak Sept. 10 at the New York Open Center Open House

New Yorkers, would you like to get more energy, lose weight, improve your relationships and boost your libido?
Well, learn how you can do that on Thursday, Sept. 10 when I speak at the New York Open Center’s Open House. I am one of 9 speakers featured that evening.
On Sept. 10, you’ll get some ideas on how to begin to break free of your sugar habit.
Then, in the new year (2010), I’m teaching a four-course week at the New York Open Center, beginning January 12.
If you sign up for the class as a result of reading about this on this blog, please let me know here, and I’ll give you a special gift.
Plan now to attend the New York Open Center’s open house on Sept. 10.

Join Our New Stop SUGAR SHOCK! Social Network (KickSugar is Moving)

You’re invited to join the new, robust, interactive Stop SUGAR SHOCK! community over at Ning.com
At your new Stop SUGAR SHOCK! community, you will have a chance:
* To share recipes
* To encourage each other
* To meet and befriend each other. (You’ll even get to post photos and create profiles.)
* To follow whichever topics most appeal to you
* To start your own discussions
* To ask questions
* To share what you’ve done successfully when sugar cravings strike
* To talk about why and when you turn to sugar
* To discuss when you turn to sugar.
* To tell your sugar-free success story — or read inspiring tales from other people.
* To learn about the dangers of sugar.
* To start your own discussion topics.
* To learn what to eat to live a vibrant, healthy life
* To share tips and tactics with each other
* To learn about hypoglycemia and type 2 diabetes
* To watch cool vidoes
* And much more
This Stop SUGAR SHOCK! group had its origins in November 2002, when I first founded KickSugar over at Yahoo. Now, the group is being moved over to Ning, which gives you more opportunity to interact with each other.
This new Stop SUGAR SHOCK! social networking community is being co-founded by myself with James Hahn, II, a fellow ex-sugar addict and life coach.
Hurry up and join us now at Stop SUGAR SHOCK! and start sharing your thoughts, ideas, etc.
Tell your friends, too about this cool new community.
Help us build a strong, vibrant community.

Happiness: How to Have it Through All the Seasons — Tips from Marci Shimoff

Marci Shimoff is a master in being happy. The teacher in The Secret is helping millions around the world to achieve that often-elusive state of joy.
Marci, who is author of Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, has all kinds of jewels to share with you, many of which she shared a few months back when she was on my ab With the Gurus Radio Show..
In fact, I e you to listen to Marci on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show.
Anyhow, recently Marci emailed her list with thoughts about summer being her favorite time of year and how hiking up a mountain gave her “that special flavor of happiness” she experiences in these warm months.
But, she points out though that “lasting happiness isn’t dependent on balmy weather.” “In fact,” she writes, “research shows people living in warm, summery spots are not necessarily happier than those living in colder climates. According to one study, the four happiest places on earth are Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and Iceland—not exactly tropical paradises.
“The implications of that are pretty amazing: positive emotions open us up!,” Marci writes.
So, how much positivity do we need?” she asks.
“…The secret,” Marci maintains,” lies in internalizing the well-being and freedom you feel during summer (or whatever your favorite season is) and bringing it to everything you do.”
Marci Shimoff then offers three ways “you can use the happiness perks of summer to create an ‘invincible summer’ within yourself year-round:

Sneaker Saturday: Join Us & Spread the Word on Twitter, Facebook & Beyond in this Fun, Worldwide Exercise Event

Do you work out regularly or are you one of those who neglects to move your wonderful body even though you know that it’s good for you?
Well, the weekend is almost here, and a group of us are starting a fan new exercise event, which you can do wherever you live.
It’s almost time for the first ever Sneaker Saturday!
What’s that, you’re probably wondering.
Sneaker Saturday — which I encourage you to promote on your blogs, on Twitter and Facebook using this #SneakerSaturday — is about whatever you want it to be.
It’s your choice as to how you celebrate Sneaker Saturday. The only recommendation is that you slip on a pair of your favorite sneakers and get out and exercise. Your body needs physical activity, and if you’ve been a couch potato all week, it will will be grateful to get out and about!
So what do you plan to do on Sneaker Saturday? Share what you’ll do. That’s what this is about — for us to inspire, excite and encourage each other to get out there.
For me, Sneaker Saturday will mean hopping on my bike (wearing my New Balance Sneakers — love those shoes!) — and riding down to the Statue of Liberty, weather permitting.
On Sneaker Saturday, I’ll also probably pop by the gym to do some weights and working out on the elliptical machine. I’m excited, because I’ve been sick for over a week and finally have my energy back.
How did Sneaker Saturday come about?
Well, earlier this week, after attending day one of this amazing 140 Characters Conference, the idea hit me while having dinner with a bunch of amazing people, including Renowned blogger and social media expert Robert Scoble, #140conf organizer Jeff Purcell, “Adventure Girl” Stephanie Michaels, PR whiz Candice Best, comedian Heather Gold, Ari Rabban of Phone.com and other hip tweeters.
That night (Saturday), I rushed home to reserve the domain, www.SneakerSaturday.com and www.SneakerSaturdays.com (site to come), and by Sunday, I became even more excited.
So will you join me in spreading the word and in helping to evolve this fun fitness event, which you can do anywhere around the world?
Just share what you’re planning for Sneaker Saturday. Or talk about what it means to you.
Please help me to make this a fun, worldwide 52-week phenomenon.

Napoleon Hill Will Inspire You!

This is so cool! Thanks to YouTube, you can hear words of wisdom from master motivator Napoleon Hill, some of whose quotes […]