Obesity & Sex: New Study Finds Surprising Results

People who are obese are less likely to have been sexually active in the past year, but even though they had fewer intimate encounters, single obese women reported unplanned pregnancies four times more than thinner, unmarried women, according to a new study in the British Medical Journal.
In addition, obese people were more likely than people of average weight to have sexually transmitted diseases and unplanned pregnancies, the researchers from France found upon surveying more than 12,000 men and women between age 18 and 69.
While weight didn’t appear to affect women’s ability to climax, erectile dysfunction was two and a half times as common in obese men as in men with healthy BMIs.
As iVillage so aptly points out, this research underscores “how important it is to always put your health first.”
From my perspective as a former sugar addict and author of the book Sugar Shock!, it seems that people who are obese or overweight often feel are more interested in sweets, refined carbs and other junk foods than in getting in the sack with a partner.
But from time to time, though, they realize that those nutrient-deprived foods they’re so reliant on don’t give them what they really want — which is to become emotionally and physically intimate with a significant other.
For those of you who are struggling with weight, I invite you to ask yourself: Do you want to seek “comfort” in food or in the arms of loved ones?
FYI, I realize that it can be tough to break free of your addiction to sugar and refined carbs, which is why I’m dedicated to helping people do just that.

How Bad Does it Have to Get Before You Kick Your Sugar Addiction?

This morning, I received a poignant email, from a woman who — like most of us sugar addicts — has found it hard to let go of sweets.
The sad lady — who I’ll call “K” — labeled her email, ”Connie, You Told Me So!”
Here’s what she writes:
“About a year ago, I purchased your book, Sugar Shock over the internet. Sugar has been a big problem for my entire life. Now, my doctor is angry, because this addiction has progressed, to the beginning of diabetes. Going blind, having my kidneys stop working, dialysis, and having limbs cut off is an ugly scenario. Please, give me some hope to be an overcomer in this. Thanks.”
K, I’m so sorry for your plight. But I congratulate you for finally reaching out and being ready to look at your sugar addiction.
By the way, please take heart. Perhaps that’s what you needed — to plunge to the depths of despair and fear before you took action.
FYI, this has happened with many of my clients. Things had to get really bad before they/we were finally ready to make some positive changes. A similiar thing happened with me. As I revealed in Chapter 1 of Sugar Shock, I was suffering from a whopping 44 ailments before I finally took a doctor’s advice. Pretty sad, eh? But now, because I overcame my sugar addiction, I get to help people like you through programs like Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks. Pretty cool, eh?
K, you’re probably a lot stronger than you realize. You can do this! I’m writing to you privately to see how I can help you.
Special thanks to Vin MIller of NaturalBias.com for the above photo.

Why Bother to Kick Sugar? Listen to Successful Sugar Kickers Now

Will I get along better with my loved ones?
Back in 1998, I remember well being very hesitant to quit, too. I didn’t want to!
Now, my coaching clients and members of my Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks Program always quiz me to find out if the benefits are big enough to warrant stopping eating all those tasty sweet foods.
Do don’t take my word for it. Just listen to what Successful Sugar Kickers said about kicking sugar.
Please note that these people’s comments were unrehearsed.
I did not prod them into making certain answers.
But you’ll be surprised, I predict, at how excited and wildly enthusiastic they were to now live a sugar-free lifestyle.
You’ll be shocked, I imagine, at how they felt that they had been reborn and how life post-sugar became much happier and healthier for them.
Listen now as my gift to several people tell their stories. (You get to hear my tale, too.)
Listen now by clicking this link.
And, if you, too, become a success story, make sure to contact me, because I want to tell your story, too, to inspire others.
Get inspired and motivated now. Just listen here.
If you’d like help to release your sugar habit, I invite you to Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks. You’re welcome to join my program now. Programs are held live several times throughout the year, but you can join at any time and listen to the audio replays.

7 Simple Steps to a Sweeter You & Sweeter Life (Article)

Friends and followers, here’s an article I wrote that I hope will help you. This piece is designed to inspire all of you — including, of course, sugar addicts (for whom I offer my Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks Program) — and those who are immune (or relatively unfazed) by sugary temtpations.
7 Simple Steps to a Sweeter You & Sweeter Life By Connie Bennett, CHHC, CPC
With spring here and summer on the horizon, this is an ideal time to take stock of where you are and where you’d like to go. In other words, it can be invaluable to take a probing look inward and make some moves in the direction of your dreams. Ask yourself:
* Are you the kind of person you’d like to be?
* Are you achieving your heart’s desires?
* How can you be kinder, better and sweeter?
* What traits and skills can you develop or cultivate to get to where you want to go and to be the person you know you can be?
* And how can you have a sweeter life?
Let’s also put it another way: It’s time for some internal spring housecleaning. Since we’re human, each of us can always find something about ourselves to improve.
My clients have found that doing this kind of taking stock, assessing and goal setting helps them to build confidence, achieve inner joy, fall in love with themselves and be endearing to others.
Here are 7 areas to explore that can lead you to personal growth and transformation so you become a person you like, admire and respect — and, of course, a person others find sweet.
1) Take delight. Do you view the glass as half full rather than half empty? Do you feel joy, delight and glee when you view a sunset, when you see trees, when your child looks at you with adoring eyes, when you first bite into an organic apple, when you walk down the street, or when you’re immersed in a project? Make yourself look at the bright side of things. No one wants to be around a killjoy so concentrate on fostering that part of you that’s childish, innocent, sweet and fun. Become the kind of person people (and you would) love to be around.
2) Listen with zeal. Do you pay close attention to other people when they speak? Do you care about their worries, goals and fears? Or are too wrapped up in yourself? There’s nothing more annoying than someone who cuts you off in the middle of saying something. Challenge yourself to really focus on what people are saying. That way others will want to share with you more. Besides, you’ll like yourself better, too.
3) Cultivate gratitude. Lately, thankfully, giving thanks has been given good play—and not just around Thanksgiving. Being appreciative is something we should do on a daily basis. Have you thanked God or the universe lately for your loved ones, your home, your job, your friends, your innate skills and talents, your material possessions, etc.? If not, begin a gratitude journal or take stock on your computer every morning and/or evening.
4) Get enough zzz’s. Lack of sleep seems to be an American hobby, if not an obsession, and I confess, I’m one of the worst offenders. (I’m working on it!) Many of us seem driven by all that we have to do, whether it’s answering e-mails, cleaning the house or catching up with a friend. But recent research suggests that sleep-deprived people may be more likely to be overweight. Not getting enough rest also may make you grumpy, brain foggy and unproductive. Even more frightening, sleep deprivation may increase your risk for heart attacks, strokes, colon cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
5) Enjoy food that lives. One of the most effective ways to become a healthy, energetic, kind, successful, loving person is to eat superior, nutritive carbs — the kind that grows out of the ground or from trees (vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds) and turn your back on those health-harming culprit carbs. Are you a sugar junkie or a carb craver? Do you grab chocolate, soda or donuts just to get through the day? As my book SUGAR SHOCK!, explains, overeating sugary foods and refined, much-like-sugar carbs (processed breads, pasta, crackers, white rice, etc.) could send you into sugar shock and lead to some 150 ailments, including obesity, depression, heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, mood swings, infertility, low libido, failing memory and premature aging.
6) Get moving. As we all know by now, physical activity can work wonders. If you’re feeling like a zombie—that is sluggish, listless and unmotivated, there’s nothing like getting off your derriere and dancing or just plain walking to energize you. It’s well documented, as the Mayo Clinic points out, that exercise improves your mood, combats chronic diseases and can even put the spark back in your sex life. So put on your sneakers now. (In fact, I’m off for a fun bike ride myself now.)
7) Break free of clutter. The road to self improvement doesn’t always have to be complicated. In fact, just getting rid of your “stuff” can give you a tremendous breakthrough experience. Cutting out clutter is one of those simple, but uplifting projects that can quickly bring you to a better place. It is exhilarating and exciting to discard excess documents, old clothes and undesirable doodads. (Earlier today, I got rid of some excess stuff. Feels darn good, you’ll find.)
Don’t these 7 Steps to a Sweeter & Sweeter Life sound easy? Don’t waste any time—pat yourself on the back because you’ve considered taking such important action. Now, start moving those goal-setting muscles and select one step to concentrate on each day of the week. I’m willing to bet that within three weeks, you’ll already become more happy, content and self-fulfilled. So get going—start building the foundation for a sweeter you and a sweeter life.
Connie Bennett, MSJ, CHHC, CPC is a former sugar addict and author of SUGAR SHOCK! (Penguin Group), which has been praised by Dr. Mehmet Oz, who says it “spills the beans” and bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman (UltraMetabolism), who said it “could save your life.” Connie is a certified holistic health counselor, a certified life coach, sugar-liberation expert, speaker, frequent TV and radio show guest (“CBS News Sunday Morning,” “Oprah & Friends Radio,” etc.). She maintains her Sugar shock Blog, hosts the weekly Gab with the Gurus Radio Show and holds Sugar-Liberation Secrets seminars and teleseminars such as Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks. Connie also is an experienced journalist and columnist, who has been published widely in print and on the Web. To learn how to release your sugar habit, find out about Connie’s Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks Program. Copyright © 2010, Connie Bennett, Stop SUGAR SHOCK!, www.SugarShockBlog.com
You may republish this article if you provide the above paragraph. Please let me know if you run this.

Sugar & Its Dangers Hit the News, Thanks to Dr. Robert Lustig’s YouTube Video & Nightline

Sugar and its dangers are in the news again, thanks to ABC’s popular show, Nightline, which, last night, aired a compelling story spotlighting sugar’s role in the obesity crisis.
In his “Sugar Wars” piece, correspondent John Donovan offers a fascinating look at the views of esteemed pediatric endocrinologist Dr. Robert Lustig, whose YouTube video, “Sugar: The Bitter Truth,” has garnered more than a quarter of a million hits to date.
In this Nightline segment — which you can watch below — Donovan calls Dr. Lustig “a man at war with sugar,” because he argues that too much fructose and not enough fiber are to blame for our obesity crisis.
“Fructose is the cause of the current epidemic,” says Dr. Lustig, director of UCSF’s Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) Clinic and UCSF Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology.
Nightline correspondent Donovan also includes quotes from the the pediatric endocrinologist about leptin’s role in obesity; fructose’s role in metabolic syndrome; and the fact that low-fat foods such as SnackWells cookies and fruit-flavored yogurt are filled with sugar.
In the Nightline piece, Donovan made an effort to make his piece unbiased by allowing Dr. Lustig’s ideas to be criticized by three pro-sugar advocates — one from the American Beverage Association (formerly called the National Soft Drink Association) and two from the Corn Refiners Association, including a cardiologist, who has done studies funded by PepsiCo, the manufacturer of sugar-filled soft drinks.
Understandably, correspondent John Donovan seems to be like millions of Americans, who have a sweet tooth. In fact, the reporter readily admits that strolling with Dr. Lustig at San Francisco’s Pier 30 (a hot spot filled with sugary foods) can be “at times, well, a bit of of a downer. Because we love sugar, don’t we, most of us?”
Donovan is absolutely correct in his assessment. Most Americans — and people around the world — are so keen on sugar that they imbibe it to their detriment. Unfortunately, the Nightline reporter did not mention that obesity is only part of the sugar story.
The average American’s sugar consumption — about 170 pounds per year per person — also has been linked with heart disease, cancer, severe PMS, memory loss, depression, fatigue, headaches, infertility, low libido, polycystic ovary syndrome and many other ailments.
In addition, regretfully, the Nightline piece did not point out that Dr. Lustig is in very good company. His views are shared by many of us concerned health advocates. For instance, esteemed pediatric endocrinologist Dr. David Ludwig — who was previously interviewed along with me for a “CBS News Sunday Morning” segment, “Is America Too Sweet on Sugar” — is among those frightened by the massive consumption of sugar, particularly high fructose corn syrup, in this country and around the world.
Others sounding the sugar alarm include:
* Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard;
* Dr. Nancy Appleton, author of Suicide by Sugar: A Startling Look at Our #1 National Addiction;
* Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, who appears on my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show on March 31 to discuss his new book, Beat Sugar Addiction Now! ;
* Dr. Richard Johnson, author of The Sugar Fix: The High-Fructose Fallout That is Making You Fat and Sick.); and
* Myself, author of SUGAR SHOCK! How Sweet and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life–And How You Can Get Back on Track.
Now, I invite you to watch the eye-opening Nightline segment below.

Share Your Stop Sugar Shock Success Story

Have you lost weight or overcome another health problem by completely kicking or cutting back on sugar, refined carbs and other high-glycemic foods?
Kicking those “culprit carbs” (what I call them) is one of the most effective ways to lose weight and overcome a variety of health challenges, as thousands of people — whom I call “Sugar Kickers” — have been telling me for years.
If you’re a Kick-Sugar Success Story — whether you lost weight, got more energy, improved your moods or got your diabetes under control — I want to tell your tale here!
By sharing your story, you’ll be able to inspire, motivate, and encourage others.
Read some motivational Kick-Sugar Success Stories we’ve told so far:
* Fellow blogger Jimmy Moore, who I interviewed yesterday on my Gab With the Gurus Radio Show.
* Jaime Jackson
* Felicia DesRosiers
* Karly Pitman

Eat All the Pancakes You Want & Leave Happy, Ad Says. Huh? Wrong!

Frankly, I don’t get it. Here we are in the midst of a horrific nationwide obesity epidemic, and a certain national chain is now enticing people and tempting them via a TV ad to eat can eat all the pancakes they want and leave happy!
You’ve got to be kidding!
Eating as many pancakes as your heart desires will not make you happy!
Isn’t it more accurate to say: “Eat all the pancakes you want, especially ones smothered in butter and syrup, and leave bloated, feeling gross and angry at yourself for pigging out!”
After you eat a pile of pancakes, you’ll probably say, “Ugh! I can’t believe I ate all those pancakes! I’m so unhappy!”

Conquer Your Sugar Addiction With Me, Starting Jan. 5, at the New York Open Center

Since the new year is coming soon, if you live near New York City, I invite you to plan now to break free of your sugar habit so that you may be able to:
* Lose weight
* Finally make peace with sugar and refined carbs
* Feel free
* Get more energy on a consistent basis
* Become more productive
* Walk your talk by consuming only healthy foods and drinks
* Tap into your spirtuality
* Be unfazed when desserts and sweet snacks abound
* Feel exhilarated and excited about your many projects
* Relish moving your body in a way you’ve never done
* Enjoy more enriching, satisfying relationships
* Boost your libido
* Learn to meditate away your sugar desires
* And much more
New York Open Center – 04 – Meditation Reserve your space now for Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 6 pm when you can get inspired and educated during my free introductory class at the New York Open Center.
Now, sign up for the four-week course at the New York Open Center from Jan. 12 to Feb. 2.
Let me know if you’ve signed up for this program, because I have special gifts for people who’ve enrolled to help you get through the holiday season.

Cookies Abounded at a Conference, But I Passed Them Up. What Could You Do to Resist?

Today, I was at an authors’ conference all day long, and junk food abounded. In fact, as the day
progressed, the sugary snacks came out more often!
It never fails to amaze me how events that are supposed to help authors or entrepreneurs serve such
incredibly low-caliber snacks that actually diminish your brain capacity. (And we were supposed
to think bigtime about our books, our audiences and even our blog readers — that means you!)
So how did I resist all those cookies that conspired to land in my stomach?
First of all, these days, resisting sweets is a really simple, happy habit that I now have. I’m so used to a healthy lifestyle that having sweets just isn’t even an option. And, much to many people’s amazement, it does not bother me that I have to turn the stuff down.