Stop Sugar Shock Support Group is Moving Because Ning is Charging – Need Your Ideas

Smart savvy people, we need your help!
We have to find a new free online home for our free Stop Sugar Shock support group and social network. Please give us your ideas.
Here’s the history in brief.
Since 2002, I’ve been offering free support to sugar addicts, hypoglycemics and diabetics.
Initially, we began at Yahoo in KickSugar, where for years, in a warm, inspiring climate, Assistant Moderators and I gave members encouragement, nurturing and motivating words. All the while, the group grew from a handful of members to over 2,000 members.
For my part, KickSugar was a huge focus of mine, and I spent hours to answer questions (often doing research to get answers), hired nutrition experts to answer questions, give guidance, etc. In addition, members gave each other vital support and kindness.
You’re invited to still join Yahoo in KickSugar, because you’ll get lots of helpful emails upon becoming a member. But discussions are no longer held there.
In 2007, after my first book Sugar Shock! came out and much of my time was devoted to giving radio and TV interviews, writing many articles, helping readers, developing programs and more, I turned KickSugar into an announcement site because I just didn’t have time to run it as an discussion group. It then spawned an offshoot group, StopSugarAddiction, with my blessing and help.
Soon after I turned KickSugar into a support group, it began to get plagued by non-related spam, which made running the group a real challenge.
Recently, I moved KickSugar to two places.
First, my friend and sugar-addiction expert/colleague James Hahn II renamed KickSugar to Stop Sugar Shock and moved the group over to Ning to get more functionality. (We’re still seeking people to help us run it.)
In addition, I formed the Smart Habits Fans on Facebook. Please join us there, where you can get daily Smart Habits Tips.
While we had been planning to stay put at Ning, on Tuesday, Ning announced that that all free services are being phased out.
I hope you can understand my resistance to paying again for a service to help people for free.
I always want to offer FREE services to those who cannot afford my private or group coaching or Break Free of Your Sugar Addiction in 6 Weeks Program. By the way, you can get lots of FREE STUFF over at my SugarShock.com website.
Although Ning offers low monthly prices, it’s the principle of the thing. I do not want to pay to give help for free.
So I need your help. Where can we move Stop Sugar Shock? What site has all kinds of functionalities so we can post videos and photos, have a conversational thread. Please check out Stop Sugar Shock over at Ning andSmart Habits Fans at Facebook.
Then please give us your ideas. Also, once we find a place, we’d like some volunteers to help us run it.
Please help me to continue to help people for free at a place that’s free.
Thank you very much for your assistance.

Food Journals, Mugs, Mouse Pads, Refrigerator Magnets & Tote Bags to Gently Remind You to be Sweet to Yourself

Did you know that you can visit my Sugar Shock store, you can purchase some Hot, Hip, Humorous SUGAR SHOCK!-themed products, which can gently serve as a reminder for you to eat healthy foods, steer clear of sugary junk and take good care of yourself?
For instance, you can get a nice-sized mug such as this one to your left. You could smile sweetly to yourself each time you drink herbal teas or water.
After all, you wouldn’t dare select a health-harming sugary beverage to drink out of your Sugar Shock mug, would you? Of course not! You know better, right?
You also might like to get a mouse pad to place near your so that you’re sweetly nudged to be good to you?
It’s always fun to have inspiring mouse pads, isn’t it? (Well that’s been my experience.)
Another product, which can motivate you regularly is a journal, in which you can both 1) jot down what you eat and drink and 2) write down your thoughts, feelings and desires every time you wish to turn to sweets and refined carbs.
Writing things down has huge power and effectiveness. In fact, did you know that research shows that when you keep a food diary, you can double your weight loss?
You can choose from 3 journals in my Stop Sugar Shock Shop. The one featured to your left is decorated with a fun “That Was Then, This Is Now” image featuring yours truly.

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.

Life Coaching: I’m Certified!

From time to time, on this Sugar Shock Blog, I share personal accomplishments.
Today, I’m very excited, because I just found out that I passed my oral exam from iPEC, where I trained to be a life coach. (It was a pretty rigorous program which I’m thrilled to have finally completed.)
So, I’m pleased to announce that as of today, I’m a Certified Professional Coach (CPC)! Yeah!
Now that I’m a CPC, I’m entitled to use the logo which you see on your left.

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.