The Most Important Blog Post I Ever Wrote

Dear Wonderful Visitors to this Sugar Shock Blog,
This is the most important post I’ve ever written.
As you no doubt know, obesity has skyrocketed among adults and youths alike; and children are on a track to die before their parents if they don’t change their unhealthy ways.
At the same time, coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease have become our nation’s top killers. You probably know — or love — someone who has suffered from one or all of these.
But all of the above diseases are largely preventable.
I call them The Preventable Big Killers. And ALL of these potentially fatal illnesses — and many more — can be caused by overdosing on sugar and/or refined carbs.
Think this doesn’t include you? That’s what I used to believe.
But the average American — and person in any civilized country is consuming (either consciously or unconsciously) HUGE amounts of sweets and quickie carbs on a DAILY if not many-times-a-day basis.
Each of you may be taking in roughly 170 to 228 pounds of sweeteners per year and another 200 pounds of sugar’s sinful sisters, which I dub “culprit carbs.”
And every day, it seems, the news gets more frightening.
One of my favorite recent studies revealed that sugar can make you dumb!
More research suggests that it can make you violent.
Your sweet tooth even can trigger type 2 diabetes, even though your doctor may vehemently deny it.
Simply put, millions worldwide are in Sugar Shock.
For the past decade, it has my personal mission to inspire and empower sugar
and carb addicts worldwide.
I want to help them (you?) Get a Life that Rocks™, as I like to put it. (I began coaching people to Sugar Freedom in 2002, four years after I reluctantly quit sugar on doctor’s orders after being waylaid by 44 debilitating ailments.)
So I invite you now: Help me to help transform the lives of millions of sugar and carb addicts around the world!

Sugar Shock Blog Has New Banner/Logo to Include Beyond Sugar Shock

I’m pleased to announce that the Sugar Shock Blog just got a new banner.
It now includes the cover for both my first book, Sugar Shock, and my upcoming book, Beyond Sugar Shock, which comes out in June from Hay House.
Both book covers convey that you can first discover the sour news about sugar (Sugar Shock) and then get a simple, empowering six-week program to Break Free (Beyond Sugar Shock).
By the way, I invite you to learn about the exciting recent endorsements received from such amazing peoople as Dr. Wayne Dyer, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Bernie Siegel, Bryan Tracy, Marci Shimoff, and John Assaraf.
In addition, my next book has been praised by such sugar gurus Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum (Beat Sugar Addiction Now), Dr. Richard Johnson (The Sugar Fix), Jeff O’Connell (of Sugar Nation fame.
Learn more here about other endorsements.
Stay tuned also for exciting news about Beyond Sugar Shock Book Launch activities.
Anyhow, what do you think of the new banner? Let us know.

Sugar Shock Blog Turns 5 Today! How Shall We Celebrate?

Today is the Sugar Shock Blog’s five-year anniversary! Wow!
I may have missed this birthday, but I had to look it up, because today, someone requested more information about me and what I do.
As long-time fans may know — and newer visitors can discover — this Sugar Shock Blog began dedicated to providing health and wellness information, with a focus on providing tips to quit sugar, updates about sugar research and ifnormation about artificial sweeteners, etc. Now its mission and goal has expanded greatly. Over time, we’ve enlarged our focus to help you live a happier, more fulfilling life.
My intention here is to give you content that:
Helps you improve your health and activate your wellness
Shows or tells you how to become personally empowered
Helps you lead a better life, or, as I like to say, Get a Life that Rocks™
Gives you info so you can master social networking and realize your dreams
Tells you about inspiring guests, who will appear or have entertained and educated you on my Gab with the Gurus Radio Show on BlogTalkRadio. These gurus — many of whom have written bestselling books, have a revolutionary product or are appearing in exciting movies or TV shows, etc. — can help you a lot! In fact, there’s nothing like hearing people’s voices to help you. (By the way, Gab with the Gurus turns 3 next week — actually it’s 4 years (because the show began as the Stop Sugar Shock Radio Show.) Stay tuned for an exciting week of shows, which, as usual, you can listen to live or later.
Educates you about cutting edge studies related to sugar, nutrition and more
Helps you improve your relationships
Lets you catch up with me and connect with me
Updates you about my free teleseminars and my Sugar Freedom Now program.
And so much more
For those of you who are new here, let tell you about myself. I’m:
A trained-journalist-turned blogger.
Author of the book, Sugar Shock (from Berkley Books, part of the Penguin Group).
Author of the upcoming book, The Sugar Shock Diet (from Hay House), which I just finished writing. (I’m taking it easy a little before we go into major editing mode shortly.)
A certified life coach (who studied at the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching or iPEC), and certified health coach (who trained at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition or IIN).
Host of the Gab with the Gurus Radio Show, which is how I bring to you many experts from a variety of fields, including health, wellness, personal empowerment, social networking, relationships, dating, fitness, forgiveness, celebrities, etc. Some of my guests have included Dr. Mehmet Oz, Montel Williams, Lisa Rinna, Suzanne Somers, Chris Brogan, Mari Smith, Marianne Williamson, Gretchen Rubin and many more.
People refer to me as a “Sugar Shrew No More,” a Sugar Freedom Coach or Freedom Coach, Sugar Liberator or Smart Habits Girl (which is my handle on Twitter).
So how do you think we should celebrate the Sugar Shock Blog’s five-year anniversary? Please share your ideas here.

Calling Sugar-Free Bloggers: Join Our Growing Community

Calling all Sugar-Free Bloggers!
I want to tell the world about your blog so we can spread the word together about the health benefits and Sweetness of Being Sugar-Free.
If you have a sugar-free blog, just share your URL here and provide a one-or-two-sentence description of your sugar-free and/or weight loss journey and goal for your blog.
If your blog is listed below, please give some information, too.
If you haven’t created a Sugar-Free Blog yet, I invite you to start one to publicly chronicle your sugar-shunning journey. Blogging can help you stay on the healthy path and create a life you love. Plus, you can help yourself and others at the same time.
So join the growing community of Sugar-Free Bloggers.
Here are a few Sugar-Free Bloggers I’ve found so far.
* Dana Kennedy: A Year Without Candy – www.yearwithoutcandy.com – Read my previous post about Dana’s exciting blog.
* David Vanadia: www.vanadia.com/stopbeingsweet
* Amy F.: http://myyearwithout.blogspot.com
* Maureen Flores: My Sugar Free Sweet Life – www.maureenflores.com
* Angie: http://gluten-dairy-sugarfree.com
* Amy Green: http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com
* Alex: http://spoonfulofsugarfree.com/about/
If you’re a blogger, who writes about being being sugar-free from time to time, you’re invited to join us, too. Here are some bloggers like this:
* Australian media personality and journalist Sarah Wilson: http://www.sarahwilson.com.au/category/i-quit-sugar/
* Susan Mernit: http://www.susanmernit.com/blog/2008/07/why-i-quit-sugar-and-how-this.html
* Amy Beth O’Brien: http://www.amybethobrien.com/home/i-quit-sugar/
If I’ve forgotten your blog, don’t fret. Just post a comment, I’ll add it to this master list.
I look forward to joining together to spread the word about the joy of sugar-free living.
By the way, have you seen the amazing story from Gary Taubes, Is Sugar Toxic?
Guidelines to be Included: Please note that blogs to be listed here advocate using healthy products only. We will not feature blogs that promote the use of artificial sweeteners, agave, honey, sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
Sugar-Free Bloggers, hope to hear from you soon!

Feel-Good Tunes: Suggest More!

Do you listen every day to certain musical favorites that make you feel powerful, centered and motivated?
Here are a few tunes that encourage and uplift me, which I’ve been listening to while writing my next book, Beyond Sugar Shock (for Hay House).
More specifically, I boogie to these tunes during rest-my-back-and-brain breaks. They either move me (emotionally) or make me want to move!
Join me and boogie your way to feeling good, weight loss and inner joy!
Here’s Enya enticing you to get out of your funk with “Age of Loneliness,” which you can listen to, courtesy of YouTube.
For you heartbroken or lonely single or divorced women feeling like you need a mood boost, first get inspired by the old tune, It’s Raining Men, with the Weather Girls, then Beyonce’s Single Ladies, then Rihannna’s feat (ft. Nicki Minaj)
Now, I dare you to dance non-stop to this Feel-Good Tune from Yanni, The Storm. You can buy a DC with that tune and many others here.
Now, here’s a melody to make you feel victorious, thanks to U2’s City of Blinding Lights.
Now, here are two of many, many suggestions offered by JJ Virgin in her book, Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy. Check out the amazing list of JJ’s favorite Workout Music on pages 175 to 180.
Have fun boogying to Mony, Mony from Billy Idol.
And now here’s the upbeat, fun-to-dance-to Livin’ on a Prayer from Bon Jovi.
Get dozens more Feel-Good or Comfort Tunes here. They’re complete with many YouTube videos and links to even buy some of the songs.
What tunes bring you out of your funk and transport you to a place of possibility? Please suggest some, but first check here to see if I’ve already included it.

New Man or Woman of the Day Spotlight: Donyale Reavis for Integrity

Today, I’m introducing a new feature on the Sugar Shock Blog — Man or Woman of the Day. Each day (excluding most weekends), I’ll feature a spectacular person, who stands out for some extraordinary quality.
I was inspired to begin this feature because of something so incredibly nice that a woman I didn’t know did for me today.
Earlier today, I was impressed and so awed by the integrity and kindness of a woman, Donyale Reavis, who I met while trying to buy a ticket to the 2010 BlogHer conference in New York City. (Tickets were not available at the door.)
Donyale reavis Donyale — an intellectual property attorney, charity founder and independent film producer with Coyopa Productions, who also runs Success Happens.org and Pure Imagination.org — quickly revealed that she was a spectacular human being.
When I met her this morning in front of the BlogHer registration area, Donyale offered to sell me her ticket to tomorrow’s BlogHer because she had to fly to Atlanta tonight and give a presentation tomorrow.
Later, I learned that someone else had offered Donyale more money for the ticket than the amount she and I had agreed upon.
But Donyale turned down the higher offer and followed through on her agreement with me. She wouldn’t even take more money from me when I offered!
Wow is about all I can say! I was so touched.
Anyhow, Donyale demonstrated such amazing integrity, she is Today’s Woman of the Day.
Thank you so very much, Donyale!

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.

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.

Jeff Garlin & Ellen DeGeneres Set Sugar-Shunning Trend – AOL Runs My Opinion Piece

You know the expression, “Love is in the air?”
Well, thanks to comedians Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Garlin, kicking sugar is in the air!
For instance, Jeff Garlin, Jeff Garlin, the star and co-producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm, recently talked about his sugar-stopping activities on Regis and Kelly while publicizing his new book, My Footprint: Carrying the Weight of the World.
Before that Ellen DeGeneres, who, of course, hosts The Ellen DeGeneres Show and is now also a judge on American Idol, announced to the world that she, too, is shunning sugar.
Please visit AOL now to read my opinion piece, in which I praise both comedians for the wonderful examples they’re setting for the rest of the nation and world.
As an advocate of leading happy, healthy, energy-filled, sugar-free lives, I applaud the two comedians for what they’re doing.
I invite you to read my my op ed piece now: Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Garlin Could Inspire Others to Kick the Sugar Habit – AOL News.