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Articles by
Connie Bennett on Women's Web.com:
Seven Simple Steps to a Sweeter You
Posted on
February 8, 2008
By Connie Bennett, CHHC
www.SugarShockBlog.com
Sugar Shock
A provocative exposé of the negative effects of sugars and
simple carbs-and how to break the addiction.
Most readers already know that succumbing to sweets too often
can lead to
obesity
and
diabetes.
What many don't know, however, is that too many "quickie carbs"
can bring on a host of other maladies-such as "brain fog,"
fatigue, mood swings, heart disease, and even cancer-from which
millions may be suffering because of their sugar or carbohydrate
habits. Once besieged by 44 seemingly unconnected symptoms,
former "sugar addict" Connie Bennett, an experienced journalist,
managed to kick sweets and simple carbs in 1998. She improved
her health-and uncovered extensive medical research that
substantiated her theory: people who eat too many low-caliber
culprit carbs could be in Sugar Shock. Based on the insights of
thousands of physicians, nutritionists, researchers, and "sugar
sufferers" worldwide, Sugar Shock™ not only addresses how
badly sugar affects the body, it demonstrates how everyone can
kick the sugar habit.
With the winter holidays here
and the New Year on the horizon, it's the ideal time to take
stock of where you are and where you'd like to go. In other
words, it's invaluable to take a probing look inward and make
some moves in the direction of your dreams. Ask yourself:
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Are you the kind of person you'd like to be?
-
Are you achieving your heart's desires?
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How can you be kinder, better, and sweeter?
-
What traits and skills do you need to develop or
cultivate to get to where you want to go?
Or let's put it another way:
it's time to do some internal 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 assessing and goal setting helps them to build
confidence, achieve inner joy, and love themselves.
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.
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 to 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 love to be around.
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.
Cultivate gratitude.
Lately, 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.
Get enough sleep.
Lack of sleep seems to be an American hobby,
if not an obsession, and I confess, I'm one of the worst
offenders. Many of us seem driven by all that we have to do,
whether it's answering emails, 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, foggy brained, and unproductive.
Even more frightening, sleep deprivation may increase your risk
for
heart attacks,
strokes,
colon cancer,
breast cancer,
heart disease and
diabetes.
Enjoy quality carbs and real
food.
One of the most effective ways to become a
healthy, energetic, kind, successful, loving person is to eat
superior, nutritive
carbs (vegetables, fruits, whole grains, 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 more than 150
ailments, including
obesity,
depression,
heart disease,
cancer,
type 2 diabetes, mood swings, infertility, low
libido, failing memory, and premature aging.
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.
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. (Guess I need to end this
article now to wade through some piles of papers!)
Don't these 7 Steps to a Sweeter
You sound pretty 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 take 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 life and a sweeter you.
About the Author:
Connie Bennett is a former sugar addict and author of
Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and
How YouCan Get Back on Track
(Berkley Books), with Stephen Sinatra, MD. Connie helps
thousands to break free of their debilitating sugar habit
through the 21-Day, Stop Sugar Shock! Countdown Diet™. Connie is
a certified holistic health counselor and an experienced
journalist, who has contributed to eDiets.com, The Los
Angeles Times, and many other media outlets. Take the fun,
provocative Sugar Shock! Quiz at
www.SugarShockBlog.com.
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