Connie Bennett

I'm a former sugar addict, "Ex-Sugar Shrew!" and junk food junkie, who's dedicated to helping you break free of unhealthy habits. I'm author of the book SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books), a certified health counselor, speaker and life coach. My upcoming book is The Better Habits Diet: Slim Down, Boost Energy, Rev Up Your Libido & Become Happier in Only 21 Days.

Connie Bennett, C.H.H.C.
Author, SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Publishing, Penguin Group)

Q & A: I, Connie, Interview Me, Myself & I

Q: Who the heck are you, Connie, and why should we listen to you and your information about health, wellness and lifestyle topics?

A: Well, first you have to know about the Connie back in 1998 (actually way before then). She was a pooped-out, fuzzy-headed, depression-plagued, sugar-obsessed chick with the life force of a slug trapped under a boulder. Suffice it to say that I'd hit rock bottom. I was regularly walloped by a whopping 44 symptoms, including scary heart palpitations, severe PMS and ferocious headaches. Then, on top of it all, I was hooked on dessert foods and simple, processed, fast-acting, "culprit carbs" like red licorice (my big weakness), hard candies in several flavors, and chocolate-covered peanuts. Basically, I was a junk food junkie. Sound familiar?

Q: You then found yet another doctor -- one of many you'd seen over the years. What did he say?

A: My new physician quickly diagnosed severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Next, he ordered me to quit all sweets and refined carbs in order to banish my many symptoms. He also told me to eat frequent, healthy meals. That "prescription" -- if you want to call it that -- didn't go over too well with me. But, hey, I had nothing to lose (other than feeling so incredibly awful), so I gave it a try.

Q: So you kicked sweets and processed carbs. That doesn't sound fun. Come on, Connie, just about everyone eats candies, cookies, and chips!

A: Well, let's put it this way, it wasn't easy, and most of my friends (if not all) thought I was silly. But I persevered nonetheless, and it was so worth it!! Incidentally, at the time, only ONE person gave me support -- Roberta Ruggiero, founder of the Hypoglycemia Support Foundation. But, ultimately, the experience was fun, educational, empowering and exhilarating, because I was excited by the promise of feeling better. Much to my delight, all of my perplexing maladies simply disappeared. Isn't that amazing? Kicking sweets and what I call "quickie carbs" (or "much-like-sugar carbs") completely changed my life! Soon, I regained my energy, enthusiasm, and elation. Not to sound trite, but I felt reborn!

Q: So your experience is what led you to begin your book Sugar Shock?

A: Yes, I became unquenchably curious and determined to get to the bottom of the sugar story. So that's when I plunged into what you could call "muckraking journalist mode." You see, I was so utterly amazed by my own remarkable transformation that I launched on an extensive, multi-year investigation into the connection between over-consumption of sweets and a myriad of ailments such as fatigue, depression, mood swings, hypoglycemia, and diabetes.

Q: What is Sugar Shock! about?

A: It's essentially an exposé about the dangers of sugars and refined carbs. And it also has a self-help component to help "sugar addicts" to break free of their habit. It also leaves you on a hopeful note.

Q: What is SUGAR SHOCK?

A: Click here to see how I define it.

Q: What is SUGAR SHOCK! Blog about?

Well, my intention is for it to be a lively, provocative and thoughtful site, where you can find rants, raves, insights, news tidbits and more related to health, wellness and fitness, with an emphasis on sugar and artificial sweeteners. You also can get news, commentary and inside info about
junk-food marketing to kids, the role of positive thinking, celebrity fitness trends (good and bad), recent research linking diet to diseases, tips and tactics to conquer your bad habits, links to fascinating articles, guest articles and more.

Q: Why are you using the word "sugars" instead of "sugar"? Aren't you making a mistake?

A: Actually, I'm not. Here's the thing: Most people tend to get confused by the word "sugar." Yes, the term, "sugar," often means sucrose, but it also signifies more than 100 other kinds of sweeteners. For example, high fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, dextrose, fruit juice concentrates, honey, barley malt, and evaporated cane juice are all sugars.

Q: What is your ultimate goal with your book, blog, coaching, articles and interviews about sugars and processed carbs?

A: My goal is to to provide much-needed support, nurturing, information, encouragement and motivation to millions of people around the world, who yearn to break free of their bad habits, including sugar addiction. It's my staunch belief that just kicking sugar and other bad habits (or at least cutting back drastically on them), you will totally improve your health and life. I want people to discover the joys of living in a more wholesome way, so that they can experience lots of energy, enthusiasm, exuberance, vitality, stamina and joie de vivre.

Q: Are you married? Do you have kids?

A: I don't know what this has to do with the subject of sugar or getting your fill now, but to answer your question, no, I'm not married, and I don't have kids.

Q: Why not?

A: [Chuckle.] Well, put it this way: For years, I was simply more enthralled with junk food, (mostly sweets), than with men! LOL! Then, since late 2001, when I began researching my book Sugar Shock!, much of the time, I was naughty, because I badly neglected my social life to complete my book and ignored interested guys. Now that my first book is out and I've re-prioritized, I'm now taking ample time for an active, fulfilling social life. So, sure, I'm open to changing my marital situation. Know anyone who's fun, funny, full of energy (like I am), and whose fridge isn't packed with sugary junk food? Oh, and if he knows what tofu, flax and millet are, that's a big plus! [Giggle!]

Q: Let's say I'm horribly hooked on sugars and processed carbs and I want help. What do I do now?

A: Please, please, if you feel you have a sugar or carb problem and are experiencing any strange, baffling symptoms, go to your physician; get into therapy or a support group; and visit this blog often. Also, visit my website, www.SugarShock.com, for lots of free stuff, including a quiz, shopping list and ezine full of tips and advice.

Q: Any final thoughts?

A: Yes. Kicking or cutting back on sweets and those culprit carbs is totally worth it! The benefits are tremendous! But don't take my word for it. Take the SUGAR SHOCK! Challenge, which I issue on page 71 of my book. Bet you'll learn, as I have, that you can "Enjoy a Sweeter Life Without Refined Sweets(TM).

Q: What's the Get Your Fill Now Blog about?

While coaching and connecting with thousands of sugar addicts or other dissatisfied people, I realized that the common problem is that they're seeking to fill themselves up in unhealthy ways. So I thought it would be fun to have a blog devoted to giving people some fun, speedy sustenance. At the Get Your Fill Now Blog, you'll get quick, quirky, nourishing, entertaining tidbits & tips for hungry, on-the-go seekers, influencers & wanna-be winners.

Do you need any bloggers for either the Sugar Shock Blog or the Get Your Fill Now Blog?

Yes, especially for the Get Your Fill Now Blog, we're now seeking edgy, entertaining, quick-witted bloggers, who specialize in a variety of fields. You have to be able to be brief and to the point, because all entries need to be less than 200 words. To apply, please write to me.