I’m really thrilled to have Sally as my guest this week. She is a tireless supporter of us Indie authors with lots of exposure (of the polite kind). She’s set up an online book store where she features authors and their books so it’s the very least I can do to return the favour. Do look out for her blogs, Smorgasbord – Variety is the Spice of Life they are always fun to read. How Sally finds the time to write books with all the time she spends helping other writers I’ve not the faintest idea, and moving from Spain to Ireland – I hope I’ve got that right Sally?
But that’s quite enough from me over to Sally, and we are all about to learn something very, very important.
What’s in Name?
Sally Cronin has always been fascinated by names and their origins. Having met a number of people over the years who had been named after historical or famous people, she thought it would be interesting to write stories about men and women who then have to live up to the previous owners reputation. The twenty stories are about life, love, celebration and the overcoming of challenges by extraordinary people.
In the first volume of What’s in a Name, we discover how Brian carries on the family high flying tradition with its origins in the caves of ancient man. How David fought gallantly in the First World War against the might of the enemy, and now stands with his comrades each year to pay tribute to those who did not return. Or how Grace finally achieved her dreams that filled her days in the orphanage. All of the men and women in the stories bring a new dimension to their names that they can be proud of or be remembered for.
In a day and age where those in the spotlight name their children after football teams, capital cities or simply a colour, it will be interesting to see if the classical names of the past will survive.
Reviews and buy Link for What’s in a Name
Publisher’s website at reduced price of £1.95: http://www.moyhill.com/wian/index.html
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N6Y8BK1
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01N6Y8BK1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7979187.Sally_Cronin
All books available: https://www.amazon.com/Sally-Cronin/e/B0096REZM2
Blog: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com
Sally’s other passion is healthy eating.
Size Matters: Especially when you weigh 150 kilos by Sally Cronin
Thirty years ago obesity was a rarity amongst children, and adults, and the related health problems were restricted to a small proportion of the population. Today, it is an epidemic and as we expand our waistbands we are forced into increasing our financial investment in health care for the resulting medical problems that can be life threatening.
There are a number of factors involved in obesity and not all of them are related to the amount of food that we consume. But it is directly related to the type of food we eat.
Our current obesity crisis has been fuelled by the ‘expert’ governmental advice that demonised fats in favour of a high carbohydrate diet thirty years ago. Whilst moderate wholegrain carbohydrate consumption has nutritional benefits for the body, the wholesale reduction in our diet of healthy fats has had a devastating impact on our health.
Healthy fats have an essential role in the health of our major organs including our brain and heart, and play a part in maintaining a healthy cholesterol balance. Cholesterol is another naturally occurring substance in our bodies that has been treated with a shotgun approach to reduce its levels. Cholesterol is needed in many chemical reactions within the body including the production of hormones. Which makes it even more ironic, that pills are being prescribed to reduce cholesterol in men and women, at precisely the same time their hormones are already on the decline.
If you have a population with a diet that is predominantly carbohydrate, especially when it is refined white and often sugar laden such as white rice, packaged white bread, cakes, biscuits, pies and desserts, there is an immediate rise in the number of people who have diabetes. When blood sugar levels are high, any excess sugar is turned to fat, usually around the belly area
This white diet begins in the womb with the mother’s consumption of white carbohydrates and continues in sweetened formula and canned baby food. Once a child is eating solids and is given industrialised foods, chemically concocted from white flour, sugary cereals with artificial sweeteners, refined sugars and Tran’s fats, the reason for the steep rise in childhood obesity is identified.
After studying nutrition and the human body twenty years ago, I stopped eating all industrially produced foods and cooked from scratch. I ate a handful of wholegrain carbohydrates and eliminated sugar except for honey. I lost 70 kilos in 18 months and my key indicators such as Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Cholesterol all returned to normal levels.
Size Matters was based on my journal that I kept for those 18 months and also the programme that I designed to help me lose the weight. I went on to share that programme with over 2000 clients over the last 18 years, and have seen the results in others, as they lost the substantial amounts of weight.
The reality is that you can have some of the foods we all enjoy such as ice-cream, chocolate and Danish pastries. But it cannot be every day and for every meal. They have gone from being weekly treats to daily staples and that is one of the key elements in the rise in obesity levels.
The other element is that our activity levels have dropped from childhood to middle-age. We used to walk to school, play for a couple of hours each day in the street or garden, play games at school three times a week and spend hours out in the sunshine and fresh air. The amount of PE offered in school continues to fall and is now under two hours per week. Children are also easier to protect when they are behind a computer or in front of a television.
Families were lucky to have one car in the family, now there are usually two. Instead of walking to the shops every day for fresh produce we go in the car once or twice a week. Or we order online and bulk out the order with extras to reach the £50 needed for a free delivery. We take advantage of the buy two get one free and we abide by the use by dates throwing away food, buying more and eating it all before it goes off.
We are eating more food each day than ever before without any thought of how many calories we need daily or how much we are consuming. Little realising that one Danish pastry would require a six mile walk to work off.
Food is wonderful and I certainly do not deprive myself but something always pulls me back from too much indulgence. The memory of how I felt when I weighed 150 kilos could not climb stairs, take a bath, go on an airplane or was told that I would be dead by the age of 45 from a combination of lifestyle related diseases.
We are the ones who decide what we put in our mouths and we should not hand that responsibility over to the marketing department of a food company whose only interest is getting you to consume more food.
Size Matters and Sally Cronin’s other books are available through Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sally-Cronin/e/B0096REZM2/
Further reviews: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7979187.Sally_Cronin
Blog: Blog: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com
It’s great to see Sally here. She’s fantastic! 🙂
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Thank you Olga… hugs xx
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Yes she is 🙂
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[…] Source: MEET SALLY CRONIN | lucinda E Clarke […]
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Sally is a GREAT supporter of Authors AND Bloggers (and likes to help us all keep healthy as well) 😀
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Thank you for the re-blog 🙂 I’d like everyone to meet Sally besides the thousands who already have 🙂
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Same here, Lucinda 😃
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Thank you Chris.
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Welcome, Lucinda 👍😃
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Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
I am delighted to be a guest on Lucinda E. Clarke’s blog today and I hope that you will head over and take a look. Apart from my post which of course is special…. you will find lots to interest and entertain you on Lucinda’s blog and do check out her books set in Africa too.
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Thank you Chris… hugs as always.
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Ah thank you Sally 🙂
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Thank you so much Lucinda.. I am very grateful for the post and thank you so much for the wonderful introduction. Tickled pink….
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Sally you deserve every little bit and thank you for allowing me to host you 🙂 You are so tireless in what you do for others.
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Thank you Lucinda. Sally is an amazing lady who does so much for Indie authors, I know, I’m one.
Sally if you ever want to be PM you have my vote.xxx Gigantic Hugs xxx
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The lot we have in now … well I need say no more!
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Thanks David.. I must admit to wanting to get my hands on the NHS… but sadly I doubt that will happen.. Still never say never.. thank you for the vote of confidence.. hugs xxx
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Wonderful to see Sally here, Lucinda.
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Thank you for calling by Robbie..hugs x
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So happy she agreed!
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Fabulous to have her as a guest.
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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What an interesting interview. Well worth reading.
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Thank you very much for commenting. best wishes Sally
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Sally is amazing not sure where she get all her energy from. – yes, healthy eating!
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Great info from Sally–size matters is so true but even though am retired I cannot imagine making all my food from scratch–I feel like I would spend all my time in the kitchen and I don’t really like much!!
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Thanks very much Susan.. In fact I only cook three times a week.. I do my vegetables in bulk and we often eat our protein two days in a row. I am not keen on spending the precious time I have left slaving over a hot stove.. but thankfully made easier with good quality frozen vegetables. It is about finding a balance that works for you. Glad you found interesting.
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I’m a very, very basic cook 😦
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Sally, your journey is fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing this. I can only imagine the number of people you’ve inspired over the years, and continue to do so. Amazing. ❤️
Lucinda, I found my way here via Chris. Your website is lovely, and I’m delighted to follow your blog as well. Many thanks. 🙂
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Ah thank you Natalie and I’m honoured to have Sally as a guest, she’s supported me so many times in the past.
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Thank you Natalie and glad you found your way here.. lots to interest and inform as well as entertain. hugs xx
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[…] Source: MEET SALLY CRONIN […]
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Sally is a delightful Blogger and person. Very generous using her blog as a platform to share helth, food and help authors.
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She really is the best 🙂
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Thank you Catalina and for the kind words… it has been an amazing four years and have met such wonderful people.. love having people over.. hugs xx
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Reblogged this on Words To Captivate ~ by John Fioravanti and commented:
We are treated to a guest article by a gifted author and one of the premier promoters of authors worldwide, Sally Cronin. Sally’s message today is about solving the puzzle of healthy eating. Please, read on…
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She is an expert in more than one field.
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Thank you John for the kind words and thank you for sharing. x
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You’re welcome, Sally. My pleasure.
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Great article and a great message, Sally. Thank you for all that you do for the rest of us!
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Sally is amazing.
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Good luck with your release. I wish you many sales.
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Thank you Janice.. very kind of you..
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Nice to see Sally out and about!
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One of the best.
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Thank you Teri.. I get out now and then.. too long though and I get withdrawal symptoms.. hugs xx
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Always a pleasure to see Sally featured, She really is a committed blogger, and a great friend to writers everywhere.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I agree she is amazing Pete.
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Thank you very much Pete.. I just wish I had a few more sets of eyes and a few more hands so that I could get around more bloggers. hugs Sally
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You do well enough, Sally.
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Excellent, Lucinda. Sally is a gem and nicely done.
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She’s one of the best John.
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🙂
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Thank you John.. hugs and to Lucy too..
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XX
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Reblogged this on Writing for the Whole Darn Universe.
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Ah the wonderful Sally. When she does so much for everyone else it is fabulous to see her here
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Thank you Shey… and considering what you are tackling at the moment I think you get the crown for multi-tasking.. xxx
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Well it has been hectic. BUT tonight, with a week to go I finally got all the scenes rehearsed. Yeah. There were scenes I have never got near reading through yet, let alone decide what to do with them. . Sigh of relief. xxxx
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Fabulous to see Sally getting her due kudos here. 🙂
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Thanks Debby…I am touched by all the messages and lovely to here on Lucinda’s blog.. very kind hostess. xx♥
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Well deserved feature my friend. ❤
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Super do up of Sally Cronin’ s work, would love the time to read them. Maybe I should take ONE DAY a week away from editing to just READ!
Gabi
From: lucinda E Clarke Reply-To: lucinda E Clarke Date: Thursday, 15 June 2017 at 19:13 To: Gabi Plumm Subject: [New post] MEET SALLY CRONIN
Lucinda E Clarke posted: “I’m really thrilled to have Sally as my guest this week. She is a tireless supporter of us Indie authors with lots of exposure (of the polite kind). She’s set up an online book store where she features authors and their books so it’s the very least I can “
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Thank you Gabi..That would be the magic formula… equal reading and writing.. but unfortunately a pipe dream. thanks Sally
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Not before we get book 4 out Gabi! 🙂
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Reblogged this on writerchristophfischer and commented:
I’ve had th epleasure of meeting Sally in the real world last weekend and she is every bit as lovely as I expected. Time to refresh your memory about this excellent blogger, writer and health expert
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Sally is a true angel.
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Thank you Richard.. I think my wings have been clipped for bad behaviour but I do try.. xx
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It’s hard to believe 😉
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Thank you Christoph and we certainly boosted our immune systems on Saturday with hugs and laughter. Thank you for the kind words and for sharing. hugs x
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Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
All about Sally Cronin.
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Thank you for the re-blog 🙂
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Thank you for sharing Suzanne.. you are very supportive.hugs xx
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Reblogged this on Dream Big, Dream Often.
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Thank you very much for sharing..
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Most welcome!! 🙂
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Reblogged this on Matthews' Blog.
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Thank you for the re-blog 🙂
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My pleasure, Lucinda
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Thank you for sharing Matthew..
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Fantastic interview and examination of two contrasting strings to Sally’s bow- her erudite straight talking health issue work and her charming stories that always succeed in taking me out of myself and making the think the world is truly as we want it to be. A very enjoyable read.
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Thanks Paul… and for always making me feel I doing things right. hugs xx
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There is no doubt about that in my mind Sally- but then I am a huge fan!!!!
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Sally is awesome! And she shares wonderful words on health 🙂 Great to see her spotlighted here so well. And nice to find your blog through this post, Lucinda.
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Yes she is Christy – and welcome to my blog – I aim to entertain 🙂
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Thank you Christy.. sorry for the delay in responding.. thank you for the lovely comment. hugs Sally
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The idea of basing tales on names sounds a great idea. Be nice to see ‘some’ of the past names come back. No doubt some will in time: ‘What goes round comes around’.
The principles behind ‘Size Matters’ are so valid. I have always cooked from scratch and walked whenever it was possible. Of course, I have had the occasional pre-prepared meal and have to say I do not like any of them. The taste, if it has any and if it may be called that, is all wrong. Thank you Sally for sharing your common sense and hope readers do hear the message.
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