It is nice to check in once more. I have recently received a number of letters saying, *I don't have the money to join your program,* so I realize it is time for me to remind you that there are hundreds of ways to be involved in the community without spending any money at all. Please get the newsletter and come join any of the online groups we have. You can just come to www.radiantrecovery.com and click on the Make Connections bar. From there, go to the online groups link. I am just about close registrations for the Ireland Seminar. If you want to come, sign up now or you will need to join the waiting list. We will be starting these new classes this week: Learning About Depression is the key class for those of you who are dealing with depression. Learn about the biocehmistry and the special things you can do to help yourself feel better. The Addiction Ameba is a way to look at how your addicive biochemistry can *ooze* into other places like debt, gambling, codependency, sex, caffeine and other such drugs. Back to Basics 1 is the class for step 7 folks who are in a wobble, slip or relapse. Come get back on track. Step 1: The Art of Breakfast is a great way to learn the art of fine breakfast on time. I have posted a new class schedule on line. Click here to see what is planned. A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum. Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover. Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
May 22, 2006 ** Quote From Kathleen **
The fun thing will be to see how your feelings emerge as you do the program. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
Well it is a cool, rainy morning here in Denver, but the weekend was warm and beautiful. I cleaned my house, paid my bills, went to the gym, and rode my motorcycle both Saturday and Sunday. All of those things make me feel so good, happy, and alive. I made sure to spend some qulaity time with my animals. Tonight I'll be spending qualilty time with my plants. :-) I am mostly relying on my existing food supplies this week, so cooking was minimal. I did roast a chicken in the crockpot overnight, and I made some barley, but all the rest of the food either came from the freezer, a can, or is kind of ready-made (bread, fresh & frozen veggies, etc.). Yesterday marked 3 months on Step 6 for me. [I had one sugar slip during that time, but came right back to Step 6 at my next meal.] I have seen so many, many positive changes. I am letting my body take the lead, and she is going fabulous places! I'm really loving my veggies like never before. This weekend, instead of just walking like I have been, I/my body wanted (!) to get on the stationary cycle for a bit, and I did, and it was fine, not the struggle that I remember it being before I began listening to her. I am feeling very healthy physically. So that's my testimony to doing the food. I came from alcoholism, depression, rage, anxiety, bingeing, and fibromyalgia to where I am today, and it is nothing short of a miracle. And all because of changing what and when I eat. Elaine in CO ********************************************************************
**Recipe of the Week**
This is a delicious and elegant way to serve chicken breasts (and to get some yummy greens in, too). STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS
Meanwhile, flatten each chicken breast by placing them between 2 sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap and pounding them with a mallet until about 1/4 inch thick. Spoon 1/4 of the mushroom/spinach mixture onto the center of each chicken breast. Roll lengthwise. Secure with toothpicks. Place rolled chicken breasts into a 9 inch square pan. Combine chicken broth with remaining 2 T. of olive oil. Spoon over chicken. Bake uncovered, basting frequently, until chicken is tender, about 15 - 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving (optional). Note: You can make the mushroom/spinach mixture the night before and refrigerate it. Let it come to room temperature before using. Then just start with pounding the chicken and filling, rolling and baking. ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
Well I read the chat and, after journaling for years, this chat certainly put a whole new spin to the concept (smile). I had said that my journal had evolved and it had from the beginning when I only *recorded* meals and physically feeling....to listening to the emotional stuff. But after reading the chat it TOUCHED me at a deeper level. The thought of REALLY listening, and not the yeh, yeh stuff, made my heart heavy with sadness because I have been rushing my journaling, with *yeh,yeh,yeh*. I will spend more time, and listen better. This is exciting. Thanks, Kathleen, between this and the Dopamine class I feel like we're on a whole new level of healing. Bambi Chats make a difference. (smile) If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. It is not too late to get into the classes if you come right now. ********************************************************* ***********
**David's Corner **
 I found the pathway very clear to getting info about George's Shake. I like the quick info links to finding out the directions for making a shake, how George's was developed, etc. The complete listing of ingredients and nutritional info is important for me as well.
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
The Radiant Journal list is a source of helpful information and support with journaling. On this list we talk about how to get started with the journal, how to start listening to our body and why giving it a voice is so important. We also discuss how to use the journal for detective work in our program and, of course, how to make journaling fun! Right now the list is rockin' with people supporting each other and making big discoveries with their journal. So whether you are just starting out or are looking for a recharge in your journaling, come on over and join in the fun! ********************************************************************
** Featured Topic**
Caffeine by Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. This week I want once again to raise the issue of caffeine with you. A number of you have been writing about dealing with caffeine, so I want to repeat the article I wrote a while back. It includes a section from Little Sugar Addicts.It will be less scary if I am talking about your children than about you. (smile) I think the most compelling evidence about the impact of caffeine on your child?s brain comes from the work of Peter DeWitt who gave a group of spiders different drugs in the late 60s. DeWitt found the spiders that make what is called an orb web. It is beautiful, highly regular and predictable and can be easily photographed.
Sort of stops you cold, doesn?t it? Think about the implications of this for your child?s brain. Think of the impact on his ability to function in school. Sure made me think some. The key part of the caffeine story is the level of the ?dose? based on your child?s weight. A can of soda for you is not the same as a can of soda for your child. A 12 oz. can of Coke has 35 mg of caffeine (Diet Coke has 45). If you put 35 mg of caffeine into a body that weigh 180 pounds, it diffuses a whole lot more than if you put it into a body that weighs 60 or 40 pounds. Basically, the same size can of soda can have 3 times more effect on your child than it does on you. Think about that spider web picture when you think about the dose impact on your child. As you think about caffeine, remember that it is found not just in coffee and soda. Here is a list that gives you a sense of the relative value of caffeine in foods and drinks I am going to include some things like Starbucks drinks because I have noticed so many children now drinking Starbucks specialty drinks.
I strongly encourage parents to get their children off of caffeine. Do not give your children drinks and foods with caffeine in them. If your child is currently using caffeine, do not stop it abruptly. Going off of the drug should be done through what we call a taper process. This means cutting down over time. The first task is knowing the current level of using it. Figure out how much caffeine your child is getting. Use the same process you have been using all along. Do this with your child. Cut down over a 2 week period. If you child has caffeine soda intermittently, you can simply stop and say we aren?t doing that kind any more. Start with this before you think about the rest of the program for your kids. And come join the parents list if you would like to learn more. ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2006. Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together: Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster puts it all together Naomi, liaison for step 4 gathers the recipes David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have. You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant Recovery® in response to your signup. A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter.htm. ©2006 by Kathleen DesMaisons . All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your ezine or website as long as you leave the content unaltered and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear. Banner Photograph by Geraint Smith |
