Hi {!firstname_fix}

I will be going back to NM tomorrow. Time at the ocean has been very healing. Winter sea is not like anything in the world.

Last night I took my daughter and her two boys into New York City to see the Lion King. I had taken the older one five years ago. Now the younger is five. It was a magical night. Broadway anytime tends to be spectacular. But the Lion King is a pageant. Awesome music, a story they know, and an incredibly special night meant that all of us had a night we will remember forever. I am glad to remember to do these special things. To stop the rush, and create time, connection and moments that we can cherish is key. We went to the BIG toy store (FAO Schwartz) and then we had a picnic in central park. Who says you can't do program friendly anywhere!

We will be starting these new classes the week of 12/13. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 1: The Art of Breakfast is our foundation class to get you started. Learn all four parts of step 1 in a structured way. Learn how to progress through them with enjoyment. Let us support getting your program off to a fabulous start.

Step 2: Journal, Skillful Use is the next level of journaling. This is for those of you who know *how* and want to learn what to do with your data. This class shows you how to interpret what you have written in an exciting and pragmatic way.

Using the Resources of the Community is for those of you who are brand new and would like to find your way around town. Come sit on the top of our double decker bus for a guided tour. And even if you are not brand new, this is a really fun class to reconnect with all the treats of the community.

Holy Night is a free once a year class for those of you who want something different for the holidays whether Christmas, Channukah or Solstice. This class is quite a bit different from other classes and the lists. We will be not be talking about the food or the steps. We will not be talking about all the problems. Nor will we be talking about concrete specific things to do. This is not about problem-solving (smile). This class is about being quiet and remembering something about this time. Each night I am going to give you a reflection with some homework to do. Your task is to do the reflection, the homework and then share just that.

There will be no classes the week of 12/20.

Please note, I am going to be offering a book study class in January called The Obesity Myth. This is open to anyone in the community who is concerned about her/his weight. You do not have to be a member of YLD to come. I am going to look at the issues raised in the book and work with you about their relationship to sugar sensitivity. I will be offering this class just one time. This book named some key issues and I think it is an essential read for all of us. Come join us if you are interested.

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 RecoveryĆ website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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December 11, 2006
** Quote From Kathleen **


All this work will create enormous gains for you. As you 'do the food' you are going to reconnect with your birthright.

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** Testimonial for the Week**


You are in the right place! I have suffered from depression in the past, the kind where you can hardly move, can't sleep, can't stay awake, can't live, and feeling like nobody loves me and nothing's worth doing. I've had anxiety that kept me housebound.

Now I am so mentally healthy I almost don't recognize myself. I wake up cheerful for no special reason. I feel like doing the things I used to enjoy My mind is clearer. I feel more confident, even at my current weight. I don't fear social events. I don't feel as if the world has me under a microscope I feel good about the future.

When you're depressed you don't feel like anything is going to help. Just start with Step 1, eating breakfast, every morning, within an hour of getting up, with enough protein for your body, and see if you don't notice a difference the next day. Notice that the first five steps are actually adding things to your life, not taking anything away. When you're depressed you have no energy to do much of anything, so find the easy ways to do the program. People swear by George's Shake for breakfast. Make some hard-boiled eggs to keep in the fridge. Whatever works is what you do. Don't go to the next step until you love the one you're on. This is a gentle, peaceful process that will amaze you, one step at a time! And unlike most diets, this one gets easier as you go along instead of harder. Each step supports the next.

We're here for you!

Lora

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**Recipe of the Week**


This time of year is really hectic and sometimes you just don't have enough time to make very elaborate meals. I think this recipe helps, and since it is an all time comfort food, it really satisfies!

Kathleen's Macaroni and Cheese

4 servings

  • 8 ounces uncooked brown rice pasta
  • 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions. Drain well and place in a 1 quart ovenproof mixing bowl. Add cheese to pasta. Combine well. Pour milk over pasta mixture. Bake 35-45 minutes, or until cheese sauce is bubbling and top of mixture is golden brown.

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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**


I love chat - it's the best thing about YLD!!

Selena

We are doing 3 chats a week now. One on Monday nights for questions and answers, one on Wednesday afternoon specifically for our members in Europe (although everyone is welcome) and our regular chat on Wednesday evening.

I will begin having chats focused more on weight loss as we enter the new year. We will be talking about what works and what does not work. We have a lot of success stories and I want you to see what makes the difference.

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.
 


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**David's Corner **



Ok, we are coming down to the wire. We have been told our shake is blending,the labels are ready and hopefully momentarily we can make an announcement that Restore and Junior are set to go. Make sure your order is here, so you get your shake sent the day we get it.


Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.

 
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**Our Online Groups**


Radiant Southwest will be hosting Christmas open house at Kathleen's office on December 17th from 3-5. This will be a program friendly pot luck. Bring your favorite tasty and come meet new friends and see old friends. Kathleen will be there to welcome you. And you can meet our new geo coach, Cece. The address is 901 Rio Grande, suite 128-D. It is right behind the Starbucks on Rio Grande down near old town.

Or come to the group page to see all our groups.
http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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**My Grandmother Heart**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.


OK, I am going to write to you from my grandmother heart. This is a big deal for me. I have been writing about my years as a young mother for the past few weeks - my daughter asked me for the details and I have been having fun doing this task.

I have learned some things I did not know then. My kids did not care about a perfect house or a perfect mom. What they cared about was time and being present. That is what they remember.

They did not care about my career, about my being in school and what I was learning, they didn't care about their grades or excelling. They cared about time and being present.....

  • The day we all decided to skip school and go sledding.
  • The night we went to The Nutcracker at the local high school. The music was bad. They didn't care.
  • The day we made cookies together for the tree (forgive me for that one, LOL)
  • The nights we sat in the big chair and I read Watership Down to them.
  • The times we rode in the car to their dad's house and we sang silly songs I made up.
  • The time they went on strike and refused to eat dinner and insisted we go get pizza and we did.
  • The day we dressed the dogs in costumes and took them on a walk.
Now, if you think you are too busy, too tired.....and there is no way....remember I was a single mom, going to school full time and working full time. And I was not even doing the food. I had dreamed of perfect children, a perfect family and all that stuff. But what we had was something different from the dream.

Here is what made the difference, I think. I intuitively knew that *I* had to have some quiet time to be sane. They watched Sesame Street every day at 5PM and did not talk to me. I regrouped and caught my breath. I had time alone at regular intervals. I did things that filled me up.

And deep inside, I would reach down in my heart and meet them at where they were...and I was clear about boundaries. This is what I instinctively knew at 30. Now, from this persepctive, I know something more.

If you have an eight year old, this is the ONLY winter, the only season you will EVER have with an eight year old. You know all that other stuff you think is so important? It isn't. If there are too many after school activities, stop them. If there are too many demands, start learning *no,thank you.* If you don't know how, ask us.

If you are a grandparent, ask how you can support your children at this time of year. Provide space, fun and humor. Go get those kids and be goofy. If you live far away, get on the phone and be goofy on the phone. Email them. Give them cameras for Christmas and ask them to email you pictures of their lives. Send them pictures of your dog, your cat, your friends at the senior center. Wait, I don't think any of us go to senior centers, LOL. Teach them to knit - even the boys. It raises serotonin. Make a cookbook for them.

Guess you can tell what I have been thinking about this week. I am making a book about my life. I am writing, writing and then will find photos and put them with the writing...this is a wonderful and powerful thing to do.

Mostly, I am committed to this being a holy and reflective time.



©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 gathers the recipes.
David, who runs the Radiant RecoveryĆ Store talks about what new products we have.

You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant RecoveryĆ 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 RecoveryĆ. 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