Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, we are living into what I used to think of as *mud season* in New Hampshire.

We got enough snow to make MUD! And with several dogs, they just love the idea of rushing in and then leaping on the bed, (Smile). They do not have washing machine consciousness. I spent the weekend doing therapeutic cleaning. Even did the cabinets in the kitchen, LOL. I have been watching DIY on cable (that is do it yourself network) and it made me think that before I think about demolishing my kitchen, I should clean it up. It is very satisfying to toss old, grey spice. Tonight I am making a yummy meal and will enjoy the clean.

We will be starting these new classes this week (1/24). Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Brain Chemistry: Dopamine is the newest addition to the brain chemistry series. Learn about the mighty cousin to serotonin and beta endorphin. Learn how he sparkles and seduces and what to do to have him as an ally rather than a dragon

Step 2 Journaling: 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.

Step 3: Three Meals is one of our core classes. This is a skilled-based class. If you want to learn the baby steps of a successful step 3, come join us. This class is ALWAYS fun.

Step 4: More Than You Think is the potato class. Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about the timing, size, frequency of your potato. Learn about the best vitamins and talk all you want about them. This is a nice way to strengthen and refine your step 4.

Radiant Store Tour is a free guided tour of the Radiant Recovery Store. David will walk you through what we have and why we carry it. You can ask questions and get details.

Using the Resources of the Community is our fun free guided tour of the community. If you are new or returning, get on the top deck of the double decker and hear everything.

We will be starting these new classes the week of 1/31. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Anxiety is a fun class offering. We actually will be looking at anxiety, panic and phobia. And since I have found some new info, we will be also tying this into gut and bowel stuff as well. Come learn the chemical causes of these issues. Find out why anxiety is not a character flaw that you can will away. If you deal with it, or you have someone in your family or a child who is fearful, this is the class for you.

Brain Chemistry Beta Endorphin for Alcholics is a unique sort of class. If you wonder if you have a problem or if you know you have a problem with alcohol, come find out what is going on biochemically.

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.

YLDweightlossreadiness is the new getting started class for YLD members. We are really excited to do this new format. Come learn how Phase One of your program sets the foundation for your entire weight loss plan.

I have posted a 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

**********************************************************************

January 22, 2007
** Quote From Kathleen **


Just as when you are in addiction, what you think is comforting you is killing you, when you are in recovery, you discover that what you think were lost opportunities are the fabric that make you the unbelievably creative, compassionate, skilled person you are.

*********************************************************************

** Testimonial for the Week**


I just about cried reading, "Fill yourself up with the resources of the community." I'm so used to going hungry in many ways besides food, that this stopped me in my tracks. An invitation to fill myself with what this community has to offer. And it won't take away from others. This really works for me.

Deb

********************************************************************

**Recipe of the Week**


I think this is a great stick to your ribs type winter meal. I hope you enjoy it!

ROASTED VEGETABLES AND BRAISED TURKEY

Roasted Vegetables:
  • 6 cups diced peeled beets (about 1 pound)
  • 4 1/2 cups (2 1/2-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)
  • 3 cups (1 1/2-inch) cubed turnips (about 1 pound)
  • 2 cups chopped onion
  • 2 cups (1-inch-thick) sliced carrot
  • 1 cup (1 1/2-inch) cubed unpeeled red potato (about 8 ounces)
  • 8 garlic cloves
  • Cooking spray
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Braised Turkey:
  • 2 pounds turkey, cubed into 2 inch pieces
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup turkey or chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 10 peppercorns
  • 2 bay leaves
Preheat oven to 450°.

To prepare the roasted vegetables, place first 7 ingredients in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Bake at 450° for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add half of turkey, and sauté 5 minutes or until turkey is browned on all sides. Remove from pan. Repeat procedure with 1 teaspoon oil and remaining turkey. Return browned turkey to pan; add 1/4 teaspoon salt, broth, thyme, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 1 hour. Uncover, bring to a boil, and simmer until the liquid is reduced (about 5 minutes). Serve turkey with roasted vegetables.

Don't forget to order my new Nutritious and Delicious Cookbook

********************************************************************

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


RESULTS: Typical

I can only give you my experience, but when I was at the place you are at right now, I had a heart to heart talk with myself. The truth was that I did this program to stop binge eating. It scared me, and I couldn't control it.

But it was real easy for me to slip into diet head and forget that. So, I kept gently reminding myself "it isn't about the weight right now." Then, I went out and bought some jeans that actually fit. What a relief.

Rather than fret about the weight, I worked hard to get through the steps honestly. By the time I got to step 6, I started to slowly lose the weight. I lost 15 pounds without much effort. Was it worth those extra months of not losing weight? Oh my word, yes. I haven't binged on sugar in over a year and a half, and it used to be an almost daily occurence.

So, I would recommend deciding what is really important, and focusing on that. For me, stopping the madness came first, then weight loss.

Best of luck to you.

Delse

We will be finishing up the Obesity Myth class soon and then will be starting the Weightloss Readiness and the Weightloss in Action classes. I will also be starting the YLD blog to record my own progress, thoughts and musings as we go.

Don't forget, if you are in Europe, please plan on coming to Eurochat on Wednesdays.

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.
 


********************************************************* ***********

**David's Corner **



OK, cookbooks are here OK, oatcakes are here
And we have a fun new product. Kathleen found some awesome little journal booklets. They fit right inside Your Body Speaks. She uses one to write down extra thoughts. I know she just loves how they fit together and pleaded with me to carry them here for you. She said you would all understand, it is an office supply sort of thing.


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

 
********************************************************* ***********

**Our Online Groups**


We get set doing all four parts of Breakfast and then comes *the journal*. Many people have kept journals of food intake before to track points or calories. Others have written great long accounts of their feelings, poetry, their making sense of life, the universe. This journal is very different. Here we record what and when we eat, and how the body feels. We are able to discover what our body likes, doesn't like. What makes *our* body function and feel best. We get to know the dear body who has faithfully carried and served us our life long. And we get to make the best food choices to nurture our body and allow the body to heal.

The journal is a tricky step for a lot of people! (smile) Learning the language that the body uses can be harder than learning Russian without a phrasebook. But if we persevere, the rewards are wonderful. Getting to know *you,* getting to know *all* about you is the best and most lasting love affair you will ever have.

On the journal list, we talk about how to have the journal work for you and your body. How to manage carrying a journal, being kind to yourself when it seems too hard, and how to understand what it tells you. Come on over and join us to learn to hear your body speak.

Kath

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


********************************************************************


**A Little More on the Money Story **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.


Well, goodness, my short comments in the newsletter last week certainly touched some intense feelings. I got a lot of letters from people who do not have money who berated me and said they thought the site was elitist and shut them out.

I also got a lot of letters from people saying, *What are you talking about?* Here is a typical comment from that group: *I don't think I've EVER seen a website with SO much helpful FREE information AND on top of that the author of the books is available to communicate with you. Wow!*

And, one fun letter offered some very practical problem-solving about sponsorship, scholarships and other options.

After all is said and done, I thought it would be helpful for you to know where I stand on all of this......This site and all the work we do is about RECOVERY. Now, what does that mean...it means healing from addiction by changing food and behavior. A very key part of addiction is something called *blame and entitlement*. This manifests as someone telling me it is my fault they cannot get or do something and at the same time insist they are entitled to something simply because they want it or need it. My hunch is that some of the angst I get is from people who are hurting, are caught in addiction and have a filter of being victimized. So they come to the site and selectively observe those parts that require payment and make an assumption that they are excluded. I do not take the barbs personally because in fact we provide huge resources at no cost to hundreds of thousands of people all the time.

We have a free newsletter and that means that a whole group of people (including me) show up every week and write and prepare it. We have more than a hundred free support groups on every topic imaginable and we have a dazzling array of resources posted on the web.

That said, there are things we charge for. The weight loss program is a membership program that costs $97 for a lifetime membership. The Weight Watchers online program costs $29.95 to sign up, then a monthly fee of $16.95 or $216.40 for the first year. I think YLD is a bargain.

We also run a whole number of online classes. A number of these are at no cost (the introduction to the site and the budget class), the others range from $12.99 - $24.99. And in fact, it is these classes that allow me to work directly with you every day. I think of them as my *job*.

And of course, we do run a store. We sell stuff that you like. The store supports David. We think of this as a family business. And we sure have lots of fun!

We also do seminars, an annual one here in NM, an annual one in Europe and some regional ones from time to time across the country. And yep we charge for them, albeit about a half of the market rate most authors charge and about a quarter of what most nationally known consultants charge. I often am asked why I charge so little and I always answer because I want to keep this as accessible as possible. We do give scholarships. And the way we make decisions about scholarships is about recovery. Has the person engaged in the process, i.e. read the book, signed up for the lists, talked on the forum. Is the message one of wanting recovery and being willing to go to any lengths for it.

I am writing this article this week because I know that for many people dealing with recovery, money can be the last frontier. I certainly have had to work hard at learning to not undervalue myself, to find what suits my style and my belief system, and to be clear about what money can do. I love how our web site and our community work. The boundless generosity of those people who give of themselves to create the miracle of what we do is the real message of radiant recovery. Every list has a liaison. And every liaison is trained and supported and guided in providing the best possible service to you.

I am glad we are talking about this. It is exciting for me.



©Kathleen DesMaisons 2007.

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 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.

©2007 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 Patti