Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, I am just back from California with my little Miss Pepper, the bride of the month. She loved her cowboy, he thought she was a Princess beyond belief and I got to explore the California Gold Country while they were on their honeymoon.

And my oh my are things hopping in Albuquerque. People are already arriving for ranch. They are off sightseeing, playing and getting to know each other. By the time we actually have ranch, they will be old friends. The power of the internet has meant working out roommates, making shared travel plans, supporting new people and refreshing old.

Ranch is always the highlight of our year. This year, we have people from five countries and a gadzillion states. And many men. Everything is set to go!!

There will be no classes the weeks of 5/2 or 5/9 because of Radiant Ranch.

They will resume the week of 5/14 (beginning Wednesday). Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Creating Restful Sleep is a new class for those of you who are having trouble sleeping. I will give you some ways to sort out what might be going on and some up-to-date science to help find solutions.

Radiant Store Tour is a free guided tour of the store. David will be leading this class so if you want to get to know the guy that makes it all work, come sign up. This is his first teaching experience, so you can show your support for the work he does to keep you happy.

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

We will be starting these new classes the week of 5/21. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

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 aly rather than a dragon

Step One: 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.

What Else is Embedded in the Steps is a great class to learn about what the steps really do. The program is way more than just the food. This class takes you to the heart of the process.

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

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April 30, 2007

** Quote From Kathleen **

Not remembering is significant information - sort of like standing up a date.

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** Testimonial for the Week**

I was able to resist the ice cream sundaes that everyone was eating this afternoon. (the boss brought it in) And guess what???? No one even asked why I wasn't eating any. Sometimes I dread having to explain more than actually resisting the temptation. - Phyllis

I love that no-one noticed Phyllis!

I bet if you asked a lot of my friends - they would be surprised to find I never eat sugar LOL. They just don't notice. They know I don't bother with dessert in restuarants but probably would say that's because I prefer cheese. They know I have oatcakes in my handbag and, if questioned, would shrug and say, "Karen likes them" and move on. Now they all know I don't drink but as for the sugar - it's just a non-issue. I always thought I'd have to *explain* but actually I don't really have to. No-one really notices. What I found was the less fuss I made, but the more quietly committed I was, the less others commented. If I kept it natural, then it was natural. (smile)

I think by the time you do step 6 you will be surprised how easy it is. - Karen

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**Recipe of the Week**

By Naomi Muller, Step 7, author of Nutritious and Delicious Cookbook.

This recipe comes from Joy Lynn.

Spinach/Artichoke Delight

32 oz. frozen or fresh spinach cooked and chopped (drain well)
16 oz. artichoke hearts drained and chopped (hard pieces removed)
8 oz. shredded cheese (I use a combination of ½ white cheddar and ½ jalapeno pepper)
4 oz grated romano cheese
4 oz. sour cream
3 T liquid hot sauce (optional) *I use Louisiana Hot Sauce*
3 T minced garlic
3 T butter

Sautee garlic & butter in pot large enough to hold above ingredients for 4 minutes on medium heat. Add hot sauce, cheeses and sour cream and heat until cheeses are melted. Add spinach and artichoke hearts. Mix well.

The mixture should be creamy and well mixed. Then place in casserole and either microwave for 5 minutes or bake in 375° oven for 10 to 15 minutes.

Note: You can add a layer of cheese on the top at the end. This is great as a dip or eaten as a side dish This dish freezes really well

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

YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself.

I wanted to talk with you a little about what happened in chat last week. I know that you all show up and really don't know what chat might bring. Last week, I was sitting in a hotel room in Angel's Camp. I have been away from home for 10 days. it is HARD to maintain your program in a hotel room. So I have been thinking about commitment to healing and what that means.

So chat was about addiction. And that addiction leaves no middle ground - we are either in recovery or we are progressing in addiction. I think we were all touched by the discussion. Let me share a little of the comments made after:

This is from Delse:

Greetings YLDers:

I found last night's chat very motivating. As I understood it, each decision I make is a decision to either walk away from my addiction, or walk towards it. Those are the only two directions Ican go.

For example, I am busy this morning. I don't want to take the time to plan my lunch. If I don't, I am making the decision to walk towards my addiction, because without lunch, I would probably stop at a fast food place, and I wouldn't order a salad. So I would be walking towards my addiction.

If I blow off my exercise today, I am making a decision to walk towards my addiction, because my exercise does more than burn calories. It enables me to think and cope.

I am finding this to be a very powerful visual to make my day to day decisions. Anybody else have a comment?

Then Peggy responded:

I think it was a very powerful chat for sure Delse. I also thought about all of my decisions I made today as being about walking toward or away from the addiction stuff...very interesting to see how this changed some of the decisions! Some of it very simple, too. I needed to do a very errands after my deep water running class today . Usually I come right home and eat because it is time to eat at 1:00. I was just going to eat a bit late, but when I thought of which way I was "walking", I decided to stop by home and pick up my portable lunch and eat in the car while doing the errands! I felt so much better (smile)...it really is about each little decision, and not about perfection, or the opposite.

So YLD, more than anything, is about the healing dialogue. The chats are the highlight of my week. I love chats. I love your voices and I love your participation!

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.

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**David's Corner **

David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleen’s oldest son.

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.

I am sort of eating crow on these, LOL. I don't really get the office supply stuff. She said, *David, people will love these* and I sort of grumbled a bit inside. Well I didn't really grumble because I actually don't say a whole lot,but I did think *good grief, mom.* However, I was just downright wrong. You do love them. I have a hard time keeping up with you. Once you try them, you want more. Maybe you just like having more to say, LOL.

This is a big week for me. My high school volleyball girls are going to the championships. It happens to be at the same time as ranch. Mom said we would work it out. So she has a team of women who will handle *my* store in my absence. Now, you can imagine how hard it was for me not to be here. I worked in retail for 15 years before I joined Radiant Recovery. I never, ever saw staff people like you guys. Pretty amazing. Makes me proud.

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**

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.

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

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**Watching Our Community Develop**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.

Those of you who have been around for a long time or those who have come back again certainly know that our community develops, grows and emerges based on your needs and concerns. In the past few weeks we have been thinking about how to design and structure the recipe and cooking part of our community and our website. We have tried lots of different things, explored many ideas, but recently it feels as if the time is here. Let me give you a glimpse into our process.

Lou Ann wrote to the food and cooking list about her struggles with cooking. She mentioned that she thought she was not a good cook. The team asked her about what we might do to support her. Here is her reply:

I wanted to thank your interest in helping me. I thought about why & how I feel that my skills are so lacking. I used to be a good cook. That was before I became a diabetic and used sugar freely. Now of course I have to adapt recipies to be without sugar, program friendly. I still cook but I really don't like my own cooking.

I used to make a peach cobbler which was wonderful and I used the canned peaches that had heavy syrup and Bisquick. So now I know I have to give up trying to duplicate the recipie without sugar. I have Kathleen's book and she has an apple cobbler that sounds good. Anybody have any suggestions here? Well, I want to thank you for your interest and help.

LouAnn.

I went to our planning team and said, I think Lou Ann is speaking a truth that many people feel. It seems as if this pain of not having the ole standbys haunts a lot of people. But listen to what PE said....

Ya, Kathleen, and when I see this, it kind of makes me feel sad...I know, sounds strange, let me explain.

This program is all about more...more life, more energy, more clear thinking, more love...abundance, etc. even/especially with the food, and we have been so culturally conditioned to believe that we have to "give up" all these things, mainly of course from the diet folks. So it is like when people hear "no sugar or whites" they go to that default...sometimes not knowing it, and they become deflated, with everything that brings.

I absolutely know it is possible to still eat a peach cobbler. In fact, I cannot wait until peaches come in this year. It is absolutely one of my favorite desserts. I can make it totally program friendly. It is yummie and awesome. For me, I have to watch myself, because I can go "fruit crazy", but it doesn't mean I can't have it...and my family eats it, and no one complains...they scarf it up. We just use a dollop of homemade whipped cream or pour on 1/2 and 1/2 (my fav).

So, I think it would be really cool if we could tie this in with the whole idea in this community (which is talked about a lot on YLD and through the Obesity Myth class) that we are not about Deprivation...no, no, no! We are about Abundance...about having a radiant life and having it abundantly.

So, I know the recipe piece is not a problem...but my heart is drawn to go "beneath" the cooking, if you understand that, because if folks get in touch with that piece, they will get excited, and this will come alive. I don't know if I am saying very well what I am feeling...it very much is a feeling (which is strange in and of itself, knowing me, lolol).

So PE pegged it. The program is about ABUNDANCE and our job is to create the ways for you all to hear that, trust it and BE it. I am truly excited about this.

©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 Holden, Step 7