January 5, 2009

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well it is a new year. 2008 was certainly a time of big change. Last week at chat we were commenting on the night sky with Venus and that sliver of a moon sitting together. We talked about what it felt like to be sharing in real time, to be looking at a moon from all over the world. There we were, a group of people just having fun and chatting. We did nothing deep or profound, we just shared being together. But that in itself was amazing. Sometimes this community just staggers me with its healing energy.

You will notice that is a new mountain picture. Patti took it from her porch on Christmas evening. People ask me why I live in New Mexico. It is the light, that light on the mountain. It shimmers. And it is fun to be changing the pictures as the light changes. I hope you like it as much as I do.

These classes will begin Wednesday, January 7, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Step One: Radiant Step One Class (1 week) 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 Six: Radiant Step Six Class (2 weeks) is a class for those of you getting ready to detox or having detoxed and wondering why it is so hard after. We talk about *the flat*.

The Obesity Myth (2 weeks) is the famous class that blasted our myths about being fat from the water. If your doctor, husband, girlfriend is on your case, come join us. If you are shamed about being fat, come. If you feel that being fat is wrecking your health, come. Get the real scoop and then move forward knowing what to do. This class is ALWAYS fun.

These classes will begin Wednesday, January 14, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Store Tour (1 week) 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. We have totally revised the curriculum. Come learn about the products we carry. Learn why we have them, what they do, and ask all those questions you have.

Step Two: Radiant Step Two Introduction Class (1 week) will teach you the basics of journaling. The class will give you step by step instructions in how to record your food and feelings in a way that gets you excited. I have also revised this curriculum. So if you are getting started with journaling and want some key hot tips, this is a great time to learn. Come even if you are an old-timer and your journaling has gotten a little shaky.

YLD Weight Loss Readiness (2 weeks) 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.

Brain Chemistry: Dopamine (2 weeks) 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. This material is not presented in any of the books, so if you want the inside scoop, here is the place to learn it.

If you are on disability or low income (your household income is less that $1000 a month), you may take classes for free if you get certified. I have put the guidelines for certification on the class schedule page.

The class schedule is online. Click here to see what is planned. Please do not sign up for classes that are not yet scheduled.

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 and you do not have to be at your computer at any set time. It does not matter whether you are in the US, Europe, the Far East or Australia, you simply respond on your own time. And although I advertise that the classes are one or two weeks, sometimes we are a little flexible and they may run longer.

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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** Quote From Kathleen **


Your molecules will yearn for balance, care and healing. Instead of cravings for sugar, there will come a longing for wholeness.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Hi, everyone. I've had some epiphanies about step 3 recently as I've navigated the holidays. The first one, which sounds pretty dumb, is that if I want to succeed at step 3, I have to cook. I know, I know, obvious, isn't it? But I realized that I've been trying to bargain my way around it ever since I started this step. I tried to figure out all the fast food, restaurant, and prepared food options that would work for my meals. Then my husband started cooking and I thought I could just let him make all my meals. But none of that ever works out quite the way I plan. Nope. I have to cook. That's just how it is.

Also, I realized one reason why I'm having such a hard time cooking. I was thinking recently about the concept of state-dependent learning, where when we learn to do something in a particular emotional state, we can't transfer that learning to other states. Suddenly it occurred to me that all my past meal planning and preparing happened when I was focused on weight loss. So, I really don't know how to do that stuff now. I literally have to learn how to do it again and it's going to be messy sometimes and I'm going to be slow and make mistakes, but if I keep at it, I will get better.

I feel so much better, knowing that, because I kept thinking, "But I already know how to do this, why is it so hard?" Now I feel like I know what to do next. I have to cook and I have to learn how to plan and prepare meals. I can do that. Thanks to the Intro to Radiant Cooking list, I have plenty of resources at my disposal.

Ramona

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


I just loved this recent post from Sandra:

"Wednesday night was my last health and healing class. For the final class, we all gave presentations on diets. I did RR. I used the powerpoint Kathleen made and brought in my laptop to display it.

I did the presentation and then I passed out RR cards at the end. I also brought in yukon gold slices for everyone.

It went okay I guess. The people there definitely were not owning it for themselves! LOL. And I hope I didn't scare them. They were more the type of not one diet fits all kind of thing. But they really resonated with the cookies and candy part. So that was fun. I guess I just wanted them to really *get* it. Heh heh. But people come when they are ready. And I'm glad I got to share what worked for me :)"

Selena

Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news.

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** Radiant Kitchen **


My mom made me this vegetarian program-friendly chili to eat while I was visiting for the holidays this past week. She was shocked you could make chili without sweetener, and with *cashews*. I honestly can say it is the best chili I've ever had. I ate it with brown rice and shredded cheddar.

Cashew Chili


Adapted twice from the Wings of Life cookbook by Julie Jordan


Ingredients:
  • 3 cans beans (we used 2 kidney and 1 pinto), rinsed
  • 2 Tablespoons oil
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 bell peppers of any color, chopped
  • 1 poblano pepper, chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves mashed
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1+ Tablespoon chili powder (the more the better)
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 quart diced canned tomatoes
  • 2 grated carrots
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 cup cashews (more if desired)
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt (omit if desired)
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar or cider vinegar


Process:
  1. Stir fry onions, peppers, poblano, and garlic in oil. Add spices and herbs and stir fry them as well, being careful not to burn the spices
  2. Puree the tomatoes and add to spices etc.(You can leave them unpureed if you like a chunky tomato chili). Add carrots, bay leaves, nuts and salt.
  3. Add the beans and simmer until flavors are cooked through.
  4. Add the vinegar a little at a time, tasting between additions (the amount will depend on how sweet or tart the tomatoes are), just before serving.


Note: You will want to watch the salt to see how much to add. If you used salted cashews or tomatoes, for example, you may not need any additional salt. You may also want to play with the type of nuts. I like cashews because they are sweet and creamy, but I bet peanuts would add a nice flavor!

Heather


Radiant Recovery
Cookbook

Naomi's Nutritious and
Delicious Cookbook
Sheila's
Kitchen Recipes

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


Hi YLD friends,

I see that Kathleen is offering the Obesity Myth class on Jan. 7th. I took this class last year (while I was still fretting about my weight), and it so helped with my healing in this hugely warped area that had permeated my life. It was one significant piece of many that helped me get healthier and free of self-loathing, which all helped me work the RR program so much better. The sharing that took place among us was unforgettable and from the heart, well worth the pain it brought up. I really can't say enough about it, and wanted to strongly suggest that anyone with lingering unpleasant or judgmental thoughts about what they weigh (or what anyone else does) or who thinks they could benefit from healing in this area take this class.

Kat

If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just have some plain ol' fun!

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** Radiant Recovery® Store **

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


It's a great time of year to try out new recipes. We carry some really fun cookbooks in the store, and Jeannie has a wonderful way of talking about them.

The Radiant Recipes cookbook was written by Kathleen and Pat Chupak, a personal chef. It has pages and pages of information on how to put together a good program meal, on browns, on dealing with holidays or helping kids eat program food. (It is worth it for those pages alone, in my opinion.) It has some great holiday recipes that have become favorites. It also has some really good basic recipes like quiche, chicken pot pie, roast garlic mashed potatoes, crab cakes, many veggie recipes, on and on. The marinades are wonderful for summer grilling. I use the recipe for Kathleen's Baking Mix all the time. None of the recipes has any sugar, whites or wheat in them.


Naomi's cookbook, Nutritious and Delicious, has beautiful photos and her recipes for delicious, hearty, home-cooked food. Naomi is a genius at taking an old favorite recipe, like sticky chicken wings, green bean casserole, bagels, cheesecake or kugel, and making a radiant version of it that tastes great. I love her pot roast. There are recipes for ice cream and cupcakes that would work for a kid's birthday party. All the recipes are kosher, whites- and sweeteners-free and kid-tested. Naomi has her own newsletter, where she takes things like a very sweet cake and comes up with a version without sweeteners. Unbelievable.


Sheila's cookbook, From Sheila's Kitchen, has wonderful recipes that were tested by members of the community. They are for anyone, but they have the added benefit of raising potassium and lowering sodium in foods, which promotes weight loss. The emphasis is on freshness and flavor without added salt, sugar, or whites. Sheila's included lots of veggies recipes, including delicious roast veggies, a cool pumpkin yogurt smoothie, mini-quiche cups, sloppy joes, tacos, a nice marinara with meat, BBQ chicken, yummy salads, a nice light ricotta cheesecake, and a sweet potato pie testers raved about. I LOVE her barbecue spice and sauce. I also love that she put a little about her own journey in there and how she rediscovered cooking and fresh food, which is very inspiring. It is a perfect cookbook for summer, with all the fresh foods in it.


I love all three cookbooks and wouldn't be without them.

Jeannie

Ok, now I want to add a little fun thing..I am going to add a comment about Pycnogenol every week. It is so mighty and so versatile that you don't believe it when you hear it all at once.

Pycnogenol on Allergy: So Pycnogenol® makes your body less reactive to allergens. This is why Pycnogenol® and fish oil act synergistically to reduce allergy.

Sharma, S. C., S. Sharma, et al. (2003). "Pycnogenol inhibits the release of histamine from mast cells." Phytother Res 17(1): 66-9.



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 **


David wrote this after last year's ranch. I thought I would remind you that we have a men's list with 57 members. So if you are feeling a little awash in the sea of female energy, do come over and meet the guys.

Howdy,

I was very excited to see history being made and I think the female contingent was just as excited to the possibilities of growth for the community from the strong male showing. I think new and exciting energy is always good for the community. I really enjoyed meeting the "new" men, loved seeing all of the regulars as well. I look forward to next years Ranch already.

David D.

Or come to the group page to find the one that will best support your program: http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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** If You Want What We Have, Do What We Do **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



It’s a funny time of year. I am hearing so much hope, so much possibility.

At the same time. I am hearing a lot of people saying, “Oh, this is oh hard!” or *OK, I am just going to grit my way through because I know it will be better.”

Here is what I think when I hear that. There are a number of us who have been making a path for quite a long time. We cleared the trees, moved the rocks, smoothed the dirt, sweep it regularly and have even planted flowers along the way. There are rest stops, there are map holders with updated maps at every rest stop. There are tour guides, there are guide books, There are digital recorders to use that explain the sights. There are shops with hiking boots and warm socks, there are the digital equivalent to Starbucks along the way if you want coffee. There are tea kettles at every rest area. So it does not have to be hard.

However, if you start off and you feel you know the way and you decide going left will be quicker, you may meet mud or brush or rocks or holes. You may decide to travel all night and not stop at the rest stop, so you don't know there was a flash flood ahead. Or you may say, "I think I will take a short cut." and turn out after the third stop. And then you get lost.

Here is the deal. If you want what we have, do what we do.

This means you start at step one. You learn all four parts. You take the step one class, you join the step one list. You don’t try to go off sugar. You don’t deal with your candida or IBS yet. You don’t try to fix your family or your children. A lot of the struggle is waiting on all that while you master just one thing. Every part of you wants to do it ALL, right now! And every part of you thinks that you have a special situation so you don’t really need to do it that way.

But if you are willing to take a deep breath, you will find experienced guides at every rest stop. You will find them cruising the path with little caps, maybe little candles, like little angels along the way. Or maybe you will find someone who is only one month in, but she listened and she got it. She is relaxed and joyful because when she read the book, she KNEW this was her story and she KNEW she was done flapping. And she has really good stuff to share.

Maybe you need to talk things through. There is a place for you. Maybe you need just to listen and reflect. There is a place for you. Maybe you are scared or overwhelmed. We can help. Maybe you are not sure about computers. That is ok, we will teach you.

We do the food, we do what is behind the food. We are grateful, we want to support you. Just stop fighting and let’s get started.


Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together:

Gretel, our webmaster, puts it all together.
David runs the Radiant Recovery® Store.
Selena provides the weekly Ambassadors column.
The banner photograph is by Geraint Smith.


©2008 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, use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®", and notify kathleen@radiantrecovery.com of the location. Please visit the Radiant Recovery® website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction.

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.