April 6, 2009

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, it was a sad week. Little Miss Annie dog seemed to unravel soon after Franklin. So she has joined him over the rainbow bridge. We imagine them both now fully restored and romping through green grass together. It is funny how these little beings just come in, drop love and whisper away. So, many of us are feeling sad this week.

And at the same time, it is a time for tremendous renewal. I am feeling this a lot. Somehow this spring is asking for a change in my own program. More vegetables, more careful attention to timings, little things - the things we have called nanos - are making a difference.

These classes will begin Wednesday, April 8, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Step 1 (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.

Radiant Step 2 Introduction (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.

This classes will begin Wednesday, April 15, 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.

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. 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.

Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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** Quote From Kathleen **


Work to know what you eat and why you eat what you do.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


I'm glad you asked this because it made me think about my own kids and lying. I hadn't related that to the RR program. I used to be very bothered by lying by my dd. But it really doesn't happen anymore. I am not sure how much that has to do with my reaction to it changing and how much to do with her need to lie changing. The steady food seems to have affected both. Overall our relationship is not volatile anymore. I cannot pinpoint exactly what happened when, or what the causal piece is. But since doing this program, (and dd is not yet completely off sugar) we are much more calm and happy.

Keep doing breakfast, keep those communication lines open.

Hmm, maybe that is part of the change. As we open communication lines to talk about food and ask what they want and how they would fit in protein, those communication lines stay open in other issues as well. And as you get more steady, you are more able to be calm which inspires kids to talk more. I don't know, I am thinking as I write this to you. But I do know that lying has gone out of our life as we have gotten more and more steady with our food.

Lisa

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


After mentioning the Radiant Recovery Facebook group a couple of weeks ago it seems as though more and more of you are discovering it! Just two months ago there were 50 members. As of today, there are now 101 members. This is fantastic!

Don't forget that it's not just you who will see the group, but also your family and friends too. A couple of us on the Ambassadors list have even included a link to Radiant Recovery on our home page.

You never quite know when a seed will be sown!

Selena

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

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** Radiant Kitchen **


For those of you who aren't salmon fans or who have already mastered it here is one of my absolute favourites to try.

I cannot speak highly enough of this easy and versatile soup and I have never served it to anyone who hasn't raved about it. It has killer ingredients which can really help the body when it is fighting illness and it is soft and easily digestible for those who have stomach problems or dental work to negotiate. As a baby food it is unbeatable and the sweet potato is great for introducing toddlers to veggies.

Add a scoop of protein powder or chopped cooked chicken when it has cooled slightly and you have a complete meal which is wonderful in a flask for traveling. I have even served this to the two most ardent veggie haters I know (son and son-in-law) and the sweet potato has made it palatable even to these 'super-tasters'.

The basic ingredients are root vegetables so it is grounding and filling in an emotional crisis so do keep a portion in the freezer for emergency use.

Most of all it is utterly, utterly delicious.

Use the basic recipe and then play around with the options to find your favourite combination. If you have a stick blender (great investment if you haven't got one already) you can make it very smooth and velvety with a knob of butter and serve it at even the most sophisticated dinner party. It has always been a huge success at bonfire parties and pot lucks when I have taken it with some warmed whole wheat bread rolls.

You will need:

  • A kettle full of boiling water - so put that on first!

  • Equal quantities of sweet potato, ordinary skin on potato and celery. Around a coffee mug/two cups of each and chopped into smallish pieces - think heaped teaspoon or large dice size.

  • A medium sized onion chopped.

  • A heaped teaspoon of fresh garlic chopped.

  • A crumbled stock cube. Chicken or vegetable work best.

  • A heaped teaspoon of herbs - tarragon is gorgeous but mixed herbs or a bouquet garni are also good. This is one of the optional ones to find the taste you like but do at least try the tarragon as it makes the celery and sweet potato zing.

  • A generous knob of butter or a slug of olive oil.

  • A green veggie to be added last - choose between one coffee mug full of chopped cabbage/spinach/watercress/green beans or peas*


*Cabbage will give a sweeter flavour to the soup and as it isn't cooked for long it will be less sulphurous for those who aren't cabbage lovers. Cabbage should never be boiled for more than six to ten minutes or it becomes unpalatable.

*Watercress or spinach is great if you are using the soup for convalescence or dinner parties.

*If you really do hate green leafy veggies then put cut up green beans or peas in at the beginning of cooking.

So here we go:

  1. Put a largish saucepan (to allow space for blending) on a low heat and just barely cover the sweet potato, celery and potato with boiling water. Crumble in the stock cube and add the onion and garlic with the herbs. If you are using green beans or peas as your green then add them in as well at this first stage of cooking. Stir it around to mix the flavours and then leave it for twenty minutes with a lid on to just simmer*.

    *Simmer means there is a teensy bit of action in the pan with bubbles coming to the top and the surface will move very slightly but not violently like in boiling.

  2. At twenty minutes stir in your green leafy veggie, the liquid should now be just below the surface of the vegetables and if it has reduced more then just top it up from the kettle. Simmer for a further ten minutes then turn off the heat and leave it for fifteen minutes to cool slightly.

  3. If you like your soup fairly wet then leave the liquid just barely below the surface of the vegetables - if you like it thicker (like me) then take out a couple of spoonfuls. If you used bouquet garni you need to take the little bag out at this stage and discard it. Put in your knob of butter or slug of oil and if you like your soup chunky just crush it up a little with a heavy spoon or potato crusher. Personally I love this soup smooth and velvety so I use a stick blender straight in the saucepan.

  4. Now that it is cooled slightly it will probably look like three large or four small servings and you can add a scoop or two of protein powder which will turn it into 'cream of vegetable' soup and give you almost a complete rr meal. You will need to work out how much more protein you need but it works wonderfully well served with cheese on toast or some cold chicken diced on the top.

  5. For a dinner party use the watercress version and put a little sprig on top of each bowl with maybe a little swirl of cream.


For more great program-friendly recipes, check out these great cookbooks in the store.


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 **


Chats are sometimes funny, sometimes light, sometimes instructive. And other times, they are just *one of those wonder moments.* Thank you all for coming.

I just wanted to take a minute to let you know how profound Wed. chat was for me. It felt like you were reading my mind. I was right there with it. Then I realized, "wait a minute, all these other people are experiencing this too!" It was one of those wonder moments for me and I just had to let you know.

I received my set of Euroranch CDs and have begun listening to them. I'm so glad that I preordered when I did because I probably wouldn't have ordered them after knowing of my job cut. They are wonderful. Thank you!

Alison

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.


I know many of you are getting ready for travel to ranch. Think Oatcakes and Almond Butter. Remember one packet of Almond Butter has the same amount of protein as an egg. And it is way more fun than munching a hard-boiled egg in the airport.


So we are all caught up with shake and life is settled and focused. Nice!

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 **


On our Radiant Fitness group we talk about how doing the food can support our fitness program and vice versa. Some favorite topics are what to eat when doing intensive exercise when all that's out there commercially are sugar filled products. We also talk about what to eat before and after morning workouts, and what to do for those folks whose training program requires a twice-a-day workout.

We have runners walkers, bikers, dancers, aerobicizers, yogis, and many more types of exercise enthusiasts on the list. One of the neat things on the list is people who are recovering from exercise addiction who are learning how to work exercise back into their life in a healthy way. If any of this fits you, well, come on over and join in.

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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** 42 Ways to Say No **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



Margot Silk Forest is one of my most favorite people in the world. She taught me how to graciously say *no*. I think this is a great time of year to hear it again! I have included her list of 42 ways to say No right here.

42 Ways to Say “No”
(or buy time until you can)
especially during the holiday season!

by Margot Silk Forrest
author of A Short Course in Kindness


A lot of us have difficulty saying “No.” This list, offered with compassion and a little humor, will help you get comfortable with turning people down, refusing to answer nosy or offensive questions, asking people to stop doing something you don’t like, and telling others you disagree them.

As you develop your “No” muscles, see if you can shift from saying “I can’t” to forthrightly saying “I won’t.” Also try exchanging “I don’t want you to…” for “Don’t….” You will feel vastly more empowered -- and have more time for yourself and the people you really care about when you do.

When Someone Asks You To Do Something For Them or With Them

  1. The enthusiastic (polite/helpful/etc.) part of me would like to say yes, but the rest of me is overcommitted (more realistic/unwilling/etc.).
  2. I don't know. I'll have to think that over.
  3. I wish I could help you out, but I’m overextended/overcommitted right now.
  4. I'm going to pass. I'm really trying to slow down my pace these days.
  5. That’s something I’ll have to think about.
  6. I don't have my calendar with me, but I can call and let you know tomorrow.
  7. Sorry, I'm already booked.
  8. No, I can't make it after all. But it was nice of you to ask.
  9. I’ll think it over.
  10. Thanks, but I'm way too tired.
  11. No, that's not really my thing.
  12. Don't hold your breath!
  13. I have an appointment that day/night. (And you don’t have to say what it is!)
  14. That’s not for me, thanks.
  15. Oh, that sounds interesting. Let me think about it and get back to you.
  16. I'm not sure if I'm free that day/night. Let me check and call you tomorrow.
  17. Sorry, but my schedule is too full right now.
  18. The part that wants to make you happy wants to say yes, but the rest of me won the vote. I'll pass.
  19. Thanks, but I don't think I will.
  20. That’s not really something I enjoy.
  21. That doesn't work for me.
  22. That doesn't fit for me.
  23. When you want to have some fun saying no, try one of these:
    Not in this lifetime! Forget it! Dream on! No way, Jose!

When Someone Does, Asks, or Says Something Invasive

  1. I'm not comfortable with that.
  2. I'd like to ask you not to _________________________________.
  3. I'd like you to stop __________________________________.
  4. Please stop doing that. I don’t like it.
  5. I'm uncomfortable right now with what you're saying/doing.
  6. That’s not something I talk about except with family.
  7. Let’s talk about something else.
  8. I want to keep that to myself.
  9. That's my business.
  10. I'm surprised you think you have a right to that information.
  11. I don't feel like talking about it.
  12. And you are asking me this because… ?? (Try saying this with a look of utter disbelief.)
  13. Sorry, that's not something I talk about.
  14. I never answer questions like that.

When Someone Says Something You Disagree With

  1. I see it differently than you do.
  2. We certainly don't agree about that.
  3. I have a different point of view.
  4. My experience of _______________________ is somewhat different.
  5. I hear what you are saying, but I don’t agree with it.

Copyright © 2003 by Margot Silk Forrest


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 Patti Holden.


©2009 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.