November 23, 2009

Hi {!firstname_fix}

I spent the afternoon with friends making place cards for Thanksgiving. We made little stuffed turkeys with real feathers. It was like an old fashioned quilting bee. We just talked and sewed and cut and glued..and while we were working on it, we had a great dinner cooking. So my house smelled like chicken and apple pie. Check the apple pie recipe in the Radiant Recovery Cookbook. I can vouch for how good it is!!

I hope you all have a day of gratitude, no matter what your plans are for Thanksgiving. I will turn on the web cam and share the day with my family.

There will be no classes beginning the week of Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

These classes will begin Wednesday, December 2, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Using the Resources of the Community (1 week) 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.

Handling the Holidays: Christmas (1 week) is our annual discussion of how to transform eggnog and green tree sugar cookies. This will be about families and expectations and food is love and all those sorts of things that come up for many of us this time of year.

These classes will begin Wednesday, December 9, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

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

Looking at New Ways of Dressing (2 weeks) is open to members of YLD and will explore our relationship to clothes. After you start changing your sense of your self, how do you want to dress. What works, what doesn’t work. What about all the clothes in the closet that do not fit. Do you want them? Even if they fit now, are they what you want to wear? How can you have a sense of style? Come have fun and play with us in a journey of discovery.

Radiant Remembering (2 weeks) is a new and very special class for people who have worked their way to step 6/7 and then have forgotten the steps and reverted to old ways, perhaps even falling off the cliff. This is a tender and caring process to help you remember how to get back on track. If you have not yet detoxed, this is not your class. But if you have and then forgotten, please come join us.

The class schedule is online. Click here to see what is planned.

Please wait to sign up for classes until a week or two before, and 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 **


There is NO failure in this plan, only more information to help you learn about your body and your self.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Hi Colette,

I didn't have pork loin for dinner yet - I'll roast one on Friday with my study group coming for dinner to celebrate all 4 of us getting A's on the crisis intervention class exam.

There have been some changes with my food since I've been in school. One being, it getting better :). I've been working on healing some gut issues that whomped me in early August, and so things were pretty rough when I first started college. My food portions were small (soft and bland), and not enough to hold me feeling even-keeled. I was able to build up how much I could eat by focusing on my yes foods, ones that I found to work better for my tummy. A small list - mainstays being plain chicken, scrambled eggs, sweet potatoes, oats and applesauce. Sticking with what I knew worked, eating as much and often as I could and pulling back from as much stress as I could, I've been able to keep my wits about me and gradually built my amounts and some variety back up, and am able to eat some of my favorite raw veggies again now too. Yay!

When I'm in school, breaks are usually 15 mins at 10:45, an hour for lunch at 12:30, and another 15 at 3:00, which works out great for snacks and lunch. Sometimes things run late depending on how excited the teacher or class is about a topic (This semester I have the same teacher for all of my classes)..and we do all get pretty excited. Heh. But I keep snacks in my backpack and just eat something whenever I need to. The neatest thing is that others have gotten so interested in my lunch that I offered to bring theirs too (for a fee, lol), and so I actually pack 5 lunches... fat sandwiches on Deland oat bread (yesterday we had roast beef and cheddar), raw veggies with little cups of dip, cheese sticks and *cookies* being yum cakes with chopped nuts, raisins and a mashed banana added to theirs.

My snacks usually contain some combination of a hard boiled egg, cheese sticks, chicken nuggets, with oatcake/cashew butter *sandwiches* or yum cakes. I still want to call them crab cakes!!! LOL

3 nights a week I get home right at or a tad past dinner time, so I've gotten into the habit of setting up my little crock pot on a timer each morning so that dinner is ready and waiting for me. It is sooo nice to come home and smell dinner as I walk through the door!

Next semester there will be 2 days a week that I am in school from 9am until 7:30pm, home around 8:30. Lonnnng day, while I've no doubt that I'll be able to figure the food out. One of my seat mates cracked up when I said looks like I'll be bringing my crock pot to school. The other was laughing too, saying, 'Ohhh I don't think she's kidding." I wasn't. :)

I am loving college, while still reeling a bit in that I didn't ever think it would be more than a dream. My Dr's had said I wouldn't live another year as a result of complications of the diabetes and damage done with the sugar addiction - which they also said couldn't be reversed. Here it is more than 6 years later, going to college, thriving, excelling. I am sooo grateful for the program and the community!

Now if my internet will stay connected (following an extended outage), I'll be all set! LOL.

Diane

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


I'm always scouting the media for mentions of Kathleen and RR and came across a couple of great articles today.

Kathleen's featured in the Indianapolis Star talking about the benefits of breakfast.

How fabulous is that! Little by little we're getting the message out.

Here's another article quoting Kathleen, BEs, dopamine and the solution - breakfast!

Actually, this is really exciting - seeing Kathleen's name being quoted as an expert. That's what we want guys! Heh heh! More of the same please!!

Could you share the stories on your lists and the forum?

Yours excitedly

Selena

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

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** Radiant Kitchen **


Here is a chicken recipe that is delicious and fancy enough to serve some guests.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

  • 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms
  • 1/2 lb. fresh spinach
  • 1 TBS. olive oil
  • 1/2 c. chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/2 tsp. crushed oregano leaves
  • pinch of black pepper
  • 1 tsp. salt (optional)
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
Rinse, pat dry and chop mushrooms. Set aside. Wash spinach. Place in a saucepan. Cook covered, only with the water clinging to the leaves until barely wilted. Drain well, squeezing out excess water. Chop (should make about 1/2 cup). Set aside. In a large skillet, heat 2 T. of the oil until hot. Add onions and mushrooms. Saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, pepper, salt and spinach. Cook and stir well for 1 minute. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, flatten each chicken breast by placing them between 2 sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap and pounding them with a mallet until about 1/4 inch thick. Spoon 1/4 of the mushroom/spinach mixture onto the center of each chicken breast. Roll lengthwise. Secure with toothpicks.

Place rolled chicken breasts into a 9 inch square pan. Combine chicken broth with remaining 2 T. of olive oil. Spoon over chicken. Bake uncovered, basting frequently, until chicken is tender, about 15 - 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving (optional).

Note: You can make the mushroom/spinach mixture the night before and refrigerate it. Let it come to room temperature before using. Then just start with pounding the chicken and filling, rolling and baking.

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 **


I have been reading the chat transcripts of the last few weeks and laughing. I am thinking we should be publishing these things as a whole new support to doing and refining your program. The concepts are fun, but your input and reflections are mind-boggling to me. I simply cannot tell you how much I learn from your ideas. This is how we grow the community. Thank you!

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.




If you are thinking about giving someone a way to learn more about the program, think about the CD collection we have. It is truly a remarkable discussion Kathleen recorded live. It captures the essence of the steps, and what is woven into the process.

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 **


A lot of new people have come over to radiantparents and are talking about how to do new behaviors with their kids. We are talking not just about food, but about new patterns of recovery in your family. If you are looking for great support for toddlers to teens, come join us. The problem solving is such a comfort and I love seeing the more experienced parents give so much help to new people.

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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**The Tools of Your Journey **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



Let’s spend a little time talking about the valuable tools of your journey — your journal and the lists of your process.

Use that Journal

The value of your journal comes in using it. When you really understand that your journal is the way your body talks with you, everything changes.

If you only see your journal as a 'log' to record how well (or how poorly) you are doing, it will get really old fast. If you work with your journal as a living dialogue with your body, it will truly be a joy. You will want to write in it.

Even more important, you will want to read it and use it to understand what your body needs. You may feel that the steps I have outlined are too simple. You may drift towards counting calories, towards recording grams. You may focus on tracking every little detail, but forget the relationship part.

Remember Relationship

Your body wants to be in relationship with you. It will show you the way by how you feel. If you are feeling better, things are working. If you aren’t, then you simply need to adjust your process and your food.

But you can’t know the adjustments without your journal. If you came to my office for a private session, I would ask you to bring your journal. Here are the things we would look at together:

  • How are you feeling when you wake up? Are you energized? Excited about the day?
  • Do you have a hard time shifting gears into being awake?
  • Do you want to eat breakfast? Are you hungry?
A healthy, rested body wants to get up after sleeping. Even a 'night person' will want to get up — albeit more slowly and in increments. When your body is balanced, it lives in a quality of being pleased to have another day. If getting up is really hard for you, simply make a note of this. It will change as the food changes.

  • Are you having breakfast with protein every morning? Is this enjoyable?
  • Have you developed a routine that you like? Is it easy and pleasant?
  • Has breakfast become automatic and simply a part of your morning without a big hassle?
I sit on my porch in the morning and eat breakfast with the birds. Together we watch the light break over the top of the mountain. It is a quiet time that anchors my day. My journal taught me how important this time is. If I skip it and 'get to work' my day is not the same. I am far more scattered and rushed all day. It’s these tiny little details that create change.

  • Are you having three meals with protein and your very complex carbs?
  • Are you eating enough? Are you eating too much?
  • Are you enjoying what you are eating?
Your Journal Will Lead you

I was recently working with someone who is a little person. She weighs 118 and wants to weigh 110 (stay with me. I know at first glance you may think you should have such problems — but the story is the same for all of us!). She is sugar sensitive and is doing YLD.

She started having 3 cups of veggies at each meal. She felt she didn’t lose weight quickly enough (a clue — she is still in the numbers game ;-) ), so she added another cup of veggies.

Her body is very smart. It said, 'I don’t think so!' She stopped losing weight and started feeling de-energized and off kilter. I blessed her body. It is so smart. It was talking to her! Her body wanted her to listen.

She needed to do her food in a way that suited her body. We sorted it out. Less was better. And the plan started working again.

  • Are you getting the vitamins every day?
  • Are you having that evening carb? Yep, Mr. Spud is important.
  • .What are you doing with caffeine? What about aspartame?
Sometimes people forget the vitamin part. But the vitamins are directly tied in to the processes that convert tryptophan into serotonin. Skip the vitamins and you are working with only part of the equation.

Yes, Yes, the potato is important

And, I know you know that the potato is important. Or you may not. I am still getting mail from people who ask me, 'Are you sure you really want me to eat this?' 'It’s high glycemic!' 'Sugar Busters says that potatoes are BAD!' 'But, you aren’t supposed to eat before sleeping!' 'It’s more calories. I am going to gain weight!'

Remember, we are changing your basic thinking about losing weight. We are up against years and years of conditioning here. Read the weekly newsletter. Check on the forum. Talk about it with others doing the program. It’s important. Have your potato.

Redefining the Focus

I am sure you are connecting with my reasoning. You notice, at no time have I said, 'So how much do you weigh today?' If you are still focused on the scale, you aren’t focused on the relationship to your body. You will lose weight, I promise. But what I want most is for you to know, and most of all, to love your body.

I want you to come to love that body — even while it is still fat, even when it is wrinkly and saggy (my apologies to you who are younger ;-) ), even when it is still learning about exercise. This body has served you diligently.

Through all those years of abuse, being forgotten, living in shame, being hidden, your body has waited and wanted to talk with you. And I guarantee, if you come home to it, it will respond with a degree of cooperation which will shock you.

Your body loves you. Even if you haven’t loved it — it adores you and wants to serve you. Spend time, listen to it. The journal is your body’s voice. Literally, think of that when you write in your journal. Think of that when you read your journal. Your body’s voice. Relationship! Finally.

If You Listen, Your Body Will Speak.


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.