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December 27, 2010 Hi {!firstname_fix} Well, the sun is out today. My puppies are healthy and leaping and hopping. I am loving the quiet and peacefulness of this morning. I hope you are all feeling settled and can take this week to reflect on what the new year will bring for your healing. This class will begin Wednesday, December 29, 2010. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page: Addiction Amoeba: A New Look (2 weeks) is part of a new series on how the Addiction Amoeba can clobber us. So you have gotten the food steady and are ready to take a look at the other stuff - gambling, debt, shopping, work, money, sex, you name it. A tender look at the biochemistry of these and how doing the food is going to help all of them. I will share with you the wonderful process that we discovered last Fall during Euro Ranch. Do not sign up for this class if you are just beginning the program, LOL. It is scary for newbies. But for you old timers who are ready for an incredible look at emotional sobriety, this is your class. And no, you don't have to give up everything! These classes will begin Wednesday, January 5, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page: Radiant Step 1 (2 weeks) 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 (2 weeks) 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. First Steps in Weight Loss (2 weeks) is a class for those of you who want to lose weight and are looking for guidance in getting started with that process. This class shows you how the seven steps get you ready for doing weight loss. Getting to Radiant Ranch (2 weeks) is a special class for people who have a limited income and want to have support in sorting out ways to get to ranch. It is a very practical class to help you look at being creative. If you participate and graduate from this class, the cost of the class will be applied to your ranch tuition. 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 **********************************************************************
** Quote From Kathleen ** Many people think the program is just about *da food* but really it is about healing addiction. **********************************************************************
** Testimonial of the Week ** 
I thought I'd tell you what happens for me :)Last Friday I had a regular screening colonoscopy, and everything looks great. But it meant a day before of clear liquids, then the prep to clean me out, and then not eating 'til after I got home (and going slowly, because I was a bit nauseated). So lunch was--let's say 24 hours late (grin). My food was off. I was off. I knew it, and it wasn't fun but I also knew it would be over soon. I was a wee bit cranky. So I ate a chicken sandwich and apologized and then took a nap. Then another nap. I ate the very best I could and waited. Next day, I felt a lot better and ate my normal food. My breakfast felt like manna from heaven. Such a relief. We went to the grocery store. The chips looked really nice to me. I avoided that aisle and thought about dinner. The day after that was Sunday. My husband was preparing a lesson for Church. He had a sweet treat out on the counter to give to his students. It smelled disgustingly sweet, but I must admit it looked kinda good to me. Ah, a sign. Nothing personal. I laughed and covered it with a napkin. We were taking dinner to an elderly neighbor--lovely stew meat with gravy, mashed potatoes, sauteed asparagus. So our dinner was extra yummy! My husband had also bought a huge dessert thingie to take over. He visits this dear fellow (who is 93), listens to his stories, and takes him sweets. Now, I would skip the treat--but my husband gets to choose what he does with his friends. This one didn't appeal to me--if it had, I'd have broken out a towel to cover it or carried it somewhere else the dog wouldn't get into LOL. When I was first detoxed, I'd have made a huge deal about this. Get it out of my sight--out of my house. I'd have accused my diabetic husband of taking vicarious pleasure from all the sweets. This year, it was no big deal to me. I could live and let live. I am very grateful that I have this warning that my program is off. Cravings can be scary--even baby ones that are just waking up. But they don't have to be. Cravings mean my addictive biochemistry is activated. And I know what to do for that: do the food. Crankiness means I'm hungry or hungry-plus-tired. And I know what to do for that, too LOL. Jeannie **********************************************************************
** Radiant Ambassadors ** 
Has anyone ever used Yahoo Answers before? It's a site where you can ask any question and receive an answer from the general public. I just so happened to be searching for any unanswered questions about sugar addiction today. Click here to see what I found. So, does anyone around here know whether sugar is addictive or not (grin)? How about a program that heals sugar addiction (double grin)? I've added my answer to the post and wondered if anyone else would like to join me? Spreading the word, one person at a time. Selena selenas@blueyonder.co.uk Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news. **********************************************************************
** How I Found Radiant Recovery ** I'm Jan. I live in South Yorkshire, UK. I'm looking forward to being able to find my way around the Radiant Recovery web site. I am reading Potatoes not Prozac which I found when I was exploring the effects of sugar, having become aware that I "binged" and didn't feel at all well when I ate it. I would say I'm adjusting to Step One. It's an accumulation of little things for me. For example, today I had a hospital appointment and had to leave the house early. Normally I would have gone without breakfast and eaten coffee and cake at a cafe for "elevenses." This time I prepared breakfast the night before so I had time to eat before leaving. (At the same time I prepared a delicious packed lunch - and thought of a good place to sit and eat it - even though that's not Step One!) I can't tell you how much better the day has gone. Normally I would have been exhausted when I got home. Today I was fine, despite having, on impulse, wandered round an exhibition at the Art Gallery in town. This doesn't sound much, but I have serious breathing difficulties and being able to do this felt miraculous. I'd like to learn from other people's experience, and it would be good to be part of a community where "good eating" is a norm. **********************************************************************
** Radiant Recovery® Store ** David manages the Radiant Recovery® Store. He is also Kathleen's oldest son. So this week, I am finishing up our little clearance sale... I have two offerings for you. The first, the RR stainless water bottle is usually $13.99, will now be $6.99. Take it to the gym, put it in your backpack, or keep it in the car with you. It is a great way to always have you water on hand. The second is Nordic Berries. They are usually priced at $21.99, will now be $10.99. These are a good solution for your kids getting the terrific vitamins that Nordic Naturals carries. Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. **********************************************************************
** Happenings on Facebook **   I
Have you ever seen a Twibbon on Facebook? You can add a Twibbon to your profile or profile picture to show your support of a particular cause. It's a great way to let your friends know about Radiant Recovery via your profile and news feed. To get the Radiant Recovery Twibbon, click here. You can also tweet your Twibbon if you are a twitterer (say that three times fast!)Come find us on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/RadiantRecovery and join the fun!. **********************************************************************
** Radiant Kitchen ** 
Last week in chat there was a lot of talk about vegetables. It reminded me of this terrific recipe Alison had shared on Introduction to Radiant Cooking.
The stuffed zucchini boat was a huge success! My son, who doesn't like to eat
anything green especially if it has a funny name, went back for seconds. His
comment, "Mom, you should make this again."
For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store. **********************************************************************
** Radiant Conversations ** We will be having some wonderful conversations over the next few weeks. Since it is the new year and lots of you are wanting to look at weight, I think it will be fun to start that process. Plan to come and bring your questions, experience, strength and hope. If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you want to be a part of the latest and greatest or just have some plain ol' fun! **********************************************************************
** Our Online Groups ** The Radiant Step One list is a great place to learn the nuances of breakfast, build a strong foundation for the rest of the steps, and find how helpful it is to share our journey with others. It is great for new people and those who have been on the program a long time. Sharing helps everyone. The awesome thing is we all, Step 1 or Step 7, eat breakfast every single day. How cool is that? We have had a lot of people join us this week. Do plan on coming over to the breakfast list to talk with others about what you are learning. Since we are doing the breakfast class next week, it is a nice combination. **********************************************************************
**The Law of Threes ** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.
I wrote this a couple of years ago. It is still my favorite for New Year's. I will tell you at the end my goals for 2011. I have often been asked why I don't provide a whole list of supplements. "Why only three, Kathleen?" I operate under The Law of Threes. (I made it up.) I firmly believe that we sugar-sensitive people have "mush brains." We are smart and intuitive but we have a very hard time "remembering" what we are supposed to do. However, I have found that I can easily remember three things. Three key issues (blood sugar, serotonin, beta endorphin), three meals, three vitamins. I thought it would be a good idea to put The Law of Threes to use. Every year between my birthday in late November and Christmas, I begin thinking about the year completed and the year to come. Where have I been, where do I want to grow and what will it take to get there? In the past, I would write out many goals. Once I even bought one of those expensive planning systems which provided space in my appointment book to see how I was progressing with each goal. I think we had seven areas to work with. But after about two weeks, my enthusiasm petered out. I couldn't remember everything I was supposed to be doing, so I simply stopped doing any of it. Sounds like a sugar-sensitive person, don't you think? Then I started working with The Law of Threes. I could remember three things. The idea grew with me. It simplifies and focuses my direction. My goals:
So I said, "Okay, Kathleen, what do you mean? Let's get concrete and specific, here." It was fun to tag each goal to a very specific area - making it doable. So I got to pick three applications for my three goals. Here is what I chose:
Remember now, I was still working with The Law of Threes, so I didn't let myself start making up lists. Oh, I wanted to. I wanted lists big time. All the things I would do with my food, all the strategies with money, and many, many options for exercise. But I held my pen and worked on holding my brain. I admit that I kept wanting to drift off in wild reflection... "Well, you could do this...." "Three, you get to choose three," I told myself. So I went back to my little grid (you know I love those grids)! It made me laugh.
Of course there will be other things I have to figure out in order to manage these three. I will have to watch the time, go grocery shopping, decide what to cook when, what to eat. But I can just keep the focus on the end task - eat three meals every day. The same is true for paying the bills on time. I have to remember to bring the mail in, to open it, to register that it is a bill, to note the day it is due, to make sure the money is in the right account. You know the drill. We tend to drift and then we get in trouble. La-La land I call this. In the past, when I hit La-La land, I would get upset and feel bad, and then would have to avoid those feelings by not doing anything. Now my pattern is to stay focused on what is manageable. Pay the bills on time. Eat three meals. Exercise. The end of the story? If I do my three things, I will get to my goals. See if you can boil down what you want for next year into three things. Get really simple and really focused and see how it goes. My goals for 2011:
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. Emily shares a recipe. Tina tells us what's happening on Facebook. ©2010 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/ |
