May 23, 2011

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, things in Albuquerque have settled back into regular life now. We have had some rain, and now are back to late evening dark skies. When the summer rains come, we will have rainbows as well. My flowers in the Josie garden have started to bloom and flourish, the birds are all back and the yard is filled with life.

I will start working on the ranch recording this weekend so you will get to hear my talks (smile) and see how they are. It is always fun to do that.

And I am just looking at the calendar for Fall and realized that the early bird Euroranch registration is just through June 1. So if you are planning on coming and want to save some money, please go ahead and get signed up.

I hope all you new people will join us in the step one class. It is always a great way to get started.

This class will begin Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

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.

This class will begin Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 6 (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 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 **


Words for feelings are not good or bad. They are simply to help you understand what is happening.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Ranch was awesome. Serenity was everywhere. I LOVED meeting and re-connecting with everyone from this list and from the wider community. Ranch is all about the people and the connections. There were so many unexpected pleasures this year, just little stolen moments, like a baby moving or the look in someone's eyes on Sunday afternoon before she left, or the two people who drove and felt so accomplished by driving a long trip on their own. Ranch is always magical, but this time it was more unforced, I just let things unfold. My progress over the last year was marked by the fact that I was able to enjoy Saturday night play. Every year for 6 years I would come and try to enjoy it but it felt awful and I left as soon as possible. This year I stayed and played the whole time and hardly ever checked the time until I noticed the room clearing out!

Another gift was the local AA folks who attended. One of them was my buddy, and he marked 90 days on Monday -- I had two buddies, Lisa was my second buddy. There were a lot of first-timers this year but they all seemed relaxed and happy. It all just flowed.

In fact, one of Kathleen's presentations was about being in the flow, and not trying to control the outcomes. Like the 12 and 12 talks about, we are empowered by giving up our power, or the illusion of our own power, and relying on a Power Greater than Ourselves. It was just wonderful, I felt like RR and AA were explicitly intersecting in the way that I have previously come to see them intersecting for myself. It gives me shivers even now to write about it. This doesn't have to be hard, we just make our best choices and pray and meditate and let answers come in their time. So simple.

This year at Ranch I noticed that my blood sugar was more stable than it ever has been before.That made me very pleased; I hope that healing continues. It is just like people told me five years ago -- the healing continues no matter how long you have been doing the food.

I think next year I will have to have a goal of carving out appropriate Me Time. I missed that this year, and maybe that was why I couldn't sleep... Oh, let's be honest, I don't really know what happened. Maybe I didn't take enough time to talk to people I have already met. I love to meet new people but maybe my relationships with long-time friends suffer by neglect. Balance, always seeking balance... smile .

Gosh, I really didn't talk about my food at all. The highlight of Ranch's food was the Indian Cultural Center breakfast, specifically those blue corn pancakes. I swear they tasted so good, I thought they had to have white/sugar, but my body didn't seem to think so. I wish I had that recipe! I also went to a Brazilian steak house one night. The 'sides' buffet had potato salad with the skins on, beautiful salad bar fixings, a couple different kinds of beans. And the meats were so delicious! I was the only one who chose the option where they come around with all the different choices, and oh what wonderful tastes I experienced, Yum! On Saturday we had lunch together in the seminar room, and it was a New Mexican buffet -- really yummy!

OK, I think that is enough about me for now. I am trying to catch up on messages. I currently have over 120 in my inbox. I may just end up deleting a lot of them... But I so want to know how everyone is doing!

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


Diane shared a wonderful story with us recently - I got goose bumps, thought we would share her post with you too:



In August of 2006 we had a Northeast Geo's clambake at Reid State Park in Georgetown, Maine.. with lots of rain and giant kamikaze mosquitoes. There were 30 + of us, and people brought salads and corn to go with the lobsters and clams, which we steamed right there in big cookers. Despite the wet and gray weather, we had a terrific time together.



There were a few activities we had planned to do together. The corn shucking race was really fun (and got all that corn husked in no time! lol). We had also planned on sending out a Radiant message in a bottle while we were at ocean's edge. Someone brought markers and paper, and a beautiful small poster was made with calligraphy describing our day, where we were etc. A lot of people signed it and then it was rolled up and put in a tall water bottle with a Radiant Recovery business card and a Little Sugar Addicts card. I also added my gmail address, thinking someone local might find it. We hooked a potato key chain to the bottle as ballast, and then Jamie flung our message in a bottle out into the sea.



I have remembered the bottle from time to time, wondering if anyone ever found it.. but had mostly forgotten about it.. that was almost 5 years ago now.

And then about 2 weeks ago, I received an email note from someone saying they had found our message, on the shore of Ponta Delgada, on an island off the coast of... Spain!

With the help of a translator, I am corresponding with the person that found the bottle and we are talking about Radiant Recovery- she is very interested to hear more about Sugar Sensitivity, with hopes that what we do, will also help her too. :)

I do know that every time we share about the program, we are planting seeds..and how far a breeze can take them has been proven to be absolutely amazing many many times over. I get all goose bumpy thinking about our water bottle making it all the way across the North Atlantic, carrying our Radiant message, energy and hope...and then someone finding it that was looking for the same.

Never underestimate the power of sharing about Sugar Sensitivity and the program, even in little bits- as even the tiniest of seeds can grow. :)

Diane
Selena
selenas@blueyonder.co.uk

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

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** How I Found Radiant Recovery **


I have a lot of anxiety and panic attacks so I ordered the Anxiety Busters program. Ronnie mentioned Potatoes not Prozac in one of the tapes so I bought the book. I have been doing the program ever since. I am less anxious and feel so much better.

Diane

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** Radiant Recovery® Store **


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

Kathleen was talking with the folks on the pregnancy and nursing list about which oils are best for them. She had a long conversation with the experts at Nordic Naturals. Then she went and read a lot of original research. The research shows that supplementing with oil increases important DHA levels. The baby's brain is made from DHA, so this is a very good thing. Infants with higher levels of DHA had more mature electroencephalogy measures. That means more mature brain function. And it seems that oil supplementation may improve intelligence. The 4 year olds whose moms took oil during pregnancy and breast feeding score *significantly* higher than children whose moms were given corn oil. Pretty amazing!

I know Kathleen is going to write about this more in depth, but I got so excited, I went ahead and got some new oils just for you. it is called ProDHA. I called it the make your baby smart oil.

Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.

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** Happenings on Facebook **


Radiant Recovery® International | Promote Your Page Too


You may not realize that we have two *faces* on Facebook. One is at Radiant Recovery which is our interactive group where you can come to ask food questions and get individualized help with your program in Facebook style.

The other is our page at Radiant Recovery® International. This is where Kathleen and other admin members of the community share ideas and thoughts. Put both together and you will get a nice combination of information and support.

Come find us and join the fun!

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** Radiant Kitchen **


From our blog at www.radiantrecovery.com/recipes

Packed with potassium

Cream of Tomato Soup
  • 2 cups tomato juice
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 tsp or cube vegetable bouillon
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • fresh ground black pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan. On medium heat, bring to a boil.

Reduce to low heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until creamy and hot.

Serves 1 – 2 depending on how hungry you are. Goes great with grilled cheese on hearty rye or wholegrain bread.

This recipe was contributed by sheba from the Radiant Recovery Community Forum.

For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store.


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** Our Online Groups **


Check out the Radiant Fitness group on Yahoo. On Fitness 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 is 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 just had a great thread on the necessity of sports drinks and how doing the food is better.

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 in 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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**Going Through a Shift **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



I have been hearing a lot of people talk about a deep shifting. It has been hard.

But as I sat and thought about it, I realized that this is way deeper than personal stumbling. I began to hear the same story, spoken in different ways, and the more I listened the more I began to sense that something bigger is happening.

The tsunami was caused by an earthquake. But really it was a huge shift in the surface of the earth. This was a monumental event. The energy flooded, literally, and wiped away everything that had been. You held on for dear life or you were swept away.

Now, it is funny, but this is the same theme I have been hearing over and over. Nothing that was makes sense. It all feels pointless. Everything I counted on no longer fits. I don't know who I am, I don't know where I belong, I cannot find my center. Too much, too fast and I feel like I am being sucked into a dark hole.

Now a medical model will diagnose these feelings as clinical depression. And that same model will prescribe medication. It will identify the situations that precipitated these feelings of darkness. Of course there will be "situations" - a lost job, a move, a promotion, stress at work, no sleep from a new baby, the death of a mother, a son at war, an abusive husband, a lost relationship or all of the above. But we have all had these things all our lives. Why are we stumbling so now?

I think the energy shift of the world discombobulated us on a cellular level. Things as they were actually do not exist any longer. Literally, our "magnetic north" changed and we can't get our bearings. And if we stumble and then our food gets off, we cannot sort it out. It feels so personal. We do not experience it as a major spiritual crisis, it just feels horrible and we feel lost.

This a time of awakening. When things no longer fit, we have an opportunity to clear out that stuff, to throw away the stuff that does not fit and to make room for something new. We don't know what that will be yet, it has not emerged. So we have to endure this time of "in between" where the old is gone and the new has not emerged. However can we make sense of this?

At the first level, comfort comes with doing the food, doing the program. Not just taking out sugar, that is a tiny part of it. But following instructions, being connected, being patient. Rebuilding a solid foundation that cannot be swept away are all part of creating a way to hold what is emerging.

This is the time to go back to basics. Literally. Rather than getting caught in how horrible it is, ask for help. Get connected. Trust that this is not just a personal stumble, but that you are part of a great shift. You got thrown off kilter and you can get steady. Get back on track with your food and program. Don't beat yourself up.

Last week, I said "If you are going to be with a person in a dark hole, take a ladder and a lantern" (smile). The steps are the ladder and our humor and perspective is the lantern. You are not alone. Grace is unfolding.


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.
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 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.

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