May 7, 2012


Hi {!firstname_fix}

The peacocks are not calling. I think they have done their jobs and the females are sitting now. I just read on the web that the males lose their feathers right after solstice. I thought that was interesting. I am excited for Ranch. All set to go and looking forward to people arriving.

Remember, if you love the idea of ranch but were not able to come this year, perhaps you would like to contribute to our scholarship fund that made it possible for some of your friends to attend. Click here to participate in that.

And George's® is sitting on the dock downtown and will be on our doorstep in the morning. David will have yours in the mail ASAP.


There will be no classes beginning Wednesday, May 9, 2012.


This class will begin Wednesday, May 16, 2012. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 1

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. We are running a special and reducing the price and the time for this class. It will now be a one week intensive. Let's see if it suits you better.


This class will begin Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Problem Solving (2 weeks) - This is a special class for the stuck. If you have been doing the program for a while and don't feel the way you think you should, or if you feel stuck, or if you don't honestly know what you should do next, come to this class and explore your specific concerns. We will take a look together at what might be going on. This is an unusual opportunity to get answers. This is for the motivated and willing. You will learn skills and have a LOT of support.


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

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 **


Most sugar addicts who have not started to heal do not plan much.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Oh I thought you had met Alfie the year he came to EuroRanch.

Why not let me know next time you are visiting your mum and dad and we could have a coffee? With Alfie. (Alfie loves decaff Costa, there is one at the M20 service station and that is a regular haunt of ours as I used to visit there a lot when I was socialising him with people...I know the M20 service station might not seem an ideal place for a coffee but the Costa is lovely, and my thinking back then was it didn't matter how unruly Alfie was as I would never see these people again! So we sat outside, I had a decaff and he was unruly LOL).

Or you could pop round and meet him? But if that seems scary, then the Costa Coffee would be a plan.

For everyone else on the list I would say that I have met Jenny at lunches and EuroRanch so it's not as if I am inviting a total stranger off the list to meet me and Alfie. And after one lunch we caught the same train so I know that Jenny's parents live in the next but one village to me.

Alfie's high five was really good until the girls in the Dirty Habit (a village pub) realised he could do it. The same place serves madelaines with coffee (a small sponge cake about the same size and shape as the bowl of a teaspoon) and Alfie just adores the madelaines. The girls that work there started to reward his high five with madelaines and he got over-excited and they just reward any kind of high five, paw waving, shaking of paw, lifting of paw. I end up laughing so hard that I am unable to correct it; the girls are happy, he is happy with his madelaines and anyone else in the bar seems to end up laughing too.

Karen


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** Radiant Ambassadors **




I remember when I first saw the 'Are you a Sugar Junkie' video on YouTube. I had a visceral response to it. But when I watched it again the other day I was struck by the power and simplicity of its message.

What if we were to link to it on our Facebook pages? Or Twitter?

I know I would have been over the moon if I had seen this when I was in my search for answers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CFIlFkJQNQ

Let's do this!

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 had heard of Potatoes Not Prozac, but didn't really know what it was about and wasn't sure if it was one of those "trendy diet books." I was (still am) on Paxil and thought I should know more about that - it was helping but not really enough.

I had also noticed, for some time, how people (especially me) sought out things that increased their endorphins. I started to think that we were all just endorphin puppets - we thought we were living by our free wills but really just drawn to whatever raised them. Also had been struggling with blood sugar issues for years and years (jittery, sweaty, tired in between meals. And the cravings! ). I finally figured out that I needed to eat some protein (it wasn't enough, but better) and no sugar or white flours for breakfast and things were a lot better.

Also am overweight and tested my blood sugar with my husband's meter and got several slightly high readings. So did I go to the doctor? No - I just tried to eat better/exercise more. But sugar always snuck back in. And I noticed thinking about sugar was one of the only things I looked forward to. By the time I started the program I was starting to crave alcohol, and I hardly drink. That scared me.

Searching for answers, I read Dr. Christianne Northrup's book about menopause, and she recommended Potatoes Not Prozac. Well, if she thought it had some truth in it, maybe I could have a look. So I read it, loved it, and tried a few things. My brain needs to look at the whole picture and see how things fit with my life before I commit. Then about a year later I got serious about it and am slowly moving through the steps. Thankful to be here.

Mary


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** Radiant Recovery® Store **


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

Well, I am sure you noticed in the greeting up top that we FINALLY got the shake in. Thank you all so much for your kindness as we sorted that all out. Yea for George's®


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


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** Radiant Kitchen **


Cottage Apple Bake

Ingredients:

  • 6 small, sweet apples, sliced very thin (the recipe calls for peeled, but I don't peel 'em)
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup cottage cheese (calls for lowfat, but regular works fine)
  • 1/3 cup nonfat dry milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • dash salt


Directions:

  1. Place apples and water in a large nonstick skillet. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg. Simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes, until apples are slightly tender. Remove from heat.
  2. Preheat over to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
  3. In a blender container (or food processor), combine eggs, cottage cheese, dry milk, vanilla, and salt. Blend until smooth.
  4. Spread apples evenly in the bottom of an 8-inch square baking pan that has cottage cheese mixture evenly over apples. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon if desired.
  5. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes, until set. Chill.


Makes 6 servings

For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site.



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** Radiant YLD **


Our book study is continuing. Each week at chat, we pick up in the book. It is an amazing process to do it together. I LOVE revisiting the book. I think it is an incredible story. So much richer than just weight loss.

If you would like to join, come find us here


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** Radiant Conversations **


We have a new portal for the Conversations program. Come check it out here.

You may wonder what Conversations is about. Last week we talked about how joy dots affect the brain. How moving into that simple practice shifts the locus of emotional process from fear and anger to joy and safety. It's an amygdala thing (smile). Here is a quote:

we train ourselves to joy dot awareness
but the astounding part for me
is not just the sun coming out
but...the self confidence

We have such a good time with it.

If you would like to join us, you can do that below.

Join YLD Weight Loss Now: click here - $99

Join Conversations 2011 Now: click here - $99

Join Both YLD and Conversations Now: click here - $149

Current YLD members wish to Upgrade to Both, click here - $49

Current YLD members who wish to Transfer to Conversations 2011 Only can do so for a $14.99 admin fee: click here

If you are not a member, come and join us if you want to be a part of the latest and greatest or just have some plain ol' fun!


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** Our Online Groups **


The Brits list was originally set up as a geo list to provide support for those doing the food in Britain. But, over the past few years British involvement in the RR program has grown and grown and we now have a YLD Eurochat on Wednesday nights (UK time) and our very own Euroranch in Salisbury for anyone doing the program in Britain and Europe.

As a result of all of this, the Brits list has also grown a lot and is now a wonderfully fun place of support for anyone doing the programme in the UK. We talk about what it means to do the programme here, what different foods we eat, and how to translate American terms into British ones. And we also have lots of fun!! It is a great place, a very supportive group, full of wonderful people. We also have quite regular get-togethers, usually twice a year or so, mostly in London. The last couple have been at our favourite restaurant, Leon, where 15-20 of us happily take over their biggest table for several hours. They haven't complained yet, LOL.

So if you are a Brit and you are doing this programme, we'd love to have you join us.


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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**A Small Roadmap for Your Process **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



A number of people have asked me if there is an expected path for going through the steps. Is it developmental or random? Over the years, I have come to see that it is very developmental and very predictable. If you do the steps, things will change. And they will change in a way that you can expect. So nothing scary, nothing complicated. Here are the stages:

Chaos
Regularity and Structure
Stability
Detox
Practice
Success

Chaos

Chaos is the starting place for most of you. You may be way out there, or you may be high functioning chaos artists. But the tone is always the same. You feel hopeless, out of control, desperate, inadequate, and impatient. You can’t remember instructions, you want to get started and people don’t understand what is going on for you.

You feel the “problem” is the sugar. Or the problem is your weight. Or the problem is the stress in your life. And the feelings are so bad, you have to do something RIGHT NOW!!!! You are a true drama pup and feel like you can’t start, can’t stop, and you are crazy.

You eat irregular meals, lots of sugars and carbohydrates, you may binge, drink little water and either exercise rarely or exercise compulsively.

You have tried a thousand diets. You have lost weight and gained it back – a lot. You are tired and terrified. You hold your breath at even the idea something might work. You want to do it all, and you keep putting it off.

You are in the right place. The program can help you.

Regularity and Structure

You start the program. You work on breakfast. Breakfast becomes habitual. You like the feelings it brings. You write your journal. Sometimes you forget, but mostly you remember. You don’t yet use the journal as a detective, but you are gathering the information and resisting the idea less. You manage to eat three meals a day. You have protein at each meal. You have a potato every night. You take the three vitamins every day. You are still having sweets, but eat them with your meals. You eat whatever fruits you like but notice them and write them down. You have started increasing your water and find you rather like it. You are thinking about the idea of exercising.

Stability

You have started to feel the routine of regular meals. You have breakfast every day and find that if you miss it, you notice right away. You like how you are feeling. You are sleeping better. You are resisting the idea of the program less. Things start working. You notice how much caffeine and/or aspartame you use. You begin to reduce them slowly without being impulsive or reactive along the way. You are still writing diligently in your journal. You are now getting interested in what your journal says. What can it teach you? What is the connection between food and feelings anyway? You start eating brown things rather than white refined flour products. Whole grains, brown rice and oatmeal creep in and you find you actually like them.

You still have fruit, but find it is becoming more and more of a normal part of your diet rather than a desperate alternative to the sweets you think you should be eating. While you haven’t really focused on the sugars, you find that the bag of M&M’s you used to have instead of lunch doesn’t have the same charm when eaten after dinner. You are less frantic about searching for your stash in the evening. Mr. Spud is a friend by now.

And you are starting to think that the idea of going off sugar may not be so scary after all.

Detox

You pick a date and know that you are ready to just go for it. The day arrives and you don’t have sugar, you don’t have alcohol. You feel excited. You feel that maybe this time you can do it. You still have breakfast; you guard yourself a little more tightly. You are using your food journal as a valuable aid in your process. It alerts you to danger or slipping. But your focus is on the SUGAR. Finally, the bogey man is going to go. Day four comes; you are cranky but intrigued. It’s a day and you are ready. And then, and then day five. You wake up and realize you just passed through the sugar barrier. You are on your way.

You hold this place now for a while. Part of you is itching to go with losing weight. You actually may have started losing. Or you may have gained some. This makes you a little nervous, but you trust the process. Something is happening here. You aren’t quite sure what or how it is working so powerfully, but you are hooked.

Your food is steady. Your energy is up. Your sleep is working. You are pleased and excited. And if you are not, you know what to do. Back to the journal. Back to the forum. Let’s figure it out. It’s not overwhelming; it’s just functional. You are in charge and you know what to do.

You have been sugar free for a few weeks. Yes, yes, that is weeks, not days. And now you are ready to start your diet plan. But you are willing to listen. Wait for six months on steady we say. You no longer fret. You know it makes sense. Get skill, get stable.

You are no longer frantic and are starting to enjoy this. You have some goals. You have a sense that you can start the things to get you ready for weight loss.

Practice

You are reducing the amount of fruit you have. Browns are steady. You start increasing the greens. Veggies become your friend – and if not your friend, at least you have learned how to cook them. You eat them regularly. You have increased your water to the ounces that equal 1/2 your body weight. The potato is a regular part of your routine. Steady, you are steady. And you have started exploring your other options from that steady place.

You go into the support modules regularly and work on the “extras” like defining your style, reflecting on feelings, getting your support network refined, exercising, and looking at what will help you hold the diet.

A funny thing is happening. You kinda like this process. You are less impatient. You like how things are unfolding. You are ready now for the weight loss.

Success

After all this time, you are ready. Not frantic, but ready. At the base, you understand what you are doing. This is not hit or miss or desperate. It is informed and intentional. You understand the biochemistry of it all. You don’t throw away the spud because it is too glycemic. You aren’t counting calories. You have a good relationship to your scale. You are doing some exercise every day. You are on your way!


Thanks for reading! If you know someone who could benefit from this, feel free to forward it to them.

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http://www.radiantrecovery.com

Until next time!
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.



©2012 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