|
|
|
|
March 9, 2015 Hi {!firstname_fix} Well, we are back to daylight savings time. So for Eurochats, we will adjust to your times until you go to your change. What a funny week it was for us here in New Mexico. In the course of one week we had 12 inches of snow one day and then a few days later, it is 60 degrees with the spring flowers blooming. It is a test for good humor. (smile) I have been having a lovely time doing clutter clearing, so thought it would be a perfect time in support your doing some *spring cleaning* with the new tools I am using myself. We are also having some wonderful conversation in the recovery group. If you go to AA or NA and would like to share on how to put things together with the 12 steps and the 7 steps, it is a great time to join. We talk about Big Book things along with doing the food. This class will begin Wednesday, March 11, 2015. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:
These classes will begin Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:
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 ** Being steady means being firm, unflattering, unflappable and unwavering. Being steady means driving in cruise control. **********************************************************************
**Testimonial of the Week ** After having focused on the four parts of breakfast for several weeks consistently, I’ve noticed something I didn’t expect. Having breakfast in this way is allowing me to begin to think about the real possibility of laying down the obsession with sugar. For as long as I can remember I have gone from the extremes of bingeing on sugar and refined carbs or restricting myself from them. Both swings of the pendulum have their own particular obsessive qualities and behaviors. If I am bingeing, I don’t really care about balance as I’m constantly obtaining, hoarding, hiding and consuming large quantities of refined sugar products. I disregard the headaches, wild blood sugar swings, moody behavior and irritability. I’m seeking that feeling I like and the taste I crave. Everything else places secondary. If I’m restricting, there is usually a period preceding that where I am doing all the bingeing behavior knowing I plan to stop. For me there has been only all or nothing. When I’ve stopped in the past, it has been cold turkey – always. All forms of sugar and refined products are exiled from the house and my kids get to hear the same “Mommy’s off sugar again” speech. (The truth of the matter is that I have stopped without actually telling anyone because I wasn’t sure I could actually stay stopped.) After the initial withdrawal phase, I feel better, healthier and slightly powerful over my addiction. I actually feel quite virtuous against the devil sugar. However, maintaining this level of control requires a constant vigilance over and obsession about what I am eating. I usually retreat to the safety of home and decrease my social interactions with friends, eating out and avoid church socials. Family dinners also suffer because I am cooking separate meals and over my head in the craziness of this latest run of abstinence. What I’ve found in doing Step 1 of PNP steadily and consistently the past few weeks is that I’m not worried about restricting and therefore I’m not feeling the need to binge. I worry about my breakfast, I plan in advance what I will have, and I make sure I have something filling and satisfying. I watch my blood sugar and I give the diabetes the respect it deserves. I know if I want sugar I can have it. No one is telling me I can’t. I feel like this has allowed me to come in from the two extreme sides I have always lived in - at least for today. I am appreciative to have found this group. Brenda **********************************************************************
**Notes from the Forum ** Re: meal planning : Does everyone here pre-plan all their meals and snacks or can you just wing it? I am a planner, I realise it's how I survived pre-steps, and in fact I have had the opposite problem of how to live more spontaneously  so I am learning. Letting my rigidity go has been one of my lessons to experience.I think the thing is with the steps, I learn a little gem of info here, and a little there, ideas to keep and make life easy. It all adds up over time and so then there's all this wealth of combined experiences for me to utilise. I wish the same for you! For instance, I know that to make shake the night before is a great time saver, crock pot is wonderful when I am working late so it's just all there when I get in. Same - old breakfast is really a comfort and support. Home made coleslaw, roast vegetable salad and hummous all lasts for ages in the fridge and I can just grab a spoon. Harvester restaurant has all the things I might need if we are out.
Supermarket frozen curry is friendly to keep in the freezer. Double crockpot chili means freezing an entire meal for next week and no effort. I save everyone's ideas here.  Do you plan breakfast or wing it? Plan for me, unless I am traveling and then it's a bit of both Wing it, but with some protein powder in an envelope for just in case, and yam cakes in my pocket  which has saved me a time or two.mosaic **********************************************************************
** Radiant Recovery® Store ** Here is a post someone put on the forum about our customer service. It made me smile and certainly made David feel proud. I think the quality of our customer service reflects the commitment we both have to serving you. I know that there are some items you can get other places. When you take the time to purchase them through the store, you are making it possible for us to have our website. The store supports us both and allows us to give you this kind of service (smile). And I think the feeling of caring goes both ways. We love you as customers, and you seem to reciprocate!! Thank you. I just made my first order last night from the RR store. I made a comment about the shipping price. I am a spoiled amazon prime girl and I was sad the products weren't available through amazon. This morning I got a personal call from Kathleen's son explaining everything. I was in shock! How extremely kind and considerate. I have been blown away by the business you two are running. I am so grateful for Kathleen's personal attention with my questions on the forum (something I NEVER expected), and now from her son on my purchase. As my husband said when I told him, "Mind blown." I just wanted to talk about our Prime membership service. I am glad you are liking it. If you glossed over it, come see what you are missing. PRIME status means that you will receive a preferred price on many of the items we carry in our store. The store will offer many items at two prices, a regular price and a PRIME price (right below, in red). The PRIME price is close to 10% off a large number of the items we carry. Not all items have a PRIME price. If you have an "ACTIVE" subscription (not on hold or canceled), you will qualify for the PRIME prices at any time you make a purchase. You will also notice that we have lowered some subscription prices as well. If you select the PRIME price and are not an ACTIVE subscriber, you will be charged the regular price at the time your order is processed. The PRIME member will not need to remember a discount code or password to get the benefits of being a subscriber/PRIME member. Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. **********************************************************************
**Radiant Kitchen ** Sweet Potato Waffles (or Pancakes)
Directions: Preheat waffle iron. Combine the cooked sweet potato, oil, egg white and milk in a large bowl and beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt and beat until smooth. Spray hot waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions using 3/4 c mix per waffle. Serve with yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit compote or unsweetened applesauce. If making pancakes, heat griddle until a sprinkle of water dances on griddle. Drop 1/4 cup batter on griddle. Cook until bubbles form on surface (about 3 minutes). Flip and cook on other side until golden brown. Both waffles and pancakes can be frozen and reheated later.
**********************************************************************
**Radiant YLD ** We will be looking at body image for a bit. This crosses the issues of *fat terror* in both people of size and people who are terrified of being that way (smile)...It is a wonderful place to come and explore your shame, your fear, and your joy. We have a LOT of skilled people who have been doing mighty reflection on every end of the continuum. If you would like to join us in YLD, come find us here **********************************************************************
**Radiant Living ** Radiant Life was born out of the question from the people who are skilled with the steps and are now wanting to look at how to implement a radiant way of being in daily life. This means that if you are new in the program, or coming back to the program because things got wonky, or are in the middle of trying to get steady again, this is not the chat for you (smile)...I am reminding you of this so we don’t get into an awkward place with your being in over your head. If you would like to join us in Radiant Living, come find us here **********************************************************************
**Major Surgery From a Step 7 Perspective ** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.
One of our community members recently had a hip replacement. She was writing emails all the way through - almost from the recovery room. I asked her to put them together for all of us. I can think of no greater testament to the program than this story. Print this and keep it for anyone who has to have surgery. Kathleen About three months ago, I discovered that I was in need of a total hip replacement of my right hip. My initial reaction to my doctor’s news was a combination of disbelief and denial, I just did not like any of the options that were offered, and the only logical one was the surgery. So, rather than get depressed and pout, I got to work. I came home and got onto my computer and started to do some research about what my options might be as regards to both the kind of surgery and the type of prostheses that might be best for me. I discovered that they now have some ceramic prostheses that are supposed to last 50 years. That sounded really good to me. I figured that at 110 I wouldn’t be too worried if my hip gave out then. (grin) Gaining knowledge was important for me as I felt that I now had the right questions to ask. My next quest was to find the right doctor. I spoke with many people and also some nurses to get the names of the top hip surgeons in my area. I made appointments with a couple and selected the one who I was most comfortable with, who offered me a new, minimally invasive procedure and ceramic on ceramic prosthesis, which is what I had determined I wanted. His nurse followed up and gave me a surgery date of May 17th. This was perfect, as far as I was concerned, because I was going to Ranch the week of May 7th through the 13th. There was no way I was going to miss Ranch – this was my 6th one and a definite priority for me. Now, Kathleen made sure that I rented this cool little electric scooter to get around while at Ranch, and man, was that fun! This was a time for me to get filled up and to get lots of support sent to me from my friends around the world. Once all of this was decided, I started to work on me. I increased my meditation to 2 or 3 times a day and focused on preparing my body for the trauma that was to come, followed by the healing. Kathleen then gave me a wonderful book called Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster: A Guide of Mind-Body Techniques (Newly Revised and Updated 4th Edition)  by Peggy Huddleston.This is a fabulous guide to mind/body preparation for surgery. I highly recommend it. I also continued to go to the gym to work with a personal trainer three times a week to strengthen the muscles around that hip as much as I possibly could before the surgery. I took two of the suggestions from Peggy Huddleston’s book and quickly ran out to get myself an iPod, something I hadn’t thought I wanted before. I loaded some of my favorite relaxing music and my body just immediately went into a meditative state when I put it on. I also used some suggestions from the book about having the anesthesiologist (a classmate of my daughter in high school!) read some specific, positive statements to me both at the beginning of the procedure and also at the end. I was able to go into surgery totally relaxed with no fear or anxiety. I listened to my music before, during and after my surgery. I woke in the recovery room as relaxed and calm as I had gone into the operating room. I cannot believe the peace and confidence I felt. Now came the hard part – recovery. (smile) Of course, there were drugs in my system that I was not used to. I had tubes and wires in many parts of me as well. But, I felt great and was prepared for the work ahead. I knew that the first day I would be limited to clear liquids, so had some chicken broth and my favorite herbal tea waiting for me in my room. The next morning, I was able to get up and walk a little before sitting in a chair. I was doing well enough that they let me start to eat again. Pre-planning helped again. I had my almond milk, shake mix and travel mixer on hand. I used a small shake at each meal and had a little egg or other food that my family provided for me as well. I had listed dextrose as one of the allergies on my forms, so the nurses had to make sure that I only had IV’s without dextrose and had to order my antibiotics to be mixed in saline and not dextrose. Several of them asked me about this and I ended up giving out the Radiant Recovery website to about 3 or 4 of them. They were really intrigued with my attitude and how well I was doing. Guess I had some radiance shining through even then, especially compared to my roommate, who was not having a very good time. I left the hospital for a rehab center on the 3rd post op day. I had the food I wanted to have available set aside at home along with a suitcase with clothes in it and my wonderful husband brought it all to my room. In rehab, again, I provided all of my own meals. I was there only to learn what I needed to from the physical and occupational therapists to be able to be independent enough to come home. Let me tell you – hospitals and rehab centers, at least the ones I was in, are NOISY! I couldn’t wait to get out of there. Three days later, I did come home. That was truly heaven. My molecules just sang a happy song when I settled into my own surroundings. I had the luxury of having one or the other of my daughters with me for the first week that I was home. Kim, who lives locally and is the mother of my grandsons, had let her Principal (she teaches) know that she might be taking some time to help me out. She picked me up at 2 pm on Tuesday and stayed with me until Jeff got home. She also was here early on Wednesday morning to spend the day with me. We even sat out on my deck in the beautiful spring weather. Bliss. Tracy, my daughter who lives on the opposite side of the country, and her partner arrived on Wednesday evening. They took over the job of spoiling me and took wonderful care of me... shopping, cooking, cleaning and helping me with my exercises. Tracy is also a massage therapist, so I had the advantage of her healing hands as well. The girls left this morning, but they made sure to fill my refrigerator with lots of great food that I can grab and eat independently. It is now two weeks post my surgery. There have been crashes, but it helped knowing that they were day 3 from surgery, or day 4 from when they took out the epi-dural, which was feeding me constant pain medication. And, this first week at home has been a little overwhelming with all the people in my home at all times, with the girls staying here and lots of company from family and friends as well. It was kind of like Grand Central Station around here. And, I had a pretty major complication due to a known allergy to betadyne, which they used on my leg anyway. So, more meds (prednisone and benadryl) to treat this. Fortunately, I am now off all medications other than an occasional ibuprofen. That and some ice seem to be all that I need to control any discomfort from my physical therapy. Man, is this therapy a lot of work! I had a new physical therapist come to my home today, and he looked at how well I am doing and just gave me more to do. LOL So, now I have several exercises that he wants me to do 3 sets of 25 every day. Oh, and WALK! I’ve started walking on my treadmill again so that the weather is not a factor. Takes away the excuses. So, I’m walking around my house a lot (to the bathroom) and at least 1/4 mile once or twice a day on the treadmill. He expects to send me to outpatient PT next week. This is hard work. But, I planned to be serious and aggressive with my rehab, so the physical therapists are warning me not to overdo. Finding the right balance is my goal. The things I think I did best were the pre-planning about the surgery, my food and my personal care. I’ve been careful to eat more fruit than normal for me. It has been really important for me in keeping my cravings from all the meds and the surgery from going crazy. What I could have done better was to make sure that I had more quiet time after surgery. I am now meditating again and it sure feels great. I am enjoying the peace and quiet in my home today. I have discovered how to do laundry without bending or challenging my restrictions by using my "grabber" as an assistant. And, I’m getting better at telling people that it is now nap time. I am needing at least one nap a day. So, what I’d like to leave you with is that life can throw you a huge curve in the form of a major surgery and you don’t have to feel like a victim. You can be in charge of your care and make your health care providers your partner in this process. Challenges will come up, but they don’t have to throw you. Finding and using my voice in this entire process has been very empowering. And, I am getting better every day. **********************************************************************
Thanks for reading! If you know someone who could benefit from this, feel free to forward it to them. Not a subscriber yet? Like what you have read? Sign up to get future issues delivered straight to you: 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. mosaic contributes to the Notes from the Forum column. ©2015 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 |
