Radiant Recovery Logo


March 23, 2015


Hi {!firstname_fix}

One last snow storm on the mountains to turn them white. All the flowering trees have popped into color.

A couple of fun things.

Here is a URL for some pretty spectacular scenes of New Mexico in case you are still deciding about ranch. When you decide to come, come for extra time...you will see why when you see the pictures. Of course you will love the material I am presenting. And you will love being with your friends and colleagues.

If you are new, please come to the What Else is Embedded class. It will give you a wonderful perspective on how the program fits together. Today’s culture is so filled with whole SUGAR! story, it is easy to get side-tracked into thinking it is all about the sugar.


This class will begin Wednesday, March 25, 2015. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:



What Else is Embedded in the Steps (2 weeks) - This is a special class for all you newcomers who want to move on ahead quickly or for those of you who came to the program *already doing everything*. Find out what else is in the steps besides the food. Get the inside scoop from the one who wrote them (smile). You do not have to second guess anymore!!


This class will begin Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:



Weight Loss: Clothing (2 weeks) - will explore our relationship to clothes after you start changing your sense of your self. How 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? This class is a core class of our weight loss series and we always have fun with it. Come have fun and play with us in a journey of discovery.


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 **


One of the markers for your own progress is the respect you command from those around you about your food habits.

**********************************************************************

**Testimonial of the Week **


I haven't posted in a while. Just wanted people to know I was doing well. A couple of wobbles, but basically, really good. I have been journaling (almost religiously) since I returned from Cuba. I missed a couple of entries, but other than that, doing very well. It is slowly becoming part of my active day.

I discovered this program more than 2 years ago and the other day I was reflecting on the changes I have made in my life. My breakfast has been steady for the better part of two years, with slight problems from time to time. I have been taking the 3 vitamins for more than a year now. I have been exercising 3 to 7 times per week for the better part of 2 years. (This one is huge for me because I classified myself as the world's biggest couch potato...I still can't believe I am doing this). I have changed from whites to browns and other than the odd wobble, I have eliminated sugar from my food plan.

Much of the short-temperedness I have experienced a good part of my life has disappeared, and for the most part I do feel radiant. I have also lost 75 lbs, slowly over the past 2 years. My life has changed so completely. I just feel so young and alive most of the time. I'm 51 and feel younger and more energetic now than I did 20 years ago. My arthritis rarely bothers me anymore. I do still have some problems with acid reflux, so am unable to do the potato. I seem to be managing ok without it. The journal has been the most difficult for me to stay steady with. I have now made it a priority in my life. Ordering Kathleen's journal has simplified the process for me. I really love it.

When I started looking back, I was amazed at how far I had actually come. It all started when I came across a picture of myself just before I found this program. I just saw so much pain in that picture, although I was smiling. I remembered so acutely, how I was feeling back then. Night and day!!! Thanks for the help and support I have received, and for those of you who think it's impossible, know that I used to be plagued with those same feelings. Life can be and is beautiful. Take care and thanks for listening.

Carmel


**********************************************************************

**Notes from the Forum **


Hi!

Glad you are back too!

I have not done this really with friends - just family which may well be a bit easier. Though quite a lot has been distant family which is nearly the same thing.

I've found it the best thing just to say a few words well in advance...I make a bit of a light-hearted joke about it...

"Oh, by the way, I am really a fusspot about my food, I don't eat gluten, sugar because those things really don't suit me, and as I make it all a bit complicated, can I bring some additional food with me? Then you can cook and I can add extras as necessary."

I don't go into big explanations and leave it at that.

Then I always have some portable yam cake , protein powder, bit of cheese, something to add as an additional thing..tin of pulses works well for me, specially the smallest tin of refried beans.

If there's a buffet involved on a visit, I'll take a plate of something like tandoori chicken, falafel, piedmont roasted peppers.

As for times, it's a challenge. I used to have to eat to the minute. Anything over and I would get grumpy. But this has got easier as the years have gone by. I have family and friends well trained. But visiting, I would have a good supply of snacks in my handbag to tide me over.

Hope it goes well for you!

Mosaic



**********************************************************************

** Radiant Recovery® Store **


I have the cookbook and it is tattered and dog eared from so much use. There are many great recipes in it that have become part of my standards (Kathleen's lasagna has never been matched, in my opinion), and it is also a very good little reference book. There are also spaces where I have written a few of my own in. The recipe for Kathleen's baking mix is in the book, and I use that too, it is quick and easy. - Verla

I love getting these emails...yah the Cookbook is awesome. Even Madison is using it now. And Kathleen’s baking mix is way better than Bisquick!! Get a cookbook if you don’t have one yet. You won’t be sorry.



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


**********************************************************************

**Radiant Kitchen **


Yam Cakes #1

Cook up your sweet potatoes (yams are so much easier to say, but we don’t get true yams), and mush them up. Add some oil (I use coconut oil), and about the same amount of rolled oats as you have of yams. I’ll use a cup of yams as an example. So you take your cup of yams, cup of oats, blurp of oil, and about 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, shredded coconut, and mix them all together. You want it to hold together, and be nice and sticky, so add water if you need to.

I then use a scoop, and make little mounds, but flatten them with a fork. Bake at 400* for about 15 to 20 minutes. I freeze these, and take them out as needed…they are yummy cold and yummy hot, and they don’t crumble, and don’t get mushy, and travel well!

Using peanut butter instead of the oil is yummy. And I bet you could experiment and use different spices…for variety.

Enjoy!
Colette

Yam Cakes #2

I bake a bunch of large yams all at once, slip them out of the skins, and freeze in 3 Cup containers. (I use sweet potatoes a lot, LOL — not just for yam cakes!)

When I’m ready to make yam cakes I thaw a 3-cup container of sweet potato, add a bit of water and warm slightly in the microwave, then mash them. I use a hand held potato masher, but you could use a food processor or whatever suits you.

I add 3 cups of quick-cooking rolled oats, 1 cup of Restore protein powder and 1 cup of PB. I also add some more water, about 1/3-1/2 of a cup (I used a total of 1/2 cup of water), to get a sticky, goopy, but partly pourable consistency. Press into a lightly greased 9 X 13 pan and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

Cool and cut into 32 squares. Store in fridge or freezer. My math showed that 5 squares had about a one cup serving of brown and about 19 grams of protein.

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

**********************************************************************

**Radiant YLD **


Our approach to weight loss is based on Kathleen DesMaisons’ groundbreaking book, Your Last Diet! This is weight loss for real people. Your last Diet! Is the only weight loss program especially for sugar sensitive people. It addresses YOUR unique body and brain.

The first part of Your Last Diet works on healing the addiction to sugar by balancing your blood sugar, raising your serotonin and beta endorphin. (brain chemicals associated with addiction) This extraordinary text describes a process that means you will NEVER diet again. The program heals the reasons why you are overweight. It walks you through a four-phase process to lose weight permanently and totally stop the pattern of yo-yo dieting.

The 4 phases are:
  1. Weight Loss Readiness
  2. Healing
  3. Action and Weight Loss
  4. Staying Steady
Ignore that old idea of weight as a function of calories, exercise and will power. That won’t work for you. You have already tried it and you know you need something more. You are a diet expert. It is time to convert those skills into a plan that heals.

This membership gives you everything you need to succeed at weight loss. There is NO failure in this program. There is no pressure, no stress, no yelling in your face. We think of this as a program for The Biggest Winner!

If you would like to join us in YLD, come find us here


**********************************************************************

**Radiant Living **


At Ranch a number of people were asking about where they might post about *life* questions. We decided to expand Conversations into something deeper. Here is the description I have put up about what Radiant LIfe will offer.

The stability of your food and the steps will form a foundation to bring you into a new way of living. We will talk about emotional sobriety, finding passion in your life, disarming things that get in the way, program maturation and, of course, spirituality. When we are caught in addiction, we stop growing, we get stuck and stay stuck. Our commitment to doing life without addiction has catapulted us into something unexpected.

Radiant Living will allow you to share a dialogue with others – people who are asking the same questions and exploring answers boldly and with the humility that comes with doing the food.

These conversations will help you transform fear and give new tools for healing. We look at topics such as grief, crisis, trauma, emotional healing, revitalizing your program and stepping into your big self.

So the dialogue will be about the big picture and the practical ideas for daily implementations of the changes you are seeking. The dialogue will meet you where you are and offer ideas that you may not have heard before. Let go of old thinking that growing up has to be hard or painful. This is about joy, discovery, fun and creativity. And, of course, LOTS of laughter.

There is no step requirement to participate, only honesty, willingness and openness. Do remember, though, that if you are early in the program and awash with *sugar feelings* we will gently be reminding you to *do the food*, *do the food.*



If you would like to join us in Radiant Living, come find us here


**********************************************************************

**Do the Food **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



You know, I have done almost 600 newsletters and I write about many different subjects. This week, I have been thinking about the core of who we are and why we “do the food.” I thought it would be fun to share what I have been thinking.

We are sugar sensitive.

This means a lot. Understanding what it brings can help a lot in motivation for doing the steps. Unbalanced sugar sensitivity can be awful. And the worst is that we have no idea the bad stuff in our lives is about the imbalance and not about some character flaw or some “fate” of the universe conspiring to knock us down. The relief comes with learning that some of the things we thought were horrible parts of our personality are ONLY a symptom of the imbalance. And that they resolve as we “do the food.” This is such a shocking thought, it actually takes a while to sink in. 'Round about step 3, you might notice that things are different. “Steady state” brings profound change....and way before the sugar is out.

When we are unbalanced, we do not know or remember the wonderful things that come with being sugar sensitive. Sometimes you might hear the step 7 people refer to the concept of “reclaiming our birthright” and wonder whatever do they mean. Being sugar sensitive means being empathetic, intuitive, caring, aware of other people, and “tuned in.” It means being playful, joyful, aware and touched with joy. When you struggle across the threshold here, chances are you are pretty far away from all of that and you just want to stop hurting. We take care of that too.

What and When we eat makes a difference.

When you come, we talk about step one, we say breakfast over and over. You scream SUGAR, we say breakfast, and sometimes you get madder than a hornet. You tell us we do not understand. You tell us your situation is different, you KNOW you have to drop the sugar now. And we say breakfast. You tell us you know what you need, you are informed, intelligent and skilled and why are we not listening to you! We keep saying breakfast, and we expand into the “four parts” of it.

And maybe midst all the thrashing, you start having breakfast. You join the step one list, and you listen. And your little cells start to quiet down. Life starts getting a little easier. Or maybe not, maybe you are still really concerned about the 3 pounds you gained or the sugar binge you just had and you know it is the program that did it. You are still fighting. But back, way back in your brain, you are starting to hear imbalance, addiction...

Then we encourage you to take the What else is Embedded in the Steps class. You are sure that I am just trying to make money off of you when you already know what to do and you already know that all you have to do is stop using sugar. But sometimes you are bold and you take a chance that maybe it is a unique opportunity to learn about what the steps really mean. You are sure you already know, and you think you are already doing 4 or 5 of them, but some little spark says, “oh, all right, why not.”

And now something happens. You start hearing about the process side of the steps. You start hearing all the things that are woven into the steps that really are not in the books. Something clicks. You feel at home, you feel understood, and then miracle of miracles, you feel like you might get well. And breakfast becomes a key into a way of living that will free you.

As you start getting settled, you begin to notice that there are people all around the community who are funny, relaxed, cheerful and helpful. You start realizing that they actually are interested in how you are and how they can support you. You start trusting the steps and you begin to realize that “doing the food” is way more than about sugar or food, LOL.

You might wonder what the heck are joy dots and why do people start their posts with them. You might wonder why no one is fretting about sugar or bingeing. You might wonder how this all works anyway. But you just keep practicing. And then something happens...one day you wake up, do your breakfast, start the day and then 'round about mid morning you realize you feel different. Ask on the forum, ask on the lists or in chat. Every one of us has had that shift, it just shows up.

Anyway, what you can trust is that we do the food, we love that you want to do the food and we will support you in anyway we can.


**********************************************************************


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!
Facebook Logo You Tube Logo Twitter Logo
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