Radiant Recovery Logo


June 1, 2015


Hi {!firstname_fix}

Feels like summer has started here with the temperatures going up to 85. Clear skies and still air. It is very nice. It has been a whirlwind dog week for me. I placed a dog and 4 puppies. And now for a little quiet space for a while.

We are doing catching up with some admin changes. We put up a new website at www.thesugaraddictstotalrecoveryprogram.com. Check it out and see what you think. New style, simpler and easy to use. Down the line we will be shifting the regular Radiant Recovery sites to look like this. But I figure with all the energy floating around about SUGAR we need to be in the game. We are also redoing our cards to look similar to that style, so watch for them as well.

We will be introducing a couple of new products in the store next week, so I think you will like that as well. David comes home from his vacation on Monday so life here will shift back to normal.


This class will begin Wednesday, June 3, 2015. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:



Step 3

Step 3 (2 weeks) - is one of our core classes. This is a skill-based class. If you want to learn the baby steps of a successful step 3, come join us. This class is ALWAYS fun.


This class will begin Wednesday, June 10, 2015. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:



Brain Chemistry Beta Endorphin (2 weeks) - Learn how this chemical affects your self-esteem and why your capacity to cope may be directly related to your beta endorphin levels. A fascinating look at the part of the story that is most crucial to sugar sensitivity.


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 **


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

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

**Testimonial of the Week **


I have to share what a moving and profound experience last night's chat was for me. The whole ambivalence, commitment, fear thing is exactly what I have been working through the last few months as I struggled to figure out why I never got beyond step 2. It happened just like Kathleen said, I got friendly with my ambivalence and I found my fear. I am afraid of where radiance might take me. I cannot imagine me radiant. There are bound to be a lot of changes and that scared me enough to keep me stuck at step one for 2 1/2 years.

But once I found the fear and could name it I was able to commit to healing anyway. I'm a month into my 3 month commitment to post on the forum and Kathleen is right again about it being about my heart wanting to do whatever it takes rather than self-discipline. I post whether I 'feel' like it or not. I eat 3 meals a day whether I 'feel' like it or not. And it does not feel like self-discipline, it just feels like 'doing it' because I want healing rather than to hide in my fear. Journaling is even getting easier.

So I sat in front of this computer screen with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes last night because Kathleen was putting my life into words and I could 'see' that I will be radiant one day and I won't be afraid anymore. Until then I will just hang out with my fear and know that my commitment to RR (heart connection) is stronger.

Janice


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

**Notes from the Forum **


Re: How do I learn to be kind to myself?

By: mosaic

Great question.

I think your instinct is spot on. I used to be very self-critical and my experience has been that as my biochemistry steadied, I felt better.

I didn't have to work at this changeabout, doing the food did it for me quite gently.

You'll also see quite a lot of us post a little joy dot above our posts and that may be quite fun to play with too.

*lots of ginger at dinner in my vegetables
*being met from work for a walk home

How is breakfast? Have you chosen something nice for today?



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

** Radiant Recovery® Store **


Hello, my name is David. I figured we have so many new people, I better reintroduce myself here. Many of you have talked with me when you have called the Radiant Recovery Store. I am thrilled to be working with my Mom to make the store work for you. This is the best of family business in more ways than one.

This week, it makes sense to remind you of two incredible products that can support your program:

Gamma Zyme The first is Gammazyme, a specialized enzyme product for people who have problems with their gut. Digestive enzymes are great for sugar sensitive people, but the protease can be a problem if your gut is inflamed. Gammazyme takes care of that and helps digest your food better. Means YOU get more nutrition.
ProEpa The other product is our famous ProEpa, the best fish oil you can get. Mom spent many months searching for a pure oil. She continues to talk with the research people at Nordic Naturals regularly. I am amazed how thorough she still is. I think some people have no idea what she is doing behind the scenes, LOL. I encourage all my athlete friends to take this product. We think of it as lubrication for *aging* joints. Mom cracks up at the idea of 30 year olds referring to themselves as *aging*, but hey, it works!

Let me know if I can be of any help at all.

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


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

**Radiant Kitchen **


Green beans are one of my favorite vegetables. If you serve them like this, I bet they will be a family favorite, too.

Sesame Green Beans

  • 2 pounds green beans, stemmed
  • 3 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the green beans and cook, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients until well blended. Add the green beans and toss to combine well. Season to taste with freshly ground pepper.
For great program-friendly recipes, check out our Cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site.

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

**A Story of the Clown **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



I was visiting my brother and we were chatting in his storage room where he has his exercise bike set up. I noticed the clown, Clowny, sitting on some magazines. It was Clowny, my brother’s doll from a long time ago. Long enough to be on the edge of collectible and antique. So I asked him where he came from. *Oh,* he said, *I was putting things away and found him in a box.* This is an important find. So I told him that I thought he should get Clowny restored. His clown suit was frayed, his cap was chewed off, his shoes were almost worn to the skin, and his nose was patched. My brother knows about restoration because he has some old Native American textiles and old maps and things. He treasures old things. He liked the idea.

We went online and googled dog restoration. It seemed as if Clowny was from the family of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. We tried a couple of Ann and Andy restorers, but the chemistry wasn’t right. We found a doll clinic in Atlanta - ah the joys of the internet and the US Post office. Yes, Linda would see him and tell us what she thought. So my brother sent Clowny off in a box.

The first message came back as a functional exploration of what needed to be done. My brother’s replies to the clown restorer are in bold.


Hi:

Well, interesting project.

#1, clean clown body, as from years of use, he will dry rot most likely, if NOT done. OK

#2, replace black boot feet. Is it necessary to replace ?

#3, replace head, re-stitch features on new face, (keeping color of fabric as close to original as possible) - will not match exactly, but when dressed, one won't notice particularly. Is it really necessary to replace?

#4, re-attach old hair to new head. *I removed the "patch" to see what type nose was there, appears to be a green triangular one? Advise if you remember-am I correct, most of it is long gone, I see only faint evidence of the original for my clues. I see the stitch marks of the brows, black thread, think they were black. OK

#5, re-stuff Mr. Clown. What is his name? OK - "Clowny"

#6, Clothing: Either clean up and patch old suit, or make a new one using a fabric with the flavor of the old, but we are minus the material for the hat. We can make a new suit/hat, or restore the old, making some sort of hat to accompany the suit. Definitely clean up & patch old suit.

The old suit is mangled at the sleeve edge, but I could add a ruffle on the end of each sleeve to hide the damage on the one sleeve, and they would both match then. The hole in the center of the neck ruffle can be hidden with a pom-pom. I prefer to retain the integrity of Mr. Clown, because if I change him in a dramatic way, he is no longer (YOUR CLOWN)! I completely agree.

Once I clean the the body, I remove the head and I iron the face. I trace very carefully the features, they are my pattern that I will use for the needlework for the features. Originally the mouth and eyes were outlined in black. I follow this carefully, so as not to alter what was original. I even try to hand stitch as was original to it. Great

The one problem is the hat. There is a wee bit of fabric still on the head, remove it, perhaps incorporate a tad of it onto the new one, perhaps a dot on the new hat so it adds a connection. Good

What I am attempting to do, in my own sneaky artistic way, is to restore Clown, not make him look like he rolled outta Walmart! Oh yes.

I mark the old head, so that I can replace his ratty (but clean) old hair back onto the head, even tho pieces are missing. You wore it off, it stays that way! If I add more, not your Clown guy anymore! You chew end of his hat? Not nice! Yes

Okay, there you have it. It can be done successfully, little bit of magic to make it happen, but we can get the job done. Trust me, I love these brain teasers.

Please let me know what your desires are, and thank you for contacting me with your needs.


So they came to agreement to proceed. And then something started happening. Here is Linda’s next note:


Hi:

I'm alive and kicking. Clowny and I are having a great time. He is presently in his "birthday suit", because his "suit" is soaking in chemicals and coming out remarkably clean. I'm impressed. I removed his hat, and there is some fabric there. I believe the original had a rolled stuffed brim all the way around like a skinny donut. The hat possibly might have come to a point like a clown hat with perhaps a pom-pom attached to the end, or was a dome attached to the donut like brim. I'd bet on the clown pointed version with or without pom-pom. You ate it, what was it?

1. Shoes. The original will not hold up to restuffing, but I will use the old ones as a pattern, "age" the black fabric so it will not "bounce" off his legs visually. As I force the stuffing into his feet, they will not hold the filler, they will split apart, too dry rotten. I need that foot support to stuff the remainder of the legs.

Another thing. I'll bet "Mom" made Clowny and I also retain the stitch integrity, as I open up each leg/hand compartment individually at the side seams, I do not undo the original hand stitching, but go into the machine stitching instead. Whatever set of "loving hands" did the work, those stitches remain intact.

Each compartment is emptied before cleaning is attempted. Nasty old stuffing is removed, patching is done before the "bath", detailing, afterwards.

2. I was thinking about the head all day long, as it is so important to his originality. I am going to "patch" him from the inside, support the torn face from the inside, and try to hide as best possible, the damage. It will show, but it will not be as obvious as the "patch". Once I put the nose back on, which is totally gone, less a few telltale stitches, it will draw attention away from the rips. He will just look well loved, but original too. There is plenty of thread in the mouth, also, someone tried to paint it red at one point.

I think we are in agreement in that saving his face is paramount, and we both give the Walmart approach the "boot"!

I just had a couple of dolls come in that were "restored". They were the total pits. As I was speaking to my customer, I was systematically ripping the wig off one of them and the look on her face was hysterical. I was speaking very matter of factly, waving around this wig as I spoke. Too funny. Something as inappropriate as that wig, bit the dust immediately.

The fact that the "white" of his suit is coming clean is great, then the additional hat fabric will not stand out. I will also trash the pom-poms to give them a little AGE.

His body is VERY fragile. Saliva, tears, grease/grime, acidity, etc., break down the fibers. The face is the MOST fragile part. The body must be cleaned SLOWLY, any stitching is done without any tension, as it would rip right out of the existing fabric.

I believe you will be well pleased with the end result. I love the abstract part, the challenge, to see what I can pull off. Personal challenges engage my mind, oddly enough, easy stuff bores me to no end! In over 30 years, I never thought that there was something that I could not fix. What is really weird is that I'll accept a job period, and figure out HOW I'm going to fix it LATER, go figure! Guess the abstract/artist thing gels. Not a clue.

Anyway, we are rolling with Clowny, he is sleeping, I covered him up, he was freezing! Wait till I "operate", and screams of agony resonate from my studio.


My brother and I started talking about when he had Clowny. I knew he had him when we were in Tucson because I remember seeing pictures of him carrying him. As we talked, we both had this image of Clowny in Milwaukee, just after I was born. Clowny when Peter was in the snowsuit and Mom had a new baby. And we talked about the fact that Clowny was a homemade doll, not a Raggedy Andy type fellow. It seemed to fit, maybe a Midwestern doll from a church sale. We hung up.

I was smiling thinking of that little funny dolly. Then Peter sent these emails along and the idea that *Mom* made the doll stopped me cold. It is possible, I thought. My mother’s mother was an incredible seamstress. She made all sorts of doll clothes for my mother by hand. Tiny stitches, little dresses with smocking on the front, little knickers and undershirts to match. So my mother learned to sew. And that winter she was at home, not working. She could have made Clowny. Somehow that idea just fill me with peace. Sort of like Mom’s loving being restored.

Linda seems like my kind of woman. She does dolly restoration...I do people...

Here are her words again, I think they apply to all of us.


I mark the old head, so that I can replace his ratty (but clean) old hair back onto the head, even tho pieces are missing. You wore it off, it stays that way! If I add more, not your Clown guy anymore! You chew end of his hat? Not nice!

the body must be cleaned SLOWLY.....


I hope you like this story as much as I do.


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


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