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Ok, I am behind schedule this week. I came home directly to be with my dear friend whose daughter just died. We have been doing what you do in these kinds of situations. I am working to finish up what was left hanging and have decided to defer starting the new classes until next week. We changed the schedule page so you can get a full update there. We should have the schedule for the classes through December up shortly as well.

One quick announcement. I will be coming to NYC to do a seminar in September. Love to have you join us. This will be the ONLY East Coast Seminar for the Fall. Check the seminar link from the home page of www.radiantrecovery.com.
These new classes will begin on Wednesday of this week. Click on a class to join.

Step 2: Your Journal, Skillful Use builds on what we covered in the first class, Your Journal, Introductio. So it will help if you have done that. If you have lots of journaling experience and want to go to the next level, try this class.

Doing the Steps, An Overview is the beginner's class for folks wanting to get an overiew and context.

Restart: Getting Motivated Level 1 is the continuation of the Waking Up class. You need to be a restart intro graduate. And please note that we will be changing the name of this series to Back to Basics. That seems to fit what the series is about.

Click here to take a look at what is coming up for the rest of August and see if anything calls you.

A number of you have asked me about how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this.

Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to see me cover.

A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www. radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, use the link at the bottom of the page. Do not email me, do not get mad at me, just click on the link and you will be forever removed.

And be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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August 8, 2005

** Quote From Kathleen **

Work to know what you eat and why you eat what you do.

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** Testimonial for the Week**

I wanted to share with you that I noticed something positive today since I started doing the food:

No fights with husband.
Able to drive long distances alone.
More social, seeking others out.
Noticed the beautiful clouds and sky today.
Weight loss.
No headaches.
BP in doctor's office 110/74 (that's never happened before usually it's very high)
Not so rigid and perfectionistic.
Decreased inordinate spending.
Creative ideas/solutions.
Got gas for car without worrying about an open spot.
No bad breath.
Urine no longer cloudy.
Great desire to de-clutter and simplify.
Went for a walk in the neighborhood for the first time in three years.

Therese from MI

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**Recipe of the Week**

With back to school coming around the corner, I thought you would all like to hear from Sarit, a member of our community. She has compiled a great list of school lunch ideas:

A sandwich on whole grain spelt, wheat or other bread with almond butter or pumpkin seed butter and a smidgen of sugar free fruit spread.
A small container of either slice turkey, cubed grilled chicken, sliced chicken or turkey sausage, mini burger or meatballs, egg omelette sliced into strips, or great northern beans with bragg's. Some of these are good in sandwich with mayonaise, but usually it is eaten better separately.
Cooked rice or spelt noodles mixed with kidney beans or white beans and a bit of mayonaise. As they don't eat dairy, they think this has some kind of cheese sauce.
Veggies: red pepper, tomatoes, jicama, green beans, green peas, corn, cucumbers or steamed carrots.
Fruits, they will eat anything and I usually cut it up.
I bought sets of little food storage boxes in many sizes and send each food seperately and put in insulated lunchbag with mini icepack. Their teachers serve them fruit only when they finished the other items.
With the containers, the little kids usually leave uneaten food, so you know if they didn't finish. When I used to send things in foil or plastic, they threw away remains and I didn't know what they ate. Older kids might be smarter and throw away something they don't like!
For packed lunches I say the simpler the better for the little ones and let the older ones help you decide. Mine come home at 1:00 so I make sure that if there is anything left either to make them eat it or have something else.

Good luck with starting school!

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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**

Ok, we need to do a little admin. For those of you who signed up in September of last year, your renewal email will be arriving shortly.

For those of you wanting to sign up for the Weight Loss Class starting in September, go ahead and do that. I want to make sure you have a spot.

For those of you who will be graduating from the first weight loss class, please click the underlined link to come join the ongoing list called YLDweightlossinaction. You must have taken the first class and you must be on Step 7 to join this list. If you are not yet on Step 7, join the regular YLD list for support in getting there.

And please make sure to get to the chats. We are having so much fun.

For those of you who are not yet YLD members, Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun.

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**David's Corner **

David is on vacation playing volleyball in New Hampshire. I came home and started packing up the new journals. I know I have been talking about them, but I hadn't actually touched them. We have the black covered ones now as well.

This morning I started a new journal. I couldn't help myself. I have to give you a personal blow by blow.The cover is heavier and the pages are bright white with heavier paper. No dog ears for us now! And it has this gorgeous spiral binding. I know, I know you can think I am nuts, but these things make me excited.

So I decided to go through it as if it was the first time. Here is what I found:

A list of the steps. I never get tired of them.
A list of balanced physical feelings and unbalanced physical feelings. I like to go and check on which fit me on a given date. I do it in different colors. It is intriguing. Then I could up my score. Steady food means high balanced, unsteady means low unbalanced. How amazing!
A list of balanced and unbalanced emotional feelings. My goodness, are they on target.
The charts of the signs of imbalance and the signs of balance.
Protein values in a typical serving. If you want to know how much protein in cottage cheese or an egg, it is right in your journal.
A list of white things, brown things and green things.
The grams of sugar in a number of fruits.
A list of sugars by other names.
A hundred ways to raise beta endorphin. Great quotes from yours truly.
A place to record your exercise.
A place to record your gratitudes and commitments.
And, of course, a place to record your food and feelings.
And then, my very favorite....a list of things to reflect on about the changes in you since you started. If you want to know what radiance means, check out this list. It is awesome and you won't find it anywhere else!

Come get a journal!

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

Thanks
David

And of course, we have something for everybody in our store

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**Our Online Groups**

Hi, my name is Val and I am the liaison of the Radiantjournal group. Radiant Journal is a great source of helpful information and support for your journal journey. We talk about how to get started with the journal, how to start listening to your body, and why giving your body a voice is so important. We also discuss how we use the journal for detective work in our programs and, of course, the things we do make journaling fun! (Hint: it involves office supply stores!) Right now the list is really hopping, with people supporting each other and making some great discoveries with their journals. So whether you are just starting out or are looking for a recharge in your journaling, come on over and join in the fun!

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** Featured Topic**
A New Look at Journaling
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.

As you may have figured out, this is the journaling issue. I just started a new weight loss plan for myself. I figured it was time to address the ravages of menopause and just get with it. My pre commitment journaling was, shall we say, bordering on casual. I, like many old timers, slipped into the idea that I had *mastered* the art and knew what was going down.

However, new food plan meant wanting to get more info. And those new journals are so awesome, I decided to go for it.Oh my, what a joy. First I reviewed the entire last year. Even with *casual*, it was just a terrific record. It is so different from my meandering feelings journal. This was a factual review of an entire year. And guess what was shouting - good food, good feelings. That simple. Good food and I was not tired. God food and I woke up rested and clear and excited. The days when I felt otherwise, ALWAYS were connected to what I was eating. Even though, I , like many of you, hate oh hate to accept how profound that connection is.

When my food wobbles, I always think I am under stress or circumstance. When my food is steady, I have the same life and it has no stress, just stuff to take care of. My journal tells me what my wobbles are. Lunch late is my biggest issue. Seems ridiculous to think that late lunch means sloppy life. But my journal, my journal was irrefutable.

But a funny thing happened this time. I wasn't mad or upset. I was intrigued. I had checked off the positive and troublesome feelings on two different dates and linked them to the quality of my food plan. That knocked my socks off. I know, I know, I have been talking about this for years and years. But something happened. Maybe it is my program maturity, maybe it is my openness to really claiming my body. I am not sure. But what I saw is that everything is right there. If I do my journal, it keeps me on track. If I do it well, my body sings.

No boredom, only the delight of another conversation. *what about this?* she says. *Look over here...it is fascinating*. My body becomes a partner. One who is skilled and loving and very funny. She is not judgmental or impatient or cranky. She just LOVES to share what she knows.

Anyway, this is not intended to be a long discourse this week. Just some notes. Think about it. Try it out with me.

©Kathleen DesMaisons 2005.

Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together:

Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster puts it all together
Naomi gathers the recipes
JoAnna, the liaison for Rolling Hills gathers the testimonials
Terri, the liaison for Ambassadors sends over the ambassadors quote
Marie, the liaison for diabetes gathers the info on the online lists
David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have.