Venus rising on a deep blue night with the words Radiant Recovery superimposed on it

Welcome to Radiant Recovery®
audio edition of new PnP
October 20, 2019,
Hi {!firstname_fix},
That is a picture of the cover of the audio edition of the new book. It has been 20 years since we had a rendition. If you are someone who learns by listening, here is the whole, unabridged version. I picked the reader because I thought she would give you a good sense of the *tone*. Let me know what you think.
Well, many of you may have heard by now that Yahoo has decided to drop Yahoo Groups from its services as of mid December. Of course, this announcement was quite a shock. While the time was unexpected, we have been thinking about this and planning for it for a while. We have a built a new model for us to connect with all of you. I will outline those plans in a special supplementary newsletter I will send out tomorrow. I expect that some of it will go smoothly without a hitch, and some will be a bit bumpy.
It will be a change and we know that sugar sensitive people are a wee bit hesitant about that. I am confident that it will end up being better. And, of course, as always, we will welcome your thoughts and input as we go forward. I will be writing to each of our Yahoo group lists, so you will know what will happen to each. The wonderful thing is now we have lots and lots of very skilled and steady people in every part of what we do. And I guarantee you that a is nothing better in the world than long term Radiant Recovery people!
Support for Your Program
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COMMUNITY FORUM
Share with others, ask questions, explore everything and anything about your program. Yes, even topics like chocolate and Fritos. This is a great place to get started when you are new.
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GROUPS
We will be setting up a new group system. Look for my adenddum tomorrow. You will be able to sign up for what you want in about a week or so.
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If you prefer talking on Facebook, come over to one of our three groups there. Radiant Recovery®, Radiant Recovery® International or Radiant Recovery® Germany
WORKING WITH KATHLEEN
Coaching is a special offering for people who are serious about enhancing their programs and would like to have ongoing coaching. As we have been progressing with coaching, we have found that it really, really supports progress. We have added a special chat for people in coaching. It meets twice a week to accommodate those who are in Greenwich Time and those who are in USA time.
We do individual assessments to sort out exactly where you are in the process and which coaching subgroup suits you best. You can learn about journaling and adjusting your food for your own life needs – what to do when. You will be given tools and shown how to use them.
We have a group called Return to Radiance Coaching for those who have done the steps in the past and then drifted. Skilled Coaching is for people who are steady on the steps and ready to work on Step 7 life skills. Special Coaching is geared to people who have special considerations. Right now, we are working on moving out of restrictive eating. Email me if you have any questions or concerns about the coaching groups.
Sign up for coaching
Signature Coaching is individual coaching geared to your specific situation. You may want to step out of the craziness of sugar addiction, return to steadiness and clarity after slipping away, slow down and focus on your recovery, or deepen a steady rhythm of recovery.
This is a way to step out of feeling overwhelmed with where to start and what to do. Because it is so individualized, we can work on what is right for you at this point in your journey. People tell me that coaching helps them feel safe and focused. We work with your style, your rhythm. We address your fear and let go of shame.
I actually have been profoundly touched by the level of change people go through in this process. When someone asks me what I think the biggest advantage is I say that the guidance can shorten and ease your process so that in 3 months you will do what you might take a year to do on your own. I am thinking I will put up some testimonials from people who have done it so you can hear their voices.
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"When you pay attention to your body, you are sending it a message that it is valuable. If your body feels valuable, it will talk to you more."
Testimonial of the Week

When you pay attention to your body, you are sending it a message that it is valuable. If your body feels valuable, it will talk to you more.

I was just thinking about this the other day! I realized how many phrases I now have in my toolkit compared to when I started.

Pusher: "No really, you Must Have Some."

The Threat of Gastrointestinal Incident:

"Um, not today, tummy upset."

Then you give them the really big eyes that makes them imagine the digestive worst.

The Scary Athlete in Training:

"No really, I need to make weight for the Regionals in Women's Masters JiuJitsu."

And give them the fierce-competitor look like they're In Your Way.

The Southern Dagger:

"Oh, my, you are really making it hard on me, bless your heart"?

For those of you not in the know of the American South - you can say harsh things about, or to, another person as long as you also add, "bless their heart." The victim doesn't know whether to be pleased to be blessed, or embarrassed at what they've just been called on. You leave while they puzzle it out.

The Too Much Information:

"Really? If I have this now, will you be with me this evening when I have massive cravings triggered by the beta-endorphin priming? Will you talk me down? Or will you bring over junk food and be my binge buddy? No? well then get outta my face."

Nuff said.

The Fake Doctor:

"No really, doctor's orders."

No doctor in particular (Dr. Kathleen doesn't order us around) so that's why this is fake.

The Medical Downer:

"No thanks, I don't need any more risk factors for diabetes."

This is related to the fake doctor. Usually brings the jovial mood of sharing treats to a crashing halt. Plus it says you're making the choice and I rarely have people continue after that.

The Rude Right Back:

"Do I look like I need more candy?"

This one works best if you're still fat. If I were thin I'd go for the hyper, off-the-wall-with-sugar vibe.

The Self-Deprecating Humor:

"I've already had my lifetime servings, thanks anyway."

This also works if you're fat. It embarrasses them by calling attention to the obvious but also puts you in the "used to be a good old boy" category.

The Unsolicited Therapy Intrusion:

"Oh, I'm sorry, what feelings are being touched in you by my not having any?"

Be sincere with your expression of helping concern. Caution, they might really open up right on the show floor but it might be a teaching moment.

I could go on but it's so much fun to make your own!

Connie
David Smiling
Davis is BACK, refreshed and restored. He serves as your personal concierge.
Come visit our STORE. Call 505-345-3737.
Your Last Diet!
Your Last Diet Book Cover

I am leaving this same information up here in the YLD section because if you are not a member yet, I want you to READ it and join. And if you are a member, I want you to read it again and again, so you really, really GET what we are doing.

I had someone ask me why I don't just tell people what to eat in order to lose weight. It really pushed me to think about what it is we are doing in YLD. The key concept is about LAST - this means the whole point is to get you to realize that diets are not the story. Diets = restriction which is simply one more way of taking away power. YLD is all about *empowerment* which means it is slow, thoughtful and transformative. It can be a little disorienting since it is so different from what you are used to. If what you care about is just losing weight, honestly you can

Chats, chats, chats. We just keep talking, reflecting, learning. You will learn about fat terror, about the myths of obesity, how dieting fosters *restriction* and what that means for your long-term success. We add new science to help you understand why you do what you do.

I’m in my third year of recovery and THIS year is the worst roller coaster of trying to balance my protein/sugar/mood swings. Was at wit’s end, wondering where could I find a doctor who knew addiction recovery AND nutrition when my sis sent me a blurb on your book. Went to bookstore and the words leapt off the cover at me! I KNEW it was more than just blood sugar; I had been doing food combining, protein in the a.m ., etc., for years, even before I quit drinking. You have saved my life and, more important, my peace of mind by filling in the blank spaces in my diet management. All I want is to feel normal after I eat! Even after I had the blood sugar thing down, I was still experiencing weird feelings, and there they were in the book: a column for beta-endorphin and one for serotonin! Thank you so much for giving me direction!! God bless you! I have been telling everyone about your book.

—M. S.

If you would like to join us in YLD, come find us here.
picture of Your Body Speaks

Josie and the Unicorn

Kathleen DesMaisons, PhD

I post this article every year because it is one of my most favorite of all. Josie was a living vibration of love. When Josie died, every person who had ever met her told me that she had a special relationship with them and she had *chosen* them. Every single one.

__________________________________________________________________

This week is a special story. A number of us decided that we wanted to *convert* Halloween from a sugar orgy to a fun, fun party. We decided to have a costume party for the dogs and then take them trick or treating.

One of my friends adores my older Golden Retriever named Josie. She asked me if she could make Josie's costume. I was thrilled. She lives in Boulder, so I was given measuring instructions. Neck to tail, girth, space between eyes, space around neck, wrist size, distance across chest. I got regular updates and pictures of the process.

The unicorn would have a bonnet with a horn and little ears. The hooves would be little bi-colored booties, the bonnet would have a fabulous mane to match a removable tail. The material was specially chosen. And then the artistry began. It was so much fun to hear how it was progressing.

In the middle of the process, I heard that our local boutique dog store was sponsoring a costume contest. I just knew Josie would win. She would be the princess of Albuquerque because I knew she would have such a stunning costume.

The costume arrived, carefully packed with tissue and a toilet paper roll around the horn. On Saturday, we were set to get dressed. Josie actually liked it. We had to do a little personalization with safety pins. But we got the hooves in place, got the coats attached, the tail velcroed, and the cap in place. Then she leapt on the bed and rolled. The costume survived.

Off we went to the contest. There was mighty competition. I felt smug since *those* costumes were bought and of course Josie was decked in a handmade glory. We were number 24. When I took her down the runway, she pranced and when everyone clapped, she almost took a bow.

But she did not win. Peter pan and Tinkerbell won. But I want you to see how Josie felt about that. Here she is, with her costume slightly askew. This is radiance. There is nothing more than this smile, this joy in BEING. May we all be taught by smiles like this.

Here is the Annie Lane column that brought so many of you here.

Dear Annie: I read with interest the letter from "Weird, Stupid or Selfish?" – whose husband eats all the decorative candy she puts out. His inability to resist sugar resonated with me, as I have sugar sensitivity and have engaged in exactly the same behaviors. I simply could not resist sugar.

After years of struggling and dieting and sitting in work meetings obsessing about the doughnuts instead of the topic at hand, I discovered the book "Potatoes Not Prozac," by Kathleen DesMaisons. Her theory is that people who are sugar sensitive have brains that respond differently to sugar, alcohol and refined carbs and that what they eat and when they eat it have a huge effect on them. She shows how to rebalance blood sugar levels, serotonin and beta-endorphins through small lifestyle changes and offers the latest research, free online support and seven steps to change your life. It is not about willpower; it’s about biochemistry, which her program can slowly improve, just one tiny step at a time, with amazing results.

I have been sugar-free for six years now, lost 25 pounds and never gained any of it back. I can go to dinner with family and don’t even think twice when someone orders dessert. I don’t have cravings, and sugar is no longer on my radar. I am more focused and more tolerant, and the daily mood swings are gone. The woman who wrote to you could suggest to her husband that he check out http:// radiantrecovery.com to see whether he does have sugar sensitivity. At the very least, she would be better informed about this condition. – Happy Without Sugar

Dear Happy Without Sugar: I hadn’t considered that health issues might explain

her husband’s behavior. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of sugar sensitivity.

Thanks for opening my eyes to the condition! I’d like to encourage all readers to talk to their doctors if they find themselves compulsively eating sugary snacks.

—Email questions to dearannie@creators.com

ANNIE LANE
©2019 Kathleen DesMaisons. All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your blog 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 for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction.

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