It has been an exciting week. Last Wednesday's YLD chat was about Step 6. The process was the best of what this community is about. A totally unexpected awareness of the way we do business came out of a shared dialogue. The interaction created what I would call a *paradigm shift* - we will never think of Step 6 in the same way. It raises many things for me...the biggest of which is what I love most about out community and this healing process. It is alive, it changes and matures. We thought YLD was an online weight loss program. We thought it was pretty straight forward and task oriented. Then we started talking. These chats began as tutorials. In the beginning, it was like herding cats. Then we started sharing about program things. And over time, the power of the community started infusing the conversations. You shared your thoughts and fears and dreams and successes. Collectively, something happened. And to be honest, it is breathtaking. I am going to let you read the chat so you can have first hand info rather than *reported* info. Last week someone said they did not know what YLD stood for so here is a little clarification. YLD is short for Your Last Diet, just as PnP is short for Potatoes Not Prozac and SARP is short for The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program. Our classes are continuing. Last week's free Using The Resources of the Community was a blast. Thank you all for coming. We will be running that class every two weeks so you can sign up anytime and we will just slot you in. We have one other piece of housekeeping on the classes and YLD registrations. We have set up the store to send out an autoresponder when your payment is approved. We were confused that some of you seemed not to be getting the email with the class or YLD registration instructions. After a great deal of investigation with our contractor, we learned that AOL was blocking email from the autoresponders. So, if you are an AOL person, and did not receive follow up for a class you registered for, or for YLD, please email ASAP so we can sort it out. Our contractor has assured us that this is now resolved. But we are watching the registrations and signups carefully. These are the classes that will be starting this week: Step 3: Three Meals a Day is one of our core classes. This is a skilled based class. If you want to learn the baby steps of a successful step 3, come join us. This class is ALWAYS fun. Back to Basics 1 is the class for those who have been on Step 7 and got lost. If you are wobbling around, have relapsed or need a tune up, come connect. We are kind, funny and have a great get back on track process. IBD - Week 1 is the second round of the very interesting class on the biochemistry of gut issues. Come learn how IBD/IBS are connected to sugar sensitivity and what you can do to heal. This is a two week class. Please note if you are going to join the IBD class, go ahead and order a copy of Breaking the Vicious Cycle because we will be referencing it. A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time. Please note that we have added the classes to the new schedule so you can see what is coming up. I will also be adding the Sex and Sugar class into the schedule. It will be renamed, The Art of Intimacy in Recovery, so watch for it. And go read the questions and answers before you write to me. The classes are done online with one lesson each day. You do not have to be at your computer at any set time. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum. 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. Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
February 13, 2006 ** Quote From Kathleen **
The program is more than the Steps. It is about a healing process as well. Both weave together to create something that is powerful and healing. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
This morning I had 2 French toast with 2 eggs, 1/2 cup cottage cheese/banana and a protein shake made with almond milk and chocolate powder. With only 22 days of breakfasting behind me, I'm amazed at all the changes: I sleep better; I eat less; my self esteem has gone way up; I'm more focused; I'm exercising again; I'm drinking more water; and I feel happier and less depressed. It's truly amazing! I love the process, too. My SS brain gets to have the sugar it craves while my body is slowly changing and healing. What a plan! Diane ********************************************************************
**Recipe of the Week**
This is a recipe from Maggi. She served it when I was up in Minnesota and I loved it. PUMPKIN CUSTARD
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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
Our discussion about the chats led me to attend the Monday night chat this week. I had attended them for a while last year when I first signed up and loved them, but stopped at some point and never started back up. Part of me thought - 'oh, I don't have anything to ask - all my issues seem to stem from the fact that I am pregnant and I can address those issues on the pregnancy and nursing list rather than bother all the non-pregnant people with them.' But I committed to do it, so I did it. I only listened, I didn't say anything. But it was an amazing thing for me. Just being there, just listening, just following through with the commitment I made to go, made a difference. I learned that showing up - whether I participated or not - is key in helping me to further commit to the program. Immediately after the chat I wrote some of my concerns to the pregnancy list and by doing that as well, I got over my "I'm stuck" feeling and I have been able to progress through some issues already. (Some not even related to anything I said!) I am learning that connecting is important - and it's not so much what you say as whether you are present! I know Kathleen has talked about this and now I am understanding the concept much better. I am going to work more on just showing up, even if I feel like I can do nothing more! Amy in OH Come and join us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun. It is not too late to get into the classes if you come right now. ********************************************************* *********** **David's Corner **  Kathleen has been sending me copies of what people are saying about the store. That has been really nice. I work hard at creating something you like. Here is what Beth said: Anyway I think the store is great. I like that it is low key somehow, definitely not the center of the website, but there as a valuable support. Being low key I believe it reinforces the message that you don't have to go buy something to feel better (I used to fall prey to advertisements that encouraged adding something to me to make me better.), but that you have all that is necessary within to be successful, you just have to reveal it through your healing journey. If you haven't been to the store for a while, how about just coming over and browsing. You will be thrilled to see all the changes! Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
Come join our new radiant family and friends group - a group for family and friends of alocholics. We will be dealing with finding healthy ways to support our loved ones, maintain our own sanity and be part of recovery in a healing way. Gretel has agreed to be the liaison, so I think it will really be fun. ********************************************************************
**YLD Chat** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. As I said earlier, sometimes our chats are pretty exciting. Last week, I went to chat and asked them to reflect with me on Step 6. I had just finished teaching the Step 6 class and some intriguing thoughts had come up. How do Step 6 and Step 7 relate to each other? And the dialgue took us to something that none of us had connected with before. Step 6, just like all the other steps, is a PROCESS not a destination. Step 6 is not just going off of sugar. It is about learning to live without your drug. It is about early detox and having to *see* your life without your drug. Anyway, I wanted you to hear the dialogue. You will see how this unfolds in practical application over time. But this will give you a sense of the start of a new understanding. This is the community living into its knowing. Here is the link to this week's YLD Chat ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2006. 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, liaison for big ones gathers the recipes 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. 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.htm. ©2006 by 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 and use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®. Please visit Kathleen's website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction." Please notify me at kathleen@radiantrecovery.com to let me know where the material will appear. Banner Photograph by Geraint Smith |