I have loved being home with regular life. Washed dogs, did laundry, went to the grocery store and cranked into high gear for Radiant Ranch. David and I just got back from a planning luncheon. We talked about what needed to be done, who would do it and how much fun it was to do Ranch. I cannot describe the joy in working with someone who is so gracious, humorous and skilled. It’s a nice team. I have new rescue dog. She was pulled from a puppy mill and came with 7 puppies. I know I told my friends and family I was cutting back on rescue, but I wasn’t going to say no, LOL. So ranchers get to see puppies once again. Those little radiant rescues are all over the country. And thank you for joining me in the wonderful tour of the new resource center! What fun that was. These classes will begin this week: Step 2: Introduction to Journaling is the basic how to class. What to include, why to include it and how to have fun. Back to Basics 2 is the follow up for the repentent fallen ones. We have so much fun in this series. No shame, just clear and focused problem solving. 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. 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 **********************************************************************
May 1, 2006 ** Quote From Kathleen **
You are telling your body it is important. You are noticing what you are eating and what you are feeling. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
You're in a terrible place right now and I don't want to add to your unhappiness, but I know I've made decisions in the past that I just wouldn't have made now I'm steady. I know I lost opportunities, closed doors and went down roads that I needn't have if I was clearer. Before Kathleen's program, everything was too hard, or too sad, or too exhausting, or too upsetting, or too offensive, or too difficult, or too hopeless to solve. Now, everthing seems more clear, more calm and even the crises aren't crises anymore. My life IS difficult, but so much more manageable than the old days of addiction. If you decide to leave or stay, you're going to need strength and perspective and a steady mind to work things out. I'm with Kathleen. Get yourself steady for six months and things will seem clearer and all the "what ifs" won't have as much power over you. In the meantime, doing the program concentrates your energies on YOU instead of the frustration of being with HIM. instead of focusing on the problems, focus on healing yourself. Become really strong and who knows what you'll decide from a position of steadiness and calm. Eliza :-) ********************************************************************
**Recipe of the Week**
This recipe comes from Joy Lynn. Spinach/Artichoke Delight
The mixture should be creamy and well mixed. Then place in casserole and either microwave for 5 minutes or bake in 375° oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Note: You can add a layer of cheese on the top at the end. This is great as a dip or eaten as a side dish This dish freezes really well ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
This sounds so funny, but I never cease to marvel that we can be having so much fun with weight loss. That senior class is just rockin. No flapping, just working at the process. What a joy you are!! If you are not a YLD member, 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 **  I have the cookbook and it is tattered and dogeared 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. VerlaI 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. And try some George Restore (smile) even if to just see this gorgeous new label! Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
I'd love to introduce you to the step six list. This is a wonderful place to be if you are working on step 6 (whether you are getting ready to detox off sugar, or whether you are in the first 6 months after your detox). We have found that step 6 is not just about eliminating the sugars but about adapting to life and keeping the food steady afterwards. A lot of us felt sort of flat, or bored, or like "What's next", after our detox. Most of us felt lost and didn't feel quite radiant yet On the list we talk about all sorts of things that come up after detox (beta-endorphin raising, keeping the food steady, covert sugars, phasing out parts of our old lives that no longer work while phasing in the new parts, creating healthy boundaries, finding our passion, and lots more). If this is where you are in your program I highly recommend you come on over and join us. I believe it is a time period in our recovery when we need to be careful to continue to keep a strong support system. The step six list will give this to you. I look forward to seeing you over there. Warmly, Patti ********************************************************************
**Going off of Sugar ** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. Going off of sugar works way better if you do some homework. first. Start by CLEANING YOUR KITCHENGo into your kitchen, open your cabinets, and take out all the foods with obvious sugars in them. This includes leftover Halloween or other candy, high-sugar comfort foods, soda, sugar cereals such as Frosted Flakes – you know, all the high-temptation stuff. Throw it away or give it away. Ideally, see if you can get every last bit of it out of the house.If your family will go nuts if you give away their sugar foods, arrange with them to put all the sweet things into one place. Choose a cupboard or cabinet that you do not usually use. Call it the sugar stash. You will know what is there, but at least you can make the choice whether to go and look at or eat what is in the cupboard. By separating the sugar stash from the other foods, you will at least minimize your bumping into such foods while you are trying to be “clean”. Set The Stage by TALKING TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDSThe next step is an emotional housecleaning. So far, your family and friends have probably seen the positive change in you as you progress with this program. They may have seen that overall you have more energy, are more upbeat, relaxed, and sympathetic. They know you aren’t “fixed” yet, but they are interested in the change that is taking place in you. Some family members may have rolled their eyes at first when they heard you were on another diet, but they have probably changed their tune by now.But now that you are going to stop eating sugar, their reactions may well change again. They may be worried that you are going to expect them to stop eating sugar, too. They may be fiercely resistant or totally uninterested in anything that has to do with your eating more regularly and giving up sugar. They may even actively subvert your commitment to the plan. Your husband may ask, “Are you still doing that stuff?” as he orders chocolate mousse for dessert. Your kids may unconsciously try to sabotage you as well. Remember, sugar sensitivity is inherited. The chances that your family is sugar sensitive are really high. You know this. They know this. And they may not be in the same place you are, ready to move toward a sugar-free life. You may also have close friends who are sugar sensitive. And friends who are still very attached to sugar and with things may warn you of the dangers of a “high-protein diet.” Telling them that this food plan is not a high-protein diet will have no impact, because the concern isn’t really about protein. They are worried that if you change, they may feel pressured to change as well. And many people are not ready to. You can’t clear out your husband or unsupportive best friend the way you can clear out your cabinet, but you can be clear with them and clear in your own mind and commitment. And you can actively add other people to your support group. You need support from people who understand your program. Talking with folks who are supportive is absolutely critical to your success. You could do this by doing the program with a friend, joining a local Potatoes Not Prozac support group, or finding a way to get online and talk to the great folks on the website. However you choose to find support, make a real effort to do so! It will make a world off difference to the success of your program. Having personal connection to others doing the program will help you stick with it. The Last Part: HOLDING THE SADNESSA key part of getting ready to take the sugars out is acknowledging the intensity of the emotional cues associated with sugars in our culture. Many of your childhood memories of support and love are connected to food, usually sweet or white foods. They hold a very big emotional charge for you.But the foods you think of as providing comfort are the very things that have contributed to your problems. In other words, oftentimes the reason you need comfort is due to the very sweet or white food you are eating! This is a very difficult concept to explain to someone who is still using comfort foods. When you are caught in the middle of these foods, it is almost impossible to understand how big a problem they are creating. An alcoholic who is still drinking will often tell me, “I would stop drinking if I could just get my life squared away.” And she will struggle and struggle and struggle to fix her problems, but they still surround her and create her need for a drink. Using sugars and white things acts in exactly the same way. I used to fell I needed a hot fudge sundae every night after work because my work was so stressful, so demanding, and so tiring. I had no idea that it was the hot fudge sundae that was significantly contributing to the stress of my life. My sugar-laden brain could not in any way make that connection. Because you have been doing the plan for awhile now, I know this concept is starting to make sense to you. You can see more clearly the huge effect that these sugar foods have on you. You recognize that your down sides are directly correlated to what you are eating. So, on an intellectual level you are ready. On an emotional level, though, you may continue to be scared about having to give things up that have so much tenderness associated with them. After all is said and done, ultimately you will be making a choice about what you want more. I still miss those green-iced Christmas cookies. I still want them every Christmas. Time has not made it easier. But experience has. I want my recovery more than I want the ‘illusion’ of comfort that those cookies would give me. You will grow into this place, too. The longer you do the program, the more this will make sense to you. Come join the Step Six Group. Talk with others about this step. Get connected and find how much easier it is than you expected. ©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 step 4 gathers the recipes 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 |