I love September. For some reason, it is always the time of *starting school for me*. New shoes, OFFICE supplies, LOL, and anticipation about new learning. This morning I am watching my three dogs play with Henry . First they chase around like banchees. Then Josie goes over to the cave she dug this summer and runs down into it. Pepper stands guard and Ronan won’t let Henry near. Then Josie backs out, Pepper grabs her, throws her to the ground, stands over her and she laughs and laughs. Ronan stands back and does the happy bark while Henry watches saying *this is not the life I had in jail*. I am fascinated by the cave. Josie masterminded it and was the lead dog. She got the dirt halfway up. Pepper scooped it out to ground level and Mr. Ronan, strong lad that he is pulled it out and sent it flying all over the yard. A golden team, LOL. Sounds like our leadership. At any rate, it is fun to have a window that looks out to the play yard. Click here to see some recent pictures of Ronan and Pepper We will be starting these new classes this week: Using Radiant Resources is our free guided tour of the community. If you are new or if you are old but what to see what it happening, come join us. Step 1: The Art of Breakfast is the way to get started. Learn about Step one in a structured way and have fun meeting new people as you do. Step 6: Planning Your Detox is a great way to get connected to step six. Learn how to go off of sugar in a healthy and thoughtful way. I have posted a new class schedule on line. Click here to see what is planned. Please note that the YLD weight loss classes are going to start the week of the 25th, so make sure you are registered. 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. 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. 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 **********************************************************************
September 4, 2006 ** Quote From Kathleen **
When you feel your worst and can't cope with anything, just go back to eating breakfast with protein every day. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
I remember when I first started this program back in January reading on the forum from others about all of the changes they noticed. I also remember while reading them thinking, I wonder if I will ever be able to post on the forum stating my changes. Well, as I am approaching my 5th month on step 6 I can write and state some changes I have noticed. Right before I started I was fasting and praying for an answer to my misery, I was at my wits end, I had had enough. So I give all the glory to the lord for giving me an answer I was seeking. I have come from being plagued with extreme panic attacks, muscle tension, muscle twitches, severe depression, thoughts that would terrorize me, inferiority complex. I also remember that each day was just a struggle to get through, and never ever being in the moment, and always looking back into the past. I remember lying in bed each night (sleep was foreign to me) worrying if I offended this person or that person. I would withdraw from everyone and isolate myself, I felt numb, if someone were talking to me I would pretend to be engaged in the conversation, but really wanted to go hide somewhere. There is a lot more, but I’m kinda drawing a blank right now , but to sum it all up I was in torment night and day with no end in sight. I am now a calm person, I don’t yell and scream and totally flip out on people out of nowhere. I’m not tense and panicky or anxious, this is huge for me because I was the most anxiety ridden panicked person there was. I no longer feel the *blackness* and numbness that was once my constant companions. The depression is loosening its grip more and more each day (lately it seems to be at an accelerated rate), I feel some joy now, and I know this will only increase as I keep doin the food. I am now living in the moment, I am in real time. I am amazed at how clear and settled my mind is. My thoughts are no longer zipping around a hundred miles an hour, my mind is quiet and clear, and I’m not as forgetful. I no longer fall apart and flip out when things go wrong, I simply work out a solution to the problem and move on. Life is so much more easy now, it is not a struggle it once was. I know I have a long way to go, and in the scope of things I’m pretty young in the program, but I have progressed light years in the past 8 months, I can only wonder how much better its going to be in 8 more months. So to all of you people starting out, this program works, and please please please stick with it, and do exactly as Kathleen and the experienced ones tell you. Also, it is so true, how the changes are so subtle you don’t even notice them, over time you look back or read your first journal again, and think, "oh wow, when did all this take place." On another note, I wanted to announce that my wife and I had our 6th child last week. A beautiful healthy little girl and I couldn’t be prouder. Being balanced like I am lets me be able to experience this soooooo much better. Sincerely, Tom ********************************************************************
**Recipe of the Week**
Here is another great recipe from the Radiant Recipes Cookbook. Easy Egg and Oat One-Pan Breakfast
Naomi's note: if you are a big one like me, you can eat this in addition to some other protein source or you could add some George Restore to the eggs to make up your 42 grams of protein! ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
I hope everyone has read last week’s chat. I went through each of the classes in detail. Please remember to go over and check the schedule to see when your weight loss class gets started. There will be 4 classes starting: Weight Loss Readiness is the class for those of you just starting out. This gives you a jump start by shifting your mind start right out the gate. Settling the Emotional Pieces of Weight Loss is a terrific adjunct to your process. Find out what gets in the way and heal it. This class lets you come to the main part with a clear heart. Weight Loss in Action is the specific how to piece of your program. You have your body balanced with the steps are ready to rock. Learn out with efficiency and grace. Weight Loss for Stubborns is a problem-solving group for people who have been working the program and have found it hard to lose the extra weight. 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 **
 We have a couple of fun products to introduce this week.
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
We have a few changes to announce. The folks in Colorado got so excited at the Boulder Seminar, they requested a separate Colorado group. Click here to join. And then we were looking at California and got excited over there as well. We have split radiantpacific into three groups: Click on the one that is now appropriate for you to join: Radiantnortherncalifornia - serving Northern California Radiantcentralcalifornia - serving Central California Radiant Pacific -serving Southern California and Hawaii. Come join us and start playing ********************************************************************
**What Life With Children Can Be Like** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. First of all, I would like you to read this note that Janie recently wrote to the parents’ list: I'm sitting here contemplating all the wonderful things that have come about in my relationship with my teenagers because of this program. I'm filled with joy and wonder and I just had to share this with you all. My twins are 15 and sophomores in high school. Last Friday night they had a movie night at our house. There were 8 girls here. My husband made pizza with brown rice crust and various toppings. There was no soda, lol. Then later they popped some popcorn. My girls were laughing and giggling, having a good time. No fights, yelling, screaming or whatever. They laugh with me and include me in their stories and jokes. They are not embarrassed by their mom, lol. I think Janie’s report pretty much sums up what I hear over and over and over about children on the program. We expect *terrible twos* but they just don’t happen with program kids. We anticipate struggles and problems, coping with identity and tears and sibling rivalry and ADD and mood swings. That just does not happen with program children. We plan for the kinds of teen years that Janie remembers, and I remember. Anger, moods, tears, drama, embarassment with our parents, flouncing about. When we start the program, we think, well maybe I can do this, but my family won’t ever buy in. But you know what, they will. They buy in when you are no longer ambivalent. And then something happens. We get RELATIONSHIP, connection, humor, respect, sibling adoration and value. Honestly. I am not making this up. I didn’t know this when I started. I just thought I had nice kids, LOL. But now, what I see is that my kids were doing the program (albeit in a somewhat less refined manner), and that meant they were in balance. And NORMAL means kids like each other, like and respect their parents, do problem solving, serve as role models with their peers and generally rock. School has just started. I am going to invite you to do something outrageous. Get your kids on the program. Get Little Sugar Addicts and learn the steps for kids. They are different (and way simpler) than your steps, LOL. And join the parents’ list. I want you to give your children this miracle. I want your children to have the kind of lives that Janie’s kids have. Whew, doesn’t that just give me shivers!! ©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 Food and Cooking 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 |
