Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, last Monday you got the newsletter with the commentary about Ireland being wonderful. While you were reading, I was on the phone with our internet provider.

Being gone, having no phone and having the web site unravel was probably one of the most difficult things I have ever gone through professionally. I came home and went into problem-solving mode. Nothing like a trained child of an alcoholic to take care of things, LOL. I refused to get off the phone until we had some answers. We moved from the junior techs in India to the supervisors to the engineers. I was ruthless...polite, kind and persistent. On the inside, I was connecting to what this community means to me. This is not about *business*, this is about connection and healing. We all have put too much into it for too long to have it unravel.

And it has turned out to be a huge blessing. I am clear about priorities. We are doing some major changes about safety nets for our leadership team. It all feels very settled and very focused. I know you will be feeling it and sensing the clarity from the inside out. I have loved the conversation we are having about this time that has been going on over on the forum. Do come and read it. And check into the forum regularly, it really is where we are dialoging.

And I won’t be traveling for a while, so we can settle into our class structure. I promised on the forum that we would be doing a *free* class for folks who are wanting to do the program and are on a tight budget. I just need to do a little thinking on how we can do this, but keep watching for me to post it.

We will be starting these new classes this week beginning 9/25:

Learning About Depression is a great tool for those of you dealing with depression. Come learn about brain chemistry and doing the program. This class has good tips and is easy to understand complex ideas.

Weightlossreadiness is the new getting started class for YLD members. We are really excited to do this new format. Come learn how Phase One of your program sets the foundation for your entire weight loss plan.

Weightlossinaction is the *let’s do it!* class for YLD members who are ready to rock on losing weight in a healthy and focused way.

And we will begin these classes the week of 10/4:

Brain Chemistry 101 is a great way to learn or review the foundation of our program. I love this class. I think it is a terrific tool for all of you.

Brain Chemistry: Beta Endorphin is one of our most popular classes. BE is the heart chemical. Come learn why is it so important.

Using Community Resources is our fun free guided tour of the community. If you are new or returning, get on the top deck of the double decker and hear everything.

I have posted a new class schedule on line. Click here to see what is planned.

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

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September 25, 2006
** Quote From Kathleen **


This is a process. You do not have a 'sobriety date' to mark that sugars are gone forever. You simply move more and more into a healthy relationship with your body.

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** Testimonial for the Week**


On Tuesdays my 6 year old has a dance class from 5:15-6:00 pm and my 3 year old comes to watch through the classroom window. We normally eat dinner at 5:30. My first thought was what to do? The first week both DDs had a good snack at 4:30. At the end of class they were crying for McDonalds French Fries next door. I said no, it was dinnertime and we were going straight home to eat and we only live 5 minutes away. Within 5 minutes of starting to eat their dinners their tantrums subsided.

This week we came prepared. We packed a "picnic" dinner to eat right after class. DDs helped to choose what they wanted to eat. They had chicken fingers, whole wheat macaroni and cheese and grapes. I also brought my dinner. We had no meltdowns and no cries for McDonalds French Fries. We got home and went through the rest of our evening routine beautifully. I think we will try this again next week.

Stacey

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**Recipe of the Week**


EASY MARINATED BEAN SALAD

  • 2/3 c. brown rice vinegar
  • 1/4 c. water
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt (optional)
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1/4 c. apple juice
  • 1 can kidney beans or 2 cups cooked
  • 1 can green beans or 2 cups cooked
  • 1 can wax beans (yellow beans) or 2 cups cooked
  • 1 can chickpeas or 2 cups cooked 2 medium red onions sliced very thinly
Drain and rinse canned beans very well (skip this step if you are using your own cooked beans). Boil vinegar, water, salt, garlic and apple juice and cook for approximately 2 minutes. Let cool. Add remaining ingredients to vinegar mixture. Marinate in refrigerator at least one day before serving.

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


OK, finally!!! You have been very patient. We will start the classes now. Make sure to sign up.

There was a review of YLD in the Toronto Star this week. The columnist clearly did not read the book and could not find the menus to tell her what to do. I wrote to her and in doing that realized how much I love YLD. It is so, um, sane. It is such an antidote to one more quick fix, one more here, eat this and be thin. We all know that there is an article about that every week, every month and we all read all of them. YLD frees us from all that. And I can see that a columnist who reviews a new diet book each week would not want to hear the idea that this might be your LAST diet, LOL. But for me, and for you...count on it. If you are tired of all that, we have an alternative.

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.
 


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**David's Corner **



Well, thank you all for your patience with our shake fiasco this month. I learned a lot. It is a sobering thing to be told that your supplier will take care of you in 6 weeks and then ships in 10. Last week was hard for all of us. Mom came back from Ireland to get on the phone with the ISP and I was in the fulfillment center packing boxes for all of you. We did a major debriefing about the whole thing and are making some changes that I think you will love.

We have hired someone to help with the admin and I will be able to get back to working with all of you much more closely. Our ISP tanked because they had too much on our server. I think my service to you tanked because I had too much on my server as well. It has been a big learning experience.

And if you are wondering about the reference to *Mom* rather than Kathleen....(smile)...part of what we talked about is being clear about how much this is a *family* endeavor. I know that she thinks of all of you as community. I do as well. And part of our debriefing was about what it means to me to be a part of what we are doing together. If you didn’t know Kathleen is my Mom, it is time for that. If you knew and wondered why I referred to her as *Kathleen*, I was trying to be professional. But it is not only OK, but wonderful to be doing a family business that will grow over time.

OK, so back to the store (smile)...we have changed our recording system so we can meet your needs better. If you would like to be a preferred customer, we can track your ordering. If you are in your car and remember that you need shake or need a travel mixer for your trip in three days, you can just call and I will get it out to you. If you think amazon is fast, try me!!

And yes, we have lots of shake...I will send it out as soon as you order. Click on the icons below to see what we have:



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

 
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**Our Online Groups**


RadiantBigOnes is a list for those of us who have 100 or more pounds to lose. The list is unique in that we don't just focus on food challenges -- although getting 42 grams of protein at a meal can certainly be a challenge! -- but we also share information and support for issues that non-BigOnes may not even realize are an issue in day-to-day life. I love the dialog on this list because everyone is so supportive and we learn so much from each other. We have people on the list who are in various stages of the 7 Steps, so if you're a BigOne, you'll fit right in! Ann

Or come to the group page to see all our groups. http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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**Twenty Minutes**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.


Many people have asked me about meditation. How is it done? What book to read? Should I get a teacher?

My meditation is very much like doing the food. Very simple, yet rich with possibility. I thought you would enjoy hearing about how it goes.

Six AM. It is dark outside. Dogs are all around sleeping. Ronan is upside down against the wall on the wast side. Josie is curled up in her bed in my closet. Pepper is at the foot of my bed snoring. Henry, who is a rescue just sprung from dog jail, is sleeping on the floor right next to me.

I get up, go to the bathroom, walk to the front door. I forget my slippers and hope I do not step on one of the pieces of the yellow plastic ball that got chewed up yesterday. I put all dogs outside and go back to my bed. I am grateful for its warmth. I sit with my back to the wall with a chunky pillow behind me. I lit a candle on the bureau across the room. The candle is a french candle that smells of caramel.

I set my timer for 20 minutes. It is a brass bowl that will chime at the time I set it for. I look to the window at my right. The sun is starting to illuminate the sky over the mountains. I can see mauve through the trees. I am in the right place. I close my eyes. I remember the dream I was dreaming when I woke up. I am laughing because I would love to go back to its deliciousness but I tell myself *quiet time, quiet time.* I say my little prayer that quiets my mind. Then I have a thought about a dilemma I had last night. Should I attend the training in October. The answer floats in. I chuckle at the clarity.

*Quiet time, quiet time, Kathleen*. I think about going to Ireland. What will I wear? How cold will it be? I wonder if my timer is ready to chime. I open my eyes. It has been 7 minutes. I notice birds outside the window. The light is grey. I close my eyes again. I think about my daughter, my grandsons, about camp, rock climbing. I think about paying bills. The dogs are barking the *what are you doing on my street!* bark. I open my eyes. The paper guy is bringing the Sunday paper. *quiet time, quiet time, Kathleen.*

And then I am just breathing. Stillness. Inside it feels like little drops of light plinking on a mirror. Soft, luminous. Still, like rain in the early morning, but inside, not in my mind, sort of over my heart. Very soft. The rising and falling of my breath feels like someone is breathing me.

Then I hear the ding of the chime way far away. I open my eyes. No, it is not raining, dogs are all out there, lying in the grass watching birds, looking for dogs, walkers, coyotes, whatever they imagine might come by,. I feel still, very still.



©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