Hi {!firstname_fix}

So this is our winter settling in. I tried to find some salt to de-ice our walkway. Went to 6 places before I found some. My oh my, Albuquerque is not used to this! The dogs are out in the yard throwing ice in the air. Blue sky, bright sun and cold. What a difference from what we usually have.

I had someone write me this week and say, *I don’t have the funds to participate on your website but will come back when I do.* I was sort of flabbergasted since so much of what we do is at no cost at all. If anyone else is feeling this way, will you let me know so I can think about how best to address this issue.

And if you have not checked out our community map, please click here to do so. It is really fun to see where you all live.

We will be starting these new classes this week of 1/17. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 5: Browning Your Family is one of our favorites. Learn the art of whole grains. Get lots of information that you won't find anywhere else. I picked the brains of one of the world's leading *brown* experts for this class.

Back to Basics 2 is the continuation of the regroup and get back on track class that starts this week.

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.

Step 7 - Getting a Life is a fun and playful look at the skills that come after you are steady with the food.

We will be starting these new classes the week of 1/24. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Brain Chemistry: Dopamine is the newest addition to the brain chemistry series. Learn about the mighty cousin to serotonin and beta endorphin. Learn how he sparkles and seduces and what to do to have him as an ally rather than a dragon

Step 3: Three Meals 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.

Using the Resources of the Community 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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January 15, 2007

** Quote From Kathleen **

Your molecules will yearn for balance, care, and healing. Instead of cravings for sugar, there will come a longing for wholeness.

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** Testimonial for the Week**

Things are going very well, indeed. I am not having any problems with my eating, cravings are non-existent and my mood is stable and serene. (The mood improvement is probably the biggest news of my life). I'm working out and liking it, actually looking forward to it! Life has never been better. All this I owe to PNP and YLD, so I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work and research. I feel that the next 50 years will be the healthiest of my life. I bounce out of bed EARLY every morning (Who woulda thunk it?) and can't wait to get on with the day. I'm a whole new me -- the me I was always meant to be. Thank you again. You've had a huge impact on my life. I sing the praises of PNP wherever I go, to whomever will listen. Oh yeah, I almost forgot -- I've lost 25 pounds. That's wonderful, but it's not the most important thing. Now isn't that wild? It used to be the only thing. Wowzer!

Terri

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**Recipe of the Week**

Here is my favorite split pea soup recipe from my cookbook, Nutritious and Delicious kosher cooking. You can make it vegetarian style or you can add the meat bones or turkey necks for a meaty soup. I love these types of hearty soups on cold winter nights. It also freezes very well.

SPLIT PEA AND BARLEY SOUP

10 cups water
1 c. split peas
1 c. barley
2 onions, chopped
4 carrots, chopped
1 sweet potato, cubed
2 stalks celery, chopped
2-4 cloves garlic (I like to use 4 cloves as I am a big garlic lover), minced
4 zucchini, chopped
2 T. salt (or to your taste)
Optional: add some meat bones or turkey necks

Put all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Simmer over very low heat for at least two hours, stirring occasionally. The longer you cook it, the better it is. Just be careful not to let the barley and split peas burn on the bottom of the pot!

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

I hope you all will read last week’s chat transcript. I outlined all of how the new YLD process will fit together. We have all the phases covered so you will have support from day one to whenever you feel done. Of course I know that no one wants to leave.

And a number of you have asked me if you can join YLD even if weight is not a big deal. The answer is yes, absolutely. The key element is the level of support. Last night in chat, people were saying what a difference chat has made for them. It's funny, I think because it is real time, it just makes us all feel so connected.

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.

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**David's Corner **

Ok, so it is winter time and you may be feeling grumpy with the darkness, the snow, or the lack of snow. Heh heh. Get some fish oil and you will feel better. We have different kinds depending on your needs:

ProEPA is the basic fish oil formulation we all take. The recommended dosage is 2 caps a day. The oil is certified to be free of heavy metals and does not create an aftertaste.

Pro DHA is the formulation recommended for pregnant and nursing moms. It gives you a higher percentage of the fatty acid used to make baby brains.

Cod Liver Oil is the way our grandmothers got fish oil The new version we carry does not taste fishy and is an easy way to get omegas. Just put a tsp in your shake. It has a mild fish flavor.

Pycnogenol is a wonderful adjunct to increasing your oil intake.

The rest of Naomi’s cookbooks will be here midweek. We expect six boxes. The first two went out the door in a flash. UPS lost one box, but we should be set shortly.

And an update on oatcakes....our order is sitting on the dock in New York being examined by the FDA. I told them I want the whole ship full, LOL. And Karen is looking into getting little oatcake holders from Lakeland in the UK. You folks over there can go buy them. Our import charges are so big, I know I need to carry them in the store. No promises yet, LOL, but I am working on it.

And thank you for your patience about the George's Restore and Junior Shakes. Three of us worked non stop to get it all in the mail to you. I went to the post office twice a day until everything was out the door. Let me know if you have any problems at all.

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**

Hello. My name is Stacey. I'm the volunteer liaison for RadiantParents. I have 2 children, girls ages 6 and 3. I have known since I was a teenager that I felt better without sugar and whites and that still didn’t stop me from being the Queen of Dessert. I loved my sugar and couldn’t dream of a life without it. It wasn’t until reading Potatoes Not Prozac in 1998 that I understood why. It took a few more years of battling with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia while still dealing with lifelong allergies and mood swings and trying all different diets and ways of eating until I was able to really do the program. I finally picked up Potatoes Not Prozac and Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program for the 10th time and said “I have to really try this and stick to it.” I am so glad that I did. I was already doing parts of the steps, but I looked at all seven steps with a beginner's mind and gradually reached step 7. My CFS/FM is unbelievably improved as are my allergies. And best of all, I am much calmer, steadier and happier and a better mother and wife.

When my older DD was a few years old we realized that she had mood swings, tantrums and night terrors that were all somehow related to when she ate sugar. She was stubborn and I always had to plan extra time in for meltdowns. We started being careful about what she ate and noticed a difference. I had read Little Sugar Addicts and I started to follow this with both of my children too. Wow what a difference it has made. Both DDs are happy with smiles and fewer tantrums. Now they are angels.

I have realized how important it is for me to share my experience with others. I love helping sugar sensitive parents and children find what I and so many others have found through doing this program. On the list we discuss ways to get our children to buy in to the program which can be hard and frustrating at times, but it is fun to listen to the other parents and get advice while hearing about what other parents are doing. We also share recipes and success stories. It’s a great list and I feel honored to be a part of such a caring and wonderful group of parents. Come join us!

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

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**Omega 3 Fatty Acids**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.

Omega 3 fatty acids are really important for your health. They do many wonderful things. Here are just a few:

They make your brain work really well. This is especially important for children, people who are in recovery from substance abuse, sugar addiction and depression.
They reduce inflammation so improve:
- Allergies like hay fever
- Food allergies
- Skin problems
- Irritable bowel disorder
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Asthma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Lupus
They protect against cancer and especially against cancer metastasis
They are critical for baby formation in pregnancy and nursing.

Omega 3 fatty acids come from cold water fish and flax oil. Learning how much to take is sort of an art. Finding your dose requires looking at a number of variables. These include:

Your age. If you are a child under the age of 5, you need a lot of a particular kind of omega 3 called DHA to make your brain. If you are over 50, you need more omega 3 to keep your brain at its best.
If you are pregnant or nursing you are making baby brain and need more.
If you have a history of substance abuse, particularly alcoholism, you have been using a solvent that melts brain cells. You need omega 3 to help restore your brain.
If you have any of the inflammatory diseases listed above, you will need a therapeutic dose for a few months. Those diseases are a clue that you are low in omega 3 fatty acids.
If you have a family history of cancer or are recovering from cancer, you need more.
Your weight affects the dose. In order to bathe your cells in fatty acids, the amount needs to be proportionate.
The amount of other fats you eat. Omega 6 fatty acids (the ones that cause problems and inflammation) are found in saturated fats like meat, eggs, cheese and hydrogenated fats in margarine and processed foods like bread, crackers, and snack foods. The more white things you eat, the more you will need omega 3s to balance the other fats.

Here is how you sort out how much to take. A 150-pound person needs about 1000 mg. of EPA/DHA per day for healthy maintenance. A child under the age of 5 needs about 150 mg of DHA per day and 100 EPA. DHA is the best omega 3 for brain growth.

A therapeutic dose is 3-4 times that amount. If you need a therapeutic dose, work up to it over 3-4 weeks, increasing your dose by 1000 mg per week. generally you would use a therapeutic dose for a month or so and then go down to a maintenance dose. Your body will guide you. If you are taking a therapeutic dose, it is better to use a distilled source such as ProEPA because straight cod liver oil may give you too much vitamin A.

The final consideration in taking fish oil is to insure that you get oil that comes from a source that is free of heavy metals, tastes ok and does not make you burp fish taste. Those three reasons are why I have chosen the brand we carry in our store. They are certified to be free of heavy metals, they have a very nice flavor and they do not create an aftertaste. Here is a link to the store if you are interested. http://www.radiantrecoverystore.com

Finally, taking fish oil thins your blood, which for the most part is a very good thing. It makes your blood flow more freely and be less sticky. There is disagreement in the scientific community about whether taking fish oils can make you have a faster bleeding time. I have personally observed that taking fish oil makes me more vulnerable to bruising more easily. However, pycnogenol, which is pine bark extract and an excellent anti-oxidant strengthens the capillary walls. Since I have started taking it, I have no problem with bruising.

©Kathleen DesMaisons 2007.

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 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.

©2007 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 Patti