We have had close to 80 people here for the weekend. Ranch has continued to work its magic for all of us. People are relaxed and laughing. The food has been great and I think everyone has enjoyed the content. I know you will be hearing about it when folks get home. Now remember don't expect the reports right away, LOL. It's a pretty intense experience and most of us have to do a little regrouping, heh heh. The fun thing is that we have recorded the sessions this year, so watch for our announcement in the store. There will be no classes this week 5/9 because I am continuing our leadership training. Almost all our leadership team is here as well, and today we start our annual meeting and planning for the year. Classes will resume the week of 5/14 (beginning Wednesday). Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Creating Restful Sleep is a new class for those of you who are having trouble sleeping. I will give you some ways to sort out what might be going on and some up-to-date science to help find solutions. Radiant Store Tour is a free guided tour of the store. David will be leading this class so if you want to get to know the guy that makes it all work, come sign up. This is his first teaching experience, so you can show your support for the work he does to keep you happy. Using the Resources of the Community is for those of you who are brand new and would like to find your way around town. Come sit on the top of our double decker bus for a guided tour. And even if you are not brand new, this is a really fun class to reconnect with all the treats of the community We will be starting these new classes the week of 5/21. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: 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 aly rather than a dragon Step One: The Art of Breakfast is our foundation class to get you started. Learn all four parts of step 1 in a structured way. Learn how to progress through them with enjoyment. Let us support getting your program off to a fabulous start. What Else is Embedded in the Steps is a great class to learn about what the steps really do. The program is way more than just the food. This class takes you to the heart of the process. 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 RecoveryÆ website and Community Forum regularly. Warmly, Kathleen **********************************************************************
May 7, 2007 ** Quote From Kathleen **
The relationship between your food and your quality of life is powerful. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week** Kath, Step 7, Downunder, Budget We were talking on the parents list about how you can encourage program change with your children. Kath talked about how she gives her children *choices* - boundaries and freedom within boundaries... And remember she is from Australia (smile) so *mince* means hamburger. Oh, sure! I would ask: chicken or mince? brown rice or potatoes? chinese or italian style? The reality was there were no other alternatives than those I offered. I didn't have things in the house that wouldn't work for us. Some of the choices were activities, I will leave them aside for now. (Just to give some context.) After school I would have afternoon tea ready on the table or put it onto the table as the kids came in from school. There would be wholemeal bread or crackers, and cheese and peanut paste. I would cut up an apple or 2 and some carrot, or other fresh fruit and veg, maybe nuts. And water to drink. At that time we would be talking about the day, how things had gone, and what was happening the rest of the afternoon, (after we finish eating; what homework have you got?they had, who would get to read to me first...) and what we would have for dinner. Choices for meals: I would outline two protien sources I had available, e.g., minced meat or chicken thigh fillets. We might discuss what we could do with the things we had available. They are all fairly informed cooks themselves now. The mince might become meat patties or meat sauce, lasagne, spaghetti , meatloaf...depending on time, offers of interested help, other ingredients... The chicken might be stirfried in the wok, griddled, casseroled, rolled around a dried apricot each.... Lest this give you too shining a picture of "better homes and gardens" children with shining cheeks standing on chairs helping Mum in the kitchen (although that *did* happen from time to time, it wasn't every day by any means), sometimes there was little interest (grin) and no discussion. I would just ask the factual questions and if no one responded, I chose for myself! If a child stayed to help they got to decide whether the potatoes would be boiled whole in jackets, cut in chunks, or mashed, and with what!. Their choices of herbs and spices had some interesting results at times. One of the last times we had ice cream, someone decided to try fish sauce dropped on top! The most choice at that stage was on "a use up the leftovers" night (usually Friday night) which was a multicultual array of the (all home made) chinese chicken and rice from monday, the meat balls and spaghetti from Tuesday, the Fish mornay from Wednesday, the Quiche from Thursday... there would be one or two serves of each, and diputes arose when there were not enough of a dish to serve all who wanted it. Several people might each have a tiny portion (smile). More often then than not, I would have them accompany me to the grocery shop. Anyone who came got to have input on the choices there, so influencing alternatives available later in the week. They got as good at reading labels as me, and sometimes even now we will have a game in the grocery shop putting things into the trolley. When the cost gets close to the limit I ask myself which of the chooseables we can do without this week. When I am clear about the boundaries, I can present clear equally acceptable alternatives, and the kids are free to choose within the safe space. Well fed and well guided they are much happier. ********************************************************************
This is Heather's recipe and it is really yummy! French Lentil Salad Serve at room temperature
Cut bacon into 1/2 inch pieces and sautÈ until soft. Add the bacon to the waiting lentils, but save grease in pan. Using this pan with the grease, sautÈ the carrots and the onions until soft, adding the garlic and shallots about half way through. Add to the waiting lentils. Mix dressing ingredients, this should be more then enough, you will probably not use all of it. Toss into lentils a little at a time until the desired amount of dressing is reached. Can be made the night ahead of time and kept in the fridge overnight. The dish is best at room temperature, perfect for pot lucks and picnics! ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself. Many of you have been asking if you should join YLD if you are not yet at step 7. The answer is absolutely. YLD provides a level of support that is way more than anything else in the community. It is not just about weight loss, it is truly about healing addiction. Most folks say the chats themselves are worth the membership fee. 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. ********************************************************* ***********
**David's Corner **
David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleenís oldest son. 
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
A lot of new people have come over to radiantparents and are talking about how to use Little Sugar Addicts with their children. If you are looking for great support for toddlers to teens, come join us. The problem solving is such a comfort and I love seeing the more experienced parents give so much help to new people. ********************************************************************
**Doing The Program in Real Life: Handling Challenging Situations** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. Ok, this week's article is going to be a little different from what we usually do. You know I have been at ranch, LOL, so I am going to put you to work. Come over to the forum and share your ideas on any one of these topics. Share what you know about how to handle any of these challenging situations. And then we will compile them all and bring it back here. A. Work
©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 RecoveryÆ Store talks about what new products we have. You are getting the weekly newsletter from Radiant RecoveryÆ 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 RecoveryÆ. 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 Holden, Step 7 |
