Hi {!firstname_fix}

OK, I am getting ready for puppies. Spent the weekend working on Pepper’s *cave* - that is my walk in closet. I had to make room for the whelping box and get her settled with the idea that this is *her* space. She will remember. We have a real cave in the front yard that the dogs made 3 years ago. I keep finding Pepper down in it...and I am telling her that *no, you will NOT go have puppies in there!* In another two weeks, I will put her on a leash so I know where she is at all times. The only cave for her is one I can go in to.

Ok, we have all the Euroranch stuff up for our Ranch seminar in England in early October. Come check it out. We do have limited space, so if you want to go, sign up early.

These classes will begin the week of June 18, 2007. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 6: Planning Your Detox is the class if you are getting ready for your detox from sugar. This will help you get a plan in place and go through it with minimal stress.

YLDweightlossreadiness is the introduction to the YLD weight loss series. It is a very focused way to get your foundation sorted and in place. We have lots of fun, can help you calm down and know just what to do to start your way to losing weight.

These classes will begin the week of June 25, 2007. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 1: 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.

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.

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. The class schedule is on line. Click here to see what is planned. Please do not sign up for classes that are not yet scheduled.

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 and you do not have to be at your computer at any set time. It does not matter whether you are in the US, Europe, the Far East or Australia, you simply respond on your own time. And although I advertise that the classes are one or two weeks, sometimes we are a little flexible and they may run longer.

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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June 18, 2007

** Quote From Kathleen **

The more you do the food, the stronger you will get and the more powerfulyour recovery will be.

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** Testimonial for the Week**

Connie, Step 7

Here's a great idea about how to get moving even when you can't find any motivation to do so. There is a concept from a Russian saying that helped me: "the appetite comes with the meal."

(I know! -- huh what? LOL)

But it's like when it's dinner time and you're not that hungry, but when you see it and smell it, then it's like whoa, it's dinner time.

For movement, the idea is to do something, anything, that you really really like. Then when you're up, your appetite for movement might come back.

It does for me just about every time. The only times I want to go sit down and be immobile again is if I have no energy from sleep or food or water problems. But that's very different from motivation.

I use things like juggling couch pillows or tossing them at a family member. Hey they're always close at hand LOL! But then I just love games where you get to throw things.

Connie

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**Radiant Kitchen**

By Naomi Muller, Step 7, author of Nutritious and Delicious Cookbook.

This is a recipe from my cookbook. It is really elegant and can be served on special occasions. I love that you have your protein and greens in one recipe.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms
• 1/2 lb. fresh spinach, washed and drained
• 4 T. olive oil
• 1/2 c. chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 tsp. crushed oregano leaves
• pinch of black pepper
• 1 tsp. salt (optional)
• 1/4 cup chicken broth

Rinse, pat dry and chop mushrooms. Set aside. Barely wilt spinach by steaming it in a minimum amount of water for a few minutes. Drain well, squeezing out excess water. Chop (should make about 1/2 cup). Set aside. In a large skillet, heat 2 T. of the oil until hot. Add onions and mushrooms. Saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, pepper, salt and spinach. Cook and stir well for 1 minute. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, flatten each chicken breast by placing them between 2 sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap,pound with a mallet until about 1/4 inch thick. Spoon 1/4 of the mushroom/spinach mixture onto the center of each chicken breast. Roll lengthwise. Secure with toothpicks.

Place rolled chicken breasts into a 9 inch square pan. Combine chicken broth with remaining 2 T. of olive oil. Spoon over chicken. Bake uncovered, basting frequently, until chicken is tender, about 15 - 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving (optional).

Note: You can make the mushroom/spinach mixture the night before and refrigerate. Let it come to room temperature before using. You can also use the spinach mixture to stuff chicken leg quarters, just lift up the skin and push the spinach mixture inside.

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

YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself.

Just a reminder that the Weightlossreadiness class that is starting this week is a great place to start your weight loss journey. Learn how the steps are an integral part of your weight loss program. It's the perfect place for anyone fretting about their weight. Come join us.

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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**Radiant Recovery Store **

David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleen’s oldest son.

Our Radiant Recovery cookbook has great recipes. It also has lots of other neat stuff, like info on browns and how to calculate proteins and material that has not been published anywhere. I love the cookbook. I think it is a great resource for any radiant kitchen, or for any kitchen wanting to be radiant.

Sheila's Kitchen Recipes was especially designed by one of our own community members to contain recipes that address the balance of potassium and sodium in them. It has been dedicated to Marie, another of our community members who was active in submitting many recipes over the years before she died a year ago.

And if you haven't gotten Naomi's cookbook, yet, order it. Naomi's recipes are the ones we publish every week. Man, is her cooking great! And I love being able to see pictures of the food. No translating into *program friendly.* She did all the work, we just get to cook.

The Wholesome Dog Biscuit - A Barkers Dozen has easy and healthy recipes that contain NO meat, dairy, eggs, wheat or corn. Tested on Humans!

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**

Hi I'm Karen the liaison for the RadiantStep3 group. Like the name says, this group is all about our very favorite Step 3. This was a tough step for me when I started the programme and it was definitely the hardest! I either forgot to eat meals, ate the most inappropriate sugar-laden stuff or just grazed my way through the day. It took me ages to master this step, but now I happily eat three meals a day. It's easy and very natural and I never dreamed I would ever say that in my lifetime!

The Step 3 list is a great place to stop by for those who are finding this a challenging step, or who are starting out or who would just like some extra support. We talk a lot about things like: What is a meal, exactly? How do I get my body to cooperate with eating "just" three meals a day? What are some tips to help me with consistent timing? And all sorts of other aspects of this step. We try to make it fun, because... well why not make it fun?? Since being the liaison for this list, I've been thrilled to see so many people come through and "graduate" to the next steps! It's a great place of support... come and join us! (And it matters not if you are new to the step, totally re-doing the step or just shoring up your Step 3 after being further along in the program.)

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

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**The Calm**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.

We have been talking a lot on the step six list on the time after detox. Often it feels "flat" because the spiky life that comes with addiction is quiet. Drama and chaos have faded. Regular life seems a little less exciting than expected.

Sometimes people are startled by this. They define it as "boring".

Recently, someone name it THE CALM.

That is a wonderful image.

Seeking The CALM.

I think a lot of radiance is about fostering the CALM and then being filled with a sense of hope and optimism.

It definitely grows on you.

Here is a wonderful note from Cinzia describing the CALM. I know you will love this as much as I do. Copy this note and read it over and over.

I detoxed in February 2006. At that time I was eating a wee bit of chocolate once or twice a day. I wasn't ready psychologically to give it up, though I was ready physically. I got a little nudge from Patti (who was the list moderator at the time...the "former Jeannie") and officially detoxed.

The actual detox was uneventful and then there I was. It wasn't much different from before detox, at least at first. I was still eating fruit most days with my breakfast, about 1/3 cup of berries. After a month or two, I wondered if the fruit was priming me so I cut that out. Surprisingly to me, I didn't miss it.

Then I felt volatile for several months, like I was on a pitching, rolling ship. I'd be calm for a few days, then it felt like a rogue wave came along and knocked me for a little loop. It wasn't spiky, but up and down. I usually couldn't find any explanation from the data in my journal. I didn't like it!

Thank goodness for this list!! Other people had experienced the same thing. Just knowing this helped me. I kept doing the food, being as consistent as I could. I tried not to worry about the ups & downs and just kept going. I ate more browns some of the time and ate a LOT of nuts, LOL.

After the volatility came The Calm. Really, it was like the aftermath of a storm. I caught my breath and was glad for a bit of rest. Then The Calm kept going. I appreciated that I wasn't anxious or angry, but I also felt like my spark just wasn't there. I wondered if it would ever come back. I took the Dopamine class, and that helped give me a frame of reference and a few tips to try.

Again, other people said they'd gone through the same thing so I held onto that. I finally was able to understand that the lack of spark wasn't the same thing as depression...I had wondered if I was slipping into that familiar, awful place. But I wasn't. I was just Calm.

And I realized that my body, mind & soul needed this time to integrate some of the enormous changes that were going on. I started to appreciate The Calm, even if I didn't love it.

These last few weeks I feel like I'm getting my spark back. I feel more buoyant most days. It's a different quality, hard to describe. Not spiky or dramatic. Just more effervescent some of the time. I guess it's radiance, eh?

Sooooo...this really long-winded note is just meant to encourage anybody who's in The Calm and is having a hard time. Keep on going, and give yourself some breathing room. It might not be the most exciting time in some ways, but it has been really important for my program. Kind of like a revisit of Step 3, learning to wait. Maybe not what you want to do, but something that'll really help you. :o)

warmly,
Cinzia



©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 Holden, Step 7