This last week has been a time of a lot of internal reflection for many of us. I have heard so many people say, *I think I will shore up my program*. They go back to the breakfast list and really think about breakfast. And then on to the journal list. What a nice way to do a focused review. I love journaling, so this has been fun for me as well. Every week, I am being asked for a puppy update. Now they are up and about. Starting to play with one anther, and the little tussles are just so fun to watch. They are little butterballs of fur and sort of roll around. These classes will begin the week of July 16, 2007. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Brain Chemistry: Beta Endorphin is one of our most popular classes. It will teach you the core of the science behind the program. This is the outline for a critical part of sugar sensitivity, why you act the way you do and what you can do to change it. I love this class and so do all the people who have taken it. Somehow BE rocks! Step 2: Journal: Skillful Use is the next level of journaling. This is for those of you who know *how* and want to learn what to do with your data. This class shows you how to interpret what you have written in an exciting and pragmatic way. 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. These classes will begin the week of July 23, 2007. 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 1 is the class for those who have been on Step 7 and got lost. If you are wobbling around, have relapsed or need a tune up, come connect. We are kind, funny and have a great get back on track process. 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 **********************************************************************
July 16, 2007 ** Quote From Kathleen **
Keep thinking about letting your body talk to you. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
Jim, Step 7, Radiantmen Here is a wonderful report from Jim about Ranch in May: Oh, it was amazing! It's hard to describe the power of a group of people in recovery. When you see those people and hear their voices, it really drives home the power of the program. So many people share their experiences, and they've changed their lives simply by being diligent and doing the food. Kathleen gave a great talk about "The Big Picture of the Steps." She went through each step in detail, describing all of the biochemical and behavioral changes embedded in each step. It was fascinating, and it helped me to understand even more how each step is a necessary foundation for the next. The talk was recorded and is available in the RR store. Each step has so much depth. We may think it's just about protein, or just about sugar, but there is so much more to it. When we do the steps deliberately, as written, and give ourselves time to heal and to habituate new behaviors, the results are incredibly powerful. I also got to spend some time talking with the other men in attendance: John, Mehmet, Jeff, and Ron. Hopefully, we'll be hearing their voices on this list more often ;). We talked mainly about ourselves -- not so much from a "man's perspective", but just as people, though the male experience certainly came into it now and again. One thing I thought about and that we discussed was how men often are socialized to express fear as anger. In my own experience, anger has been the flip side of depression. That aspect of my depression really started to heal on step three. When my blood sugar is off, my emotions can build really quickly. Now that I've gotten my blood sugar stable -- and now that my serotonin factory is working better -- my temper is much more stable, and my depression has lessened considerably. Anyhoo, back to Ranch :) It was just amazing. I felt so connected to people, and the environment was very safe. We also did a lot of small group discussion. I really enjoyed it, as I got the chance to express myself and to meet more people than a large group discussion might allow. ********************************************************************
What is summer without strawberries and something cold to eat? This recipe from the Radiant Recovery Cookbook is really special! Strawberry Soup
Notes: If you use frozen strawberries, be sure to purchase unsweetened brands. You may wish to slightly thaw berries to make processing easier. This soup can be served as a refreshing appetizer or as a light dessert. The addition of black pepper may seem odd to you, but it is an old culinary trick which greatly enhances the fruitiness of the strawberries. Do give it a try! ********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself. We are just finishing up the Weight Loss Readiness Class, aand moving along with the Weight Loss in Action Class. One thing I am struck by is the developmental growth that happens each time we do these classes. As you guys hang out in the program, you are more and more skilled with the concepts of weight loss. What a joy to work with you. Most exciting is what is happening on the weight loss in action list. Many folks who have been stuck for a while are now having a super time, losing weight and feeling terrific. 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. ********************************************************* ***********
**Radiant Recovery Store **
David manages the Radiant Recovery Store. He is also Kathleen’s oldest son. I know a lot of you are making travel plans for the summer. Here are two great suggestions.
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
A "BigOne" is a person who has 100 or more pounds to lose. The Radiantbigones 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. The interaction on this list is great because everyone is so supportive of everyone else 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! ********************************************************************
**Making Change**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. Every week, I get many letters from people who feel inadequate, overwhelmed, fat, out of control and unable to do the program. Or I get letters from people who feel buffeted by the stress in their lives. People have died, work is demanding, no time, no space, no capacity to 'do' anything but get by. And each time I say,'These feelings are caused by being out of balance. The stress does not create the feelings, your biochemistry does.' When you are balanced, you respond to stress differently, it becomes functional rather than overwhelming. You stand in the center of the swirl with a sense of calm and clarity about priorities and demands. And when you are not balanced, that idea seems totally off the wall. When you are in the middle of what I call sugar feelings, you will be reactive and feel done to. You will feel like a victim. You will feel like you can do nothing right. And of course it seems like these feelings are REAL because it is what you feel. And when you feel that way, you need something to help you hold them, so you get ice cream and soda. And you feel better for a little while. Life is manageable for a few minutes and you are seduced into thinking that this is comfort. But what you think is comforting you is the cause of what you are feeling. It is a deadly, seductive dance. When you are in that place, the idea of the 'program' seems totally overwhelming. No, you cannot give up sugar. No, you cannot manage to plan anything. I just don’t get it! You feel it is just too big and too unattainable. It is too much so you need to just give up and feel that nothing will work. So, here is the bottom line. This program can not only save your life, it can transform it. It can make you clear and steady. It can give you a platform for losing weight. But it cannot work its magic unless you do it. And you do not have to do it all at once. You do not have to be perfect or rigorous or disciplined. You can come, you can whine, you can stumble. But if you show up, you ask for help and you listen, and then you follow instructions, things will change. Sugar sensitive people are notorious for not listening. We think we know it better. We think that we are unique, a special case and the plain ole boring do the steps slowly and in order does not really fit our situation. That way of thinking has to go. If you want what we have, do what we do. We do the steps. We have breakfast every morning, on time. We journal. We eat meals on time. We have enough protein for our body. We take the vitamins and eat the potato. We eat whole grains and we do not have sugar. We are funny, focused and purposeful. And we are NOT different from you. We were there in that dark, horrible place. Every single one of us, including me has been there. And it is a place we do not want to go back to. The way out was not magic. It was showing up and 'doing'. Doing breakfast, doing journal. Doing potato. One choice at a time. One day at a time. As I said last week, 'Nodding will not heal you.' Agreement will not make change. Commitment makes change. You do not have to live that way any more. Come on over and let’s do this together. ©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 |
