 Hi {!firstname_fix} This weekend was the beginning of the balloon fiesta in Albuquerque. Day one means getting up at 4:30 and rolling into the car in the dark for the trek to the park. I think almost all the city as well as people from all over the world show up. There are about 100,000 people down on the field while the balloons fill up. Dawn patrol starts while it is still dark, the balloons going up first to test the wind. Dawn patrol always takes my breath away, those blinking globes ascending into the dark. We stood beneath the Darth Vader Balloon going 50 feet up in the air. It is huge. It was surrounded by storm troopers making space and waiting for the time of the ascent. We had to wait for the Nemo the fish balloon to rise to the north, and for the balloon coming from the south to wait a bit, Then, the whistle and the guy in the black and white striped shift signaled *GO!* and the sound of the propane sounded like Darth breathing. And off he went. The field smells like cinnabons and bacon as thousands eat breakfast burritos in the dark, struggling from having gotten up so early. I bought a jacket for my granddaughter with Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2008 embroidered on the back. We all have them, different designs for each year. She has joined the hallowed club. I am on my way to Boston for a layover on the stretch to England for Euroranch. I learned to break up the trip into two segments. It lets me catch my breath, see family and let my molecules catch up to time change. I have lobster on the mind for Monday night and then on Wednesday will be off to London. I always love seeing our European friends. We stay in a 14-century hotel and walk on cobblestones with hundreds and hundreds of years of history. I will take pictures for all of you so you can come with us on the journey. For those of you who are interested in an update on Franklin, you can visit his blog and read about what he is doing at http://www.radiantmaine.blogspot.com I have put up a class schedule through spring so you can pencil in your own calendars for the classes you want to take. We may add as we go, but the basic structure is there now for your review. Please do not sign up for classes until the 'registration begins' date on the schedule, or for any that are not on the schedule. There will be no classes the week of Wednesday, October 8, 2008 or the week of Wednesday, October 15, 2008 while I am at Euroranch. These classes will begin Wednesday, October 22, 2008. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page: Using Radiant Resources (1 week) 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. Step 3: Three Meals (2 weeks) isone 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. Brain Chemistry: Serotonin (2 weeks) is the other of our most popular classes. It helps you make sense of why the potato works, why you have a problem in the winter and how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can play into this. If you munch in your mind, if you are depressed or edgy or feel sad, this is the class for you. These classes will begin Wednesday, October 29, 2008. 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 (1 week) 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. Step 4: More Than You Think (1 week) is the potato class. Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about the timing, size, frequency of your potato. Learn about the best vitamins and talk all you want about them. This is a nice way to strengthen and refine your step 4. If you are on disability or low income (your household income is less that $1000 a month), you may take classes for free if you get certified. I have put the guidelines for certification on the class schedule page. 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 **********************************************************************
October 6, 2008 ** Quote From Kathleen **
Exercise is a crucial part of healing your sugar-sensitive body. Make time for it. *********************************************************************
** Testimonial for the Week**
You know I went through a mourning of sugar years before I actually gave it up. Actually, mourning coupled with anger. I had thought about getting off sugar many times and each time I would get so depressed just at the thought; I could never have done it. When I did finally go off it, it was almost like a burden was lifted, sort of hard to explain but I was ready and convinced of the evils of sugar. However, there were times after that I would think, and occassionaly still do, that it is so dumb that I am not like others who can have sugar, feel great and look great without any of the negative side effects us ss people get. Then I think of two things that help when I start having "poor me" thoughts. First, I remember the back of Kathleen's book Little Sugar Addicts say "sugar is not love". I had that book on the front passenger seat of my car for about a month with the back side up and everyday I saw those words and somehow it just became so real to me. It was like I got it! Oh, sugar is not love! I can get all those wonderful feelings that sugar used to give me from just doing life! That's what I want! So that really helped me. The second thing I remember is that sugar truly is poision. It is so detrimental to anyone's health that I don't want it in my body or anyone elses. So that is how I've dealt with the "mourning" syndrom. I think it is perfectly normal to go through phases of mourning something that we loved, loved, loved and depended on so deeply to be our ally, comforter, pain killer, best friend, you name it. I think that step 6 is about starting to really explore and understand life after sugar and how we get all those wonderful feelings that sugar used to bring us just from doing life. As our brains heal it is easier to understand this and experience it. Early on we kind of "know" this but we really don't "get it" until our brains have done enough healing that it becomes embeded in every cell of our body. Jeanette ********************************************************************
**Radiant Ambassadors** Kat has been mentoring us on working with the media. She said: The important thing is to know what I am representing, the why their readers would want to know about this, or hear from the person behind this. And also remember that many papers are LOOKING for a good story and a unique story to tell because many of them are getting the same fodder. It also helps sell their papers. So, on Monday I issued Euro Ranch press releases to 10 different newspapers in the UK. I have heard nothing so far. On Kat's suggestion I telephoned them today to jog their memories and hopefully get more publicity and interest going. It took me a long time to pluck up the courage to actually phone a national newspaper, but when I did - wow! I was given personal email addresses to resend it to, a lot of help from a lovely woman at The Times and the people seemed genuinely helpful. I still don't know if this will conjour up any interest in the media. But it has been a valuable experience for me as I now have lots of contacts within the press. I think I'm going to have a lie down now LOL! Selena Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news. ********************************************************************
**Radiant Kitchen**
Ingredients: Crust:
For crust: In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. With pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter and shortening until mixture forms coarse crumbs. Stir in ice water just until dough comes together. Stir in cheese and combine well. Form dough into a dish and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour. For Filling: Combine apples, juice and cinnamon in a large saucepan. Bring to boil. Once apple mixture boils, lower heat to simmer and cook down 10-15 min. Return to boil and thicken by adding cornstarch mixture. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Stir in Vanilla To Assemble: Spoon apple mixture into 9" pie pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 450 degrees fahrenheit. On lightly floured surface, quickly roll out the crust into a 13" round. Drape the crust over the apples and crimp edges to seal. With a sharp knife, cut 2 or 3 slits in dough for steam vents. Place pie plate on a baking sheet and place in 450 degree oven. Bake 20 minutes. Reduce oven temp to 350 degrees and bake 15 minutes more or until crust is golden and apples are tender. Let cool at least ˝ hour before cutting. Yield: One 9" pie - 6 to 8 servings.
********************************************************************
**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
YLDonline is a membership program run directly by Kathleen DesMaisons herself. Here is a moving testamonial from Kat. I have been observing thoughts about my weight since beginning the RR program in January. It seems each month brings new shifts as I heal. I had plenty of panicky thoughts and fretting in the beginning because I was still shoveling food in my mouth at an alarming rate, and still bingeing, which was new to my repertoire anyway. But just from doing breakfast, I began to feel calmer, and hopeful, and happier. Step two opened the door to having a relationship with my body that could be real, instead of the weird one I had that was permeated with thoughts of self-loathing and non-reality. I started to listen to her, and became willing to hear what she had to say. I took the Obesity Myth class and was concerned I might think obesity was *okay* once it was over. It was a very moving class and one that forced all of us to dig deep into our shame, secrets and thinking about weight issues. It began another level of healing for me. Step three offered a multitude of gifts that were a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I really started to feel really steady, I lost that impulsivity, and my emotions seemed more lifelike and less sugar sensitive. I began to really understand the things that were *me* and the things that were SS, and the old Katherine (or the new one?) started to emerge. The bingeing stopped. Self-loathing slipped away and I became less concerned with how I looked or how much I weighed. Somewhere along the way, it was replaced with total trust. I had the commitment, but I became strong as I could stand on my own two legs now. I could feel the healing, and the support and love that swirls around this community. I am now on step five and have been moving my body more and more consistently. It is yet another frontier where I am healing and learning. My newest revelation is how I am really okay with how I am right now. I know I am overweight, but I don't want to fix it today. I want to make sure I am steady on these steps, that I am not hurrying or pushing, so that I can one day reach my goals. I am positive I will reach my goals, and that includes all goals, not just weight loss (to that end, I accomplished things this week I have been trying to do for years. I am clear and steady enough that I can do those things to take care of myself, such as see a dermatologist and hire an attorney). In relation to food and weight, it is an amazing feeling to not be hurried, to not feel I have to count calories, to not even watch what I eat. I have been enjoying eating so much more since I gave myself *permission* to eat whatever I wanted. I'm not eating it to punish myself, or because I am weak or have no willpower. I am doing it because it represents a freedom to me. Freedom from the prison from which I lived, whether it was restricting what I ate, how much I ate, compared myself to others every moment of the day, or how I spoke to myself internally every step of the way. So it occurs to me today that yeah, maybe this really IS my last diet. And yes, of course I doubted you LOL, but not in awhile. Time here heals. Steps, the food, heals. Your kindness heals. 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 have some exciting things to report. Our new subscription data base is up and running. Now I can easily and quickly track whatever it is you want to have me send you when. If your sisters are coming in November and you will need more shake, just let me know. I can put it in the DB and it will remind me, oh, extra shake in the Nov order. Or if you want a variety of flavors, we can have the system remember. Or best yet, if you have 3 people taking EPA, you can tell me what level they are taking and I will make sure you have what you need when you need it. I was skeptical when this idea was first brought up, I think *hey, I got this covered. It is like tracking baseball stats and I know how to do that.* Last week when our program design person walked me through what she did, my jaw was on the floor. I just put your desires in and then the program sorts, tallies and tabulates what, what day and what to charge. I had a BIG smile that day. I think we hit the next level for you. 
 And the oat cakes are here. I am sorry for the delay. Our distributor went belly up. Kathleen called one of our community members in Scotland, she got ont he phone with the manufacturer and we had a personal phone call from a very senior guy with a very Scottish accent. He fixed us up with a new distributor here and we got everything in place. The truck rolled in with wee Scottie biscuits. Now I am just hoping Kathleen will bring back some more holders from England. Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. ********************************************************* ***********
**Our Online Groups**
Most of us underestimate the importance of breakfast and try to do all the steps in the first week. When that doesn't work, we begin again. We concentrate on Step 1, breakfast, and find our lives begin to change. The RadiantBreakfast list is a great place to learn the nuances of breakfast, build a strong foundation for the rest of the Steps, and find how helpful it is to share our journey with others. It is great for new people and those who have been on the program a long time. Sharing helps everyone. The awesome thing is we all, Step 1 or Step 7, eat breakfast every single day. How cool is that? We'd love it for you to Sign up: We love new members! ********************************************************************
**Shaping Your Child's Behavior**
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. We held a chat on discipline. Many of the parents were trying to sort out how to handle children who were exhibiting these types of behaviors. They listed all the typical interventions you have heard: time outs, warnings, taking away privileges, negotiating – all the things the experts tell you to do. They also noted the things that the experts tell you not to do like yelling and smacking. These will not work with sugar sensitive children. Little sugar addicts are in an altered state when their chemistry is off. They are not rational. Punishment or discipline does not achieve the desired effect. If you can begin to look at these behaviors in a new way, you may be able to come up with some creative alternatives to what you have been doing. If your little sugar sensitive child starts acting up, feed him. Give him some protein and fruit right away. The fruit will deal with any sugar withdrawal that might be operating and will provide quick blood sugar relief. The protein will provide sustained, time-release support to his blood sugar. We have a funny saying in our parent community – “cheese not soap”. A cheese stick does wonders for a mouthy kid. Keep cheese sticks in the refrigerator all the time. Carry almonds in your purse. Put cheese and crackers in the glove compartment. Always have some power food available. Know where to stop and what to get in an emergency. Yesterday my 13 year old did not do his chores exactly right and when I asked him to finish them correctly, he said, “Mom, what do you expect? It is not my fault that I forgot to finish – it is my messed up biochemistry.” My kids are too smart for me – but I was able to counter him by tossing him a cheese stick. And it worked. Today I noticed my husband giving the kids protein. And even better – telling the kids to wait for a sugar treat until dinner. Sometimes I think I need to stop thinking so much and just start doing. My husband did not need the whole theory, he just thought it made sense and gave it a try. I think I can learn from this. DeAnna. Feed your children when they come home from school. They cannot go from noon 'til six. Their metabolism simply cannot cope with that amount of time without eating. If you are home, fix them something. If you work and they are responsible for after school fare, make sure to stock up and leave sufficient choices for them. Many children do really well with leftovers. If you make extra and have planned overs, you can make it really easy for your children to snack when they get home. For children who play after school sports, a planned snack is even more important. Pack an extra sandwich. Send along shake mix in a plastic bag. Your child can get an extra carton of milk and mix it with the protein powder. Or you can get some dry milk powder and mix it with the protein powder, put it in a shaker cup and stash it in the backpack. Many parents send sandwiches with lunchmeat or peanut butter for after school snacks. Go back and look again at the discussion of the protein amount your child needs. Generally speaking, shoot for a snack to contain 1/2 the protein that a meal will contain. If your child needs 20 grams of protein for breakfast, she will need 10 grams for her snack. A slice of bologna has about 3 grams, so it may not be the best choice. As they do these calculations, most parents realize that the snacks they have been providing are low in protein. A number of people have reported a huge change in their child’s attitude just from this one change. Getting enough to eat and regular intervals is crucial for the sugar sensitive child. Maintaining a stable blood sugar is significantly more important in children than in adults and I think it is easy for parents to miss this. And get a copy of Little Sugar Addicts. It will really help. ©Kathleen DesMaisons 2008. Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together: Gretel, our webmaster, puts it all together 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. ©2008 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 |
