December 29, 2008

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, the Holy Night class certainly was wonderful and very healing for all of us. I made a tiny movie of the luminarias and put it up on YouTube if you would like to see what my street looked like.

Now we are in the time of quiet called Soyal by the Hopi. I invite you all you embrace the days between now and the 6th as a time for quiet reflection and thinking about what you would like your year to be. I am doing that and really enjoying it.

I would like to give you an update on our little mascot, Franklin. Last month a generous donor made it possible for Diane to build a ramp for Franklin to get in and out of the house. His physical functioning has gone down somewhat, so Diane has been exploring ways to build a sort of doggie wheelchair. Last week, however, we got the scary news that Diane suffered a heart attack and was airlifted to the cardiac ICU in Portland. She had a multiple angioplasty and is now home recuperating. But she will be needing help with Franklin over the next few months while she is doing rehab herself. We talked and I placed an ad on the Maine Craig's list to see if we can find someone to come in for 10 hours a week to help with Franklin's core needs. My sense is that there are many of you who would be happy to share in the cost of supporting this. We can use the Franklin fund to support your generosity in doing this. Here is a link to Franklin's blog. And here is a link to the Franklin fund. Thank you for any help you can give.

These classes will begin Wednesday, December 31, 2008. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Using the Resources in the Community (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.

Getting Started With Limited Funds (1 week) is a special free class for those of you with limited funding who are trying to make do. Come hear some fun ideas to maintain your humor and find tasty and inexpensive solutions.

Family and Friends (2 weeks) is a special class for Step 7 people to explore the complexity of relationships changing in recovery.

These classes will begin Wednesday, January 7, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Step One: Radiant Step One Class (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 Six: Radiant Step Six Class (2 weeks) is a class for those of you getting ready to detox or having detoxed and wondering why it is so hard after. We talk about *the flat*.

Th Obesity Myth (2 weeks) is the famous class that blasted our myths about being fat from the water. If your doctor, husband, girlfriend is on your case, come join us. If you are ashamed about being fat, come. If you feel that being fat is wrecking your health, come. Get the real scoop and then move forward knowing what to do. This class is ALWAYS fun.


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.

The class schedule is online. 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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** Quote From Kathleen **


The more you are able to just observe and note your food and feelings, the easier it will be for you to make changes in them.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Hello everyone,

I hope that everyone who celebrated had a happy Christmas and those in the midst are having a happy Chanukah. We had a really lovely white Christmas full of family time together. Mostly, we enjoyed being together playing games, sharing stories, watching the snow fall. We went over to my in-law's Christmas Eve and we all spent the night so we were all together Christmas morning. This is the first time in a long time we haven't been home. It was fun to be all together and hang out in our jammies all morning giving and receiving gifts, full of laughter and joy.

However, I've learned that we need a new food plan when we go away. Our families know about the way that we eat and I guess I assumed that they'd make sure there were basic things for us. Also, my sister-in-law is always talking about eating healthy and how they only have whole grains. Apparently, that isn't quite the case! So, no more assumptions and no more thinking we can make do and get what we need. I'm able to do that and I was willing to eat her cardboard whole grain bread in order to have a brown, but the kids were not. I was willing to eat the dry, overdone roast to get my protein in, the kids were not. Are you seeing the pattern here? Essentially, 3 meals over 2 days had too little protein and little or no brown. I managed OK, but nothing made my body sing. Add to that the holiday excitement and a bit less sleep and let's just say that last night wasn't pleasant.

Thank goodness, I'd packed our little blender and shake fixings for breakfast, but even that was challenging because I forgot straws and my kids don't like the foam at the top so they like to drink with a straw and drink the liquid underneath the foam. 2nd breakfast was meant to be waffles and eggs and in this case my sister-in-law did have a lovely whole grain waffle mix. However, she didn't factor in the mix needing eggs so all the eggs went into the mix and so just waffles for breakfast - no protein (we'd had shake, but it was really snack time and protein would have been welcome). And the timing was all over the place. They all sit around eating snack foods so meals are at weird times. I guess I just never noticed this before, and at my Mom's and my sister's homes they do always try to have foods for us. I'm also learning that my kids are quite picky. They eat a lot of different foods, but they are used to my cooking (and honestly, I'm reassessing my cooking skills - I think I must be a pretty good cook!), the brands of food I buy, the way I present it, and they really don't like change.

So, I've decided that we need to master bento boxes and that we need to come up with several meals that the kids will happily eat. And when we go to someone else's house, we'll just pack bentos for meals and snacks and we'll be all set. I thought how nice it would be to just pull a little box out of the cooler and hand one to each kid and go back to the game or conversation I was having. I think I'd also make a couple up for me to supplement. So, I'm all over continuing exploring bento boxes. Today, I'm just looking forward to a quiet day at home with nothing pressing on the list, time to find homes for new things, try out my new knives, play Wii with the kids, read my book, knit, go for a walk in the snow and eat good food! I'll be putting dinner in the crock pot soon. Ahhhhh. How are you all doing?

Emily

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


Here are some of the things that Radiant Ambassadors have been doing. Which ones might you like to try? Are there any more we can add to the list?

Review and rate PnP, SARP, LSA and YLD on Amazon (and other online booksellers).

Talk to family, friends, doctors, etc.

Recommend PnP, SARP, LSA and YLD in your bookshop/library or other online sites.

When you are in a bookstore or library, pull PnP, SARP, LSA and YLD out and put it at the front of the shelf.

Ask your library to stock Kathleen’s books.

Place RR cards in books, on notice boards, at work.

Selena

Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news.

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** Radiant Kitchen **


This is one of Kathleen's personal recipes.

Cottage Cheese-Cinnamon Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup cottage cheese (choose the kind you like best)
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup fresh fruit such as strawberries, bananas, raspberries or blueberries
Directions:

  1. Chop the oatmeal in the blender or food processor; add cottage cheese and blend until the mixture is smooth.
  2. Beat the egg whites until fluffy.
  3. Add to oatmeal cheese mixture.
  4. Add vanilla and cinnamon.
  5. After blending, stir in fresh fruit.
  6. Cook on nonstick skillet or lightly greased griddle over medium heat.
  7. Turn when edges are lightly browned and bubbles break in pancakes.
A great topping for these pancakes is to cook some frozen blueberries in a saucepan with a little water until they get syrupy. Or, use one banana and some strawberries frothed and mixed together thoroughly with a simple hand mixer. Some folks also put sour cream or plain yogurt on top.


Radiant Recovery
Cookbook

Naomi's Nutritious and
Delicious Cookbook
Sheila's
Kitchen Recipes

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


Yes, I know this is the time of year your heart starts thinking about getting back to weight loss. The online diet program is an ideal choice. We will heal the reason you are fat. We can stop the addiction, stop the frantic craziness and get you on the path to weight loss that endures. No more yo-yo dieting. This is the real thing.

If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. in us. Click here if you are ready to change your life or just have some plain ol' fun!

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** Radiant Recovery® Store **

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


I have been in New England for the last week visiting my family. We sure have been having a lot of fun. But it was cold...and made me think about the products we have to support you in the winter.

When your hands and nails are chapped, dry and brittle, think Hoof Alive. This stuff is so great. Put it on your nails at night and see how your cuticles change. It feeds as it softens them. And put the lip balm in your pocket. It is unlike any of the fancy stuff. It just works!

And if your joints are stiff and achy, try CM Response® cream. CM Response® Topical Cream contains only natural ingredients and acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, an analgesic and a joint lubricant. CM Response® Topical Cream is very effective in relieving neck and back pain and pain from arthritis, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia. It's good stuff for winter!


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 **


The parents list is doing some great stuff with the bento boxes. If you have picky eaters, or even just regular plain ol' sugar-sensitive kids, come join this wonderful discussion.

Or come to the group page to find the one that will best support your program: http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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** Welcome Home **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



This is the time of year when you may be crawling back from the long slide from Halloween through Christmas. It is the dark time of the year for sugar addiction. Wobbles turn into lurching, lurching becomes more and more uncomfortable, so you may be thinking that this year, Jan 1, you are going to DO it and stop the sugar.

The tyranny of addiction is horrible. Your pain is with you all the time. You want, so want to stop, and you are just not able to. You say you will, and then you are edgy, and you need something. And you have it and you get relief. And then you forget.

And it starts all over again. You hope for another day, another year, another try.

Yesterday I was asked to be on a radio show to create a challenge to *kick sugar for the New Year – or at least for 21 days.” My reaction to this idea was pretty strong. I thought, “Good grief, this is so not the message we want to give.” The kick-sugar-for-the-New Year message is like every magazine article that talks about the new way to get a flat belly, to lose weight in 30 days. “Kick sugar”, give it a try, you can do it, at least for 21 days! All these hypes just feed your frenzy, your despair, your wanting, wanting something to make it better. You are in pain and are literally being assaulted with get-fixed-quick solutions at every turn. All these solutions literally just add more shock, more drama to your system that is already burdened.

So here we are, offering something that is so not sexy, so not quick. It takes willingness, commitment and learning. The promises here are not for 21 days, but for your lifetime. I am not the slightest bit interested in “kicking” anything. But now if you want healing, you are in the right place. Radiant Recovery® is about coming home to a life that is clear, focused, funny and not driven by addiction. It is about healing, being free and taking back the birthright that got lost along the way.

In the last few weeks our leadership team has been talking about providing a lifeline for a person who fell over the rails. We can throw you a lifeline. All you have to do is grab it. Now sometimes we throw it and you are screaming about drowning so hard that you cannot see it or grab it or hold on. You say, “It won’t help. I can’t eat carbs, I am too fat. I can’t stop eating sugar, this is too hard. What do you mean, just have breakfast! Can’t you see the PAIN I am in. I have to go off of sugar NOW!!!!”

So what I say is simply grab the line, hook your arm on the ring, we will get you on the deck, wrap you with a warm blanket, give you some hot soup and then some hot cereal, get you dry clothes, let you rest and we will take you back to shore. All you have to do is hold on. The turmoil is over. Just hold on and let us help. We have been there, we know what to do, we can help. But we can only help if you want it. Recovery is for those who want it, not those who need it.

Now sometimes when people first start, the process seems very overwhelming.

There is so much to choose from, so many options. But really, it can be very simple.

If you are brand new, feeling overwhelmed and wanting to get started, just do 3 things:

1) Get a copy of Potatoes Not Prozac and read it.

2) Take the online class called Using the Resources in the Community.

3) Start eating breakfast.

We have some resources for you on our breakfast page. The breakfast page makes breakfast really, really simple. And if these ideas are too much for you, then have some eggs and toast. If that is too much for you, stop at McDonald’s and get an egg McMufin. You don’t have to go off of sugar; you don’t have to fix your entire life. You just eat some breakfast. Just that. Eating breakfast is like hooking your arm on the life preserver.

Once on deck, you may be surprised to meet the others who are there. You may discover someone who lives in South Africa who has exactly your story. Or someone in the next town who totally gets what you are going through. And you won’t feel so alone. This is the antidote to the stop sugar now plan. This is the come have some tea with us plan, come get to know us. This is finding a place to talk with others who understand. A place that is here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is a place to make sense of how you got into addiction, why it holds you and how you can get out. You are not a bad person or a person with a flawed character or no discipline. This is simply your biochemistry out of whack. It can be healed and you are in the right place. We are here for you and can help you change.


Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together:

Gretel, our webmaster, puts it all together.
David runs the Radiant Recovery® Store.
Selena provides the weekly Ambassadors column.
The banner photograph is by Patti Holden.


©2008 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, use this attribution: "By Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D. of Radiant Recovery®", and notify kathleen@radiantrecovery.com of the location. Please visit the Radiant Recovery® website at http://www.radiantrecovery.com for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction.

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.