May 11, 2009

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Yesterday was Mother's Day. It is a powerful day. We all have mothers and whether they are living or not, they have had a powerful influence on us. I am the family collector of photos. I have all the pictures my mother gathered. She was amazing. They are all marked with dates and places and who is in them. A few months ago I went through them all. It gave me a portrait of my mother that I never knew when I was growing up. She was born into an old Boston family, and was sent abroad after high school. She went to Geneva and Scotland, walked the moors in the mist. Then came back and went to College. After College, she went to Yale Drama School for a graduate degree in 1937. That was pretty amazing for the times. Then she went to upstate NY and started a repertory theater called The Lake Placid Players. She met my father, became a military wife and things sort of changed. But that spirit and that sense of adventure shaped everything.

I plan to take the pictures and put them in an album, include some of the letters and the quotes from the plays she wrote, and create the story of this woman. She deserves to have her story written, I think. After all, her writing skills lay the groundwork for our community. I got the genes and the exposure and the passion. Plus a little of the theater blood as well.

We did not have the easiest of relationships. She was an introvert and did not share much of her inner life except through her poetry and plays. Of course I was not much interested in that when I was young. I was mad that she didn't seem to *have a life* and was not kind in my judgment of her. Her *life* went inside, into her work, into her passionate caring for her children. I am sure she did not know what to make of me, a little drama puppy, sugar sensitive, intuitive and being a leader even at age 2, LOL. Poor dear. I, of course, gave birth to a child more like my mother and was baffled and could not understand what made her tick until I was much, much older.

Our mothers shape us, and we shape our sons and daughters. I honor the day.

Ranch is just around the corner. We have 3 slots left if anyone wants to be outrageous and come on down.

Our class schedule is light because of ranch. And the week after I will be driving cross-county with the dogs. Be patient, I will ramp up again once I am in Maine.

This class will begin Wednesday, May 13, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Back to Basics 1 (1 week) 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.

This class will begin Wednesday, May 20, 2009. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Store Tour (1 week) 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.

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. 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.

Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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** Quote From Kathleen **


Your molecules will yearn for balance, care and healing. Instead of cravings for sugar, there will come a longing for wholeness.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


I also went through this stage at the beginning where I thought I was allergic to all sorts of things and cut out all sorts of foods that I eat without any problems now. There was too much going on to sort out that a particular food caused a particular symptom. This is not to say that it isn't possible that you have food sensitivities. After a while, I just decided I was driving myself nuts cutting out all sorts of foods, and it turned out that most of those foods are fine for me (and now that I live in an arid climate, even the one that was a genuine problem, cheese, is fine for me.)

Allison

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


Diane gave us an update on her Ambassadoring - I hope you enjoy her post as much as I did!

"There are a lot of folks in my local area that are following the principles of RR, that aren't here in the community. Some adhere closely to the program as outlined in PNP, while some are just more casual and that is OK too. Some of these folks are health-care professionals and/or in other positions to share the program with others regularly, and they do. Last weekend when I went to pick up some items from a Freecycler we got to talking and I mentioned Kathleen and PNP. She said, 'Oh! I have been meaning to get that book,' with someone else local having recently recommended it to her. I think sharing one on one and word of mouth is really quite powerful!

A while back there was a wonderful discussion here in how to share effectively in various amounts of time. I have had fun with many different types ranging from a 1 1/2 hour Sugar-Sensitivity presentation to a room full of people at a Recovery conference last year which was really exciting! - to the 2 minute offering of info which is actually my favorite as I get to do it most often. It is too fun to listen around to see just how many places mentioning the program can fit in and I just find myself sharing about RR wherever I go. While waiting in line at the grocery check out is a regular thing. Just the other day the cashier and the bagger were discussing their cholesterol, and that was the perfect segue to chime in and offer the profound results I have experienced in lowering mine, and how, and...Dr. Kathleen DesMaisons' wonderful nutritional healing plan...and offering a card. I have actually had people behind that were overhearing ask if they could have a card too! Sometimes I hear someone mention struggling with diabetes or impulse control/dieting, fighting off sugar cravings, their kids being out of control..them being stressed out or life just not working. Since doing the program will heal such a vast array of conditions there are plenty of opportunities that arise!

I am also finding that in sharing my own story and modeling, that the info does catch on even if I'm not seeing familiar faces stampeding into the community. For example, I was doing some volunteer work at the local Food Bank and Soup Kitchen a while back, and I got to share nutritional info about protein and whole grains with every client that came through. I was the only one that brought my own lunch, and whenever there were comments about it in any context I got to share why I eat the way I do and about the healing I have received. I talked a lot about of my own journey with the director of the Soup Kitchen and offered her a copy of PNP. Since then, I found out that they have been offering whole grain alternatives when they have them to work with, and a fresh fruit option with the desserts...now understanding that the *sugar-free* items they have available for diabetics is not necessarily true. They care, but they just didn't know!

Little by little, the info is spreading! :)

Diane

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

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** Radiant Kitchen **


My girls' favorite at the moment is peanut butter and jelly (on whole wheat bread, heavy on the peanut butter light on the jelly - all-fruit spread). However, we do lots of others. Cheese and crackers is a regular standby. Cereal with power milk. My girls also like to have dry cereal for their brown for a snack. Meatballs, quesadillas, nachos, turkey slices, english muffin pizzas, leftover cottage cheese pancakes/waffles, muffins with Protein Powder added, shake, apples and peanut butter, hard boiled eggs (although the girls always seem excited about this, but then leave most of the yolk), egg salad or tuna salad on crackers. Hopefully, that will give you some ideas even though all of those aren't toddler-friendly.

Emily

For more great program-friendly recipes, check out these great cookbooks in the store.


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 **


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 in which I lived, whether it was restricting what I ate, how much I ate, comparing 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 a while. Time here heals. Steps, the food, heals. Your kindness heals.

Love,

Kat

If you are not a YLD member, come and join 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.


Just thought I would remind you of two products in our store this week. We are carrying 2 vitamin powders called ALL ONE. Kathleen has always loved this company and their products. The powders are a great alternative for those of you who make your own shakes. You can adjust the dosage easily. Kathleen thinks these are the best vitamins on the market.

       


ALL ONE Original is a unique blend of amino acids with pure vitamins, minerals and vital naturally occurring food factors - all nestled in a base of high protein derived from the fresh milk of New Zealand dairy cows (guaranteed free of lactose, fat and synthetic hormones).

  • High Potency antioxidants: A, C & E + selenium and bioflavanoids
  • Stress B-Complex + a full gram of vitamin C
  • Full spectrum minerals for easy absorption
  • Valuable trace minerals
  • Essential vitamins
  • Includes iron
  • All nutrients in optimal balance
  • 100% Pure Nutrition
No Yeast - No Gluten - No Sweeteners
No Flavors - No Colors - No Binders
No Excipients - No Fillers

The ALL ONE Fruit Anti-Oxidant high profile powder of potent vitamins, minerals and amino acids is complemented by a power packed blend of:

  • tart cherries
  • wild blueberries
  • cranberries
  • apples
  • grapeseed extract
This fruit formula delivers a natural food source of potent phytochemicals including the flavonoids anthocyanins, proanthocyadins, tannins and quercetin, along with the traditional essential antioxidants, Vitamins A, C and E. ALL ONE Antioxidant Fruit Formula supplies you with 2 grams of pure fruit pigments to create the most potent single serving antioxidant supplement available.
  • Iron free, dairy free and vegan
  • Full spectrum minerals for easy absorption
  • 1113 mg calcium
No Yeast - No Gluten - No Sweeteners
No Flavors - No Colors - No Binders
No Excipients - No Fillers

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 Radiant Step Two list is a source of helpful information and support with journaling. On this list we talk about how to get started with the journal, how to start listening to our body and why giving it a voice is so important. We also discuss how to use the journal for detective work in our program and, of course, how to make journaling fun! Right now the list is rockin' with people supporting each other and making big discoveries with their journal. So whether you are just starting out or are looking for a recharge in your journaling, come on over and join in the fun!

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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** Some Thoughts on Well-Being **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



I have been reading some research material from the American Psychological Society and thought it would be fun to talk some about some of what I am reading. Much of this material is more academic than excites me. But there was a scale of "psychological well being" that I found intriguing. It measures self-acceptance, positive relations, purpose in life, environmental mastery, personal growth and autonomy.

These sound a lot like what happens as people do the food. So now I am thinking what fun it would be if we began to have a dialogue on our forum and lists about what it is that happens with the food. I am going to start by sharing what I notice.
  • Blame and entitlement shift to taking responsibility and humility.
  • Despair shifts to hopefulness.
  • Anger shifts to humor.
  • Inadequacy shifts to empowerment.
  • Isolation shifts to connection.
  • Arguing changes to sharing.
  • Denial moves to disclosure.
When I started, I thought it was about healing depression and addiction. I thought we were creating a health system. I had no idea what else would come. I thought the changes I experienced, all of the above and more, were personal things coming from my own journey. But as time passed, it seems that these changes come with the territory. They are developmentally predictable and way more universal than I ever imagined.

Doing the food changes something profound. It is as if it resets us to a state of openness - open heart ready for healing. And then all the other stuff we all do has a place to sit. I often use the image of a cracked bowl. We can fill it a thousand times, spend a lifetime trying and we still are empty. If we fix the crack, we get filling up and spilling over.

This community, this website is made possible by the tireless work of close to 50 volunteers. They are spilling over and share the recovery, the radiance that doing the food has brought them. Go read their stories if you want to know what is in store. And come share your stories as well.




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.


©2009 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.