November 16, 2009

Hi {!firstname_fix}



Well, having heard the continuing saga of Mr. Will, I thought you would love an update. Here is our boy. Happy dog, the best of what rescue does. Kinda like doing the food, yes? I would not have believed this was the same dog. Now we will start looking for a permanent home for him. Thank you all for making it possible!!!

We are looking for Volunteers.....we need people who are detoxed and steady with their food to help out in a couple of places...step one, parents, and facebook. Or if you have a special interest or skill let me know. As I am sure you all know, service is the heart of what we do.

These classes will begin Wednesday, November 18, 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 come join us to show support for the work he does to keep you happy.

Radiant Step 1 (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.

There will be no classes beginning the week of Wednesday, November 25, 2009.

The class schedule is online. Click here to see what is planned.

Please wait to sign up for classes until a week or two before, and 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 **


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 **


I live in the US and am heading to Germany for about a week and a half to visit my boyfriend's family. These are my concerns.

1. They do not know about my SS issue. (I am on step three but have given up most sugar and all white things - I did that prior to finding RR). I have asked my boyfriend to talk to them about it but he has no idea how to explain it and does not really want to talk to them about it. His parents are very old school and do not believe in things like this. As a matter of fact when they were here and saw us taking vitamins it turned into huge lecture and his mother has diabetes and uses hazelnut cookies to regulate her blood sugar (along with her insulin shots). Everything becomes a fight or a lecture with them. I would try to explain to them but I do not really speak much German.

2. They love to buy me chocolates and I do not want them to. I do not want to offend anyone.

3. They were here last year (before RR) and were upset with me when I did not partake in drinks with them. I do not drink and they were offended. But I am not going to drink just to please someone else. Plus before I learned about RR I drank protein shakes for breakfast. They were offended and upset that I did not partake in a more traditional breakfast. If they were offended in my own home in my own country how will they act when I am a guest in their home? I do not want to cause problems or offend anyone.

4. How do I prepare for this trip? I am sooooo scared of having a panic attack while I am there. I know if I keep my food steady and not let the blood sugars drop I will be okay.

5. Will the jet lag affect me? I have never traveled out of the country before.

6. I am just soooo afraid of offending them. His mother is the type to hold grudges. So I am wanting to do what ever I can do to not offend her or anyone else.

Any advice you can give I would really appreciate.

Kari

Dear Kari,

I am German and have recently moved to the US. Where in Germany are you going? I am from the big industrial area near Düsseldorf called the "Ruhrgebiet". I am going back there for three weeks in December and am looking forward to it.

Let me put in my two cents about your visit.

1. They don't have to know about your SS issue. You can just say - or ask your boyfriend to translate - that you don't eat certain things and don't drink because it makes you feel better. Germans respect individuality a lot less than Americans. This is a fact and I have experienced it myself. What helped me is: a) be firm about it, b) be polite and friendly about it and c) not make a big deal of it. At some point my family got it. Now they don't even wonder. In your case, your boyfriend might have to help you translate a little bit. In Germany, afternoon coffee and cake is very common and it always helped me to have a little something (oatcakes and peanut butter, herbal tea instead of coffee) on hand, so I would be eating, just not what they were eating.

2. Take the chocolate, smile and don't eat it. I've done that a lot.

3. They'll get used to it. Order sparkly water and toast with them. Steer the subject of conversation away from it. You are by no means compelled to drink with anyone ever anywhere.

4. Bring browns you like - they might be hardest to come by. Bring protein powder and almond milk - there's no almond milk in Germany without sugar. Find out about the town/city where your boyfriend's family lives. Are there supermarkets that can cater to your needs? Ask about a "Bio-Supermarkt" in the area. You are more likely to find those in bigger towns and cities. Bring some of your comforters, such as your favorite herbal tea. Find out about cooking facilities - will you be able to use your boyfriend's parents' kitchen if you like? Can you ask him to find out for you?

5. Yes, most probably so. Try to get a lot of sunlight, take naps when needed. Be prepared to listen to your body. Very important: Take food for the plane trip, so you can feed yourself on time. The plane meals are not great.

6. Be nice and friendly. Be firm about your needs. Often, sugar (ab)users are offended if you do not partake of their drug of choice. All you can do is smile a lot, say no, but thank you and leave it at that.

Good luck, Kari. I know you can do it. If you have more questions about Germany, I'm happy to answer them if I can.

Verena

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


Have you ventured over to Facebook and discovered the Radiant Recovery group yet?

It looks like word is getting out (grin)! People are joining the group on a daily basis and at the time of writing there are now 338 members. Some members are even recommending the group to their friends who are now trying the program for the very first time! Exciting times!

If you catch up with friends on Facebook, why don't you come on over and hang out!

Selena

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

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** Radiant Kitchen **


With the weather turning cooler, this recipe caught my eye and I fiddled around with it and took out the sugar and adjusted the apple cider amount and here we have a program friendly and belly warming meal. You can use the yummy wild rice from the store.

Chicken and Apples

  • 12 chicken thighs, bone-in
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 granny smith apples, sliced
  • 1 fennel bulb, sliced
  • 1 large sweet onion, roughly chopped.
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 4 springs fresh thyme
  • 4 bay leaves
  • saffron, generous pinch
  • sea salt, to taste
  • ground pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups cooked wild rice
Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper, and brown on skin side only in a hot, large, deep saucepan. Remove and set aside. Sweat* off onion, garlic and fennel in the same pan. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add apple juice and return to a boil. Stir in apples, thyme, bay leaves and saffron. Return chicken to the pan. Simmer, cover and cook until chicken is done (approximately 20 minutes) or alternately bake, covered, in a 350 F oven until chicken is done. Season to taste. Serve over rice.

*When I altered this recipe to be program friendly I had no idea what "sweat off" meant. So, I looked it up and here is the definition: a technique by which ingredients, particularly vegetables, are cooked in a small amount of fat over low heat. The ingredients are covered directly with a piece of foil or parchment paper, then the pot is tightly covered. With this method, the ingredients soften without browning, and cook in their own juices.

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 know there has been a lot of weight loss talk on the step 3 list this week (smile). Let's do it on YLD....this is our home base for weight loss. This is the purpose of YLD... and we sure are having fun with it. So if you want to talk weight loss, 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 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 know a lot of you are making travel plans for the holidays. Here are two great suggestions:

Get a little travel mixing bottle. We have been getting awesome reports back from the people who have them. You don't need batteries, they really mix well and are very lightweight.


And if you are going on a plane, make sure to take pycnogenol. One of the things it is most noted for is its protective effect on DVT (deep vein thrombosis - blood clots from sitting in a plane for a long time). This effect has been tested in a number of peer-reviewed studies in major journals. Kathleen highly recommends it for that purpose.


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 **


Come check out our local geographic lists, We call them geo groups. These are social lists for getting to know people in your local area.

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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**Coming Back to Gratitude **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



It is early November. I am sitting on my bed reading. The mountains sit with their purple shimmering in the early light. The cottonwoods have gone from bright yellow to dusky yellow-brown. I hear the Sand Hill cranes overhead. The Halloween pumpkins are sitting with wilted smiles.

This time of year can bring conflicted feelings. Thanksgiving is a funny time. It is shaped by Norman Rockwell and memories from Grandma's house. Inside we hold pictures of what we think Thanksgiving should be. But often there is a gap between our imagined ideal and what really happens. It's funny, but most people do not speak about what really happens on Thanksgiving. Uncle George gets drunk or Mom makes one of those comments like *um, gained a little this year, yes?* Or stress overcomes enjoyment. All the old *have to* messages start singing.

I have learned that we can change the stress and create something that comes very close to the ideal in our heart. Let me share this system:

  1. Write out all the stressors you have about Thanksgiving. List every one. Be very detailed and concrete. Write everything, every detail. Set this list aside for a day.

  2. . Write out all the wishes, hopes and dreams you have for a perfect Thanksgiving. List everything you want regardless of time, money or distance. Be very concrete and specific. Set this list aside for a day.

  3. Go back to your ideal list and pick out what it is that is embedded in those items. See if you can find the themes, particularly the emotional themes that have the most meaning for you. What is it that you are really, really wanting? You might be surprised. I love having a day to use my grandmother's silver, to have a day of sharing and reflecting on gratitude. I love ritual and cooking. I love the smells and having candles. I love chicken and love our cranberry chutney (in the recipes section).

Now, I want you to imagine that you can reframe your day into a day that perfectly suits you. You do not *have to* do anything defined by anyone else. No matter how it has been in the past, no matter what kind of comments anyone makes, you can change the day to work for you. It is true that you cannot control Uncle George, and your Mom may comment on your weight again, but you can choose to not go. You can be alone, you can invite your own friends, you can go to a shelter, you can skip the whole thing and go to a movie, you can eat pizza and watch the game. You are not a victim, but you are a person with a clear sense of self. You can choose your gratitude.

And I want to invite you to come over to the forum and talk about this. We have been doing it in the Thanksgiving class. It is a profound thing to start imagining that you do have a choice...It opens up so many possibilities, Come play with us on this.


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.