March 15, 2010

Hi {!firstname_fix}

It has been a week of welcoming a lot of new people into the community. I always find it intriguing how people find us - a search engine, a friend, a book at a yard sale. We have this image of the guardian angels nudging people all over the world saying, *Hey, look at this, I bet you will like it....* And then there is that recognition of whoa, this is very interesting. So people come with stories, many, many stories and then are welcomed here. I like it. I like it a lot.

This class will begin Wednesday, March 17, 2010. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Step 2: Introduction (2 weeks) will teach you the basics of journaling. The class will give you step-by-step instructions in how to record your food and feelings in a way that gets you excited.

These classes will begin Wednesday, March 24, 2010. Please click on the name of the class you wish to join and it will take you to the registration page:

Radiant Step 1 ( 2 weeks) 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. If you have just come into the community, come to this class. It is wonderful and well worth taking the time to do it.

Radiant Step 3 (2 weeks) is is one of our core classes. This is a skill-based class. If you want to learn the baby steps of a successful step 3, come join us. This class is ALWAYS fun. Step 3 is a pivotal part of a solid program. Come for a tuneup.

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 **


When you pay attention to your body, you are sending it a message that it is valuable. If your body feels valuable, it will talk to you more.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Hello Kathleen

How nice to hear from you! I have been doing step 1 for about a month. I took the depression class and am on the depression, diabetes, step 1 and YLD lists. I am loving breakfast. The espresso shake along with whole grain cereal is my favorite so far. I have found the people on the lists to be very friendly and helpful. It is SO GOOD to connect with folks who understand!! I ordered a journal and am feeling like I am ready for step 2. Although today has been a real bummer (which I posted on the depression list). Every cell in my body was screaming for something sweet and I didn't have much of anything in the house. I was also just feeling sad and unmotivated and burned out by my job (I work at home 4 days a week and in the office 1). I really wanted to go to bed and never wake up. I have not been consciously stopping sweets, and I have had some, but I also have not had the appetite for them like I used to. A little while ago I did have some graham crackers and I am feeling a little better now. I guess that is a pretty strong SS signal.

I am a quiet person, an introvert, and don't usually care to get involved in communities. However, I have found the RR community to feel good. I don't go on the forum much. The groups seem to be enough for me to handle right now. An unexpected bonus is that I 'met' a gal from Romania in the depression class and she and I have been emailing a bit. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted a 'pen pal' in another country and this has been a new and fun experience for me (and a little out of my comfort zone). It sounds weird to say, but I don't think I would have been able to do that before step 1. I was such a mess before I started this that I was heading for total retreat from the world.

Unfortunately, Wednesday is my late night at the office, so I haven't been able to participate in the chat although I have read some of the transcripts. I appreciate all the help and insight you give in your newsletter, on the lists and in the chats. I respect and admire and trust you so much!

I have been toying with the idea of going to Ranch, but it might just be too scary for me this year.

All in all, this experience has been great. You know, the strange thing is that I bought your first PNP book when it first came out and I saw myself so clearly in it, but I didn't think I really had to give up sugar to get better... Then I bought SARP when it came out, but didn't read it and started reading Your Last Diet, but again didn't follow through. The intervening years have been filled with unending diets, counseling, personal crises including cancer and diabetes and ever increasing doses of anti-depressants. By January of this year my physical and emotional health problems were really scaring me. I knew that if I went to the doctor he would tell me to exercise and lose weight. So, I decided to shift my priorities and make my top two getting healthy and getting rid of some clutter that has been bothering me. While cleaning out some bookshelves I came across two of your books. I got the new version of PNP and went online to look at the RR site. And I decided to give it a try because I was so sick and so scared and nothing else had helped... I wasn't expecting to notice such a difference with just doing breakfast. It is still hard for me to believe. But the other folks online are sharing their experiences with the truth of it all, and so I am just moving forward a step at a time... And I have hope like I haven't had in YEARS!

Anyway, I am sorry for going on and on, but you asked! :-)

Thank you for giving me the hope of a radiant life!!!

God bless you!

Linda

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


A few of us have been having fun with Twitter lately.

I always find it interesting to do a quick search for sugar sensitivity, Radiant Recovery and Potatoes Not Prozac every so often. I find it fascinating listening to what people have to say about Kathleen’s work.

Within the space of three hours last week, there was an absolute explosion of people tweeting about Potatoes Not Prozac. I counted 25 in all (well, that would be 26 including mine!) It was roughly the same tweet - *Potatoes Not Prozac: How to Control Depression, Food Cravings and Weight Gain (Paperback)* followed by a link to either a book recommendation or directly to the book on Amazon.

It sure seems that word is getting out (grin).

Selena

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

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** How I Found Radiant Recovery **


I heard Kathleen on a local radio program. What she said rang true to me, so I bought PNP. I loved it, did all the steps at once the first time and dropped it.

The importance of breakfast and protein stuck for the next few years. I picked it back up again when I started running, because I knew I couldn't eat sugar and run at the level I wanted to. I didn't know how else to "manage" it. I also bought SARP and YLD then. I committed and have never looked back. It's changed my world.

Kathleen, I'm so grateful every day for your genius and willingness to share it.

JoEllen

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** Radiant Kitchen **


Sweet Potato Waffles (or Pancakes)


Ingredients:
  • 1/2 pound sweet potatoes, peeled, cooked and mashed (about 3/4 cup)
  • 1 1/2 tsp. oil
  • 1 large egg white, lightly beaten
  • 3/4 c milk (cow, soy, oat)
  • 1/2 cup brown rice flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp. salt (optional)
Directions:
  1. Preheat waffle iron.
  2. Combine the cooked sweet potato, oil, egg white and milk in a large bowl and beat until well blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt and beat until smooth.
  3. Spray hot waffle iron with non-stick cooking spray. Cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions using 3/4 c mix per waffle.
  4. Serve with yogurt, fresh fruit, fruit compote or unsweetened applesauce.
  5. If making pancakes, heat griddle until a sprinkle of water dances on griddle. Drop 1/4 cup batter on griddle. Cook until bubbles form on surface (about 3 minutes). Flip and cook on other side until golden brown.
Both waffles and pancakes can be frozen and reheated later.

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



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


Chat is the heart of it....here is a letter I got.

Hi Kathleen,

I just wanted to take a minute to let you know how profound Wednesday chat was for me. It felt like you were reading my mind. I was right there with it. Then I realized, "wait a minute, all these other people are experiencing this too!" It was one of those wonder moments for me and I just had to let you know.

Alison

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.




A number of you have asked what the differences are between our shakes and who should use what, when. I thought it might help to do a little review for you.

George’s® Original is a mixed protein powder. It has our recommended vitamins and a complex carb right in it. So it is basically a mix and go product. The primary protein is soy, so it is ideal for women over 45, men and people in recovery from alcohol and drug addiction. It is not advised for teens or children. And it is not good for cooking. But is has great holding power and really, really makes you feel good. Add some fish oil to your shake and it will taste CREAMY!

George’s® Restore is a whey protein isolate with a little milk protein isolate and egg white added in for taste. It is creamy and very light flavored. You can mix it with almost anything including milks, pancakes, peanut butter, etc. Many people use it to supplement Original if they need more protein but not more vitamins. Everyone who has tried it tells us that they think it is the best tasting whey protein product they have had.

Then you can add flavors as you like. And I can send shake just about anywhere. And many of you are now getting it on subscription. That means, I just send it out without your having to keep filling out that order form. And we can work out a schedule that works for you.

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 **


In the RadiantDiabetes group we talk about the different aspects of managing our diabetes while following the guidelines of the RR program. As you might imagine, it is a little more difficult to keep our BS levels in a good range than it is for people who don't have diabetes. We do this with humor and lots of sharing. I am very proud to be the liaison for this great group of people.

If you have diabetes, pre-diabetes, or someone you love has them and you would like to get more information, as well as support and encouragement, please come join us.

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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**Moderation **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



We have been having some interesting conversations on a couple of our lists. Things got a little hot and so we turned on the moderation switch. In some cases, that of course activated the old, “You can’t do this to me. You are taking away my constitutional right to freedom of speech.” As I have been reflecting on this, I thought it would be helpful to give you a little context.

Let's talk a little about why we moderate people.

We have a number of reasons for turning on our moderation function. We always moderate new people until we have a sense of who they are. This protects us from spam.

If some one is off the wall, we moderate them. If someone is posting all sorts of information about an affair with the milkman, we moderate them. If someone posts about suicide, we write them privately and check in. We say that these lists are not therapeutic lists and that conversations about suicide are not appropriate. We check to make sure the person has good care. And we ask them not to continue posting on the subject. If a person ignores this request and continues to do so, or goes to another list and posts about suicide, then we moderate them.

Moderation is how we keep things focused and safe on the lists. I consider it basic healthy boundaries.

And as I am sure that many of you realize, part of being sugar sensitive is feeling criticized if someone looks at you and feeling devastated if someone asks you to hold a boundary. In some cases , we have had many, many conversations about what the lists are for and we will keep someone moderated until that person is able to accept the boundary we have asked her or him to respect.

I am aware that some of you may feel this is *harsh* or uncaring. Those of you who know me know that I am a very loving person. And I am also unmovable in my commitment to maintain the quality of these lists. And sometimes, if someone blasts in with a very negative or inappropriate post, we take action very quickly. This is why every list has at least one liaison, and many have a whole team.

As we have been working some of this through on the diabetes list, I posted some of these ideas. Diane responded in a very thoughtful way. A few years ago, Diane and I butted heads in a big way. Lots of sparks happened. Diane kept doing the program. And here is her reflection today. It speaks volumes to what doing the food creates:

Thank you Kathleen, this is very helpful and clear.

I can really relate to what you said about feeling criticized if singled out, or devastated when asked to respect and hold a boundary, as I've experienced that myself. At the time, I read much more into it than what you had said, rewrote a dramatic story around it for myself, cast you in the role of the bad guy and then felt attacked by the scenario that my unhealed sugar sensitive self had created. I sure made that hard on myself. Phew!

The community and the lists are a very important part of my recovery, and I very much appreciate your values and the care that is taken to maintain a safe place for us all to share such a personal part of ourselves as sugar sensitivity and addiction.

I do know that if I give my energy to what's hard for me or how awful I feel, it breathes life into it and I spin around and stay stuck there. I think if people were posting about things like suicide, trauma or binge details and things like that it could be triggering to me and prompt my brain back towards places I'm working hard to heal forward. I do care about other peoples pain - I'd just really rather support them in what will heal it so they don't have it anymore. With that, I can especially appreciate how and why the focus is on the positive, what we *can* do, and how to heal..giving energy to that instead.

I think that is in the same realm of how when we put energy into worrying the Diabetes, we stay scared and feeling powerless, but if we put it into doing the food instead, the Diabetes can heal right along with the addiction.

Thanks again,
Diane



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.


©2010 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/