January 24, 2011

Hi {!firstname_fix}

I had a drawer full of computer *stuff* and I could never find anything in it. Yesterday, I sorted it all. I got gallon- and quart-sized plastic bags. I got out the magic marker, and you know that all ss homes have magic markers! I marked the bags...USB cords, earpieces, telephone cords, and so on. Everything is in order and can be found. It made me happy. I got a little notebook in my Christmas stocking that has a rabbit on the cover. I filled in a whole bunch of tiny tasks like this. I am thinking I will do one a day for 30 days and at the end of a month, they will be done. I think this is all because I felt a hint of spring coming.

These classes will begin Wednesday, January 26, 2010. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Revitalizing Your Program (2 weeks) is a wonderful way to learn to refocus your program. It does not matter if you are brand new on step 1, or a long timer on step 7, the tools are fabulous. I guarantee you this class will excite you and help you upgrade your program.

Using Radiant Resources (4 weeks) is a free orientation 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.

his class will begin Wednesday, February 2, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Weight Loss in Action (2 weeks) is the *let’s do it!* class to help mobilize YLD members who are ready to rock on losing weight in a healthy and focused way. You must have 6 months on step 7 and prior approval of the class instructor to join this class. We expect that you will have done several of the weight loss classes before applying for this one including Weight Loss Readiness, the Obesity Myth Class, or Weight Loss Emotions.

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 **


You will be thrilled and excited when you master the moods that have haunted you for so long.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Elaine-

If radiance didn't sell itself, you'd be one hell of a saleswoman. I love the intention you're bringing to the foot surgery, and the consciousness. I hope all goes well with it, and I will be thinking of you.

em

Hi everyone,

Well, once again it has been a while since I have talked about how it is going for me! Generally, things are good. I'm meditating, moving, working on weight loss. My food's been solid, except I have noticed a couple of timing bobbles in the last week or so, so I am going to pay particular attention there for a bit.

The big news is that I will be having foot surgery next Tuesday. So I have been preparing for that. I will be talking to my doctor this morning about all of my questions, most especially the pain management issue.

On another list I asked about post-op pain management options that are in harmony with my specific biochemistry (I think the technical term for it is "drinking and doping fiend" LOL -- just joking!). I got good information from Kathleen! I do not want to take anything that threatens my sobriety or that makes my recovery harder than it has to be. The next step is to go over the suggestions with my doctor and make a plan.

I have been Cooking R Us lately. Loads of browns, mainly. DP is pretty good at grilling proteins, but my best browns are kind of mysterious to him, so I am loading up the freezer. I have been told that I will not be on my feet for the first week, and that I will want to limit being on my feet for several weeks after that. I made Spanish rice, plain brown rice, plain black beans, and a roast chicken for the freezer this weekend. Oh yes, and yam cakes.

I have been trying to square away things that DP normally does not do so that they can be on autopilot for several weeks. Yesterday I got to work in my plant room most of the day, which was wonderful! It fills me with joy to work with my plants. I am setting things up so that watering will be easier for DP.

I also think I will need to shop for shoes and slacks with shorter hems, I will talk with the doctor about that today.

I plan to bring my phone and earbuds so that I can listen to my favorite Pandora stations during the operation. DP will have a shake ready for me the first moment that I am allowed to eat. Unfortunately my surgery is not until 12:30, so I plan to spend that morning in bed, conserving my energy, until it is time to go. Nevertheless, my blood sugar will be totally tanked that day, so I will just know that fact in the following days and know that all is temporary, all of the bad feelings that come up will pass.

In my meditation I am focusing on the surgery and calmness and serenity around it and good healing outcomes.

I am happy with myself at how clear I am about preparing and getting information. Doing the food allows me to focus calmly on what needs to be done. I feel like everything is working in harmony towards the goal.

Elaine in CO

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


I have always wanted to study psychology - since I was 10 years old in fact. It didn't work out the first time 'round but I am finally taking the opportunity to study it. :)

Last week I handed in my second assignment which I really enjoyed. I am learning so much and I found this one to be incredibly interesting - it was all about how our biochemistry influences our behaviour (grin). It was so useful to have a background knowledge of biochemistry (thank you, Kathleen!). Writing the assignment really served to cement the knowledge that I already have. Well, I think I got on ok with it, only time will tell!

So, that's one more essay down - and I've even cited Potatoes not Prozac just for the fun of it too - tee hee! My tutor will soon be one more person who has heard of Potatoes not Prozac!

I'd love to hear about the exciting things you have been doing to spread the word about Radiant Recovery.

Selena
selenas@blueyonder.co.uk

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

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** How I Found Radiant Recovery **


Potatoes Not Prozac jumped off the shelves at me at a local bookstore. I had been in that place of Knowing that something radically had to change in my life, and that somehow the food was going to be a major cornerstone of what was to come. At 18 years of sobriety I knew that I was closer than I had ever been to drinking again, and my mush brain couldn't find the path. That's when Potatoes Not Prozac found me. I read the book in one sitting, finally having found the missing link.

I am now over 30 days of Really clean step one all four parts, and I have just started my step two journaling. I feel like I did in the first weeks of sobriety... Elated, Joyous, and filled with Hope. Amazing what a regular protein based breakfast can do for you.

Looking forward to what is to come.

Tim

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** Radiant Recovery® Store **


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

JOURNALS! They are here! Yah... I just sent out a whole bunch yesterday. But if you are thinking you want one, order now. I LOVE sending them out.
Vitamin D3 There have been having a LOT of conversations on the lists about Vitamin D deficiency. Kathleen had hers tested and it was way low even though she lives in sunny New Mexico. So she started looking for a good source, and I am really glad to be offering our Vitamin D capsules to all of you as well. Remember, we can add this to your shake subscription in a flash.


Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better.

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** Radiant Kitchen **


Praline Sweet Potato Casserole


  • 3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 4-oz. jar babyfood applesauce
  • 1 stick butter, divided
  • 1 tsp vanilla (I used a vanilla, butter, nut flavoring.)
  • 1/2 tsp maple flavoring
  • 1/2 cup milk (I used oat milk.)
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (I used spelt flour.)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
  2. Combine mashed sweet potatoes, eggs, applesauce, 1/2 stick butter, vanilla, maple flavoring and milk. Set aside in 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
  3. Mix 1/2 stick butter, pecans, and flour. Crumble over top of casserole.
  4. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Topping should be brown.
  5. Casserole may be assembled a day ahead, refrigerated and then baked 2 to 3 hours before serving.
Serves 8 to 10.



For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store.


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** Radiant Conversations **


You know, it is funny. When I first conceptualized the idea of *radiant conversations,* I wanted to create a place for you all to take your program deeper...kinda like what is there *after the food.* Or how do we take what doing the food gives us and use it to shift old patterns of our lives. We had some murky time of finding our way with the shift, but in the last couple of months, this miraculous energy has been building.

We have a topic, we talk about it in chat, and then we carry that conversation over to a special study list and talk more in depth. We have been talking about moving away from old patterns of misery thinking as a default into looking at life differently. Sort of like connecting the dots of joy in our lives.

And, golly, has that been fascinating. I love that we can go into these topics in depth. And what I love even more is that the topics are then shaping what we do with the newsletter. So really it means that YOUR dialogue is driving the process.

I love, love, love this.

Kathleen If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you want to be a part of the latest and greatest or just have some plain ol' fun!

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** Our Online Groups **


Hi I'm Karen the liaison for the Radiant Step Three group. Like the name says, this group is all about our very favorite Step 3. This was a tough step for me when I started the programme and it was definitely the hardest! I either forgot to eat meals, ate the most inappropriate sugar-laden stuff or just grazed my way through the day. It took me ages to master this step, but now I happily eat three meals a day. It's easy and very natural and I never dreamed I would ever say that in my lifetime!

The Step 3 list is a great place to stop by for those who are finding this a challenging step, or who are starting out or who would just like some extra support. We talk a lot about things like: What is a meal, exactly? How do I get my body to cooperate with eating "just" three meals a day? What are some tips to help me with consistent timing? And all sorts of other aspects of this step. We try to make it fun, because... well why not make it fun?? Since being the mentor for this list, I've been thrilled to see so many people come through and "graduate" to the next steps! It's a great place of support... come and join us! (And it matters not if you are new to the step, totally re-doing the step or just shoring up your Step 3 after being further along in the program.)

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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**A Lot of New People **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



As I have been posting the forum and reading emails this week, I realize we have a LOT of new people coming in. Here is some of what I have been hearing.

**After a week of being on step 1 and cutting back significantly on my sugar intake I am experiencing what I assume are withdrawal symptoms.

**I've been trying to work the program for a couple of months and have been having trouble sticking to only 3 meals a day. I find I get sooo hungry between meals; even get lightheaded and a growling stomach.

**I'm new and I ate a protein meal last night 3 hours before the potato and I couldn't sleep.

** I am 40 pounds overweight and I would like to get started on losing weight. How do I do this?

** Do you have to give up "fake sugar?"

**Do you have to give up caffeine? (I'm super addicted to this and don't want to give it up yet.)

**What do we do about the ketchup and mayo and relish? Do they sell it somewhere without sugar ? That doesn't cost $5.00 or more a bottle?

**I am wondering what a crash is bio-chemically. I have had crashes in the past- where I just can't keep my eyes open another minute, and I sleep like a stone for one to two hours - when I was younger and consuming really large quantities of sugar. I guess it is like passing out.

** I'm a real all-or-nothing person - you know, setting myself up to fail by trying everything at once - so I'm going to try really hard just to take this one step at a time.

** I thought I had a fairly healthy diet (chocolate binges aside), but now I realize I've been kidding myself for years. That takes a bit of getting used to.

** Right now I certainly cannot imagine doing without sugar altogether, although I have already cut down a lot. Golly, it sounds so stupid to say things have changed so much in two days, but that's just how I feel!

I love all the energy…and…I am also thinking it might be a good time to talk some about how the program works, what “beginner’s mind” is, and why we keep talking about breakfast, breakfast, breakfast. Many of you come to the program having read the book or stumbled on the website. You know in your heart of hearts that this information is right on target. I have heard the comment, “Kathleen, I felt like you were writing my story. Finally, I have something that makes sense!” a thousand times. You are overjoyed to have finally found something that gives a name to what you have felt for so long. And of course you gulp down the book and are set to go.

You have done many, many diets, read every self-help book and you are really, really motivated. In your mind, you think," OK, I understand the principles here, let me simply get started with the potato and I will be on my way." You might decide to give up sugar right away because you always knew you had a problem with it. And you wonder why so many of us keep talking about breakfast. It seems like every time you ask a question, we answer and then ask, “How is breakfast going?” And that gets a little aggravating. You’ve got breakfast under control for heaven’s sake.

Here is the thing. The program is way more than eating a potato before bed or giving up sugar. The program is about balancing your sugar-sensitive body and healing your sugar addiction. The balancing heals the chemical part of the addiction, but there is more to healing the behavioral part of your addiction. Doing the steps the way I designed them is a map that guides you through that process.

Most addicts honestly believe that they know what is best for them. They believe that they have a special set of circumstances that account for the reason they use their “drugs”, even if the drug is sugar….we call this belief terminal uniqueness. So the very first part of the program is designed to help you take a look at that belief and imagine that someone else may have a better idea for you. If you can entertain this possibility, then you can start with the idea that following instructions might be good. This very first act of letting go and trusting is the beginning of healing your addictive behavior.

So breakfast becomes the first place of listening.

There is another key thing that is written in all of the steps. If you take tiny increments, what we call nano steps, you raise the chance of succeeding. If you do just one small thing at a time, and MASTER it, then this success actually creates a chemical change in your brain. The change alters how your brains works with the new information. Success sets the learning in place. New science is showing that we do not learn from our mistakes, we learn from our mastery. So we want you to do well, we want mastery. We set the tasks small enough to make sure you get an A at every one. This is not about pain, or struggle or drama. This is about doing well.

Of course, we do know that most sugar sensitives are drama puppies. We love struggle, we have been known to thrash around, whine, scream, complain and then flop on the couch and have to eat for comfort. We know this because we have been there. This funny little fact can be very comforting. EVERY single person you hear who sounds settled, clear, focused and aware was once where you are. This includes me, especially me.

If you are starting off, just work on step one. In fact, just work on one part of breakfast at a time. Learn all four parts, but just do one. Take the step one class, join the step one list. Read Potatoes Not Prozac over and over, but highlight the chapter on step one. Make notes for yourself. Put cards up on your refrigerator. Ask questions. Go listen to the video at You Tube. It is fun! And then…LISTEN to the answers you find here on the website.

We love having you here. In fact, YOU are the reason we do this. You are the joy of our recovery.


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.
Tina tells us what's happening on Facebook.


©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/