February 28, 2011

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Oh, today is my daughter's birthday. I remember that morning as if it were yesterday. Funny how that works isn't it? Certain memories can run like a slow-motion story 40 years later and everything is intact. How do our brains do that?

It has been a strange week for me. Seems like a lot of people are having a really hard time. Not like the usual struggle, but more like pecking on the shell to get out and get started with a new way of being in the world. It feels like it is in the community, in my 12-step program, with my friends and in my family. Something in the air perhaps.

No classes starting this week. I am going out to Maine for our annual leadership play weekend. We rent a house on the sea and cook and meditate and walk on the beach. We are hoping it does not snow, but if it does, we will simply light the fire and hang inside. The mountaineer types will be off to walk the beach in the snow. I will let you know next week.

There will be no classes beginning the week of Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

These classes will begin Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:

Step 4 (2 weeks) is the potato class. Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about the timing, size, frequency of your potato. Learn about the best vitamins and talk all you want about them. This is a nice way to strengthen and refine your step 4.

Step 6 (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*. A number of you have been exploring this idea of the flat. Is it necessary, can we temper it. Can we not have to have it? So even if you are already through detox, and you don't feel well yet, come to this class and explore with us.

Brain Chemistry: Serotonin (2 weeks) is the other of our most popular classes. It helps you make sense of why the potato works, why you have a problem in the winter and how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can play into this. If you munch in your mind, if you are depressed or edgy or feel sad, this is the class for you.

Using Radiant Resources is our free orientation for those of you who are brand new and would like to find your way around town. This class has 5 modules and will show you the website, how it works and what support is here for you.

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

**********************************************************************

** Quote From Kathleen **


You cannot heal addiction in isolation. By its very nature, addiction wants you to feel alone and disconnected. The act of being part of a community, part of a group doing it together actually starts healing you.

**********************************************************************

** Testimonial of the Week **


This makes perfect sense to me, Kathleen, and is one of the reasons why I've always loved this list. I've been on so many other depression forums where people talk endlessly about how bad they're feeling but never actually seem to do anything to change it. It gets kind of, um, depressing. :-)

One of the things that Radiant Recovery has taught me is that I am not helpless in the face of depression; it does not control me. I love it when the energy here is about what to do next to help ourselves heal.

That's not to say that I think we should all shut up when we're feeling bad. Mutual support really helps. But for me, there's a difference between 'oh, I feel so terrible today', and 'I feel bad today, but this is what I'm doing to help myself,' or 'I feel bad today, please can someone help with suggestions on how to get breakfast when I can't get out of bed.'

I know that I can (and do) easily fall into a pattern of just sitting and waiting for the magical healing fairy to come, so I always appreciate these reminders of what this list is for.

Jenny

**********************************************************************

** Radiant Ambassadors **


How did you find out about Radiant Recovery? I keep a note of how new people discovered Radiant Recovery - just to see what seems to be working in getting people interested.

Here are the results - top of the poll was 'through a friend' - so all those mentions of sugar sensitivity or people lending out their own copies of Potatoes not Prozac seem to be having an impact! Fabulous stuff!

Google came in a close second with people searching for sugar addiction or sugar addict.

Quite a large proportion had known about Radiant Recovery forever.

Bookshops/online reviews and Amazon were next so it's well worth adding your review of Kathleen's books to any websites you come across - especially Amazon!

Counsellor/therapist/doctor came in next - I'm sure that number will increase as time goes by.

Even Radiant Recovery business cards made an appearance! Did you know that you can get free RR business cards from the store to hand out? I always find them useful to add to noticeboards or give to friends.

Do let me know how you discovered Radiant Recovery - was it any of these, or something different?

Selena
selenas@blueyonder.co.uk

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

**********************************************************************

** How I Found Radiant Recovery **


My name is Jason and I live just outside of Atlantic City, NJ. I have suffered from anxiety, panic attacks and depression for most of my life. The depression has been my main struggle. I'm 39 and probably about 20 pounds overweight. When I was much younger, I was VERY heavy and I have always struggled with my weight.

I ordered Potatoes Not Prozac on a recommendation from a friend who is sugar free. She said her depression is not much of a factor anymore and her mood swings are gone. I do have mood swings at times as well. The book described exactly what I go through. I didn't even realize I was a sugar addict but then I could totally relate to not waiting to get home and hit the cookie jar or whatever sweets were around. I always hit the vending machine in the afternoon for a pick me up and I tend to get real tired on the ride home, around 5pm. I read up to step one because I tend to try to do everything at once.

Since the beginning of January I have been doing breakfast within an hour. I don't think I always get the right amount of protein, but I think I'm close to it. Next week, I plan to move onto step two. I have a fairly busy schedule. I work full time, play in a band part time and raise two teenage daughters. I'm looking forward to learning from everyone here in the group. I hope I'm able to keep up. It's great to meet all of you.

**********************************************************************

** Radiant Recovery® Store **


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

      


I never get tired of sharing with you about the journals. We have 2 types of journal - the plain black and the blue cover one you are used to. I decided to put a white coil (not that plastic comb thingie) on the blue cover one and a black coil on the other.

We decided to make the paper heavier so it will stand up to your using colored markers and all. Kathleen has been reporting the kinds of things you all do in your journals, LOL

I know that Kathleen and Terri have updated the step 2 class curriculums. Get one step ahead and make sure you have your journal on board.

And I am adding new option for you. You can now get your journal on subscription. I will count the dates from your order and make sure to send you a new one BEFORE it runs out!! Just mark in the Comments Box that you want it on subscription.

Click here to place your order now.

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

**********************************************************************

** Radiant Kitchen **


Broccoli Quiche in Potato Crust


  • 1 package (10 oz) frozen chopped broccoli, thawed and squeezed dry
  • 1 cup Cheddar or Swiss cheese
  • 1 cup dry curd cottage cheese
  • 5 eggs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1-1/2 tsp Dijon mustard (optional)
  • salt to taste (optional)
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • 2 medium potatoes, scrubbed
  1. Combine all of the ingredients except for the potatoes in a large bowl, and stir to mix well. Set aside.

  2. Coat a 9-inch deep dish pie pan with nonstick cooking spray. Slice the potatoes 1/4-inch thick, and arrange the slices in a single layer over the bottom and sides of the pan to form a crust. Pour the broccoli/egg mixture into the crust.

  3. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a sharp knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the dish from the oven, and let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. (Mine didn't actually take this long to bake, more like 30-35 minutes, so check on it.)


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


**********************************************************************

** Radiant Conversations **


Last week we talked about those C57 mice and how they and we are different from non sugar sensitives. I think all of us were feeling excited to really work with these concepts. I know I am. I love, love, love the whole C57 Story.

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

**********************************************************************

** Our Online Groups **


The Radiantdepression group provides support in doing the steps for those of you who are also depressed. We have learned that depression can immobilize us and make us forget hope about healing. This group helps to get focused on healing rather than misery and about making change rather than staying stuck.

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


**********************************************************************

**Caffeine **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



This week I want to raise the issue of caffeine with you. I am going to include a section from the book, Little Sugar Addicts. It will be less scary if I am talking about your children than about you. (smile)

I think the most compelling evidence about the impact of caffeine on your child’s brain comes from the work of Peter DeWitt who gave a group of spiders different drugs in the late 60s. DeWitt found the spiders that make what is called an orb web. It is beautiful, highly regular and predictable and can be easily photographed.

Here is a picture of a normal happy orb spider web with no drugs. The soda industry has not found this little spider yet.
Now take a look at the picture of the spider on caffeine.


Sort of stops you cold, doesn’t it? Think about the implications of this for your child’s brain. Think of the impact on his ability to function in school. Sure made me think some. The key part of the caffeine story is the level of the “dose” based on your child’s weight. A can of soda for you is not the same as a can of soda for your child. A 12 oz. can of Coke has 35 mg of caffeine (Diet Coke has 45). If you put 35 mg of caffeine into a body that weighs 180 pounds, it diffuses a whole lot more than if you put it into a body that weighs 60 or 40 pounds. Basically, the same size can of soda can have 3 times more effect on your child than it does on you. Think about that spider web picture when you think about the dose impact on your child.

As you think about caffeine, remember that it is found not just in coffee and soda. Here is a list that gives you a sense of the relative value of caffeine in foods and drinks I am going to include some things like Starbucks drinks because I have noticed so many children now drinking Starbucks specialty drinks.

Product

Caffeine

Coffee, Grande (16 oz), Starbucks

550

Cafe Americano, short (8 oz) Starbucks

35

Coffee, tall (12 oz) Starbucks

375

Cafe Mocha, tall (12 oz) Starbucks

35

7-eleven big gulp cola (64 oz)

190

Cola (12 oz)

35

Mountain Dew (12 oz)

55

Diet Coke

45

Mello Yello

51

Nestea sweet

26

A & W creme soda

29

Dr. Pepper

41

Sun Drop regular

63

Sun drop Diet

69

Sunkist orange soda

41

Pepsi

38

Pepsi 1

55

Royal Crown Cola

43

RC edge

70

Snapple (16 oz)

48

Arizona Iced Tea (16 oz

15-30

Java Water (1/2 liter)

125

Juiced

60

Haagen Dazs Coffee Ice cream (1 cup)

58

Dannon Coffee yogurt

45

Hershey special dark chocolate

31

 

As you look at these, you can begin to see that yes, they can have a real impact on your child. If caffeine is a drug that peaks in 3-7 hours, it is reasonable to assume that your child will experience drug withdrawal at the earlier end of that scale. So you may have a child in caffeine withdrawal who is edgy, irritable, cranky and with a headache. So he can’t sit still and is whining. You think he is a bad boy. He gets the message he is a bad boy and begins to think of himself that way. And the real thing that is going on is a biochemical reaction to the drug.

I strongly encourage parents to get their children off caffeine. Do not give your children drinks and foods with caffeine in them. If your child is currently using caffeine, do not stop it abruptly. Going off the drug should be done through what we call a taper process. This means cutting down over time. The first task is knowing the current level of using it. Figure out how much caffeine your child is getting. Use the same process you have been using all along. Do this with your child. Cut down over a 2-week period. If your child has caffeine soda intermittently, you can simply stop and say we aren’t doing that kind any more. Start with this before you think about the rest of the program for your kids. And come join the parents list if you would like to learn more.



 




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/