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July 25, 2011 Hi {!firstname_fix} The rains have come now, so in the late afternoon, after the clouds have built, it has been raining. Today I sat out on my porch and just drank in the smell and the sounds. I knew there would be a rainbow, and sure enough, it came. I have a rescue puppy in the back. She refused to go into the kennel and just stayed out in the pouring rain, frolicking in the mud. I love this time of year! And of course, I do love wet, muddy puppies. Her people sent over some toys and treats for her. It included a chewy hoof. Pepper and Ronan were in the room when I opened the box and oh, did they want that. This is what regular life is like at my house. These classes will begin Wednesday, July 27, 2011. Please click on the name of the class 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. Using Radiant Resources (2 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. This class will begin Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Please click on the name of the class 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. The class schedule is online. Click here to see what is planned. 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 ** Resting when you are tired may seem like an outrageous idea, but learning to take care of your body is the focus of your path to recovery. **********************************************************************
** Testimonial of the Week ** Well that's a good question. And it turns out that today is the date that I "detoxed" 8 years ago! So it's a good day to think about what, specifically, I have gained. So my answer is long! I guess I would want to say first that I did the steps all at once. And the healing doesn't come all at once, lol, so that's been my big lesson. In some ways, I think my program was 'slower' than for people who do the steps slowly and in order. The healing has been a process and it didn't come at any specific step and it does continue for me. In the beginning, I was depressed. I was obsessive. I had a whole lot of anxiety. I had a major internal negative dialog that never ended, although my negativity was always directed at myself rather than others. (I lived in the 'You're OK, I'm Not OK' world). I had reflux disease. I had rosacea. I had insomnia. My blood pressure was creeping up. I had absolutely no energy. I had headaches. I had lower backaches. I had a very painful knee and wore a knee brace constantly. I had numerous sinus infections and I came down with laryngitis annually. I also got ear infections from time to time. I was borderline diabetic. I had abnormal liver enzyme levels (indicating possible fatty liver disease in process). Well that's all I can think of now, but there were probably some more, lol. None of those things are a problem for me now, but they all took time -- some disappeared more quickly than others. I know that the first thing that disappeared was the negative thinking and the second thing I noticed was an easing of the depression, although it probably took a couple of years to disappear completely. The physical things were slower. My knee has been really good only the past two years or so. I can't remember when I last had an ear infection. Sinus infections are rare but I wouldn't say I'm entirely past them yet. But I expect almost. I simply don't get headaches unless I forget to drink my water. My blood readings normalized, both for sugar and liver enzymes. The insomnia hung around for a long time, years. I thought it would never leave me but it has, probably in the last two or three years. What I noticed most recently was a further drop in my blood pressure -- which is now running about 100/65, down from about 135/85 pre-program, down maybe 10 points this past year. Another piece of healing that I am curious about 'unfolding' right now is this. I had my last eye exam 5 years ago (age 60) at which time I was told I had small cataracts developing in both eyes. I had an eye exam two weeks ago and was told I had a small cataract developing in my left eye. I questioned my doctor about the right eye and he assured me there was no sign of one in my right eye. Mistake on the part of the doctor five years ago? Maybe. Continued healing? I don't know, but I think it's possible. Today I would say my favorite change is attitude. I now expect every day to be a good one. And I get it. Don't give up, I'm sure you will continue in the healing process too. It has been really important, and I would add difficult, for me to learn to listen to my body and use my journal. It helps so much. I am *finally* doing a daily journal review and learning better ways to feel, for example, more energy (more veggies!). At least for my body. I think if I were in your shoes, instead of thinking candida, I would be looking hard at my journal for weak spots --- foods I didn't tolerate, timing that wasn't right for me, that sort of thing. I think it's amazing how much food affects our bodies, but then, when you think of it, that's what they are *made* out of! Joy S **********************************************************************
** Radiant Ambassadors ** 
It seems that there's a lot of coverage about addiction in the media at the moment - it feels as though the lid has come off the definition of 'addiction' and people are more open to talking about it.I discovered an article about sugar and depression recently which refers to the seven steps in Potatoes not Prozac. I'm sharing the link so that you can read it too: Why sugar is dangerous to depression: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/07/13/why-sugar-is-dangerous-to-depression/ I've left a comment. You never know who will discover Potatoes not Prozac through reading this blog! Oh, the power of social media! Selena selenas@blueyonder.co.uk Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news. **********************************************************************
** How I Found Radiant Recovery ** My name is Kirsten, and I live in NE. I'm a married gal with toddler twin boys. I've been struggling most of my life with eating, and it seems over the past number of months, it's gotten really out of control. I discovered a recovery group at my church, and the leader suggested some books to read. One of the books is the Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program book, and that is how I discovered this website and support system. I just started reading the book, and thus far, it makes perfect sense (even down to the 1 or 2 naps I feel forced to take during the day). I feel this is the start of a very long journey towards recovery... but I feel somewhat relieved to know "what" is wrong with me (I actually feel possessed sometimes when I need a sugar fix... like an out of body experience, because I know technically what I SHOULD be doing - or not doing). **********************************************************************
** Radiant Recovery® Store ** David manages the Radiant Recovery® Store. He is also Kathleen's oldest son.  Kathleen,Can't thank you enough for responding to my "call for help" yesterday. I went to the store and got some sweetened almond milk and threw a few peeled bananas in the freezer before I went to bed last night. I got up this morning and made George's® Shake Original just like you said, just that I used a frozen banana instead. (I think I remember reading that somewhere). LOVED IT! I'm on track now and feeling good about it. I love having a super quick, protein-filled breakfast for those "rushy" kinds of mornings, and George's shake is an excellent "pre-yoga" meal for me. I imagine that as time goes on I will probably find a few more favorite recipes. I appreciate your assistance and in such a timely manner. I am thoroughly enjoying reading your books. I am learning so much. I am sure you have heard this before, but so much of what you write (and how you write it), truly resonates with me. I feel so fortunate to have stumbled onto your books. Have a glorious day! Debbie Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. **********************************************************************
** Radiant Kitchen ** Sort of squash it with a paper towel to get the extra water out. Cut in 1/4 inch slices. Heat up a skillet with some olive oil and put the slices in (actually I use my pancake griddle). Sprinkle some torula yeast (Twin Labs) on each slice. Pour some tamari over each slice so the whole thing sizzles. Turn em over and cook some more. Serve hot then or save for lunch and serve cold. This is a recipe I have used for many, many years. I still love it. For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site. **********************************************************************
** Radiant YLD ** In chat a few weeks ago, in fact I think it was the first YLD chat,we discussed all of the impositions that we put upon ourselves. How we don't need to be uncomfortable. It's as easy as buying clothes that fit. I heard that and chewed on it for awhile. I always have to chew before I can process. I realized how I was forcing my body to wear clothes that were way too small and tight and uncomfortable, because I was in denial or refused to "grow another size bigger". Reality was, that I had indeed grown a size bigger and by denying that, I was denying my self the right to be comfortable. And the true revelation was that I look "slimmer" in my new threads. People keep asking me if I've lost weight. I'm finally not bulging out of my clothes. And I feel better about myself, both physically and emotionally. And whether it was through acceptance of myself, or some veil of stress being lifted off of me, or perhaps because I am becoming more solid in my steps, I actually have lost a few pounds. Life is Good! Teresa R. If you would like to join, come find us here **********************************************************************
** Radiant Conversations ** We have a new portal for the Conversations program. Come check it out here. I have to admit, I did not expect that we would be having so much fun in this chat. It feels like being gathered around on the porch talking about things that are transforming our lives. And we talked about other people attending Eurochat for Conversations. If you are not able to make Monday nights, feel free to stop by in the afternoon. You are most welcome! If you would like to join us, you can do that below. Join YLD Weight Loss Now: click here - $99 Join Conversations 2011 Now: click here - $99 Join Both YLD and Conversations Now: click here - $149 Current YLD members wish to Upgrade to Both, click here - $49 Current YLD members who wish to Transfer to Conversations 2011 Only can do so for a $14.99 admin fee: click here If you are not a member, come and join us if you want to be a part of the latest and greatest or just have some plain ol' fun! **********************************************************************
** Our Online Groups ** On the Radiant Fitness list we talk about how doing the food can support our fitness program and vice versa. Some favorite topics are what to eat when doing intensive exercise when all that's out there commercially are sugar filled products. We also talk about what to eat before and after morning workouts, and what to do for those folks whose training program requires a twice a day workout. We just had a great thread on the necessity of sports drinks and how doing the food is better. We have runners (I've done two marathons myself), walkers, bikers, dancers, aerobicizers, yogis, and many more types of exercise enthusiasts on the list. One of the neat things I see on the list is people who are recovering from exercise addiction who are learning how to work exercise back in their life in a healthy way. If any of this fits you, well, come on over and join in **********************************************************************
**It is More Chemical Than you Think ** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.
Optimism and self-confidence result from our body chemistry, not our mental attitude. Sometimes we are ready to take on the world. Other times the bag lady sits at our feet clucking her disapproval of our lives. Enduring and consistent confidence is a thousand times better than those few moments stolen on the back of a sugar high. I have been fascinated with the beta-endorphin story for years. As you may recall from Potatoes Not Prozac, beta-endorphin is the brain chemical that enables us to tolerate pain. So when I first learned that sugar evokes beta-endorphin, it made perfect sense to me. Sugar as a pain-killer seemed to resonate with what my body already knew. But I hadn’t thought of sugar as an emotional pain-killer. Reading that first scientific article about sugar reducing “isolation distress” knocked my socks off. When baby mice were given sugar, they didn’t cry as much when they were taken away from their mothers. This wasn’t about physical pain, this was a whole different story. I wanted to piece it together. We know that children of alcoholics have naturally lower levels of beta-endorphin. What does this mean in real life? Beta-endorphin cuts pain. Therefore, lower levels of beta-endorphin mean we feel pain more deeply. We may be more distressed by going to the dentist. We may hurt more if we get banged up in a backyard game of football. We may cry more at the movies. Because we naturally have less of the brain chemical that protects us from pain, we are naturally more 'sensitive.' Because we are more sensitive, we feel more deeply. I suspect that lower levels of beta-endorphin make us more aware, more tuned in to the subtlety of what we are experiencing, and perhaps more vulnerable emotionally. Beta-endorphin also affects self-esteem. Confidence, optimism, a sense of connection, and a sense of elation all come with high levels of beta-endorphin. The euphoria of the 'runner’s high' is very real. That sense of being on top of the world is a byproduct of the beta-endorphin flood. By the same token, low beta-endorphin can have a profoundly negative effect on our feelings. Self-esteem eludes us—even though it seems we should feel terrific, we don’t. We are successful, we have enough money, we have love and support in our lives — but inside we are convinced it all will soon disappear and we will end up as a bag lady. We feel disconnected from those around us. Even though our mind tells us that we have a loving partner, an attentive husband, devoted children, caring parents, or loving friends, we still feel isolated and alone. Sometimes we shake our heads in disbelief. 'How can this be?' we ask. It makes no sense. What is even stranger is that we don’t feel this way all of the time. Sometimes we are ready to take on the world. Other times the bag lady sits at our feet clucking her disapproval of our lives. Having our confidence and self-esteem be so elusive, so unpredictable can be crazy-making. It makes no sense until we begin to see our life through the filter of beta-endorphin. When we have naturally low levels of beta-endorphin, our brains try to compensate by increasing the number of beta-endorphin receptors in order to catch as much beta-endorphin as possible. If something (like drugs, alcohol, or a large helping of sugary food) causes a big hit of beta-endorphin (also called a spike), the extra receptor sites will grab it and cause us to have a 'WOW!' reaction, a 'rush.' Let’s focus on the sugar effect. We start out with low beta-endorphin, we eat sugar, our beta-endorphin spikes, and we feel really good. We are confident, hopeful, and excited about our lives. We banish the bag lady with a flash of the hand and pronounce our enthusiasm for life and its demands. We feel great! For a little while. But then, in the middle of a conversation, at a board meeting, or on a date, our sense of possibility slips away. Doom descends and we are back to square one. The flood of beta-endorphin has receded and we are left with all those extra receptors sitting empty, forlorn — and craving for more. So how do we handle this situation? Can we raise our beta-endorphin levels by doing healthy things instead of using sugar and drugs? And what’s wrong with that 'rush?' If our beta-endorphin is low, don’t we want to do things that get us more? Here’s the key: We don’t want the rush because when it recedes, we end up feeling terrible. Instead we want a steady stream of beta-endorphin, which keeps us in a steady state of optimism, higher self-esteem, confidence, and connectedness. We want to enhance the natural production of beta-endorphin without the dramatic up and downs that have been a big part of our lives. In some ways, this may be hard to get used to. We may not want to give up the rush that sugar evokes. To use my own words from early recovery, life without the rush may seem 'boring.' It was almost as if I was willing to endure the pain of the down side in order to have the thrill of the up side. This, in a nutshell, is the seduction of addiction. We forget the down side and only remember those few moments of glory. We will seek forever and endure anything to return to the state of WOW! Trust me on this one, though. Many years later, my body, my mind, and my heart all know that a steady state of clarity and self-esteem is so much better than the illusion I carried around so long. Enduring and consistent confidence is a thousand times better than those few moments stolen on the back of a sugar high. I didn’t know this until I did the food plan — and kept doing it over time. But I do now, and there is nothing better in the world than living from this place. 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. ©2011 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/ |
