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November 19, 2012 Hi {!firstname_fix} Well this is Thanksgiving week. It is one of my most favorite times of the year. I love grey tree skeletons against grey sky. I love the sound of grey Sandhill Cranes flying high in the sky as they go south for the winter. I love the quiet of everything settling in. And most of all I love the time of giving thanks. This is the essence of Thanksgiving for me. I know, too, that this day can be a day of great sadness for some people. If you are alone, or estranged, or in pain, or still caught in feeling unbalanced, the pressure for this time can be very, very difficult. I remember days in the past when Thanksgiving felt unbearable. I learned that the antidote was to be in service. Go help at a shelter or soup kitchen, invite someone else who is alone to join you. Be fearless. And for those of you across the water in either direction, I invite you to share in our day of blessings. It is that time of year again for those of us who would like to participate in the annual YLD stocking exchange. The stocking exchange is not limited to those who celebrate Christmas. It is meant to be a joyful and playtime time of sharing. Generally, I never do winter holiday things until after Thanksgiving, but I know that if stockings are going to go overseas, they need to be mailed by next week. Please come to the YLD site at yahoo and fill your information in at the database. I will write to the YLD list about how this generally works so if you have not done it before, you can know the process. Also, if you are visually limited and would like to participate, send me an email and I can work out getting you into the database. Speaking of which, we are beginning the process of working on making the website and our support network more accessible for people with visual impairment. We will start in the newsletter by making sure we add text descriptions for all the graphics we post. Finally, if you have been thinking about coming to Ranch in New Mexico next May, remember that the early bird special ends Jan 1. Signing up now makes a pretty big difference in the price. If you are concerned about being able to afford to come, we have a number of creative ways to make it happen. We offer a special class called *Getting to Radiant Ranch* which runs for 8 weeks and supports you in sorting out how to get here. Graduates of the class will have access to the early bird rate, payment plans and the scholarship fund. There will be no classes beginning Wednesday, November 21, 2012. These classes will begin Wednesday, November 28, 2012. Please click on the name of the class and it will take you to the registration page:
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 ** Once you feel radiance, there's no going back. **********************************************************************
**Testimonial of the Week ** I also gained a bit of weight when I started Step 1 (I was doing a lot of 'not eating' to balance my daily 'treats' etc.) However, I lost a big chunk on Step 6 (way more than I gained on Step 1) and it's stayed off for over 4 years now. I later found out that this is a pretty common pattern for those of us on the food. HTH, Warmly, Vinny **********************************************************************
**Radiant Ambassadors **  Last week the ambassadors list spotted an article online about sugar addiction and how Radiant Recovery had changed someone's life. You may like to read it here: http://www.jconline.com/article/20121110/OPINION08/311100010/Sweet-relief-finally-within-reach?odyssey=nav%7Chead Wonderful, isn't it? It was posted on the Forum and Amy (who wrote it) responded. Amy wrote it in response to the question - 'Who, outside of your family, has influenced you most?' And of course she thought of Kathleen and her work. Wow! If you'd like to be part of the process, come on over to the Ambassadors list - we'd love to have you! Selena selenas@blueyonder.co.uk Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news. **********************************************************************
**How I Found Radiant Recovery ** Finding RR dooby doo Hello, I read, a lot. I also happen to work in an elementary school as a librarian, although my certificate says ‘Library Operations Assistant’... but I digress. I found the Potatoes not Prozac book under my friend’s stairs... in her new house, unfinished basement, on a ‘pile ‘o’ stuff. (1999, 2000? Not sure.) I asked her if I could borrow it and I read it. And, how wild is this... Kathleen Desmaisons wrote a book about me, without ever having met me! If I can survive my menopausal mood dips, I think I can survive anything! Penny Joy **********************************************************************
** Radiant Recovery® Store ** David manages the Radiant Recovery® Store. He is also Kathleen's oldest son. First news is that David's High School Volleyball Team won the State championship. It is a very big deal and congratulations, David! I know that many of you are waiting for George's Original to be back in stock. I made the decision to change the formulation to use non-GMO soy. I have found a vendor and we are doing the processing to get it to you as soon as we can. In the meantime, order some Restore or the Raw Protein and some of the All One vitamins. It should be here in about a month. I am sorry for the delay, but I know you will appreciate it. 
We have had so many people ask about a dairy free/soy free protein powder, we decided to try this one out. Kathleen likes the flavor. Let's see if it will work for you.A high quality, plant-based protein plus live probiotics and enzymes, fat-soluble vitamins and nutrient Code Factors» such as Beta-glucans, SOD, glutathione and CoQ10 for overall health and vitality, RAW Protein provides the following benefits:
Please send questions and suggestions. I love hearing from you and truly want to help you do your program better. **********************************************************************
**Radiant Kitchen ** 1/2 cup whole grain bread crumbs (toast and process to crumbs bread of your choice)** 1/8 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. garlic powder 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into 1" x 3" strips 1 egg lightly beaten or 2 Tbsp. milk Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix crumbs, salt and pepper in bowl. Dip the chicken pieces first in either milk or egg and then dip them in the breadcrumbs to coat. Place chicken on an ungreased cookie sheet (or place on parchment paper for easier cleanup). Bake 7-9 minutes until cooked through, but not overcooked. These freeze very well so you can make larger batches and freeze packages of them for later. **Variation (Substitute for breadcrumbs): 1/3 cup cornflake crumbs 1/3 cup finely chopped pecans For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site. **********************************************************************
**Radiant YLD ** We had an incredible discussion about movement and exercise in both chats last week. If you have not read them, I REALLY encourage you to do so. I will be writing an article about the significance of what emerged. But go get a preview. I always love it when these serendipitous things burble up like that. 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. What a fabulous conversation about the stickies and making plans and priorities that emerged from our conversation about last week's article. I sure love having this way to take the concepts deeper. And yes, we will talk about it again at monday's chat. 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 ** The Radiant Step Two list is a source of helpful information and support with journaling. On this list we talk about how to get started with the journal, how to start listening to our body and why giving it a voice is so important. We also discuss how to use the journal for detective work in our program and, of course, how to make journaling fun! Right now the list is rockin' with people supporting each other and making big discoveries with their journal. So whether you are just starting out or are looking for a recharge in your journaling, come on over and join in the fun! **********************************************************************
**A Small Roadmap for Your Process ** Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.
You know, I have some favorites among the articles I do. I love to report them because the concepts are so enduring. The roadmap article is a super one for this time of year. A number of people have asked me if there is an expected path for going through the steps. Is it developmental or random? Over the years, I have come to see that it is very developmental and very predictable. If you do the steps, things will change. And they will change in a way that you can expect. So nothing scary, nothing complicated. Here are the stages: Chaos Regularity and Structure Stability Detox Practice Success Chaos Chaos is the starting place for most of you. You may be way out there, or you may be high functioning chaos artists. But the tone is always the same. You feel hopeless, out of control, desperate, inadequate, and impatient. You can’t remember instructions, you want to get started and people don’t understand what is going on for you. You feel the “problem” is the sugar. Or the problem is your weight. Or the problem is the stress in your life. And the feelings are so bad, you have to do something RIGHT NOW!!!! You are a true drama pup and feel like you can’t start, can’t stop, and you are crazy. You eat irregular meals, lots of sugars and carbohydrates, you may binge, drink little water and either exercise rarely or exercise compulsively. You have tried a thousand diets. You have lost weight and gained it back – a lot. You are tired and terrified. You hold your breath at even the idea something might work. You want to do it all, and you keep putting it off. You are in the right place. The program can help you. Regularity and Structure You start the program. You work on breakfast. Breakfast becomes habitual. You like the feelings it brings. You write your journal. Sometimes you forget, but mostly you remember. You don’t yet use the journal as a detective, but you are gathering the information and resisting the idea less. You manage to eat three meals a day. You have protein at each meal. You have a potato every night. You take the three vitamins every day. You are still having sweets, but eat them with your meals. You eat whatever fruits you like but notice them and write them down. You have started increasing your water and find you rather like it. You are thinking about the idea of exercising. Stability You have started to feel the routine of regular meals. You have breakfast every day and find that if you miss it, you notice right away. You like how you are feeling. You are sleeping better. You are resisting the idea of the program less. Things start working. You notice how much caffeine and/or aspartame you use. You begin to reduce them slowly without being impulsive or reactive along the way. You are still writing diligently in your journal. You are now getting interested in what your journal says. What can it teach you? What is the connection between food and feelings anyway? You start eating brown things rather than white refined flour products. Whole grains, brown rice and oatmeal creep in and you find you actually like them. You still have fruit, but find it is becoming more and more of a normal part of your diet rather than a desperate alternative to the sweets you think you should be eating. While you haven’t really focused on the sugars, you find that the bag of M&M’s you used to have instead of lunch doesn’t have the same charm when eaten after dinner. You are less frantic about searching for your stash in the evening. Mr. Spud is a friend by now. And you are starting to think that the idea of going off sugar may not be so scary after all. Detox You pick a date and know that you are ready to just go for it. The day arrives and you don’t have sugar, you don’t have alcohol. You feel excited. You feel that maybe this time you can do it. You still have breakfast; you guard yourself a little more tightly. You are using your food journal as a valuable aid in your process. It alerts you to danger or slipping. But your focus is on the SUGAR. Finally, the bogey man is going to go. Day four comes; you are cranky but intrigued. It’s a day and you are ready. And then, and then day five. You wake up and realize you just passed through the sugar barrier. You are on your way. You hold this place now for a while. Part of you is itching to go with losing weight. You actually may have started losing. Or you may have gained some. This makes you a little nervous, but you trust the process. Something is happening here. You aren’t quite sure what or how it is working so powerfully, but you are hooked. Your food is steady. Your energy is up. Your sleep is working. You are pleased and excited. And if you are not, you know what to do. Back to the journal. Back to the forum. Let’s figure it out. It’s not overwhelming; it’s just functional. You are in charge and you know what to do. You have been sugar free for a few weeks. Yes, yes, that is weeks, not days. And now you are ready to start your diet plan. But you are willing to listen. Wait for six months on steady we say. You no longer fret. You know it makes sense. Get skill, get stable. You are no longer frantic and are starting to enjoy this. You have some goals. You have a sense that you can start the things to get you ready for weight loss. Practice You are reducing the amount of fruit you have. Browns are steady. You start increasing the greens. Veggies become your friend – and if not your friend, at least you have learned how to cook them. You eat them regularly. You have increased your water to the ounces that equal 1/2 your body weight. The potato is a regular part of your routine. Steady, you are steady. And you have started exploring your other options from that steady place. You go into the support modules regularly and work on the “extras” like defining your style, reflecting on feelings, getting your support network refined, exercising, and looking at what will help you hold the diet. A funny thing is happening. You kinda like this process. You are less impatient. You like how things are unfolding. You are ready now for the weight loss. Success After all this time, you are ready. Not frantic, but ready. At the base, you understand what you are doing. This is not hit or miss or desperate. It is informed and intentional. You understand the biochemistry of it all. You don’t throw away the spud because it is too glycemic. You aren’t counting calories. You have a good relationship to your scale. You are doing some exercise every day. You are on your way! Thanks for reading! If you know someone who could benefit from this, feel free to forward it to them. Not a subscriber yet? Like what you have read? Sign up to get future issues delivered straight to you: http://www.radiantrecovery.com Until next time!
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. ©2012 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 |
