Hi {!firstname_fix}
I hope you all had a Thanksgiving time of gratitude. I love Thanksgiving. Even this year - it was my birthday and I spent it in the quiet of New Mexico. Drove down to Bosque Del Apache to see a gadzillion Sand Hill Cranes. My bird dogs came with me. They did not get out of the car, but they did think they had somehow landed in heaven.
Ok, I have a really fun story to tell you this week. As you may remember, when I went to the Northern California booksellers trade show, I found these awesome little Italian pencil boxes. I have been carrying mine around. I was talking with the owner of the company about my box. She also makes Boku books which I just love. I said, *Hey, can't you make a little Boku Box book?* Today, in the mail, came this exquisite little Boku Pencil Box Book. Oh dear gawd, do you think I am sugar sensitive or what! (grin) Anyway, we have the first, the only, the prototype, designed for us, the sugar sensitive miracles, right in our store now. And yes, David thinks I am nuts. But I know you won't!
Come do your Christmas shopping in our store. And if you decide you want some special set or gift, just call and talk to David. We run the store the way Marion runs Boku Books (smile). We love our customers and want you to be very happy.
Please feel free to pass this week's newsletter on to your friends and
family. Don't forget to let me know what you like and would like to
see.
A copy of this newsletter may also be found posted on the web at http://www.
radiantrecovery.com/weeklynewsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe,
use the link at the bottom of the page. Do not email me, do not get mad
at me, just click on the link and you will be forever removed.
And be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery® website
and Community Forum regularly.
Warmly,
Kathleen
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November 29, 2004
** Quote From Kathleen
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The foods you think are providing you comfort are the very things that have contributed to your problems.
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Sue found doing the food has made parenting a teenager easier.
After posting about how my moods have become more stable and less depressed,
I remembered something that I did differently tonight, which turned out
well.
I'm a single parent of a 17-year-old son who is in advanced academic
classes, plays guitar & drums, and is active in theater. He is in the middle
of both working on his college applications and of three weeks of
performances of his current musical (Seussical the Musical). He also
celebrated his one-year "anniversary" with his steady girlfriend this week.
So he's been busy!
But he has not been doing his regular chores this week. I was dismayed to
come home a few days in a row and find dishes still stacked in the sink
(among other things, he is supposed to load/unload the dishwasher each day).
I called him tonight at his dad's, and talked to him about a few other
things before bringing up his chores. When I brought the topic up, instead
of making accusations, I said, "I know you've been really busy with college
applications, but I was wondering if there was a reason that you didn't get
the dishes done."
He said, "Mom, I'm so sorry. I'm just so enthralled with this college
application process, and I keep thinking that I just need to get that done."
I said, "I understand, and I'm willing to cut you slack on your chores these
days. But it would make me feel much better if I came home to dishes already
in the dishwasher."
He responded, "I can do the dishes, even if I'm busy with other stuff."
Bottom line--I approached it differently (respectfully, and genuinely
wanting to know what was up, as opposed to accusingly)--and he responded in
kind. I think the food is helping me to begin to handle difficult situations
without going overboard emotionally.
That was a nice little victory for today!
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Fall is pumpkin season. This is a recipe that many in the community have tried and loved. I hope you like it, too.
Pumpkin Biscuits with Orange Butter
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp cardamon
- 1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
- 3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk (or you can use soy or oat milk and add a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar)
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 6 T. softened butter
- 2 tsps. orange flavoring
- Preheat oven to 450
- Combine first eight ingredients. Cut in chilled butter until
mixture resembles coarse meal.
- Combine milk and pumpkin; add to flour mixture stirring just until moist. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; knead lightly until it is combined enough to roll out (at least 5 times). Roll dough to about 1/2 inch thickness.
- Cut into 12 biscuits with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. Place the
biscuits on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
- Bake at 450 for 11 minutes or until golden.
Alternatively, you can place the batter into muffin tins and bake. This will eliminate the need for rolling and cutting the dough.
Mix softened butter and orange flavoring together. Chill for 1 hour before serving with pumpkin biscuits.
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Over on the main YLD list there has been some great conversation
about how to deal with Thanksgiving -- especially how to deal with
being around people who are still using sugar. How do we please the
folks who expect the old family (white, sugary) favorites once we've
detoxed, and still work our own programs? How do we keep things
program-friendly, yet not accidentally throw Cousin Susie into
withdrawal? (Trust me, we really don't want this to happen!!!) :-)
People are coming up with lots of great solutions, including program-
friendly recipes and some creative planning. And yes, Thanksgiving
was last week (smile)... but there are still a lot of holidays
between now and the New Year!
Come and join us!
http://www.radiantrecovery.com/YLD_signup.htm
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Just wanted to let you know that I recommended Little Sugar Addicts to a group of about 30 parents at a recent meeting. As part of my divorce, the courts here in Massachusetts require you to attend five hours of parental training to learn about how kids deal with divorce (excellent idea and great information). Many of the parents spoke about how their kids were acting out, gaining weight and how frustrating it was that the other parent fed the kids junk food and how the parent had no control over what the other parent did.
One woman told a story of how her eight year old daughter was being taken by her Grandma and Grandpa (on the father’s side) to McDonalds about four times a week. The girl had been gaining substantial weight as a result and her self esteem was being impacted. This mom felt at a loss as to how to tell the grapndparents not to feed the child bad food as previous attempts had not been pleasant.
I immediately told the group about LSA and how it taught the kids to be involved in their own health and how empowering this could be for the kids in a time when their life is out of control. The program also reduces the potential for conflict between divorced parents and the in-laws.
The mom came up to me afterwards and sweetly thanked me for the information. You could see how important the well being of her daughter was and that LSA may be the miracle that she needed to help her out of a tough situation. We talked about how it would be great for her daughter to take control of her eating and maybe teach the grandparents something in the process. I personally felt wonderful to be able to share the LSA program with her knowing how difficult her situation is. Time to order some LSA cards to pass out!
Katie
If you love the program, consider joining the ambassador group. We are having a blast!
If you haven't gotten any cards to pass out yet, order them now. They are free! It is a great way to spread the word.
Come find us among the
Online Groups
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**
David's Corner **
Ok, the soymilk makers are here. We have 2 versions, the mama bear model and the poppa bear model. And if you haven't tried warm, homemade soymilk, you are in for an incredible surprise.
And come do some shopping for Christmas... tiny notebooks, cheese snacks, portable mixers, SHAKE. Yes, don't forget to leave some shake for Santa! He has to get low blood sugar round about Ontario. And all those cookies! Shake is better.
Even more important, check out the books. Of course, share Little Sugar Addicts. You cannot beat our price. And if you love dogs, (smile) Kathleen just got in a new book called Life is Good! written by Dean Koontz' dog, Trixie. This is the ultimate BE raiser!
If you haven't been to the store for a while, how about just coming over and browsing. You will be thrilled to see all the changes!
Please send questions and
suggestions for items you might like to see in our store. YOU are
building our store. Tell me what you want and we will sort it out.
Thanks
David
And of course, we have something for everybody in our store
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Heather D. wants all of you who want to learn more about journaling to come on down to RadiantJournal
The Radiant Journal 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!
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Joy Lynn's Story
Joy Lynn is truly radiant in person, too! Here is her story.
I found Radiant Recovery in January 2002 while at a very low point
surfing the net and looking for a place that would have that magic
answer for losing weight. You know, that magic pill. What I found is a
place where other sugar sensitive people like myself are healing and
actually learning to live life by "doing the food" and working the "7
steps". One of the most significant things that has happened for me
since beginning this program, is that I have shed the shame and
self-judgment about being overweight and the sense of hopelessness
that I carried with me on a daily basis.
Tried and true, doing the food makes all the difference in the world
in my daily life. I am so much more aware of my body, my feelings, and
my outlook has changed dramatically. By showing up and talking in the
groups that I belong to, I have been encouraged to not isolate, post
my food, and generally talk about what was going on with my program.
The support and encouragement in this community is like a warm blanket
on a very cold night. I really did not know how tunnel visioned I had
been until I started to heal and the fog began to lift.
The basis for my personal program is that I treat every day like it is
my first day on the program. I have learned through trial not to take
anything for granted. Soooo, for the very first time in my life my
food, my walk and my connection to this community are No. 1. My body
and mind and spirit are responding in kind. I have lost over 50 pounds
and I continue to lose pounds at a steady pace and I feel as though a
1000 pound weight has been lifted off my body and spirit. It's as if I
am releasing something that I did not even realize I was carrying
around.
I am very grateful to have the opportunity to serve this community as
liaison for ArkLaTex and RadiantRecipes and very much appreciate the
work Kathleen has done in the area of sugar sensitivity, not to
mention the dedication of the leaders of this community who work so
hard to keep this a safe forum for healing.
Always Walk In Sunshine,
Joy Lynn
©Kathleen DesMaisons 2004.