Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, I am back from my long trip to California. Little Miss Pepper is now a married and hopefully with puppies dog (smile). I have learned a lot and am really, really happy to be home.

The classes are going just great. What fun we are having!! I am adding a few new ones which will start as soon as they fill. And after the holidays, I will begin to recycle some of the others.

I went to a wonderful Christmas party last Friday. I admit to being hopelessly in love with Christmas, so part of being home is to put the reindeer on the roof (smile). I hope you all are well and for those of you who celebrate Christmas, this can be a loving time.

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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December 6, 2004
** Quote From Kathleen **

As you learn to handle new situations, as you learn to recover from a slip, you will become smarter and savvier each time.

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** Testimonial for the Week**
JoAnna (Radiantvegetarians), Columnist

Heather enjoyed an online class and learned more about using her journal.

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed Kathleen's Skilled Journal online class! Kathleen gave us an assignment to do each day of the class and then everyone reported back to the list. I have been journaling for years and most recently, before the class, I have been journaling differently, in more detail and with a deeper connection to myself...but still after Kathleen's classes I was able to take it one notch further. I learned so much! Some of the stuff you "know", but to see it there in print and to have to DO the work really drives it home.

For example, Kathleen asked us to look over our journals and note the different physical and emotional feelings listed there. That's when I discovered how some recent changes in my diet have greatly affected me as there was a profound difference in what I was writing down from the first part of the month to the last part, but I never thought to go back and compare! Also, I realized that I use the same words over and over, when I may be able to be more precise with those feelings. Maybe I'm not mellow, but disconnected. That's a big difference. It's a great way to focus on a topic.

I highly recommend them and I'm excited to take more!

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**Recipe of the Week**
Naomi (RadiantYisroel), Columnist

Chanukah is almost here! So, here are two delicious latke recipes from our very own Gail.

Traditional Latkes

  1. Grate potatoes, skin and all. I usually use a lighter skin potato like red bliss and I sometimes throw them in the food processor.
  2. Grate the onion.
  3. Squeeze the extra moisture out of the potato and onion.
  4. Combine all other ingredients, mix well.
  5. Heat oil in medium frying pan, drop by tablespoons, and fry until bottom is golden brown. Flip and brown other side. Drain on paper towels.
  6. Serve with applesauce or sour cream.

Sweet Potato Latkes

This recipe I have played with some. They don't usually come out as crispy.
  1. Peel and shred the potatoes. I guess you could leave the skin on, but we don't. Squeeze the extra liquid out.
  2. Combine all other ingredients, mix well.
  3. Heat oil in medium frying pan, drop by tablespoons, and fry until bottom is golden brown. Flip and brown other side. Drain on paper towels.


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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**
Val (YLD Weightloss), Columnist

Last week's YLD chat was a blast! We talked about "safety nets" for the month of December - figuring out the things that make us wobble during the winter holidays and how to work around them. Guess what? PLANNING figured heavily in our talk! :-) We talked about concrete, specific things that we can all do, no matter what step we're on, to plan for the places where we are most vulnerable this month.

Come and join us!

http://www.radiantrecovery.com/YLD_signup.htm

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**Radiant Ambassadors**
Terri (Radiantambassadors), Columnist

DB’s got a whole family full of ambassadors! It’s fun to hear how everyone shares the program in his or her own way:

My granddaughter has been listening more than I thought about sugar and has read the Little Sugar Addicts that I gave her. She has been sending people to the Radiant Recovery Site and talking to her friends and their parents about it. She encourages them to go to the site because she doesn’t have the answers. Some of her friends have been reading her book as well. She has made connections to her own food and moods. And tells her Mom about it, or says, "Mom if you are going to eat then eat it with protein and a good carb or with your meal." Her Mom is making connections as well. Printed out the quiz at the Radiant Recovery site and took it to the shop all her friends hang out at. The thought of seeing it in black and white will make a difference and spark some curiosity.

DH now works for the school district and has been putting the business cards on the bulletin boards. They disappear but are not in the trash. If someone seems a little interested in the subject he gives them a card so they can go to the RR site for themselves. I love this.

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 **



I have noticed that a lot of you are ordering things as gifts. What fun is that! Make sure to check out the pacs we are offering. We started this tradition last year at Christmas time. I know that folks LOVED getting an assortment. I am happy to pack up any collection of things you would like me to send out. And If you want to include a gift card, just write me instructions on the order sheet and I will personally add it.

I love helping to make your generosity a reality!

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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**Our Online Groups**
Marie (Radiantdiabetes), Columnist

Hi, my name is Patti and I am the liaison of the Radiantdepression group. This group is all about support for the person who is depressed and trying to work Kathleen’s 7 step program of recovery from sugar addiction. Many of us have struggled with severe depression for years without any hope of finding an end to it. But through doing the food we have found that hope returning and have found light where before there was only darkness.

Some of us are taking anti-depressants while doing the food, so we talk about how the two are compatible and we also share about getting through the tough spots together, with support from each other. If you are feeling depressed please come join us. There is hope.

Warmly, Patti

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**One of Our Community Leaders **
Kitty (Technical Help Forum), Columnist
Marie's Story

Six years ago, I was 52 years old, at my highest weight, just diagnosed with diabetes and feeling like my life was at an end. I was on a couple of yahoo lists that were OA based. Someone on one of those lists mentioned a book called Potatoes not Prozac. She said that she had started the food plan and was feeling really good about it. She also posted the url for the website.

I checked out the website, liked what I saw and ordered the book. I haven't looked back since. (smile) At the time, there weren't any egroups, only the forum. The community was a lot smaller. I was terrified that this would work, and terrified that it wouldn't. I had been sober in AA for more than 10 years, but found that something was still missing for me. I had never been able to deal with my food issues.

Now, I know that my sugar/food addiction is at the root of all my other addictions including alcohol. I had already given up sugar a week or two before, because of the diabetes diagnosis, but I was still binging, eating whites and not much protein, so I had a lot of work to do.

Was it easy? No, it wasn't. Was it worth it? Yes it was. Is it still worth it? Yes, it is. This program has given me so much more than I can even tell you. Without it, I'm not sure that I would even be alive. I am grateful every day for what I have found here.

Marie

©Kathleen DesMaisons 2004.