Radiant Recovery Logo
 
Jan 22, 2017

Hi {!firstname_fix},
Well yesterday was certainly a powerful day. On Saturday evening, I sat down at the TV and was just blown away by the images of the demonstrations all over the world. I was so touched to see London, Paris, Rome and India and to feel this wave of energy flowing west across the globe. I think it was one of the most moving things I have witnessed. They estimated 2,000,000 people came out - with no violence, no arrests, just one voice about what is important. I kept wondering where all these pink hats came from, and then one of the commentators made a comment about all the knitting that had been happening as people were getting ready. My grandson went to Washington and his report was *So many pink hats! So many loud voices! And so many people together! Ah, amazing!!*. 

My African violets continue to be covered with a riot of blooms. My Christmas Cactus is covered in a hundred buds! This makes me very happy. A colleague came over today and went on the roof to diagnose why and where it is leaking. Another step to taking care of things....step 7 at its finest.

Last week I announced the creation of our new plan for individualized weight loss coaching. I seem to have touched a nerve because I have heard a great deal of enthusiasm for it.  I spent the afternoon working out a process that I will be sharing with those of you who are being coached. And, naturally, I did the beginning part of it myself. I couldn't believe how much fun it was.  I was due at a meeting in the early afternoon and I could hardly tear myself away I was enjoying myself so much. It's funny, I had not thought it all out when I started, I honestly just wanted to get organized with putting together my ideas for it.

And the driving force was what would help me...how could I make this so much fun that I would WANT and LOVE to do it. Then I just let the energy flow through me, LOL. As you might guess, this is a good way to get information. Giving Grace space to share usually ends up with great material.  I will repeat what I wrote last week in case you missed it.

You will see the start of a new option for you in the classes section.  This is flowing out of our explorations on chat about how to support those of you who really do want to lose weight, or don't want to gain weight doing the steps. It has been hard to provide individualized attention on YLD and regular sessions with me are often out of your budgets. YLD has served all of us well and the educational value of what we have done together over the past years has been phenomenal. The Obesity Myth, Fat Terror, Emotional Healing, Clothing have been a few of the topics many of you have explored. Over the last few months I have been working with some people differently and learned that having a conceptual, individualized plan really helps. You can see what you think.

I am opening it up to anyone who is serious about wanting this as part of the program. We will meet you where you are, whether it be on step one or step seven or anywhere in between. And I think having a mix will benefit everyone.  See what you think.

And this is another little note for those of you who know Diane Bailey.  Diane has been in the hospital for the last month. She was pretty upset about how her dogs would be taken care of so I suggested that they put another GoFundMe page up. As it turns out the actual expenses will be just $1000 because she was able to come today rather than having to go to rehab for a couple of weeks. So if you would like to participate, here is the link. Annie and Tink's Care Fund.

Don't forget our Spring Radiant Ranch here in New Mexico this May. 
 
Upcoming Classes

These classes will begin January 25, 2017

Coaching for Weight Loss

This is a new offering for people who are serious about losing weight and would like to have ongoing coaching. We will do individual assessments to sort out exactly where you are in the process. You will be guided in making your own individual plan. You can learn about journaling, and adjusting your food for weight loss - what to do when. You can look at what things you can do to start while you are actually working on the steps.  This NOT a boot camp style process. You will be given tools and shown how to use them. We will also cover the role of doing *low carb* in the process.

The fee is $20 per week billed in 2 week intervals. It is an unusual opportunity to work directly with Kathleen to be liberated from your past diet history.  The signup is under the *special* tab on the classes page.
Using The Resources of the Community

This free class will teach you all the ins and outs of the resources in the community. You will learn to navigate the community forum, learn to use the resource center, check out Radiant Ranch and learn your way around the website. You will be on your way with an invaluable resource in your pocket.
These classes will begin February 1, 2017

Brain Chemistry: Serotonin

Learn all about the "Just Say No!" chemical. Learn how depression may be affected by your diet. Learn how to manipulate serotonin levels safely and with tenderness. A real hands on lesson in feeling better.
Radiant Step 3 Class

You may have thought this was the easiest one and then stumbled some. This class will give you small steps to success. Learn what the most successful members have done to work their way to solid meals, on time, with good foods. This class will give you detailed suggestions to guide you. There is no charge for this class. It will be held right on the Step 3 list.  You do not need to sign up, you simply need to be in the list.
 
The foods you think of as providing comfort are the very things that have contributed to your problems.
 

Testimonial of the Week
I had an easy, *uneventful* detox from sugar. Despite the lack of drama, it was a profound, deep change. Immediately, I had no cravings--hallellujah! But I also felt uneasy and unsettled. (Some of that was my diet cola detox, unwisely untertaken hard on the heels of sugar.)
I counted the months till I could get to weight loss and taper off my meds and feel fixed. I wondered when I would feel grounded again. I wondered when my anxiety would go away. I fretted, and my fretful posts were annoying me. I decided to stop posting inside the problem. I waited and kept doing the food. I got exercise steady.
One morning I woke up and realized I was ready to meditate. About 2 weeks later peace fell over me like soft mist.
Jeannie, Step 7
 
Interesting Science
Vinegar Improves Insulin Sensitivity to a High-Carbohydrate Meal in Subjects With Insulin Resistance or Type 2 Diabetes

Let’s go back to the idea of vinegar improving insulin sensitivity. In this study, the researchers compared two groups - one was a group of controls who were sensitive to insulin, and the other had type 2 diabetes so were insulin resistant. They gave the subjects a high carb meal of bagels and orange juice and measured the impact on their glucose levels and their insulin levels. Then they had the subjects have 20 grams of apple cider vinegar after the meal and tested what happened.

They found a significant reduction in the impact of the carbs on blood sugar. They describe an effect similar to metformin.

This is one of those intriguing little tidbits that showed up when I was looking for something else. It makes me wonder about the claims that Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar makes about the health benefits of their products.

Twenty grams of vinegar equals about .7 oz. So I am thinking the idea of having oil and vinegar salad dressing on your salad at lunch, or on your veggies at dinner can be a nice way of helping your body be less insulin resistant.

Here is the link to the citation. See what you think.

 
Radiant Recovery Store
This morning I started a new journal. Of course I use Your Body Speaks. I couldn't help myself. I have to give you a personal blow by blow. The cover is heavier and the pages are bright white with heavier paper. No dog ears for us now! And it has this gorgeous spiral binding. I know, I know you can think I am nuts, but these things make me excited.

So I decided to go through it as if it was the first time. Here is what I found:
  • A list of the steps. I never get tired of them.
  • A list of balanced physical feelings and unbalanced physical feelings. I like to go and check on which fit me on a given date. I do it in different colors. It is intriguing. Then I could up my score. Steady food means high balanced, unsteady means low unbalanced. How amazing!
  • A list of balanced and unbalanced emotional feelings. My goodness, are they on target.
  • The charts of the signs of imbalance and the signs of balance.
  • Protein values in a typical serving. If you want to know how much protein in cottage cheese or an egg, it is right in your journal.
  • A list of white things, brown things and green things.
  • The grams of sugar in a number of fruits.
  • A list of sugars by other names.
  • A hundred ways to raise beta endorphin. Great quotes from yours truly.
  • A place to record your exercise.
  • A place to record your gratitudes and commitments.
  • And, of course, a place to record your food and feelings.
  • And then, my very favorite....a list of things to reflect on about the changes in you since you started. If you want to know what radiance means, check out this list. It is awesome and you won't find it anywhere else!

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

2 cans of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained or 4 cups of cooked chickpeas
8 oz. tahini (sesame butter – mixed according to package directions)
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. light tasting olive oil (optional)
2 tsp. paprika (garnish)
2 tsp. chopped parsley (garnish)

Blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor, except oil and garnishes. Place in serving dish and drizzle oil on top. Sprinkle with paprika and parsley. Serve with vegetables, whole grain crackers and whole grain pita. Variation: you can add 1/4 cup of cooked chickpeas to the blended mixture before drizzling the oil and topping with the garnishes

By Naomi Muller, author of Nutritious and Delicious Cookbook

 For great program-friendly recipes, check out our Cookbook in the store and visit our online Radiant Recipes site.
 
Radiant YLD
We have been talking about exercise and the part it plays in losing weight. We had an incredible discussion about the difference between exercise avoiders and exercise approachers. It gave us wonderful insight into why some people are drawn to move and others are drawn to reading on the couch. This dialogue is one of the most exciting parts of the program.

And this is a wonderful backdrop for the new coaching class Kathleen has agreed to set up because these are the kinds of things she will be exploring on an individualized level.

Your program will include:
  • People who understand and mentor you
  • A dedicated list on Yahoo with Kathleen's personal participation
  • Access to a dedicated chat. It is held at 2 different times each week so it is accessible to people all over the globe​​​​​​​
  • If you would like to join us in YLD, come find us here
 
Radiant Living
Some of the old timers wanted to know where to talk about their process of daily living.. They wanted to have a place to share about *life enhancements*. So we set up a new place for conversations. It is kinda the *living step 7* place.

If you would like to join us in Radiant Living, come find us here.
 
Image
The Power of Our People

Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.


I wrote this is 2004. That was eleven years ago. I think it is as relevant today as it was then.

As you know I was up in Washington a few weeks ago at a tribal gathering of the Lummi Nation. This week I have just come home from White Earth, which is the home of the Annishinabe people, also known as Ojibwes and Chippawa. I had been invited and gone to speak about our work. But something happened while I was there. The experience of being in the culture moved me deeply.

The nations have a *people* who have been connected and share a heritage and culture and land. American white people do not have a people in this way. Most of my life I have thought about my family history and how it shaped me.

But when I was with the native people, I thought about our community in a different way. We come together because we share a biochemistry. We have a *family* of shared experience; the pain of being outside, of not being understood, of trying to make sense of things and feeling that we cannot find our way.

We come here, and something happens. It is not obvious right away. It feels comfortable and welcoming, but we don't realize that something is changing - some sort of rooting in our healing. When I sign books, I often write *Let radiance wrap you and hold you*...this is something I mean and something I have experienced. But the meaning of that idea, of this as radiance wrapping our people, is bigger than any of us imagined.

Listen to Ted. His letter is like thousands I get each year. This is your community, your healing. And every day I give thanks to the creator for it!

Hi all, my name is ted... and I'm not new to this program, only this part of it. For me this program is not about God, it's not about why it took 64 yrs to get here, or the horrible pain I've endured over the years. It's about getting another chance to get it right. It's all about the food. If I get the food right my life will unfold the way it was supposed to.

By doing the food my mind is clearing, the mental pain has stopped and my knees have stopped burning. I don't know why I'm here now, with you all, or why it took so long for me to find out what was wrong with me. I'm here now and that's all that matters. After 50+ yrs of knowing something was wrong with me I finally have the answer. I never stopped searching, not ever.

I went to AA and got sober, I went to Christian crusades and got saved, and I tried every diet and self help program I could get my hands on……and nothing worked, not for long anyway……and low and behold I stumbled onto this simple program. Tried it once and failed, but for some reason I returned and I finally GOT IT……it's the food…I am a sugar addict and if I do the food right I am right…

I have never experienced a change the likes of which I am going through now. I have embraced this program with every ounce of my being and will never look back. My on-going recovery has been in direct proportion to my obedience to this simple program. The better I work it the better I feel. I don't really know how I got here but I am thankful I'm here and here I'll stay…just doing the food and smiling……hugs to all ted

 
Facebook
Youtube
Twittler
 
©2016 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://radiantrecovery.com/learn/newsletter/