Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, Radiant Ranch was awesome. It was a great experience - learning new things, meeting new people and discovering new ways to strengthen the program. Thanks to all of you who came.

The classes beginning this week are:

Step 2: Skillful Use of Journal is for those who want to refine their journaling skills. If you have taken the intro course, this is a great next step.

Step 3: Three Meals is key for those ready to learn about doing three meals a day. Learn all the small steps that can make this process successful for you.

Sugar and Sex is for folks who are interested in why sexuality can be so complex for sugar sensitive people. Learn how the sugar sensitive biochemistry can have a huge impact on your sense of your sexual self.

We have posted a schedule of the classes for the rest of the month. So you can go ahead and sign up for what you want to join.

A number of you have asked me about how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this.

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 me cover.

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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May 30, 2005
** Quote From Kathleen **

Remember that you are literally learning a new language. You are going to have to practice to become fluent in body talk.

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** Testimonial for the Week**


For example, my 6 1/2 year old's soccer game traditionally ends with different parents bringing snacks & drink. Even though 5 games ago, coach said it would probaby be best to bring some kind of chips and juice only..... there have been candy bars, lollipops and the worst kinds of drinks I have ever seen, like those horrible sports drinks made with splenda and also the colored bug juice in those barrel shaped bottles.

Every game, I tell Yuval it is your choice - I have an extra drink in the car for you and you can have a different snack at home. He gets very emotional and says it is his special day and he wants to eat the sweet snack because he never gets anything at home, ate a lot of protein at lunch, promises to behave, will have a shake after, a million good reasons. Agreed he would give up the drink if the snack has sugar too. Last game was doritos and I let him drink 1/3 of the bottle of sugary drink because I didn't want him to cry and he said the chips are not sweet. We ignored the lollipops.

There are only 3 more games this season, but this situation is bound to repeat itself. If it wasn't for the experiences of your families, I would be sure this could only get worse.

Sarit

Sarit - Here's what I have done. Just simply stated - we don't drink that and handed my child a fresh water bottle. They don't complain.. ever, about the drinking water. If Yuval doesn't like water, add a bit of juice to it. Then little by little cut back on the juice.

Or I sometimes make herbal iced tea, combination of red zinger, yellow zinger and some (not much) apple juice.

In the case of the food - I let the chips go, thank the parent any way for the candy and when it's my turn to bring a snack I bring something really spectacular and watch the kids devour it! I've been known to bring fresh strawberries, fruit kabobs, blue chips, cheese and crackers artfully displayed, for all. And I always bring iced water bottles.

My children get that the foods with chemical sweeteners are really awful for their brains. They have practically given my family members including their grandparents, aunts and uncles dissertations on what the chemicals do to their brains!

Show Yuval the pictures of the spider webs in LSA. I bet he will get it.

Of course, we parents always have to choose our battles - those are the ones I've chosen. They seem to be ingrained now. I wouldn't do it any different if I had to do it over again.

Gail

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**Recipe of the Week**


Here is a chicken recipe that is delicious and fancy enough to serve some guests.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Rinse, pat dry and chop mushrooms. Set aside. Wash spinach. Place in a saucepan. Cook covered, only with the water clinging to the leaves until barely wilted. Drain well, squeezing out excess water. Chop (should make about 1/2 cup). Set aside. In a large skillet, heat 2 T. of the oil until hot. Add onions and mushrooms. Saute until tender, about 4 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, pepper, salt and spinach. Cook and stir well for 1 minute. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, flatten each chicken breast by placing them between 2 sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap and pounding them with a mallet until about 1/4 inch thick. Spoon 1/4 of the mushroom/spinach mixture onto the center of each chicken breast. Roll lengthwise. Secure with toothpicks.

Place rolled chicken breasts into a 9 inch square pan. Combine chicken broth with remaining 2 T. of olive oil. Spoon over chicken. Bake uncovered, basting frequently, until chicken is tender, about 15 - 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving (optional).

Note: You can make the mushroom/spinach mixture the night before and refrigerate it. Let it come to room temperature before using. Then just start with pounding the chicken and filling, rolling and baking.

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**Your Last Diet: More Than What You Think**


Thank you for waiting while I was at ranch. We will get restarted with the weightloss class. I shared some of your stories at ranch and they were so moving.

For those of you who are not yet YLD members, Click here if you are ready to change your life or just plain ole have fun.
 


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**David's Corner **



Summer time is a crucial time for ProEpa. Allergies, allergies. Omega 3 fatty acids make a difference. So get ProEpa or the Cod liver oil liquid or the DHA for your children.


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

Thanks
David

And of course, we have something for everybody in our store


 
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**Our Online Groups**


Hi! I am Peggy, the geo coach for the Radiant Pacific All our members are folks living in California and Hawaii...(or those secretly wishing they did!!) I live in Cupertino, which is in northern California between San Francisco and San Jose. We have been starting to talk about having some get-togethers and we would love for you to come and join us. Kathleen is encouraging us to play more, and this is a great place to begin. Hope to see you there.

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** Featured Topic**
The Tools of Your Journey
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.


Let’s spend a little time talking about the valuable tools of your journey — your journal and the lists of your process.

Use that Journal

The value of your journal comes in using it. When you really understand that your journal is the way your body talks with you, everything changes.

If you only see your journal as a 'log' to record how well (or how poorly) you are doing, it will get really old fast. If you work with your journal as a living dialogue with your body, it will truly be a joy. You will want to write in it.

Even more important, you will want to read it and use it to understand what your body needs. You may feel that the steps I have outlined are too simple. You may drift towards counting calories, towards recording grams. You may focus on tracking every little detail, but forget the relationship part.

Remember Relationship

Your body wants to be in relationship with you. It will show you the way by how you feel. If you are feeling better, things are working. If you aren’t, then you simply need to adjust your process and your food.

But you can’t know the adjustments without your journal. If you came to my office for a private session, I would ask you to bring your journal. Here are the things we would look at together:

  • How are you feeling when you wake up? Are you energized? Excited about the day?
  • Do you have a hard time shifting gears into being awake?
  • Do you want to eat breakfast? Are you hungry?
A healthy, rested body wants to get up after sleeping. Even a 'night person' will want to get up — albeit more slowly and in increments. When your body is balanced, it lives in a quality of being pleased to have another day. If getting up is really hard for you, simply make a note of this. It will change as the food changes.

  • Are you having breakfast with protein every morning? Is this enjoyable?
  • Have you developed a routine that you like? Is it easy and pleasant?
  • Has breakfast become automatic and simply a part of your morning without a big hassle?
I sit on my porch in the morning and eat breakfast with the birds. Together we watch the light break over the top of the mountain. It is a quiet time that anchors my day. My journal taught me how important this time is. If I skip it and 'get to work' my day is not the same. I am far more scattered and rushed all day. It’s these tiny little details that create change.

  • Are you having three meals with protein and your very complex carbs?
  • Are you eating enough? Are you eating too much?
  • Are you enjoying what you are eating?
Your Journal Will Lead you

I was recently working with someone who is a little person. She weighs 118 and wants to weigh 110 (stay with me. I know at first glance you may think you should have such problems — but the story is the same for all of us!). She is sugar sensitive and is doing YLD.

She started having 3 cups of veggies at each meal. She felt she didn’t lose weight quickly enough (a clue — she is still in the numbers game ;-) ), so she added another cup of veggies.

Her body is very smart. It said, 'I don’t think so!' She stopped losing weight and started feeling de-energized and off kilter. I blessed her body. It is so smart. It was talking to her! Her body wanted her to listen.

She needed to do her food in a way that suited her body. We sorted it out. Less was better. And the plan started working again.

  • Are you getting the vitamins every day?
  • Are you having that evening carb? Yep, Mr. Spud is important.
  • .What are you doing with caffeine? What about aspartame?
Sometimes, people forget the vitamin part. But the vitamins are directly tied in to the processes that convert tryptophan into serotonin. Skip the vitamins and you are working with only part of the equation.

Yes, Yes, the potato is important

And, I know you know that the potato is important. Or you may not. I am still getting mail from people who ask me, 'Are you sure you really want me to eat this?' 'It’s high glycemic!' 'Sugar Busters says that potatoes are BAD!' 'But, you aren’t supposed to eat before sleeping!' 'It’s more calories. I am going to gain weight!'

Remember, we are changing your basic thinking about losing weight. We are up against years and years of conditioning here. Read the Simple Solutions newsletter. Check on the forum. Talk about it with others doing the program. It’s important. Have your potato.

Redefining the Focus

I am sure you are connecting with my reasoning. You notice, at no time have I said, 'So how much do you weigh today?' If you are still focused on the scale, you aren’t focused on the relationship to your body. You will lose weight, I promise. But what I want most is for you to know, and most of all, to love your body.

I want you to come to love that body — even while it is still fat, even when it is wrinkly and saggy (my apologies to you who are younger ;-) ), even when it is still learning about exercise. This body has served you diligently.

Through all those years of abuse, being forgotten, living in shame, being hidden, your body has waited and wanted to talk with you. And I guarantee, if you come home to it, it will respond with a degree of cooperation which will shock you.

Your body loves you. Even if you haven’t loved it — it adores you and wants to serve you. Spend time, listen to it. The journal is your body’s voice. Literally, think of that when you write in your journal. Think of that when you read your journal. Your body’s voice. Relationship! Finally.

If You Listen, Your Body Will Speak.

©Kathleen DesMaisons 2005.

Here are the folks who are helping put the newsletter together:

Gretel, the liaison for the recovery list and the webmaster puts it all together
Naomi gathers the recipes
JoAnna, the liaison for Rolling Hills gathers the testimonials
Terri, the liaison for Ambassadors sends over the ambassadors quote
Marie, the liaison for diabetes gathers the info on the online lists
David, who runs the Radiant Recovery® Store talks about what new products we have.