Convention Center with Senior Games

Welcome to Radiant Recovery®
June 16, 2019,
Hi {!firstname_fix},

That is a picture of the convention center in Albuquerque this week. We are hosting the national Senior Olympics and have welcomed close to 14,000 participants. My children's father and his wife are here participating in the volleyball competition so this morning we were there with 2 sons, one grandson, me and an ABQ friend. It was quite an amazing event and I will say more in today's article because I was very moved. I have never been to anything like this. These are the athletes among us, Those of us who read books when we were little, are inclined to still do that,LOL. But honest to god, there the athletic ones were doing rather amazing athletic things.

It was a transformative experience for me. This is where Step 7 takes you - bumping up unexpectedly into things you do not plan for. Life events, people and such. *do the food* and your life will change.
Support for Your Program
COMMUNITY FORUM
Share with others, ask questions, explore everything and anything about your program. Yes, even topics like chocolate and Fritos. This is a great place to get started when you are new.
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GROUPS
Work on your steps, get information on what to eat while running a marathon, ask about depression meds, learn how to do life. Groups are free and fun.
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If you prefer talking on Facebook, come over to one of our three groups there. Radiant Recovery®†, Radiant Recovery® International or Radiant Recovery® Germany that shares in German.
CLASSES
I am talking with Mentors about what we do for classes in the future. We are brainstorming ideas. If you would like to be part of the discussion, slip into chat. We will be talking about it there.

Radiant Heart Care

This is an expanded version of the class we did last year. I have continued to learn many things about heart health and want to be able to share them with you. This class will help you understand your *heart* story and how it relates to your food. It will give you a safe place to talk about your diagnoses, your medications and your relationship to your care providers.

We will look at how to develop a healing plan that looks at your food, your exercise, supplements that might enhance your program and best ways of collaborating with the Health professionals. I am particularly interested in the role of grief and sorrow in our heart stories. This class is part of the new design of class that will go for a month at a time and will be defined and developed by the needs of the people in the class.

I can honestly say this is the most sophisticated class I have put together - mostly because the information is so complex, I have had to work really, really hard to make it understandable. I have spent hours and hours doing this and am VERY pleased with the content.

We haven't started yet because I have been waiting for a couple of new people to get over. If you have thought of joining us but didn't get to it, you have another change. Come NOW.

Sign up for this class

WORKING WITH KATHLEEN
Coaching is a special offering for people who are serious about enhancing their programs 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 your own life needs – what to do when. You will be given tools and shown how to use them.
Apprentice coaching is geared for people who are on steps one – three. We are just starting a new group called Return to Radiance Coaching for those who have done the steps in the past and then drifted.
Skilled Coaching is for people who are steady on step three and ready to move through four-six. The small groups stay together as they learn skills.
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Signature Coaching is intensive individual coaching geared to your specific situation. You may want to step out of the craziness of sugar addiction, return to steadiness and clarity after slipping away, slow down and focus on your recovery, or deepen a steady rhythm of recovery.
This is a way to step out of feeling overwhelmed with where to start and what to do. Because it is so individualized, we can work on what is right for you at this point in your journey. People tell me that coaching helps them feel safe and focused. We work with your style, your rhythm. We address your fear and let go of shame.
Ready to Start?
"Imagine a life of being healed rather than swirling. Breakfast starts it. The steps will create it."
Testimonial of the Week

Okay, my turn. Funny enough, I recovered by isolating . I isolated from everything that would take my focus off doing the program. I posted only to the then relapse class, now list, and I posted way more than I ever had. I did not post anywhere else or even read any other lists. I turned them all off. When possible, I did only those life things that would enhance my program. I am reconnecting w/my journal in a deeper way. I took both journal classes. But one of the best things I did for myself was to relax about being in relapse.

You see, I was terrified that I would not get my program back. I actually thought I might not be accepted back to the community (MY perception--nothing anyone said or did--please don't take this personally anyone--it was ME and MY anxiety). And when Kathleen opened the second relapse class to continue supporting us, I knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and that I was accepted and that it would all be okay. So I relaxed about it and that's when the healing began.

In fact, I actually ENJOYED being in relapse. I felt unburdened by only posting in one very SAFE place with amazingly supportive people. I was learning about the program in deeper ways than I had before because I was clearer and had more intention behind my actions. I could look at myself and understand the process. I was not desperate about weight loss. I talked to Kathleen about this paradox of enjoying relapse and likened it to Milton's *Paradise Lost* and the idea of the fortunate fall--Milton's belief that virtue untried is not virtue at all, but virtue that wins out over adversity is true virtue. (Sorry, I used to be an English teacher (sheepish grin). And here I am. Being radiant and silly and still working hard on my program; planning food, cooking food, and mostly, staying connected HERE. Kathleen, thank you for helping me get my radiance back. Well, thanks for helping me get it in the first place (crying). Have a nice day everyone.

Ann Margaret

My story is so similar to Ann Margaret's I considered just copying it, LOL.

It sounds weird to say that relapse was the best thing to happen for me and my recovery. But it's true.

If I hadn't relapsed I wouldn't have taken the classes and the classes are what changed the nature of my recovery.

It was in the classes that I finally connected at a heart level with my journal. I had never been able to really connect with anyone online except on the surface. Having connected to my journal and having a small group of very supportive people around me online I took the risk and started to open up my heart and share my feelings. I had no idea how life changing that would be.

My focus was this group of recovery from relapse people and my food. I don't have the words to express my gratitude for Kathleen starting the classes when she did and for having such supportive people joining the classes along with me.

I know now that no matter what my focus has to be on my recovery. If I don't keep it front and center my life starts to fall apart. As I step out into the bigger community I know I have my relapse recovery buds to lean on and tell me the truth since they know me so well.

Linda
David Smiling
David, your Radiant Recovery® Concierge
Come visit our STORE. Call 505-345-3737 or email David if you have questions.
David, the store manager, is always happy to help.
George's® Restore
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Your Last Diet!
Your Last Diet Book Cover

Last week at Ranch, I had someone ask me why I don't just tell people what to eat in order to lose weight. It really pushed me to think about what it is we are doing in YLD. The key concept is about LAST - this means the whole point is to get you to realize that diets are not the story. Diets = restriction which is simply one more way of taking away power. YLD is all about *empowerment* which means it is slow, thoughtful and transformative. It can be a little disorienting since it is so different from what you are used to.

Chats, chats, chats. We just keep talking, reflecting, learning. You will learn about fat terror, about the myths of obesity, how dieting fosters *restriction* and what that means for your long term success. We add new science to help you understand why you do what you do.

I’m in my third year of recovery and THIS year is the worst roller coaster of trying to balance my protein/sugar/mood swings. Was at wit’s end, wondering where could I find a doctor who knew addiction recovery AND nutrition when my sis sent me a blurb on your book. Went to bookstore and the words leapt off the cover at me! I KNEW it was more than just blood sugar; I had been doing food combining, protein in the a.m ., etc., for years, even before I quit drinking. You have saved my life and, more important, my peace of mind by filling in the blank spaces in my diet management. All I want is to feel normal after I eat! Even after I had the blood sugar thing down, I was still experiencing weird feelings, and there they were in the book: a column for beta-endorphin and one for serotonin! Thank you so much for giving me direction!! God bless you! I have been telling everyone about your book.

—M. S.

If you would like to join us in YLD, come find us here.
Patty and Paulette and Volleyball game

An Awakening

Kathleen DesMaisons, PhD
I went to the Senior Olympics this morning. I expected it to be enjoyable and pleasant. I had to get a dog sitter for Mr. Brody since he is usually attached to my hip. He has a buddy named Aragon who is his favorite playmate. Aragon's people know I would trust them to baby sit since I often care for Aragon. So I went over at 8:30 this morning to drop the Bro off. The I went off to the games.
I was nervous. Would there be thousands of screaming fans? I have attended David's Junior Volleyball tournaments. They have thousand of little girls screaming, and hundreds of *puppy piles* of young teens scattered about. Lots of noise, no chairs and one bathroom adding up to not an exciting event. Would I get lost? Would there be parking? Would I get tired? Would I find bathrooms?Would I want to leave and no one could take me home? Are you laughing yet? Getting older is hard!
No screaming, just lots of older people looking vital, happy and laughing. *Go to court 9*, Ted had said when he went off to park the car. The courts were clearly marked, court 9 was easy to find. There were chairs, comfortable chairs. There were welcoming people. I say down and just watched. This was a women's game. They were pretty skilled, not at all like the 13 year olds. They were obviously having a lot of fun. My ex came over and sat down. A new game started up and his wife, who happens to be a good friend of mine, was playing. I asked him the age bracket I was watching. He said, *Sixty fives.*
So here were 12 women ages 65 to 70 being really serious about this volleyball game. It actually sort of blew my mind.It wasn't anything like high school sports where we were all so self conscious and whatever. They were having a great time. And apparently some of the team members have been together for more than 30 years. They meet up at these events all over the country. Maybe they worked together 30 years ago and now have moved to different places, but they get together to play.
Sixty five! Graceful, athletic, Patty has had 2 knees replaced and a couple of shoulder injuries. But there she was getting the ball across the net like a pro.The British have a term for how I felt. *gobsmacked* would be it. But more than that. I wanted to be an athlete. I wanted to have that grace and vitality. I got a T-shirt that has the games logo on it. I will post a picture of my wearing it at the gym working on being an athlete. And here is an interesting synchronicity: The new cardiologist also happens to have a PhD in exercise physiology. I am going to talk to her about a vitality program for the heart wounded. I will spend time this week writing this all up.
It surprised me. I just thought I was going to *watch* - I didn't know I would be awakened. I didn't know Grace would whisper in my eat, *you will like this, girlfriend.* I hadn't understood this is what Bob and Patty have been doing all these years. I didn't know that world. The article is sort of *in the raw* - not polished by reflection yet. You are getting the first iteration. You will get to experience how it unfolds. Maybe I will even play volleyball.

Here is the Annie Lane column that brought so many of you here.

Dear Annie: I read with interest the letter from "Weird, Stupid or Selfish?" – whose husband eats all the decorative candy she puts out. His inability to resist sugar resonated with me, as I have sugar sensitivity and have engaged in exactly the same behaviors. I simply could not resist sugar.

After years of struggling and dieting and sitting in work meetings obsessing about the doughnuts instead of the topic at hand, I discovered the book "Potatoes Not Prozac," by Kathleen DesMaisons. Her theory is that people who are sugar sensitive have brains that respond differently to sugar, alcohol and refined carbs and that what they eat and when they eat it have a huge effect on them. She shows how to rebalance blood sugar levels, serotonin and beta-endorphins through small lifestyle changes and offers the latest research, free online support and seven steps to change your life. It is not about willpower; it’s about biochemistry, which her program can slowly improve, just one tiny step at a time, with amazing results.

I have been sugar-free for six years now, lost 25 pounds and never gained any of it back. I can go to dinner with family and don’t even think twice when someone orders dessert. I don’t have cravings, and sugar is no longer on my radar. I am more focused and more tolerant, and the daily mood swings are gone. The woman who wrote to you could suggest to her husband that he check out http:// radiantrecovery.com to see whether he does have sugar sensitivity. At the very least, she would be better informed about this condition. – Happy Without Sugar

Dear Happy Without Sugar: I hadn’t considered that health issues might explain

her husband’s behavior. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of sugar sensitivity.

Thanks for opening my eyes to the condition! I’d like to encourage all readers to talk to their doctors if they find themselves compulsively eating sugary snacks.

—Email questions to dearannie@creators.com

ANNIE LANE
©2019 Kathleen DesMaisons. All rights reserved. You are free to use or transmit this article to your blog 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 for additional resources on sugar sensitivity and healing addiction.

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