November 22, 2010

Hi {!firstname_fix}

Well, we are coming down to the holiday of gratitude. I hope you will all take some time to really reflect on the things and people and experiences you are grateful for in your life. I love Thanksgiving a lot. I included the article I love for this time of year in this edition.

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

There will be no classes beginning

Wednesday, November 24.

These classes will begin December 1, 2010.

Radiant Play (2 weeks) - the material that came out of our discussions about the amygdala in chat. I learned that play has a huge impact on our ability to handle emotional change, and to make sense of the world. It was mind boggling to me. We will be talking about the neurochemistry of play. Why it is especially important for ss people and why even more so for those of us who have committed to recovery.

This class is not about the psychology of play. It is about the the neurochemistry of it and why it is so crucial for us. And because we have been talking about play in chats, we will incorporate these ideas as well - what kind of play works for *you*...how can you nurture it?

So come take it for you, or if you are a parent or grandparent, for your children. You know I get excited when I design a new class.

Radiant Store Tour (2 weeks) is a free guided tour of the store. David will be leading this class so if you want to get to know the guy that makes it all work, come sign up and show your support for the work he does to keep you happy.

Handling the Holidays: Christmas (2 weeks) is our annual discussion of how to transform eggnog and green tree sugar cookies. This will be about families and expectations and food is love and all those sorts of things that come up for many of us this time of year.

Radiant Step 5 (2 weeks) is one of our favorites. Learn the art of whole grains. Get lots of information that you won't find anywhere else. I picked the brains of one of the world's leading *brown* experts for this class.

The class schedule is online. Click here to see what is planned.

Please wait to sign up for classes until a week or two before, and do not sign up for classes that are not yet scheduled.

A number of you have asked me how the classes work. Check the class list page for more information on this. And please go read the questions and answers before you write to me. If you have trouble getting through the process, write the tech forum.

Be sure to visit our Radiant Recovery website and Community Forum regularly.

Warmly,
Kathleen

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** Quote From Kathleen **


Listen to the same voice in your heart to guide you through the steps.

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** Testimonial of the Week **


Hi Everyone,

I would like to tell you all about the experience I had with my daughter (5) yesterday. I picked her up from Kindergarten along with my son (7). After we came home from school she was "cranky." I gave her a snack before doing homework, then we settled in. During homework she was starting to getting frustrated, scribbling all over her homework paper and ripping it. She has a very strong personality and when she doesn't want to do something, it becomes a battle of wills, usually. Not yesterday, though. I just sat there and watched her "freak out." Then I remembered a line Kathleen used, 'don't punish them...feed them.' So, I got her a heavier snack and within 10 minutes the crying, screaming, anger and frustration disappeared and we were able to continue practicing her letters and could even sit down together and read a book.

I just asked her when we were both calm...'do you feel better after you ate?' The answer was yes, I'm so proud of her.

I am very proud of myself too because I stayed calm because my food has been good.

We were able to ride out another storm just because of doing the food. (smile)

Wendy in Philly

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** Radiant Ambassadors **


Have you ever wanted to tell someone about Radiant Recovery but weren't sure how? Well, this is precisely what we have been talking about on the Ambassadors list recently.

With people that I know, I have found that concentrating on my own healing and program actually speaks way louder than telling people what to do, LOL! I have spent a good deal of my life telling people about the latest 'exciting' diet craze, etc. (usually every 6 weeks!) Funny how they have tended not to listen in the past because it was just the same old, same old.

But people are finally coming to terms with the fact that Radiant Recovery is hanging around for a good deal longer than any of my 'normal' programs. It's surprising what a difference doing the food can make!

How do you talk about Radiant Recovery? Feel free to come on over to the Ambassadors list or drop me a line!!

Selena
selenas@blueyonder.co.uk

Come join us if you are excited about spreading the news.

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** How I Found Radiant Recovery **


My name is Mark and I live near Toronto, Canada. This past June, I was searching the term "sugar addiction" in Amazon's website and Kathleen's name and books came up. I was able to borrow a copy of Your Last Diet from my local public library. I ended up buying all three books. Accidentally, I have read all three of Kathleen's books in reverse order. As I read them, I identified extremely closely with the personality profiles she gives of sugar sensitive people.

I am convinced that I am a sugar addict. I am weary of being moody and angry. I get relief through different diets and determination for a year and a half or so, only to dip back down into seemingly bottomless wells of depression and despair. I would like to find a solution to the problems that I have encountered for as long as I can remember. I would like to function on an even keel for longer than 18 months and become someone I like, so that others can like me as well.

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** Radiant Recovery® Store **


David manages the Radiant Recovery® Store. He is also Kathleen's oldest son.





If you are thinking about giving someone a way to learn more about the program, think about the CD collection we have. It is truly a remarkable discussion Kathleen recorded live. It captures the essence of the steps, and what is woven into the process.

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

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** Happenings on Facebook **


Radiant Recovery® International | Promote Your Page Too


I've made some fun updates to our Facebook page.

I've added a Welcome tab which will now be the landing page for anyone who is not yet a fan. It will give links to radiantrecovry.com, the sugar sensitive quiz, and testimonials.

Here is the testimonials tab.

And here is the SS quiz tab.

So far, so good! Feedback welcome, please!

Come find us on Facebook at

http://www.Facebook.com/RadiantRecovery and join the fun!.



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** Radiant Kitchen **


Crockpot Mashed Potatoes


Here’s one more fantastic Thanksgiving or anytime recipe. When I first started browning, I’d never had skin on mashed potatoes. I was very nervous to serve them, but these are great! Everyone loves them. I’m often asked for the recipe and I love that you can do a lot of the work ahead of time. Any thin skinned potato will work well. Yukon gold potatoes make a nice variation.

Ingredients:

  • 5 pounds red potatoes, cut into chunks
  • 1 TBS minced garlic, or to taste
  • 3 cubes chicken bouillon
  • 1 (8 oz.) container sour cream
  • 1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Add potatoes, garlic and bouillon; cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes.
  3. Drain, reserving a little of the flavored water.
  4. Mash potatoes with sour cream and cream cheese, adding reserved flavored water, as needed to reach desired consistency.
  5. Transfer to a slow cooker and cook on low for 2 to 3 hours.
  6. Just before serving, stir in butter and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 8.



For more great program-friendly recipes, check out our cookbook in the store.


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** Radiant Conversations **


Well the chat study group is rocking, yes? I am astounded that Winnie the Pooh has evoked so much discussion. It feels as if we are opening up a whole new layer of what recovery means. Thank you so much!

If you are not a YLD member, come and join us. Click here if you want to be a part of the latest and greatest or just have some plain ol' fun!

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** Our Online Groups **


Come check out our local geographic lists, We call them geo groups. These are social lists for getting to know people in your local area.

Or come to the group page to find the one that will best support your program: http://www.radiantrecovery.com/list_serves.htm


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**Coming Back to Gratitude **
Kathleen DesMaisons, Ph.D.



It is early November. I am sitting on my bed reading. The mountains sit with their purple shimmering in the early light. The cottonwoods have gone from bright yellow to dusky yellow-brown. I hear the Sand Hill cranes overhead. The Halloween pumpkins are sitting with wilted smiles.

This time of year can bring conflicted feelings. Thanksgiving is a funny time. It is shaped by Norman Rockwell and memories from Grandma's house. Inside we hold pictures of what we think Thanksgiving should be. But often there is a gap between our imagined ideal and what really happens. It's funny, but most people do not speak about what really happens on Thanksgiving. Uncle George gets drunk or Mom makes one of those comments like *um, gained a little this year, yes?* Or stress overcomes enjoyment. All the old *have to* messages start singing.

I have learned that we can change the stress and create something that comes very close to the ideal in our heart. Let me share this system:

  1. Write out all the stressors you have about Thanksgiving. List every one. Be very detailed and concrete. Write everything, every detail. Set this list aside for a day.

  2. Write out all the wishes, hopes and dreams you have for a perfect Thanksgiving. List everything you want regardless of time, money or distance. Be very concrete and specific. Set this list aside for a day.

  3. Go back to your ideal list and pick out what it is that is embedded in those items. See if you can find the themes, particularly the emotional themes that have the most meaning for you. What is it that you are really, really wanting? You might be surprised. I love having a day to use my grandmother's silver, to have a day of sharing and reflecting on gratitude. I love ritual and cooking. I love the smells and having candles. I love chicken and love our cranberry chutney (in the recipes section).
Now, I want you to imagine that you can reframe your day into a day that perfectly suits you. You do not *have to* do anything defined by anyone else. No matter how it has been in the past, no matter what kind of comments anyone makes, you can change the day to work for you. It is true that you cannot control Uncle George, and your Mom may comment on your weight again, but you can choose to not go. You can be alone, you can invite your own friends, you can go to a shelter, you can skip the whole thing and go to a movie, you can eat pizza and watch the game. You are not a victim, but you are a person with a clear sense of self. You can choose your gratitude.

And I want to invite you to come over to the forum and talk about this. We have been doing it in the Thanksgiving class. It is a profound thing to start imagining that you do have a choice. It opens up so many possibilities, Come play with us on this.


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

Gretel, our webmaster, puts it all together.
David runs the Radiant Recovery® Store.
Selena provides the weekly Ambassadors column.
Emily shares a recipe.
Tina tells us what's happening on Facebook.


©2010 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://www. radiantrecovery.com/