Louise Parker Method - Lean for Lifers Support Thread

[PushingElephantsUpStairs]

Anyone following the Louise Parker Method?

I am restarting the transform phase again from next week and could really do with some support to get me through the 6 weeks!

I managed three weeks in November but gave up due to Christmas drinking and eating. I feel more motivated this time and felt great when I followed it properly. I love the food too but found it too easy to slip into bad habits.

Please share your stories (good and bad!) and hopefully we can support each other through the journey.

I'll have a look online to find out about it and might pop back. Goodness knows I need to do something...

I've just made a shopping list. I'm starting on Tuesday (or Wednesday if Tuesday turns out to be a bit mad).

Do I really need to have both semi and skimmed milk in? The porridge recipe wants semi, but everything else seems to want skimmed. I'm a bit sceptical about the porridge turning out watery but I'll give it a go, I can always reduce the milk the next day!

Hi Desert. Welcome to the new thread.

I've just been using semi skimmed as we have to buy whole milk for my DD so don't really want three types of milk in the fridge. Think it's just about keeping an eye on how much milk you drink. I have her vanilla porridge most mornings, there's a lot of milk in it so I need to watch what I have the rest of the day.

Good luck for Wednesday I'm starting tomorrow but still have loads of Christmas food left!

Fabulous, thanks Pushing. I have bought semi-skimmed. I'm looking forward to trying the vanilla porridge--I like my porridge quite thick so I'll reduce the milk to 1 cup and see how that is. I'm looking forward to trying the Best Bistro Salad. Love all the ingredients so it should be super-tasty!

Got in lots of extra steps today as my car is at the garage. I am wussing out of walking back this evening to get it as it'll be in the dark and our pavements are full of potholes. Just checked and we did 5000 steps which is way more than I've managed over Christmas.

Hello, may I join? I started this yesterday with my meals and I'm going to introduce the other pillars slowly as I get this hang of things. I've had her first book for a few months and have slowly been absorbing all the info in it...

I've found myself being everso hungry today despite eating well. I'm worried I might break! Are you finding yourselves sated?

Also can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong with the oatbran porridge, please? I've only tried it once (about 6 weeks ago) and it never thickened up - had the consistency of a very runny soup. In the end I chucked it and have stuck to birchers instead but I'd really like the porridge to work!

Last night I had the black pepper prawns from her new cook book and it was delicious (very piquant though - and I do like my food spicy!)

Hello, MrsDesperado! I haven't tried the porridge yet but lots of people said on Instagram that they needed to simmer it for 10-15 minutes to get it to thicken up. I'm going to reduce the amount of milk to 1 cup when I try.

I have the apple & cinnamon Bircher to have for breakfast tomorrow and then I'm going shopping for ingredients for the bistro salad & the chicken, chickpea & chorizo stew. Just realised that I'm going out for a meeting at dinner time tomorrow, so that might need some juggling.

I've made a start on decluttering and also had my car serviced as that was filling me with dread. Hopefully I'll sleep well?!

Hello DesertIslandPenguin! Aaahhhh that's good to know - 10-15 minutes though! Might need to stick to the Bircher for now, I don't have the patience for that... My favourite right now is bircher with a cup of frozen raspberries and a sprinkle of cinnamon - yum!

The chicken and chorizo chickpea stew is lovely and freezes well - one bowl is really filling, too. It's great to make and reheat if you get in late from work.

I'm afraid decluttering will be the last pillar I attempt My youngest starts school in Autumn and then I'll get two whole days to myself to declutter like mad!!!

Tomorrow I plan to have raspberry Bircher, Spring veg frittata and salad for lunch and puy lentil halloumi salad for dinner. Snacks will likely be an apple/almond butter and a smoothie. If only I can stop my stomach from rumbling..!

I lost a dress size in the autumn doing her method and haven't really put too much on during Xmas though info feel much flabbier than before! Starting again tomorrow. Looking forward to the food, the exercises and the results.

A dress size is ace walrus

Am I the only one feeling hungry? Here's hoping it passes...

I found the vanilla porridge definitely only needs 1 cup of milk and don't be tempted to use skimmed - it just doesn't thicken.

Start it on a higher heat and lower as it simmers. I find it's ready in 7-8 minutes that way. Do keep an eye on it and stir often or it develops an unpleasant skin.

I haven't started yet so I can't comment on the hunger factor. From past experience it should pass after a few days.

A dress size is fantastic, Walrus! Did you follow all the pillars?

I've downloaded the new iPhone app and am trying to visualise success. Well, think about it, I don't have a visual imagination!

I'm hoping the hunger might pass once I'm back to work and busy!

Good tips on the porridge, thanks Nibblonian . Since the Bircher will keep an extra day in the fridge, I'm tempted to have another go at it tomorrow...

Is everyone doing the exercises or are you doing your own thing?

I just started this today! Glad to find you guys. The recipes look lovely and I'm enjoying the chicken chorizo and chickpea stew at the moment.
For exercise I'm going to go through a selection of Jillian Michaels dvds as I think they will achieve the same end and it is easier to follow a DVD. But for this week I am just getting to grips with the food. No hunger yet, but a headache!
Will we have a weigh in? I'm not sure I want to get on the scales...

Hello contented! The stew is lovely, isn't it?

I'm happy to weigh or not weigh - what does everyone want to do? I think I need to lose about 10kg / 2 dress sizes to get to my happy weight. Or instead of weighing we could post photos of ourselves in the same outfit? What does everyone think?

Not sure I followed all the pillars tbf, but I did eat right most days and did the exercises at least 4 times a week. Lost about 10lbs but it looked like more - 2 inches off bust, waist and hips and 3 off thighs. I have porked up a bit now but I think I'll get it back once I'm back in the zone.

It really does work! I'm a lifelong crap dieter but if you can do this for 2-3 weeks the results will keep you going.

i don't think I'm brave enough for photos MrsD but I will lose 20kg, which would be about 3 dress sizes. I am a 14 at the moment. Good to hear the success stories, it does sound very sensible and sustainable. I will check my weight in the morning.

Hey All. Welcome all! Glad others are doing this as think I'll need the support!

Yesterday was my first day following it at work and it was really tough, had a headache in the afternoon and felt really lightheaded. Snapped at someone in a meeting too

I remember from last time that it only lasts a day or two so hoping today will be better!

I agree contented stew is one of. Y faves. If you've got the new book a tip for the ratatouille - don't use 8 courgettes like the recipe says! It must be a misprint I have two bowls of courgettes in the fridge that I couldn't for in the oven dishes! Any tips for courgette recipes?!?

I'll start off for the weigh in with my starting weight. On Monday I weighed 10 st 9 (I'm 5'2 for context).

Louise Parker suggests every 2 weeks for weigh ins, not sure I can wait that long - what do you all think?

Not sure I'm brave enough for photos either may change my mind tonight.

Hello. Can I join please? I started this on the 2nd and have a stone to lose. I know I've not been taking care of my food for a long time and am hoping I can get some better eating habits as a result

I had a cookathon the other day and made the fish parcels and the chicken and chickpea stew which were both delicious.

I think I am going to have to mealplan like mad - I work 4 days per week (wednesday off) and those days are full on (hence eating crap).

Oh and I'm 12 st 2 (5' 9"). I'd like to be well within the healthy range.

Welcome tomato!
Yes I know what you mean about meal planning - think that this is essential. I'm going to have a stab at planning next week's meals (when I'm back to work) tomorrow, will wing it this week. How about we post our meal plans here for inspiration?

Shall we go for weekly weigh ins then pushing? I was 10 st 4 lb on Monday - my heaviest ever (even when pregnant). Ideally I'd like to be at or just below 9 stone (I'm 5'4")

Thanks for the tips about the oatbran porridge - I had success this morning! I used 40g oatbran and 1 cup of milk (full fat, was all I had in). I added a cup of frozen raspberries at the end and topped with flaked almonds and pumpkin seeds - was yum! I'll try and attach a photo...

It worked! I forgot to add that the porridge didn't take long at all - 5 mins or so. So much quicker than normal porridge and very yummy!

Bit of a beige breakfast, but quite tasty: apple & cinnamon Bircher with pecans instead of walnuts as walnuts are the food of the devil. Resisting the urge to add stevia!!

Ooh that looks good! Beige food doesn't have to be unhealthy!
What brand of stevia do you use? I have so far resisted it but might be tempted to try...

MrsDesperado, I use Truvia. It's a bit variable in quality. The first time I bought it, it was superfine. Last couple of times it's been bigger crystals, but it tastes fine.