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've just started out on the Louise Parker method. Trying the Bircher tomorrow!

Hi Lissette I really like the birchers. They are quite filling.

Oh hiya, can I join the thread? I was wondering if there was one on here. I've just started LP - have been doing the food for two weeks but knew there was a boozy weekend due (last weekend) so don't feel I can say I've officially started yet...

Did anyone else get headaches when they started out? I can't work out if it's my new desk set-up or food-related?

Ooh I was just about to post that I had struggled today. Having found it really easy so far I had a headache for the first time this evening. I did boot camp yesterday and felt hungry but managed ok, today I had the 3 bean salad for lunch which isn't terribly filling and I think that might be the reason.

Siesta I'm totally full and it's almost 11am. Normally by this stage I'd be out hunting for a snack...

I know it's supposed to be every two weeks but I've weighed myself after one and I've lost 1.5 kilos. I'm happy with that as I don't feel like it's been a struggle. My waist measurement is exactly the same though, which is annoying as that's the area I want to fix most! Being an apple shape sucks.

I weighed myself today and have lost 8 pounds over the last while. I've organise a little treat when I get to weight milestones on the way down. Well done Siesta!

I don't mind watching what I eat as long as I'm not hungry. Protein is helping.

I'm a bit appley too

I'm all stomach which I think is the menopause. I never used to look like Matt Lucas...

Well done lissette! Yes, protein has been a revelation to me after all these carby years.

Thanks Siesta. I've made my Bircher for tomorrow. Busy day ahead!

Hello Ladies- may I join? I bought the Transform book last week and dipped into a few recipes but a pizza and cinema trip on Friday stalled it. So bizarrely it started yesterday on a Saturday!
My weight has gradually increased over the last few years as I returned to work, dropped my level of exercise (used to be a runner -2012 London Marathon) and upped the wine. I needed to find something that was simple to follow and provided exercises that can realistically be done whilst looking after 2 young children and DH.
So here I am, 50 (older mum), 5'8" and 12 stone. I should be about 10 st.
If not too much to ask - how is it going for you all? Would be so interested to know how long you have been on the plan and your starting weights and where you are now (looking for motivation)!
Q

Hi Qzjvkg This thread isn't very active but maybe it can be reignited. This is only my second week and so far so good. Last week I lost 1.5 kilos. Weight loss isn't my primary aim though. I started off at 63kilos at 5'8 so not overweight. I'm very flabby though, so was drawn in by the promise of leanness! I really want to reduce my waist measurement, which is 86cm

Good luck!

Hi Siesta
Thank you for responding - we can be buddies! You are the same height as me and I would love to weigh 63Kg! Although I did weigh myself this morning (I know you shouldn't) and was down a couple of kg but I hadn't had my bircher at that point.

How are you finding her exercises (if you are using them?) Apart from squats and lunges and the leg sculpt ones I find all the rest really hard - I don't seem to have any upper body strength.

Anyway here is to another week and hopefully another 1.5 kg down by this time next week!

All the best
Q

ps am in love with Louise's Lovely lentil recipe have had it three days in a row for lunch!

Hi siesta, Qzjvkg I'm finding the food really enjoyable. I love the lentil meal too and the spring vegetable frittata is great to cook and then divide up and save for future lunches.
I go to exercise classes four days a week and the other three I follow the ones from the book so I am working out a lot. The only thing is after about 10 days I don't seem to have lost any weight I had been following slimming world just before I started so maybe the adjustment to the new diet ( there does seem to be quite a lot of cheese) is the reason but I'm not seeing the big changes everyone has been raving about tbh. Any tips anyone?

Hi Sayhello
10 days and no weight loss sound sa rough deal but have you lost cm? Muscle weighs more than fat, plus you were probably already passed that initial weight loss phase when you start to be "good" from slimming world. I have only been doing it for a week. But have significantly reduced my portion sizes and cut out the booze and that is making an initial impact. Stick with it and good luck.
Q

Back again. Yes, I think there is a lot of cheese sayhello and dairy in general. It's two weeks for me tomorrow, so I will report back. I had a couple of very large glasses of wine last night though and have also done fewer steps because dc hasn't been here. So I'm not expecting much.

As for the exercises Qzj, I've always struggled to enjoy exercise (hence the flab) so I'm tending towards just doing the ones I find easy, which isn't really in the spirit of things.

In general, I'm finding the food easy and the exercise hard.

So only 0.5 kilos down but I have reduced my stomach by 2 cm so happy with that.

Does anyone else think there should be a calorie count on the recipes? Sometimes I'd like to swap a lunch for a dinner or a breakfast for a snack but not if there is a massive difference in calories.

Hi Siesta
0.5 kg is still good, but 2cm is better (muscle weighing more than fat and all that!). I measured myself the other day and it was all rather a shock! (Waist 84.5, belly 95!) I am however feeling less bloated and getting more into the exercises - which I have to say as I have had stiff legs, thighs and arms at various points over the last week must mean that muscles are being activated! So I hope when I measure in a week and a bit time there will be some change.

I did read somewhere that you can interchange the lunches and dinners (it may have been earlier on this thread). I made four batches of the beans and feta salad and had it for lunch and dinner yesterday!

I love some of the snacks. My son is allergic to peanuts so we can't have peanut butter in the house - however almond butter tastes almost identical and have been enjoying that and the cashew butter on ryvita with strawberries delish - who would have thought!

I do agree about the calorie or more info about some portion sizes - I did the sesame tuna and it said two portions of green vegetables. Well considering the piece of tuna I was allowed was about half what I would normally have (and what I gave DH) I wanted BIG portions of green veg!

Anyway well done! I am off to walk the dog to get my steps up!
Q

I didn't take any measurements. Maybe should have done. I did a before photo though. I found a lean for life app on the App Store. It's not great but it does have a section for results and a diary for recording food and exercise. Not many recipes though that don't involve further purchases and only ones that are already in the book. It's worth a look but not ground breaking.
Yesterday was a tricky day as I had a long drive to pick up eldest DS from uni so did succumb to a little chocolate to keep the energy levels up. It's left me feeling a bit annoyed Because in the book it says one slip up can set you back 3 days and as I'm struggling with not seeing the weight loss I'd like yet, I could do without set backs.
siesta I often the swap lunches and dinners depending how I'm feeling. I think this evening we'll be having the slinky nicoise

Morning Siesta & Sayhello
Well just reporting in that I did a weigh in yesterday and 3kg lost! Can't say there is any major shift on the measurements yet but much less bloated.
I have also noticed my craving for carbs has gone out the window- I used to try not to eat them before embarking on the LP method, particularly at the end of the day but would 'treat' myself to a packet of salt and vinegar squares or eat 6 ryvitas with butter!
Anyone not eating the full quota of food? To begin I wanted all the meals and snacks but now am not needing the snacks. Of course it could be the hot weather - I drank so much fizzy water with lime in yesterday!
Anyway here's to another week - enjoy the sunshine.
Q

Well done Qzj ! A 3 kilo loss is great.

I'm eating the full quota of food. 3 meals and 2 snacks seems just right during the working week. I got a bit peckish this weekend though. I must not have been busy enough. It's true that the carb and sugar cravings are much less than they were.

I still haven't been receved

Oops posted too soon. I still haven't received the recipe book which I ordered last week. I think it's time for a bit of variety.

Hi Siesta and SayHello
How has your week gone?
I am reporting in that it has been really successful here - tho I think now that the initial shock to my system has taken effect it will slow down.
Anyway 1.4 kg lost and I did a measure main report is waist down from 84.5 to 80 and belly down from 95 to 91.5. Other losses were minimal but I am v happy with all that. I am nearly 3 weeks in since I cut out the booze and reduced portions, with one pizza night near the start and I have had 2 glasses of wine twice this week!
What's the new cookbook like Siesta - I am thinking of getting it.
Happy lean living
Q

Hi Q and siesta. This week has been going ok. I have pretty much stuck to plan. A couple of times I struggled with portions leaving me hungry on days when I had boot camp and only a little slip up today due to a family party ( 1 glass of prosecco and 1 extra sausage ) I was a little disappointed with my weigh in as I only lost 1/2lb - pathetic I know - but I'm not too despondent as I have two major factors that will affect my weight loss; I'd already lost about a stone on slimming world and had stopped losing every week and I also have coeliac disease and had started a Gluten Free diet about 18 months ago which, once it has taken effect and the body has recovered means that you start to gain weight quite rapidly. I look more at how my shape has changed and how my clothes fit which, because of all the exercise I'm doing, is really improving and I feel that the Louise Parker method is just a far healthier way to eat than slimming world.
I am 5'5" and weigh 10lb2.5oz so ideally I'd like to lose about 6 or 7lb but anything starting with a 9 would be good .
I have the cookbook Siesta. It has more variety and also gives recipes that can be used for the whole family which I find useful and little extra bits like dressings, soups and sides that you can add to a meal. Hopefully it's arrived for you by now.
Here's to another good week