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.

Welcome *tomato
*
The porridge and Bircher look really nice, I haven't tried a Bircher yet.

Weekly weigh ins sound sensible, will really help with the motivation for me I think.

I had a better day today, don't have a headache and seemed to have more energy.

Is anyone doing screen free 1.5 hours before bed? I'm trying to do it from 9.30, not counting my kindle!

I think I'd really struggle with being screen free. I might tackle that after I master going to bed at a sensible time.

The Best Bistro salad is amazing btw! I can tell that I'll be making it regularly.

Fair enough, I also struggle with going to bed at a decent time, especially when I've had a busy day.

Don't think I've tried the bistro salad yet, making the chop chop one tonight.

pushing I had the headache too, it has now gone though, pleased it was temporary. I think it is sugar withdrawal. had left over chicken and chorizo stew for lunch, and I have the lemon seabass for supper, but have departed slightly from the book in that I am having kale and a bit of sweet potato with it.
I am still drinking two cups of tea with milk and sugar, I don't think I will give that up, I would rather take a bit longer to lose the weight than give up that one vice.
I am screen free after 9pm though!

Pushing My iPhone and iPad both use Nighttime mode so I feel I'm not quite as bad as I could be with screens in the evening. I shall try to hop into bed earlier tonight, which should hopefully prevent any late night munching as a natural side effect!!

Well, back on it today and I've enjoyed the feeling of being back in control! Not hungry at all and just done my exercises inc the hideous side pressups which kill. But feeling positive.

Day off work tomorrow so as well as the usual exercises I intend to get a big walk in - will aim to do 10k as well as normal bits and bobs round the shops etc.

Hoping to be back to pre-Xmas weigh of 11st1 (I'm 5ft 7) by this time next week. We go to centre parcs at half term and id like to be 10st10 by then.

Everyone else feeling ok?

I'm bushwacked after a day at the zoo followed by yoga - over 12500 steps. I don't have to do the nursery dropoff tomorrow morning so planning on doing an extra walk to work.

Have eaten ok - but wasn't organised enough to have prepared lunch so bought a bowl of various salads which I hope were in the spirit.

Is anyone else spending an absolute fortune on groceries? I am buying loads of things that are not in season.

Screen time - hmm. I have changed my sleeping habits already. Its the stress levels I need to control (work, single parenthood, divorce and and and...).

I've just spent an hour in the kitchen making the double bean balls and salad for tomorrow! I'm exhausted!

Agree tomato re spending on groceries, going to cut back a bit next week as I don't have energy or money to sustain it! I'm not exercising every day - following Davina's 5 week fit programme so fortunately a rest day today!

I think I'm actually spending less as I was buying loads of crap food beforehand!

Made the chicken, chorizo & chickpea stew which was pretty good. I think I would have been hungry though if I didn't have a snack leftover. I am astonished at how delicious a couple of crispbreads with hummus, pistachio and pomegranate are! I've put my cherry bircher in the fridge and I am hoping to sleep well.

Hi - I'd like to join please. Today is day 1 - have had both books for a while and just have to get on with it. I'll be going to the gym for exercise and bits at home when I can. Am working full time and single parent to a 14 year old who won't be taking kindly to bean burgers and salads so have to work around that. Am hoping the chicken and chorizo recipe will work tonight. Had the bircher this morning and soup at work.

Second decision is decluttering - I literally want to get rid of the majority of clothes, shoes, bags, books, dvds etc. Need to be brave to just do it. Suppose this is a bit of cleansing following divorce, house sale and starting out with new partner and new house.

Will be great to have likeminded souls to do this with

Welcome Phwooar! I also need to declutter for similar reasons - going to be moving this year, and downsizing once the divorce is through, and want to take only the stuff we want to keep.

I am nervous about how I will fit in all the food preparation - I spent another hour in the kitchen last night. The strawberry bircher was yummy though, as were the cinnamon nuts I made.

Welcome, Phwooar!

I liked the chicken & chorizo stew, and I think it's pretty kid-friendly. Portion will be too small for a 14 year old, I reckon, but if you stick some bread with it all will be well. I added some smoked paprika and garlic.

The bolognese sauce could easily be served up with pasta for the rest of the family & the same for the turkey meatballs. You could do fajitas with plenty of veggies for you and wraps for kids. I must admit that most of the dinners in the books aren't that inspiring for me, but I'm willing to give them a go. Will re-read her nutritional advice and then sit down with some cookbooks and see what more exciting things I can adapt.

I am also trying to declutter. I still have Christmas presents that need a better home than the living room floor. Luckily my 10yo is being very helpful in eating the last of the Christmas food so that I don't declutter that into my tummy!!

Good day today, so far. If it keeps being unreasonably cold I'll make some soup for lunch as salads (delicious though they are) aren't very good at warming you up at lunchtime.

I've just read on LP's Instagram that lunches and dinners are interchangeable. Good news, as the lunch recipes are much more exciting!!

I recommend sandis aslvation stew, delicious! Welcome phwooooaar Good to know about the lunches penguin, there are a lot that look lovely!

That is meant to say Sandi's Salvation Stew btw!

I was eyeing up the Salvation Stew but was hoping for a review before trying. I'm in the middle of cooking the cauliflower & paneer thing from the cookbook. I'm so glad I've got a dishwasher, can't remember the last time I cooked so much!

Hi all and welcome phwooar!

Had a good day today, I've had quite a bit of energy at work and haven't felt hungry. DP has made chicken wrapped in prosciutto so no cooking for me right apart from salad to go with it! Going to try and do some prep on Sunday and plan some easier meals in next week.

I'm not managing to do 10,000 steps though - I average around 3000 a day. I sit at a desk all day and can't seem to find the time to go for a walk at lunchtime. Must do better next week!

Good day today. Had a fab 5 mile walk in the beautiful frost first thing and just done exercises too so feeling virtuous.

Re lunches and preparing - I got into the habit of buying a pot of prepared fruit (melon, berries, pomegranate, kiwi) from tesco, using half the pot and cutting up some feta cheese and taking that for lunch. It's a variation of one of the lunches in the book and is really tasty. The cheese keeps me full until about 4.30 when I'll have a couple of oatcakes with cashew nut butter (peanut allergic) as a snack. Much less hassle than a lot of the book's suggestions!

Ooh and my new swimming cossie came today, ordered for centre parcs in Feb. It looks great everywhere except boobs where it's a bit tight (my tits are ridiculously big) but I'm hoping if I can lose another half stone or so the tots will reduce enough for it to be great there too!

I'm sure you'll be looking fab in that cossie come February, Walrus! Thanks for the fruity lunch suggestion. I have a portion of chicken/chorizo/chickpea stew in the fridge and it's so cold and miserable that I'm going to have it for lunch. Brr!

Went to the gym this morning and my PT (I still feel like a prat for having one, but heyho) assessed my hips as I'd been having some lower back pain. One hip is higher and more rotated forward than the other. So lots of core exercises, and single leg exercises to try and pull it back into place. I've also booked a consultation with a chiropractor in case my back is slightly out, too. It does explain why my balance has been a bit off lately, I suppose.

Hope everyone's having a good day! I'm off to do the school run with the biggest brolly I can find.

I forgot to say: Pushing I rarely manage more than 4k steps a day during the week. I am going to set a 45 minute timer and then when it goes off get up and move around. I doubt I'll be doing walking lunges, but I can dash up and down the stairs returning random things to their proper places so it might help with decluttering too!

Evening all. Well today has been a bit hit and miss. Started off well but had to go out for a work lunch and couldn't face a salad. Hardly any steps - am deskbound at work and must make time to go for a walk at lunchtime. Just got home from school run and had to finish off three choc Brazil nuts (well there is a recipe for them in LP's book but probably not quite the same .

I think that sounds a good idea Walrus. Would make lunch at work simple having the same thing each day. Will investigate fruit pots!

I too have signed up for personal training Desert. I want to succeed this time and get fit for skiing in Feb and lose at least 2 stone.

I'm soooo jealous of those of you with the time to have a PT. I have such a tiny amount of free time when I am not looking after dd, travelling to/from work or at work. On the other hand I do manage to get around 10,000 steps in.

Day 5 done and I haven't broken. Yay!!! I had the tricolore salad for lunch and then steak and veg for tea - a take on the veal and asparagus but with no veal and no asparagus

Unfortunately I am going to break tomorrow night at a friend's party. I have such a small amount of opportunity to get dressed up and let my hair down that I would rather be naughty for those odd occasions.

I think that's allowed tomato! Like you, I have very little time to myself - I'm either looking after the kids or at work. This week has been especially hard as DH is away and I may have succumbed to the odd glass or two of wine

So my week has been so-so, I think I'm still finding my feet, and realising how much planning is required to make this a success. I'm definitely enjoying eating regularly though and find myself less tempted to dive into something calorific and unhealthy.

Well done tomato, I agree with mrsD it's allowed.

I had a bad night light night, had a busy stressful day at work so had two glasses of wine, pizza and biscuits

I don't think I can sustain cutting everything out for 6 weeks so going to allow myself one 'night off' once a week. If it takes me longer to lose the weight then that's ok.