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.

Well I made it easily through my first day. The food is lovely, I think the hard part is all of the preparation. It took me a little over an hour last night to make the Salvation Stew (which was lovely by the way). Even DH approved. I batched cooked and have two more portions, so quite pleased with that.

Polly - glad to hear I'm not the only one with the wine habit... Someone had a tip up the thread (sorry can't remember who) and said that mineral water, lime and a bit of bitters makes a good substitution. Had that last night at my usual wine o'clock and it was lovely. Didn't miss the wine at all. Now let's see if I can make it through the weekend.

I was too scared to weigh myself yesterday or today, but will do so tomorrow (and every Wednesday going forward.).

Hope everyone has a great (in the circle) day.

Haha Mrs H that wine substitute drink is mine! I find it a really good substitute especially in a wine glass. Glad you got through day one.

I have made a basic error and bought some new scales - mine were really old and knackered. My super duper new electric scales have added 3.5 pounds to what I thought I weighed! Sigh. So even more to lose but at least I feel as though I will be tracking it accurately now.

Hi all

My top tip is to be super organised and try to do a weekly meal plan. Or at least 2-3 days ahead. That left much less room for blips.

Also, I identified a few decent options from places like Pret etc, so I didn't veer off course if I was out and about/disorganised. I got my packed lunch ready the night before, so I could just grab and go in the morning.

I had fortnightly weigh-ins at the clinic, but I did used to weigh myself weekly at home. I found it kept me on track if I could see the progress.

I've mostly kept the weight off. I've put on 2.5kg due to Christmas and a back injury which has stopped me from exercising. I just need to knuckle down and do another 6 weeks transform phase.

Good luck all!

Those are great tips - thanks Betty. Hope everyone else is having a good few days.

I am soooo determined this week. I have had a day off from work and dd today, and managed to go to yoga this morning and spinning this evening and done over my 10k steps. I've been on plan with my eating too, having a tortilla with salad when out and about.

Need to make lunch for tomorrow and prepare my bircher and hopefully I will sleep well tonight after all that exercise.

I'm eating out on saturday but other than that I have 0 excuses. If I don't drop a bit on Monday I think I might cry.

Hi from Spain and sorry for my English!

I'm following the Louise Parker Method too. 22 days done! I've lost 2Kg in this time, but this days I'm not doing so well, i'm totally out of the circle... today I've tried a little bit of cake i made for my child and i feel so bad for it...but i've done 17600 steps!

I'm going to force myself to be in the circle again...

So I'm on day 4 now, still going strong. Polly, your substitute drink is working a treat. I'm not been tempted by the wine, but it may be because I'm so obsessed about getting the food right.

So far the food has been delicious. I made the chicken, chickpea and chorizo stew which was yummy. Had the chicken chilli salad for lunch (also yum). The portion sizes are small for me, but the snacks in between help you get past that. My one issue is eating 5 times a day - I really think it makes me obsess about food. Is anyone else finding this? I've had good success with Intermittent Fasting in the past, and wondering if I can take some of Louise's principles and apply it to that style of eating instead. I'm thinking of having an 8 hour window of eating a day from 12-8 and eating Louise-style during that time.

Regardless of what I do, I really love Louise's book. I've realised that I have stinking thinking so much. That one tip has helped loads. Also visualising your goal and just getting there the quickest way possible.

Also, weighed myself and 2.7 lbs down in four days. Which I am pleased with.

Hi Mrs H - that's interesting. When I did the LP intensive programme, my trainer slightly disagreed with the 5 times a day aspect of the food plan. He said it was better - if possible - to go for slightly longer stretches between eating to "switch on the fat burning tap" or something.

So what worked for me was cutting out the morning snack most days. If I was super hungry or eating dinner later because of training session, I had it then. It worked pretty well for me. Good luck!

Morning Leaners. Into week five for me.

In terms of forming new habits i have also realised how carb heavy my meals were. I am eating much more regularly - would often skip lunch at weekends and then be hungry and stuff my face while cooking supper with bits of cheese etc. I never feel hungry on this plan ( and don't eat a lot if snacks as I just feel full). I do spend so much time more time chopping and cooking - husband is very supportive but doesn't really get it and I'm doing most of the meal planing and prep. Planning is key - when I haven't prepared I'm not tempted to eat off the plan but have ended up eating a couple of oat cakes and an apple as a main meal which is not great.

I've been measuring myself on Fridays and I have lost 3.5 inches off my waist and 6 inches off my stomach!

Next week I am planning to incorporate more walking into my working day. Have a new rucksack and am ready to go.

Morning all! So I have lost 1lb from the week before last (so put a bit on and then lost it). Its everso slowly creeping off so going in the right direction, but also a bit frustrating. I have been exercising like nobody's business for the last few days and whilst I am definitely stronger it hadn't drastically affected the scales.

My body is definitely changing shape - I struggled to get dressed this morning because my work trousers are all way too big and hanging off me. I am glad I have a selection of old bras because I think I am down about 2 cup sizes and my normal bras are now gaping horribly.

My goal of being 11stones in time for my holiday is now unrealistic so I'm going to set some new targets.

• Another 1lb before I go (9 days)
• Under 11 stones by mid April (wedding to go to)
• Maintain maintain maintain!

3.75 lb down this week ( HELLO new accurate electronic scales ). Am under 12 st now. Onward.

Tomato - the direction is positive. Maybe you're converting fat into heavier muscle? If your clothes are too big it sounds really positive - I can really recommend measuring yourself as it sounds as though you're getting a lot smaller but not necessarily showing on the scales?

Hi Leaners

Tomato - I never lose as fast when I am exercising alot. I think it is something about your body retaining water to help repair the muscles. But it's never affected the inches lost...

Polly - your inches lost are amazing! Very impressive.

Well, I did what I planned and have done an eight hour eating window since Thursday. I've been eating Louise food during that window. I'm down 5 lbs since last Monday, although I recognise a lot of the initial weight loss is water. I'll stick with it this week and let you know how it goes. I even had a couple of drinks over the weekend, but still way less than I usually have.

By the way, I cooked the lamb cutlets for the family last night for dinner and they loved it. I'm really enjoying the recipes.

Here's to another good week in the circle.

Thanks both. I definitely feel that a difference is being made - I'm being impatient! I do cheat on the odd occasion so am sure that slows the weightloss down.

MrsH I agree that lots of the recipes are delicious. I have a batch of the chorizo chicken and chickpea stew to work through, and also lots of bolognaise in the freezer which is really easy stuffed in a pepper (and microwave friendly for a v quick and easy meal).

hi everyone
I just started this method, having downloaded both the books and app.
I just wanted to ask what you eat for lunch, particularly if you work and take your own lunch?

I am having the mango and strawberry smoothie everyday for breakfast, which is delicious and filling, but mine looks a more pink colour than Louise's yellow on the pics!

I have been taking in salads (which I make up the night before) or I make a batch of soup and take in a portion at a time. We have a small kitchen at work with a microwave for heating things up which helps. I quite regularly have the tricolor salad which is ridiculously easy.

I also bring in nuts and an apple for snacking, and have a stash of oatcakes and nut butter.

Hope that helps!

Hello all, sorry for being awol, have been struggling at bit recently. Just in time for my weekend away to sabotage all my efforts as well!

Well, today is a new day and I'm determined to snap out of it. I have been to the gym and have had my Bircher for breakfast; lunch is fritatta and salad with balsamic vinigarette and snack is some almonds. Dinner I plan to have red Thai prawn curry with loads of veg, no rice.

I've been too scared to weigh myself but I have definitely lost an inch off my waist.

It's great to hear all your losses/successes, I'm finding reafing your posts very motivating. I didn't want to just disappear from this thread...

Hey Mrs D - welcome back!

Justbelieve - I also do salads, often with bean and feta, or leftovers - today I have a lentil shepherds pie with cauliflower mash. I wish I liked soup more! Always get bored half way through a bowlful. I sometimes buy lunch too if I've not been so organised - m and s have some great new salads. I have a bag of almonds on my desk to snack on and some fruit.

Had to send husband on an emergency lime run to the shop last night - my mineral water and lime is turning into as much of an end of the day habit as a glass of wine! Much healthier tho

If it's any help - when I did the LP clinic programme, the nutritionist gave me a list of shop-bought lunch options and these are the ones I usually go for.

Pret
Tuna Nicoise (no dressing)
No bread Crayfish and Avocado

Itsu
Low carb tuna salad
Chicken and avocado low carb
Poached Salmon low carb

Eat
Omega Booster Salmon Box
Super green feta side salad (no dressing)

HTH!

Thanks so much for the responses, I am in Australia, so alas don't have access to the mentioned places to eat.
I feel the same way about soup, I just know by day 3 I will be bored and end up buying a sandwich. I too love mineral water with lime and a splash of bitters, it is keeping away the desire for wine!
This is day three for me, but I really like the whole concept behind it, and not having to weigh myself weekly which is what has put me off health kicks like this before.

So I'm still going strong with my modified Louise method. I am combining it with intermittent fasting. So my first meal is lunch. Then I have a snack and dinner. Lots of water as well.

So I've been doing this now for 11 days. And this morning I was 8.3lbs down! I can't believe it. I've done much harder diets and not lost that much. I am finding it relatively easy, mostly because I think the food is so yummy you don't feel deprived.

I have stopped my nightly gin and tonic habit with the mineral waters and bitters trick as well. Oh, and I haven't really exercised because I'm got a grade 2 tear in my calf from skiing two weeks ago.

So it does work. I think portion size is key though. Good luck ladies!!

Hi all
Weigh in day and I'm up 1lb whichnis hardly surprising because I've been really hormonal, and then two play dates yesterday which involved cake.

I get really bad cravings for chocolate when I am due on - nothing healthy even touches the sides. Does anyone have any tips?

Am off on wednesday for my little holiday and taking a break from LP too. I'm sure I will be up a couple of lb when I return but will just have to step back in the circle again!

Morning Leaners. Weigh in day here too and have lost 2.25lb. Have just started period so am pleased with that given pmt bloat. I had a couple of moments where I could so easily have had a glass of wine this weekend but managed to stay in the circle - wine is so much more tempting to me than food.

Anyway i can't believe I'm on week six and feel really pleased I have stuck to it. Am going to continue on the reducing plan as I still have So Much weight to lose. I reckon another stone and a half.

Tomato - have also been craving sweet stuff and have been nibbling on dates which are probably full of sugar but at least not chocolate - I am not the sort of person who can just eat a couple of squares. Hope you have a fantastic holiday!

mrsH that's amazing weight loss! The fast thing seems to be working for you.

Anyone got any exciting non-Louise meals to share? I've been eating a lot of curries and roasted fish and it's tasty but need inspiration.

Is it just me still here on this thread? Weigh in day today and a totally disappointing half a pound lost. Thank goodness for my electronic scales or would not have been able to see it!

However will not be downcast as I am still measuring myself and can see that I am losing around half an inch now in most areas a week. Was able to get into a pair of trousers this weekend that I haven't worn for around nine months.

We've had a family birthday this week and so I had a (tiny) piece of cake and a glass of wine - do wonder if that's been enough to slow me down. I have also been drinking a few too many cappuccinos this week so going to limit myself back to one a day for now. Still want to lose another stone and at the rate of half a pound a week it'll take me until September!

I know Tomato is on hols - anyone else still around and following the plan?

Hi polly - I'm here and am about to restart the transform phase. I need to get this week out of the way, as I'm travelling with work so not quite the start I want.
Great that you got into the trousers - a fab feeling, so focus on that not the weight loss. have a good week!

This book is kindle deal of the day today. I've just read through it and it sounds good. What are my store cupboard essentials I need to get from Aldi today? Oat bran and Greek yoghurt sound essential.

Good luck!

My LP "essentials"
Vanilla paste/extract
Houmous
Ryvita/Finn Crisp
Cottage Cheese
Lean cold cuts (Parma ham, Bresaola)