Any Louise Parker Lean for Life fans?

[Katrinawaves]

I’ve just dug out my old Lean for Life books and decided time to get back on the wagon. I followed her plan 2 years ago and lost about 3 stone very quickly and managed to keep it off without too much difficulty until a change in lifestyle (lots more travel for work) combined with a really stressful and shitty year has led to me abandoning her principles and putting on 2 stone.

But I know I feel good using her ways of eating and exercising more, I know it works relatively quickly for me and I enjoy her recipes. I also need badly to conquer the stressors and regain fitness levels so am going to start again. 2 weeks before Christmas may sound insane but as she says there is never a good time to start so why wait. Also I’m off work for 3 weeks from Tuesday of next week so have plenty of time to get some good habits imbedded before I need to get back to long commutes and frequent overseas travel.

So anyone else in - either to do the plan or just to read my posts and give me some encouragement along the way?

Today was more of a prep day as I didn’t really eat any of her meals though I wasn’t too far off her plan.

Brunch of scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast with bacon and a cup of tea

Snack americano coffee with milk

Dinner sausage casserole with beans

Lots of mineral water

I also ran (very slowly) for 2 miles this morning.

Sounds like a great side effect @TeachesOfPeaches!

I am so hungry today and I got up to 'pay my rent' and then saw how icy it was and went back to bed. So I haven't exercised and I am so hungry - that doesn't seem right to me!!

Hi everyone,

How are you all doing?

I made the power quiona porridge for breakfast. It is nice but I think for me it will be a one off and not a regular breakfast.

I also made the artichoke and avacado dip - that is nice but if you are going to make any dips - the roasted aubrigene is my favourite.

I braved the cold this morning and did a spin class. That was good.
After yesterday - today was an inner circle day x

I had a rubbish few days at weekend (chinese takeway, dominos pizza) but I've managed to keep the weight off.
I've woken up with a spring in my step this morning though! Had a really good run last night & although I am behind on my half marathon training, I'm not stressing. I feel like I am really enjoying the running & reaping massive benefits mentally from it -sleeps much better, helping stress after work etc. Having the race booked is what is making me get out there on nights that I really just want to hibernate.

This morning I had some porridge with oat milk, and a spoonful of stewed cinnamon apples (no sugar) that I prepped at start of the week.
For a snack - toasted wholemeal pitta with hummus
Lunch - Salad with spicy chicken
PM Snack - I did the cinnamon tortillas with choc dip from 3rd book.
Dinner - Chicken curry with a bit of rice, can save the leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Ive been struggling getting up in the mornings for weeks now, no matter how early I went to bed but it felt like no problem at all today. I've also been drinking loads of water. Is this that 'new year, new me' feeling - kicking in several weeks after everyone else?

Sounds like it @lunarpossum

I have to hold my hands up and say that food and fitness have both been poor for me for the last 10 days. I’m travelling for work at the moment in the US and it’s just been hard to prioritise it. I am however trying to use the time to get on top of my stress levels and have been reading some books about relaxation and reframing technique which I hope are going to help me get my sleep and anxiety levels under control. So am at least working on one of the pillars and when I get back to the UK on Saturday I will try and get back on the other 3 quickly.

Hello @lunarpossum and @katrinawaves!!

What part of the US are you in? When I was in NJ during the summer I thought the food was really good. I went there with really low expectations of what the food was going to be like and I was completely wrong.

LP - When is your half marathon?

I think there is always going to be an up and downness to this sort of thing.
I really want to eat Dominos and Chinese now!!

I’m in LA so theoretically should be dead easy to eat healthily but all my meals are being provided as part of the meetings I’m going to and they’ve all been delicious but not light 😀

I think when you are abroad from work really you just have to relax and go with the flow and enjoy!!

So I have lost another pound since I last weighed in. 5lbs in three weeks is good. I got on the scales because I was feeling like I was the same and wondered if my feeling was right or not. It wasn't!

@myohmywhatawonderfulday end of March!

@lunarpossum - what a brilliant goal!!

Back home and trying to get back on the wagon. I have put on weight whilst away so now have 20lb to lose to get back to a normal BMI and more to be as slim as I’d like

I’d planned to do a Pilates class at lunchtime but had forgotten I had a lunch meeting in a restaurant. So not only did I not get my exercise I also didn’t have my planned healthy lunch! I think the day was nonetheless not too bad.

B- poached egg on toast
S - nuts and dried fruit
L - gnocchi in tomato and mozzarella sauce
D - home made mushroom soup with one piece wholemeal toast
S - crispbread with low fat cream cheese and an apple

I also managed 8,500 steps today. So not a perfect day but mostly inside the circle.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Hello, sounds like a good transition back..you have only just got back so be kind.

I had a few steps out the circle on Saturday and Sunday. I went out for dinner both days and I don't really know why I don't have self control in those situations....However I got back in the circle on Monday and so far so good today. So that is sooner than other times.

Well done for getting back into the circle effortlessly @myohwhatawonderfulday

I’ve had a good day today

B- scrambled egg on toast
S - Apple and almonds
L - mushroom soup and toast
S - banana and chocolate smoothie
D turkey and apple meatballs and veg

I also did a yoga class.

I’ve been trying to cut down on caffeine too and I only had one cup of tea and one Diet Coke today. Will try and wean myself down to completely caffeine free by beginning of next week.

Yesterday wasn’t terrible in standard diet terms but not within the LP inner circle. I had to go to Paris for work for the day and didn’t have much access to good choices.

I had a croissant with ham and cheese for breakfast, ham salad for lunch and a ham and cheese baguette for dinner. I also had an apple and some nuts and seeds and a crispbread with cream cheese as snacks.

Today was a better day

B poached egg on toast
L 3/4 of a sandwich and some fruit salad (catered lunch at meeting)
D chorizo and manchego frittata

Hello,

That sounds very good for a travel day.
I am keeping on - this week I have made a real effort to drink more water and I am feeling like I am losing weight now. My trousers are starting to feel looser and my stomach is looking smaller.
Next week I am going to try and add in some more steps to get to 12,000 a day.
I am still loving the food.
B. Ricotta and Greek yogurt with blue berries.
L. Veg Soup and rice cakes with dip.
S. A few more rice cakes and dip.
D. Salmon with pesto, kale, green beans and baby leeks.

Your food today sounds really delicious @myohwhatawonderfulday! Also good news that your trousers are feeling looser

Today I had
B - monkey toast
L - chicken with salads
D - chorizo omelette (again!)

No snacks at all today but I am curled up watching tv with a pot of decaf coffee and some warm milk so that probably counts as one.

I had a sneak peak today and have lost the weight I put on last week. So I have a stone to lose to get back into the normal BMI range but I’d actually like if I can to lose 2 stone in total which would put me in the middle of the range and is normally a good weight for me.

I’m going on holiday in a month and would be good to have dropped a dress size by then.

I will try the monkey toast - I have seen the reciepe. I really like how tasty and simple her food is.

I lost 3 pounds which is quite astonishing to me when I stepped on the scales this morning. So I have lost about 9lbs this month.

My next goal is to be 3lbs (or more) lighter for Feb half term. Because last February half term I was the biggest I have ever been, totally lost and very sad. If I can lose those 3lbs I will be two stone lighter than last year.

In case that is confusing - last Feb I was 11 stone 7
I started L4L at 10 stone 4 (and seemingly stuck as I had been there forever at least 6 months)
One month on and I am 9 stone 10
I want to be 9 stone 7 by two weeks
I want to be 8 stone and that is my audacious goal!
I am 5 foot

I am feeling really happy.

You sound like you are well on your way to those goals @myohmywhatawonderfulday.

I’m 5’7” and I would like to get to 10 stone 7 ideally. I’m currently 12 stone 5 and if I can get to 11 stone 3 I’ll be under 25 BMI

Hi there @katrinawaves, I hope you are having a good week!!

It's all about getting into a groove. I am definately in the groove and not at the start of it. Like with my fitness, I am feel really different in my exercise classes.

But...so far no weight loss this week. Although I don't think I have done anything different from last week I am the same. I am thankful I am the same though!

Well that has been a full on out of the circle weekend. I skipped exercise. I skipped meals. I ate late. I had pizza and a burger within 2 hours of each other and then got home and ate cereal. I drank wine. I ate cake....fingers crossed I can get back in the circle tomorrow!

Hi all,

Somehow I missed this thread, can I join? I'm trying to get back on LP method, but could really use some buddies to stay accountable to!

I’ve been lax for a few weeks too but have just signed up for their 12 week Transform webinar course which starts the week after next. I’m hoping that will give me some accountability and access to some more recipes too.

You have to send your measurements beforehand so will get back into the inner circle from today in the hope my starting stats are less frightening!

Welcome @slowco4ch and good luck

Hi all

Can I join in please? Am starting properly on Monday and just finalising online shop. I’ve found the meal planning quite overwhelming so am planning the same breakfast, snacks and lunches for the first 5 working days. Otherwise there’s so much to plan if changing them every day!

How do you all do your meal planning?

I tend to have a couple of easy breakfasts that I cycle. My go to ones are poached egg on toast or monkey toast.

I then have 3-4 meals per week which I use for lunches and dinners and I swop in the occasional omelette or salad to ring the changes. I change these meals every week so I don’t get bored.

I have about 4 snack options per week. My go to snacks are almonds and apple and oatcakes with peanut butter and pumpkin seeds which I tend to have every week.

Thanks @Katrinawaves. Think I am sorted now and ready to go on Monday.

I’m planning to get up to exercise at 5.30 daily as it’s the only time I can fit it in. Hopefully I will stick to it and feel virtuous all day!