Louise Parker Method

[ElvenDreamer]

Hi, anyone following the Louise Parker Lean for Life method? I'm just starting (using her books) and could do with a group to swap thoughts with!

Hi and sorry for the long absence... i spend the weekend with friends and i really enjoyed it. I didnt manage the steps because the weather was snowy windy and rainy at the same time, but i did sports on friday and today and did manage to eat well.

@AmericanMom1776 great thinking with the pain au chocolat! it's the small steps that count. I ate a piece of dark chocolat yesterday because i knew i could stop myself from eating a whole bar, enjoyed it and took on with my day.
i will weigh myself tomorrow and i'm excited....

How are you doing, @ElvenDreamer?

Sooo I did weigh in today and I’ve lost maybe 2 pounds BUT, I still feel lighter, and I’ve also noticed that my belly fat area - the area I was hoping to get rid of - is slimmer and not as poochy. I will count this as success! I still have 2 weeks to go in Transform, and far from being discouraged I feel more than ever that I will feel and look better after this.

@GloryLory your good record on 10k steps is helping to encourage me to get them in! Took a walk to the park with my daughter yesterday instead of sitting on the couch which is what I really wanted to do!

Upps, i didnt realize we are already on page 2! Nice!

@AmericanMom1776 that sounds lovely and i am noticing the same - feeling lighter, like the food, being in a good more and i love "I feel more than ever that I will feel and look better after this"! Exactly what i was thinking today!

The other pillars:

• lemon juice in the morning - most days, still dont love it, but its okay
• morning routine - well, sometimes, sometimes just living the good life before semester starts again
• sports - yes
• 10 k steps - yes, most days
• 5 meals a day - YES :D
• bed time routine - yes, improved that one
• health appointments - yes, all done this month
• decluttering your home - yes, all done in week 1
• sleep - most days yes
• 3 coffees a day max,- yes, was no problem anyway

whats missing....

• digital detox - big NO.... i'm living alone and my phone is nearly my only contact to everybody... somedays im seeing my boyfriend, but he has a lot of work these days so we write a lot and i cant/ dont want to drop my phone....
• pleasure pops - i havent been creative on this one. fragrance candles, beautifully served food, flowers, brain napping to nice sounds videos as asmr, walk in the sun - what else can i do in lockdown?

Hi folks, sorry for silence. We've hit the School holidays in the UK now so kids home all the time and it's a bit hectic! Mostly managing to eat on method still and finding it really interesting what I actually don't miss at all, pasta for example, I didn't feel even a slight pang as I dished up a spaghetti lentil and vegetable affair yesterday with no spaghetti on mine. I think one of the things I struggle with most is intentional snacks, I definitely don't think I've got that right and still find myself 'grazing' from the fridge without even realising I'm doing it. Got back doing my exercise apps for core strengthening etc alongside daily walking so that feels good. Running once a week with my daughter and a once a week class should help prevent me from falling too far off the exercise wagon in any case, I hope! Not lost any more weight after my initial bit but it is definitely staying stable so I am celebrating that be cause I don't want to end up yo yoing and then when I'm ready will have another 6 week push to try and lose the last few pounds I think.

hi @ElvenDreamer

maybe you can write down what you have already in your fridge and how to make it a snack before getting hungry? or doing a list of alle the snacks you like and pick something from that list?
I quickly check the fridge before i go shopping so that is prepped, too.
I think the best ready-to-eat-options are....:

• low GI fruit + 20 g of cheese (a babybel works perfect here)
• low GI fruit + 2 tablespoons of nuts (i love her recipes with cinnamon)
• crudites + hummus
• ryvita + hummus
• ryvita + cottage cheese + strawberries
• little pizza margheritas (also a lovely cold snack)

What i do most days is to double the portion of smoothies etc, so i have that one for the next day too.
leftover fruit at the end of the weeks goes well with 100 g of joghurt for a snack.

my last 2 days went well. I only lost 500 g last week which isnt what i expected but okay...
Still doing over 10 k steps per day. Missed sports yesterday because i overslept, got vaccined, hang out with my family too long.
Today i did sport, 11 k steps and ate very nice on the method, too.

reading chapter "week 5" now :)
Hope you are doing good, too! And i wanted to say thank you for alle the support. It really helps me to swap ideas with you.

Ooh I like the sound of cottage cheese on a ryvita with strawberries, I may have to try that. I had a really nice breakfast yesterday with an egg and a rasher of bacon on a bed of baby spinach (raw, I just let it wilt under the egg) and lots of black pepper.
I've been wondering about the steps and exercise...do you both take it to mean minimum 10k steps by whatever means, or does it mean 10k steps on top of whatever exercise? Eg on a Tue when I do my HITclass I rack up around 5k steps, should I then do 10k steps haswell? (Not sure if I explained that well 🤣)

Hi guys.

you are quite silent atm, i hope you are doing okay.

Regarding steps and exercise i wondered, too. In one of her books she recommends not to walk all the steps, but to become an active person in general. She tells a story of an actress she knows who likes to clean her house herself for example. She also says that she herself knows roughly what to do for the steps, but that doesnt encourage her to so more housework.
I dont know if the steps from exercising count too, but logically i would guess so....
For me it doesnt make any difference to be true. I dont have a house to clean, but a small apartment. If i dont go for a walk, my daily steps will be around 100 :D
I try to get the 10 k steps on top of my exercise.

This week went well, i have lost -0,5 kg as I noticed today. I seem to get in the groove because this week wasn't challenging for me, hunger was moderate, i liked the meals and walks.
On sunday, one day before entering week 6, i will have my first "worth-it" - lunch with my family. I'm going to bake strawberry cake and i will have a slice of this and maybe a glass of sparkling wine. Meal will be on the Method.

@GloryLory you sound like you are doing so well! I have to say I've been not doing great with some bits! I have been keeping being generally more active though which I'm pleased about, I'd say I'm averaging 12k steps a day, running 3k once (sometimes twice) a week, my exercise class once a week and then trying to do a short exercise app on the inbetween days. I'm enjoying the feeling of being more active and it's definitely helping keep my weight stable, I do need to bite the bullet and do another 6 week push though. Things I struggle with: portion sizes, I think you have to tweak the method for you as she says, as everyone is different sizes and uses different intensity of exercise. (I am quite tall.) Some days I plate too much, other days it's clearly not enough as I'm starving 30 mins later. I guess it's a learning curve. May try always plating little less, but then having more guilt free if I feel I need it.

Yeah i did well last week, but i'm wobbling atm... yesterday i overslept, missed sports, had 2 slices of cake and 2 glasses of sparkling wine but enjoyed it.
Semester is going to start next week and I'm not where i want to be so maybe i will do 2-3 weeks more. I'm feeling anxious how to do studying, sports and manage to eat well because i know this was the hardest part for me last year.
I like your idea with the learning curve and I will see it as such and try to stay positive.

Weather is bad all week long, i have no idea how to get my steps...

Hey again,

little update:
I got the steps so far due to many reasons, altough the weather is unfriendly. Got the exercise, too, I'm feeling quite good.

I try to manage my fear with some good planning for nxt week - will meal prep on the weekend, plan in brain napping and some sports and this time really try to make it work.

How are you two?

Hi, sorry I've been a bit rubbish posting in the last week. Food wise I've had a terrible few days, alot outside the circle, trying not to get bogged down in the 'stinking thinking' and start again. Think I will do another full 6 week cycle and try to lose the last few pounds. Technically I should jump straight in to that tomorrow I guess! I have made some good meals on method though, I used the lean for life cook book and made the Turkey (although I used chicken) leek and bacon pie where the topping was cauliflower and parsnip so alot of veg in that and it was really tasty and filling, so that seems a good one to use again. I also need to put in some prep, more things opening up a bit in the UK now so kids activities all resuming from next week meaning I'll be doing a lot more dashing about in the car and have less time to exercise etc so I need to be super careful.

I think in this uncertain times it's normal to fall back into old habits quickly and we need to talk to us as we would to a good friend. Take your time before you start again into transform so that you are ready and prepped and can enjoy it instead of being stressed out from it. Dont start stinking thinking again - you've already changed your habits for good, no need to let it go for days or weeks now. Just YouTurn!

If there's a bit opening in the UK maybe you will have it easier to get more active again with the kids, maybe you can walk them somewhere or so...?
When i struggled so heavy in week 3 i focused on really cooking things i like and which i knew were filling enough, too.
The Pizza chicken traybake from the 6 weeks book could be something for your whole family, so you dont have to cook twice.

I havn't made the turkey pie yet but i also found it interesting, maybe i will try it this week and freeze it for the next week.

I know you got it

Well I started with a pretty good day yesterday, egg and bacon on a bed of spinach for breakfast, chicken and sweet potato thai curry plus green veg for lunch, a spring onion tart and salad for tea. Morning snack was yogurt and fruit, afternoon just had a cereal bar because it was easy. My trouble came in the evening, I just ended up hungry and then picked at everything in sight. Not sure if maybe I need to eat more at evening meal, or if I actually need a planned snack for the evening as this is a fairly common occurrence.
Going in to next few weeks I have a menu plan where I plan 3 weeks at a time which really helps me. Family will eat the same meals as me, I do not believe in making my life even harder with separate meals! I either cook on method with a bit of extra rice or potatoes etc for the others, or if I'm not in one of the LP books I just dont serve myself whichever element it is I shouldn't have, or I have a token tiny bit of it.
I need to work harder on being more organised and focused un all aspects of life though. Discovering when life has got on top of me, house is a tip, am behind on my to do list etc then that's when I also start to eat more haphazardly.

Hey, i am actually happy because i weighed myself and it was 59,7 kg :) yeah! maybe on more kg to go. jeans are fitting again and I ordered myself a nice handbag as a non-edible reward.

@ElvenDreamer
"I need to work harder on being more organised and focused un all aspects of life though. "
Same for me, thats why I will prep tomorrow so the weeks starts off with little fuss. I think that's a good idea. As Louise says we have to make it work for ourselfes no matter what.
Nice that your family eats the same meals!

@AmericanMom1776 How are you doing?

I'm disappointed to see no one but me is writing again.. anyway my first week was okay, I didnt gain weight, I did sport, i did the steps but i'm constantly whobbling with my eating. i'm hungry after all the things i am forbidding myself because i just dont want to gain all the weight again. i ate 2 burgers with fries and icecream yesterday and to be honest i could eat the same right now.
I'm focussing on all the other pillars and i will work out today, too. But i cant live like that forever :D Craving just everything atm - but if i increase my portions, i wont loose another pound and that's exactly what i want.

I will prep a lot for next week because it is going to be challenging. Would like to hear from you

Hi @GloryLory, sorry, I've been a but rubbish at posting. I've been wobbling a lot with eating too, some things I find easy to avoid, other things a lot more of a issue! I am eating most meals on plan, it is the snacks I'm lazy with. I am consistently moving well though, averaging around 12k steps a day so quite pleased with that. Managing a 5k run once a week too and an exercise class. Really trying to try and plan my weeks a bit better to feel calmer, but not sure I've got the hang of that yet!

So I found a great little recipe, cheese and bacon muffins and I swapped the plain flour for wholemeal to bring it 'on method'. They were tasty, great for a grab a speedy snack (once made obviously 🤣) or as part of a light lunch.

Did i read "cheese and bacon muffins"? Sounds lovely, maybe you can share the recipe?
I'm doing better atm, the binge eating WE has paid off in that way :D i'm motivated, getting up earlier to walk my steps in, doing sports, eating meals and snacks on the ethod. weight is constant, which is okay I think. It still needs planning of course, but that's okay.

What's your problem with the snacks? I find these almost more delicious than the lunches... Maybe you can batch roasted nuts, crottage cheese spread for bread or mini oatmeals or something like this?
A friend of mine is doing LPM too now which i love because we are keeping each other accountable.

That's brilliant you have a friend to keep you accountable @GloryLory. I dont know anyone else doing it and my husband doesn't really understand why I'm bothering which doesn't help me much! I think the reason I struggle with snacks is I can't actually be bothered to make them, I just want something quick and easy to grab, I'm not really a big fan of cooking and preparing food full stop so it does all feel like too much some days in that regard.
Yes I did mention cheese and bacon muffins, so good! Basically 175g flour (recipe said plain, I used wholemeal) tsp baking powder, salt and pepper, mixed up with 1tsp mustard, 2 eggs, 85g butter and 200ml milk. Mix in 50g mature cheddar in small chunks, tbsp chopped parsley and 4 rashers of streaky bacon (fried until crisp and cut into pieces) and then cook in greased muffin tin for 25mins or until golden and risen.

Hi and thanks for this lovely recipe, will try it after finishing all my other snacks.
I am quite the opposite of you regarding snacks... i love them and i'm stacking them, thats why i try to finish them first before i make new ones.
Grab and go combos are nuts and fruit, cheese sticks and fruit, pitas and hummus... maybe you can try these? or batch up the smoothies one time, i always make 2-3 and keep them in the fridge.

I really enjoyed this week i have to say! The food was brilliant, i was fit and healthy, did all my sports and even more of the steps. my unhealthy link to food as a reward and to fill my emotional needs is gone - i could even turn down some food i usually liked just because i wasnt hungry. BUT there was a big step out of the circle for dunkin donuts and i enjoyed it so much, no regrets! Will do my best in the next days again and im pretty well with it.
still there is this 1 kg i wanted to drop.... have so strenghten the reins a bit i guess. But this wekk i really felt the freedom from dieting and felt free and nice.
Maybe we can do the next 6 weeks transform together to get rid of what is bothering us?

How are you feeling actually?

Yes I'm up for it, a 6 week stint starting together would be really good. I don't think I'm quite at the freedom from dieting feeling as I still feel so much guilt when I binge which happens a fair bit with emotional eating for me. I've been doing a lot of reading into that too though and getting some coping strategies in place. LP method then sits quite well with that as of course the whole point is it's not a diet.

So, starting now? Or next week? Are you planning to follow the 6 week plan in the 6 week method book including her exercises etc or just sort of do your own plan around what you have learned?

Actually I'm going to reply to my own comment to an extent, I'm going to treat this week like prep week @GloryLory and then go for the main 6 starting Monday. I normally shop on a Friday and I've yet to do meal plans for the next couple of weeks so I can really get my head back in the game properly this week with prep and make sure I order the right foods to have in the house to be fully in that inner circle at all times. Snacks, I'm looking at you!

Hi @ElvenDreamer

we can start in Monday, sure, that would have been my idea as well. But I dont think I will do 6 weeks, but i'm in for 3 weeks to drop the last kg :)
I won't do her exercises because i dont like them, i will do Jilian Michaels workout videos as always. But i will stick to the rest of the 6 week programme as close as i can.

I'm excited and glad we are going to do it together! Maybe you can share your meal plan for the next week when you're ready.

Right, I have a meal plan for next week!

Breakfasts I always just have either yogurt with bran and fruit or an egg on some wholegrain toast with rocket or egg and bacon on a bed of spinach.

Lunches I plan to make some red pepper soup to use for a couple of days and have the Coco's Coronation salad thing from the 6 week book on another couple. Probably a whole wheat pitta bread with salad and cottage cheese another day.

Dinners I have lined up Harissa Squash salad (a Jamie Oliver 5 ingredients recipe I love, totally on method) rosemary roast chops, lemon fish with basil/bean mash, spring chicken in a pot (basically a 1 pot dish with chicken and loads of green veg.) Most of these are from 'normal' recipe books so the plan is to omit the potatoes from my portion when they occur or swap them for sweet potato sometimes.

Snacks wise I have made sure I have plenty of fruit, oat cakes, yogurt, nuts etc.

Weekends husband is in charge of food but one day we're having a bbq so that will be easy to just choose a burger or sausage and have with plenty of veg, we always do veggie kebab stick and sweet corn and asparagus. The other day he usually makes a curry so will just not have the rice.

Exercise I'm all set I think. I do an hours class 1 day a week, run 2 or 2 days, 3 days a week I walk all the school runs which is about 5 miles by the time I've done both directions twice in the day. I also have an exercise app I like to do on days with less time.
3 weeks actually sound like a got length of time, last time I burned the weight of in that 1st 3 weeks anyway then just plateaued, weight has been largely stable ever since. Looking forward to losing the last little bit and continuing the feeling livelier and healthier journey!

We've got this 💪

Hey, that sounds lovely! I will prep on saturday, but usually i only plan for 2-3 days because my fridge is quite small and i dont like to eat the same meals 4 times in a row. I will share it with you if you want :)
I tried some low calories, quite on the method meals this week but i really get the feeling that those wholesome foods made from real food really do me a favour - i feel better, altough the scale is stable.

Your plateau could come from things like burgers and curry i think.. i dont know how strict you are, but your body can use fat too. After such celebrations it ususally takes 2-3 days to get back in the calorie burning zone which means after 42 days you only completed the half of it... you know what i mean? I dont want to upset you im just guessing...

Atlough i'm studying again i can keep up my routines mostly which i like. but this week i felt a bit moody, needed more sleep and i'm really wondering how long i can keep it all up...

Good night :)