Louise Parker method anyone? I know it's a bit old fashioned now ..

[HardRockOwl]

But I've decided to give it a go

The food is the sort of stuff I like to eat although I'll have to make some substitutes as I'm a vegetarian. But I love Bircher, porridge, all her snacks and salads etc

I'm starting tomorrow and wondered if anyone had some advice regarding the method or stories

Thanks!

I had a good day yesterday and feel well and b positive this morning. Only issue is I have a long-standing night out tonight - there will be much food and booze. But I've decided to enjoy it anyway and start over tomorrow. Thereafter I'll be fully on it.

Well done on 13lbs in 3 weeks! It really does work, doesn't it?

@keiratwiceknightly yes you've got to enjoy yourself haven't you? Just get right back in that circle tomorrow

Oh it definitely works if you just stick to it. And I've not veered from it once - err yet!! I'm going out for lunch today I think with my son but I've looked at the menu and instead of my usual beer battered halloumi with chips, I'll have the 'balance bowl' with halloumi - which is basically lots of salad with grilled halloumi. And that's completely on plan.

Morning all! Hope you’re doing well. @HardRockOwl well done on your 13lb: amazing!

I have done a Boxfit class this morning so feeling good. Just trying not to snack now I’m at my desk!

Food for today is the same as yesterday apart from dinner which is Sophie’s sausages and smashing beans- one of my favourites! Would it be terrible to add a little gravy do you think?

@Daffodillove I have gravy and still losing (4lbs so far this week!)

As my friend said - you didn't get fat on too much gravy  (this also applies to fruit / veg / even tomato ketchup IMO)

On another note I have realised why I have to be all or nothing, not a single step outside the circle as LITERALLY EVERY DAY since I've started this I've been offered a biscuit / cake / packet of crisps / glass of wine... in the past I'd have accepted them as "just this once" thinking it was a rare event. Turns out it's not

Embarrassingly last night I had a dream that I mindlessly ate a chocolate digestive then felt TERRIBLE guilt at myself!

Another day where I just don't fancy anything for dinner!

Today's food times..

Berry + peanut butter oat smoothie

Yogurt + strawberries

Salad bowl with halloumi

Mixed nuts + watermelon

And now I'm not hungry for my dinner

Tomorrow's menu plan:

B: usual yoghurt, nuts, seeds, blueberries
S: oatcakes with PNB and pumpkin seeds
L: Low GI roll with ham and salad
S: strawberry smoothie
D: ham & mushroom omlette

Looks like a great menu @NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy

That looks lovely @NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy: I must try the strawberry smoothie as I’m currently addicted to the choc cherry one!

Feeling pleased as I just went to an event and managed to resist the free stroopwaffles 😇

Back now and having puy lentil and halloumi salad again: a bit boring having the same thing every day but it is so nice to have it made in advance!

Any lunch ideas anyone would recommend for next week?

Hope everyone is doing well!

@Daffodillove I'm in a bit of a rut with lunches I have to say. I tend to go for ..

Wholemeal roll with plant kitchen bacon + salad

Low carb wrap with salad + bbq pieces

Feta + watermelon salad

Food times today ..

Orange + strawberry bircher

Apple + peanut butter

Low carb wrap with plant kitchen bbq pieces, salad + hummus

Ryvita with light cream cheese + kiwi + melon

Ball of light mozzarella, beef tomato

Got REALLY hungry today. I didn't go off plan though but it was very hard. Does anyone have any advice on coping with hunger on this plan?

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy oh he had the odd hungrier day. All I do is increase portion sizes of everything - so basically, eat to your hunger. If you usually have 4 oatcakes with peanut butter, have 4 and add in some fruit. That kind of thing

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy I find I mainly snack from boredom or habit ☹️ but if I've had my snack and am still feeling hungry a coffee often helps.

I had a bit of a snack attack last night (Easter eggs everywhere here) , bit disappointed with myself given it was only day 3 but I'm back in the circle today.

B Bircher with cherries
S raspberries and almonds
L prawn salad
S ham and half an orange
D more prawn salad

@Grytviken just step right back in and put it behind you. I only haven't stepped out yet because it's just pointless when I'll have completed 4 weeks next week. Oh and the not inconsiderable matter of me being unable to just have one biscuit or one dessert etc. I don't think of myself as a binge eater because I'm not really but I'm very capable of basically stuffing my face all day long on delicious snacks

I went for lunch yesterday and just had a salad bowl with halloumi but for fun I totted up what I'd usually eat , calorie wise.

2,500 calories. Astonishing!

Thank you for your support @HardRockOwl and @Grytviken I'm having a milky decaff tea which is helping.

Ive realise that I definitely eat my feelings and I've been tired and stressed today so it's given me a false hunger I think? I need to re-train myself to find alternative soothers... hot bath is lovely if at home but a bit tricky at 5pm in the office! I'll definitely try the coffee tip thank you 🙏

@HardRockOwl your all-or-nothing approach for 4 weeks now is inspirational to me as I too couldn't stop if I had just one snack. I'd be ok for a couple of hours but then I'd get a bad case of the "Fuck Its"

Well My night out last night got binned off by other people which was a bit disappointing. However it did mean a very sensible dinner of Savoy eggs, so all was not lost!

Today I have had
B Greek yoghurt and fresh pineapple
L nut butter oatcakes plus grapes
D salmon and salad with 3 baby potatoes
Snacks apple and cheese, strawberries and yoghurt.

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy I often think I eat my feelings too. I also shop them 😂 The reality is, I just like junk food probably

No idea how I've managed to do nearly 4 weeks. Probably the fact that I just can't bear the thought of another re- start. Just can't. It's actually easier to just battle through the slightly tougher days

@keiratwiceknightly that looks like a delicious menu.

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy I sympathise with the hunger: when I did this a couple of years ago I found that switching the snacks really helped. I loved the cherries and Parmesan but it left me hungry so this time I’ve switched to oatcakes and it’s so much more filling. I eat my feelings too and have been doing quite a bit of work recently to find and address the causes which has started to reduce my cravings!

@keiratwiceknightly sorry to hear about your night out but I guess at least it was easier to stay in the circle!

First big challenge for me tomorrow as we have a picnic with friends. Planning to take a lovely smoked salmon frittata and not snack on the crisps and choc for the kids!

Lost 1.5lb after 3 days which is a good start! Looking back at my records in the app I lost 5lbs in the first week last time so am hoping for the same again.

Have a lovely day everyone!

@Grytviken dont beat yourself up about snacking. In the grand scheme of a new lifestyle one evening is nothing. Back in the circle today!

I had a bit of a wobble yesterday due to getting overly tired. My out of circle moments included a Skinny crunch snack bar & some chicken breast pieces. I just had that insatiable hungry-grumbly feeling! Otherwise I stayed on plan.
I very much like salmon tarting for breakfast, very filling. I am planning a pancake with berries today.
I generally have a bowl of my “ice cream” every night. It produces a big bowl, but the calories are negligible - scoop of whey powder & 125ml almond milk, but very filling.

Morning - weighed myself this morning and I've lost 4lbs since Tuesday so that's really motivated me to keep going! This diet/way of eating really does work if you stick to it; the issue is keeping going when it gets a bit boring after a few weeks. I'm determined to get to 6 weeks (one chunk of time a/c to LP) this time; hoping for 18-20lbs in total... we will see. With luck, I'll dip below 12st tomorrow for the first time this year (12st exactly this morning).

Food today
B oat bran porridge
L chicken wrapped in prosciutto with tomato salad
D unsure, maybe an omelette?
Snacks apple and almonds, nut butter oatcakes

Moanranger- sounds like you did all right for a wobble - esp the chicken pieces. I have a theory that if it's protein or fat, and not too much of it, it's probably a decent choice - my go to is a baby bel.

Moanranger I had those blueberry pancakes this morning. They were delicious and I had to recheck that the recipe really is for one portion - it was huge!

Well done on that loss keiratwiceknightly. Like you, I am at about the 12 stone mark. I dipped just below last week, put a bit back on at the weekend (strayed too far from the circle) and am slowly shedding it again. However I have lost another inch from my waist (2 in off now), so I think this woe reduces bloat. I am back in my jeans from last year, which is a NSV.

Daffodillove oatcakes and cashew nut butter are my saviour, really fill me up!

Afternoon all,

God it's chilly today!

Food times so far ..

Smoothie made with oat milk, oat bran , blueberries , raspberries, vanilla paste

Naval orange + 2 tablespoons mixed nuts

Low carb wrap with feta, tomato + hummus

Smoothie made with yogurt, 1/2 banana, peanut butter, oat milk and strawberries

Not sure about dinner yet! I always get a bit stuck when it comes to dinner