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!

@chloechloe sorry! I just basically repeated you!

@GoodNutButters I doubt you rival me on the nut butter collection

I have ..

GOOD cashew nut, almond, several types of peanut, and one jar of delicious Skippy which alas, cannot be allowed

No worries @HardRockOwl , there were a few bits I missed out!

On the subject of nut butters - does anybody else find that the GOOD ones separate and become impossible to spread - you have to choose between the rock hard bits and oil. Mixing it back together is so difficult. This doesn’t happen with the junk ones which obviously have some nasty ingredient which keeps them lovely and spreadable (looking at you, Skippy).

@HardRockOwl I don't have cashew yet but I do have hazelnut! I tried the almond for the first time on an oatcake and it's my least favourite so far, which surprised me. I might need some kind of sweetener with it... so far I think there's a reason that peanut is the most famous of the nut butters. It just has a certain je ne sais quoi

To all newbies, there is a PDF cookbook that you can download. It can get you started. Rules are set out at the beginning. Topaz posted the link on page 9 of this thread.

It’s so lovely to see a proper Tribe here!

I'm trying to focus on the positive changes I’m making - loads more fruit and veg in my diet, food planned and prepared way more often, I feel like my mood is more balanced. I do have to wonder though if Louise herself has ever met a nurse… I was standing (!) at the nurses station yesterday at almost 3pm eating chocolates some kind patient had gifted to us and having a little chuckle inside. I hadn’t eaten anything all day, I was starving, swamped by work: the idea that I could sit down with a nice plate and a napkin to celebrate my meal is so just far removed from reality some days! Focusing on the positives though, when I actually got a break, I ate my lovely prepared salad (out of Tupperware….!) and was only interrupted by work problems twice 😆

I haven’t lost much weight, but I’m exercising, getting my steps in, and slowly changing my eating habits. Babysteps.

Menu plan for today:

B: usual Greek yoghurt, nuts, berries, seeds

S: Ryvita with ricotta

L: low GI roll with ham and cheese and salad

S: strawberries and yoghurt

D: homemade chicken nuggets and coleslaw

Thinking of having a corn on the cob with dinner but seems it may be off plan - does anyone know?

I was just wondering if some pretty Tupperware would count.

@Sutra you mean you didn't lay the work station, get out your finest cutlery and 'eat beautifully?!' 😅

That's good about feeling more balanced etc. I'd probably agree with that. I think the plan regulates your hunger

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy menu looks great. You're right, I've not seen a corn on the cob 🌽 mentioned anywhere so I'll assume it's a bit like potatoes - as it's starchy

Having said that though, I really can't see an issue with a small one as part of your meal... it's a vegetable! I'd certainly have one if I fancied one .. it's no starchier than a banana really

There is sweetcorn (off the cob) in the fish chowder recipe. So maybe corn in the cob is okay?

@Throwawaytoday I'd have missed that as I'm vegetarian! But good spot.

Just worked out that my 6 week plan is up on Monday 9th May! So I've only got another 11 days left.

I just really wanted to lose 21lbs in this 6 weeks but knew that was going to be a very ambitious target. I'm currently 6 lbs away from that as of today.

I think my aim will be 18 lbs off in this 6 week cycle. That would be quite good and I feel it's achievable

I'll then buckle in for another 6 weeks! I intend to read through the books again later on this afternoon because complacency is the biggest vibe killer for sure - and I don't want to get complacent.

We’ll done @HardRockOwl that is an amazing achievement! Whilst it’s less than you (ambitiously) aimed for that’s a dress size surely, which is what the books say is achievable in 6 weeks.

It must be so hard sticking to the plan as a nurse @Sutra you do a fantastic job in such difficult circumstances. I think there is something to be said for nice Tupperware though - the kids have cute Bento boxes for Kindergarten and I’m sure it makes healthy food look more appealing as they usually come back empty.

I had the vanilla

… Eek hit reply by accident…

i had the vanilla oatbran porridge with raspberries and almond butter for breakfast and it was lush. It’s much nicer using oatbran in porridge than Bircher I find, although Bircher is the easy option.

Wow @HardRockOwl that's absolutely amazing! Well done.

I've been reading the LFL book today. Quite inspiring that she has done the method herself after having each of her three children. I was amused by the story of how she met her husband at a baggage reclaim, and so far I've counted twice that she has instructed us not to sleep with other people's husbands. Sound advice, that.

I think she's so right about making your life and surroundings as calm and organised as possible to enable you to eat and feel well, though it's not always easy! In the planning phase now.

On the work lunches problem, I think eating from nicer Tupperware would definitely count as eating more beautifully - but maybe it's also worth investing in some sort of beautiful lunchbox? I'm thinking bento style.

Hi all, you know that feeling when you went so far outside the circle you could no longer see the circle.....

Well, anyways, I'm back inside now, just prepped my strawberry and passion fruit bircher for the morning, looks lovely so I'm feeling revitalised for doing this!

Food times for today ..

Apple bircher

Little fruit platter with 2 light babybels

Quinoa with pomegranate, hummus, salad, plant kitchen bbq pieces

Hot chocolate made with oat milk + cocoa powder

Not sure about dinner, I'm a bit 'healthy fooded' out right now but I'll go and look in the fridge and Hope inspiration strikes

@HardRockOwl I find when I'm "healthy fooded out" I need fat, so how about a pile of fried halloumi? That could feel really decadent

Bit of a mini disaster today as I had to go to a work meeting at lunch time and forgot my prepped frittata. So my day goes:
Strawberry bircher
Oatcakes and hummus
3x triangles of sandwich (ham and coleslaw, egg mayo, tuna and sweetcorn)
No afternoon snack cos I got stuck on a motorway.

Now I’m home and could eat all the foods but will stick to my leftover Cajun chicken with salad.

I went for a run last night though. A run.

Week 1, Day 1
Weight - I forgot to weigh myself!
Water 2.1l

B - Birchir muesli with raspberries, blackberries and toasted almonds
L - chicken and mixed herb salad
D - chicken meatballs in a tomato and pepper sauce with courgettie
S - Apple and pistachio
S - humus, 2 oat cakes and half a pear

Steps - 9,300
‘paying the rent’ - 40 mins swimming

I think there is a lot to be said @GoodNutButters for having a de-cluttered and organised lifestyle. Easier said than done with small kids.

We were in quarantine, again, a few weeks ago so out of pure frustration I cleaned out the entire kitchen. It makes it so much easier to prepare something healthy quickly. Before I had lots of ingredients like nuts, seeds and spices that I couldn’t find as everything was so chaotic. I found about 3 packets of oatbran as I kept buying things I couldn’t find. I would like to tackle to whole house somehow, not least as we’re moving house next year.

That Bircher looks lovely @ElvenDreamer

I will go and do a 30 min workout now.

For dinner I made a roast veg and chickpea stew from the Deliciously Ella app. For the veggies among you I really recommend it as it has lots of recipes which are in pj

Well done on the run @Hobbes8. I definitely find I have more energy for exercise on this woe.
@HardRockOwl your losses so far continue to be amazing. Well done!
That sounds like a great start@Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas.

My food today:
B yoghurt, fruit, pumpkin seeds
L left over chicken from last night on I slice whole meal bread
D Paul’s passion fruit chicken and salad, from the cookbook.
S 3 oatcakes and nut butter, 2 chocolates from box received at Easter (I know that this is out of circle, but knowing I can have these stops me from coveting DH’s desserts).

Today:

B: Small wholemeal pitta with boiled egg, mayo, Greek yog, chives and cucumber.

S: apple and peanut butter.

L: Tex Mex beans in brown wrap with lime and Greek yog.

D: Steak soup with Pak choi.

About to have some mango (needs eating).

Things turned down today: freshly made raspberry and banana bread (still warm) that my lovely neighbour passes over the fence from time to time.