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've made a decision: prep week is being extended by another week. The reason is that unexpectedly I've got a very stressful situation at work which is sucking up a huge amount of time and energy. This would normally send me into a sugar spiral - I'm doing ok so far and not bingeing but will have to stay in the outer circle for a bit until I have a breathing space.

Didn't exercise yesterday as I was feeling sore but going for a walk today. Lunch was salmon tartine, dinner will be smoked mackerel and feta cheese salad.

Can I join please, as I have been following the thread and you are all really inspiring me with your progress. I bought all 3 books and made a start about 4 weeks ago, but can’t seem to go more than a 4-5 days without dancing outside the circle big time (need to put an end to stinking thinking but finding it hard to break that diet mindset). When I do stay inside the circle I am losing well. Hoping to have some accountability here as I have about 3-4 stone to lose. I am going on holiday in about 10 weeks so hope to shift 15-20 pounds by then 😎

@Sparker201 welcome! Of course you can join us.

What is it specifically you're craving there causing you to come unstuck at the weekend? I know it's really hard

I am absolutely starving today for some reason! Or rather, it kicked in about half an hour ago. Food hasn't been great as for been so busy ..

Bircher with blueberries + raspberries

Strawberries with mixed nuts

Carrot batons + hummus

Green apple + peanut butter

Low carb wrap with goats cheese, red pepper, hummus + a quorn slice

Thanks@HardRockOwl I have a weakness for sweet stuff like chocolate - I try to keep a small amount of treats in the house for the DC that don’t tempt me too much and find the LP way of eating pretty good, it’s just that sometimes I feel fruit and yoghurt don’t quite hit the spot and indulge in some toast and jam etc. I am still finding my way with food choices and need to make sure I am eating enough protein and low GI carbs with each meal to be satisfied as sometimes my meals can be a bit fruit/veg heavy and not filling or satisfying enough IYSWIM.

Guys - I don't like oatbran!! At first I thought I didn't like it in smoothies, then I thought I didn't like it in smoothies or as porridge (without oats)... then I finally tried is in porridge 50/50 with oats. Still no.

It's the texture, too semolina-y, or too gritty, depending on context.

What can you recommend that LP would approve of, to use up the other 750g oatbran I have?

@Sparker201 I need to lose at least 4 stone and also have a holiday in 10 weeks. Including my first week loss which I suspect will be larger than the rest of the time I’m aiming for a 21 week weight loss. I’m only on day 4 but I’m hoping this thread while help me keep going.

@HardRockOwl when you posted your menu this morning I thought your lunch looks more like a snack with no fat in it and I was worried you would get hungry. If I was you I would have another snack of something like peanut butter on oatcakes.

@Throwawaytoday could you maybe make some sort of baked thingy with it? Maybe with peanut butter, milk and banana .. could bake into breakfast bars potentially?

@Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas yeah you're right. It was literally two m & s snack packs. I'll be better tomorrow

I think I'll also be doing a few rounds of this plan. I initially wanted to drop a couple of stone but now I think I'm going to aim for 3 off in total which is quite ambitious but doable if I just can weather out the inevitable weeks where nothing budges! And I know those weeks have to come!

@Sparker201 try a hot chocolate made with cocoa powder and oat milk. It can take the edge off a sweet tooth. However it's no galaxy bar that's for sure

Thanks @Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas you have motivated me now for my holiday - 21lbs is the new target for mid July - that would make a huge difference to how I feel in a swimsuit 😀

@HardRockOwl I will get some oat milk and reach for a cocoa next time - thanks, this thread is making me accountable already!

Thanks @HardRockOwl you're right, something baked could work (less gritty or semolina-y).

Today ate:

B: coconut porridge
S: apple and peanut butter
L: chicken and salad with tahini dressing
S: leftover lentil and chickpea dhal
D: 'messy eggs' and brown sourdough toast

Hello @Sparker201 welcone to the group! Are there any treats you buy for the kids which you don’t like - maybe just buy those to keep temptation at bay?

@Throwawaytoday there are quite a few recipes using oatbran in pancakes where it isn’t as noticeable. Also, do you have a good blender? You could try blending smoothies for longer, or even grind the oatbran dry before you put it in a smoothie.

I’ve found I actually really like oatbran in porridge (not so much in Bircher). My 3yo also scoffed down half of my porridge today made with oat milk and almond butter. He did insist on adding cinnamon and honey to it, but still! If I serve him porridge he usually has a fit so I’m pleased he’s actually eaten it if his own accord.?

Today’s accountability post
Week 1 day4
Weight 14s 1.5 lb, 1 lb loss, total 4.5lb loss
B - Bircher muesli with pear, raspberries, fig and fax seeds
S - slithers of cheddar on oat cakes with a small tomato and spring onion salad
L - Soft boiled eggs with asparagus and grilled mushroom
S- 1/2 banana and hazelnuts
D - chicken stir fry with sesame seeds

I’m going to have an oat milk hot chocolate tonight.

I have no idea about exercise. I’m going to focus on that later as I have loads going on at the moment.

OK today as part of my final day of prep I made the recipe for chocolate hazelnut spread... it's a game-changer. I do love hazelnuts and this is really great. Amazing with oatcakes. It does NOT taste like Nutella but kind of like a grown-up, dark chocolate version?

It's also much more expensive to make than Nutella is but hey, maybe that'll just help me to keep those portions delicate!

Thanks for the batch cooked lunches recommendations all - sounds like the bean salad is a good one to start with.

Thanks @chloechloe yes you have reminded me that I have bought the DC treats that I don’t like in the past quite successfully when I have been trying to lose weight, I just need to get back into those good habits again - it’s not the DC that want dairy milk in the treat drawer … it’s me! 🤣

Food today:
B: banana pancakes
L: Cajun chicken salad
D: sausages and roast cauliflower
S: oat cakes and hummus and a nakd bar (need to wean myself off the nakd bars)

Did a fitness blender lower body weight training workout as well. My glutes are killing me so I’ll take that as a good sign.

First weigh in tomorrow - yikes.

@Hobbes8 ooh good luck for weigh in tomorrow! What are you hoping to have lost?

Maybe make your own version of Nakd bars? There must be something that gives the same sort of hit with on plan ingredients

Well I’d like to have lost about three stone, but short of cutting off a leg I think I’ve got some way to go.

Nakd bars are just dried fruit and nuts flavoured to taste like pudding - the cherry bakewell ones are lush. They’re pretty healthy but dried fruit seems to be a big no no, and I’m keen to stick to the plan as much as poss. If I’m going to waste calories/sugar on anything it’ll definitely be wine.

@Hobbes8 ha yes - I'd quite like to see another stone off tomorrow!

Yep it's the dates in them. Louise has banned them. Not delicate enough

@Hobbes8 how did you find the banana pancakes? They're on my breakfast menu tomorrow. Last week I tried to make her pancakes and it was a sad disaster!

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy i didn’t use the recipe in her book (gasp! I’ll be shunned!). I just used an old keto recipe - mash up one banana and stir in two eggs to make the batter and then fry it like a pancake. Lots of small ones hold together better than a big one.

I haven’t tried many of the breakfast recipes yet except for the Bircher. I need to try and incorporate a bit of variety next week - problem is no one else in my house is eating any of the stuff so it goes off if I don’t eat the same thing three days in a row.

Good luck for the weigh in tomorrow @Hobbes8 I’ll be joining you!

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoBy I made the banana pancakes yesterday and liked them, as did DH who normally objects to sugar-free versions of things. They’re really quick to make as you just throw everything in the blender. I made the ricotta based pancakes a while back which were not a hit - perhaps it was those you weren’t keen on either?

Hi all, having been somewhat sideswiped with bad news this week, concluding what has been an awful 2 weeks resulting in some definitely not great eating, I'm ready for a bit of a reset. Husband in charge of breakfast today so will probably involve bacon, but he is getting the hang of giving me more delicate options and what items to leave off my plate which is a bonus. Main meal will be a vegan chestnut dish (not LP but on method) and second meal the black and white beluga salad which is one of my favourites. Going to make the chocolate cinnamon almonds today too. Off for a long walk later and will do some pilates or similar also. Planning a bit of a house cleaning/gardening day otherwise to get myself back on track and have my nice environment around me, also helps to keep my steps high! Good luck to all weighing in 🙂

@GloryLory this is the thread I was talking about on case you hadn't found it, bit tribe on here due to the super conversation HardRockOwl set up, unlike when it was just me and you for so long last year she has got a real tribe going! xx