Louise Parker Method thread 2. All welcome

[HardRockOwl]

Precious thread is here ... Louise Parker method anyone? I know it's a bit old fashioned now .. http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weightlosss_chat/4517125-louise-parker-method-anyone-i-know-it-s-a-bit-old-fashioned-now

Just a place to chat about the method, the ups and downs and how it works etc.

I personally have just completed the first 6 week Transform phase and have lost 18 lbs. Not quite 'transformed' yet but on my way

And I totally agree with @chloechloe that my sugar cravings have drastically gone down with this way of eating. Which is a big change for me and a relief!

@GoodNutButters I bought stevia but I don't really use it tbh. I don't think it's necessary for me - if I need something to be a little sweeter, I use protein powder. So I think, for me, the paste and stevia aren't necessary purchases at all

@chloechloe yep I don't have those sugar cravings either anymore. Don't get me wrong, I could always eat some chocolate or cake but I'm not tormented by it any more! The actual full on cravings have gone.

If i fancy something sweet, I have the hot chocolate or make a chocolate bircher .. that kind of thing. If I fancy something fatty, I have halloumi

I have a jar of Stevia but don’t really use it.

I had a craving for something sweet the other day so ate one square of some posh Peruvian Fairtrade dark chocolate a friend had brought by. One square! And I was happy. I used to eat half a bar of Lindt several evenings a week! What has happened to me!?

I am super tired today. I really don’t get enough sleep so should probably concentrate on that for a few weeks but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. I am grateful that we’re now out of the small baby phase - a big shout out to all of you with little babies! I survived off white carbs, cake and chocolate in those days!

@chloechloe only half a bar of Lindt? Where's your stamina woman? Err don't suppose you could spare a thought for those of us with 15 year olds could you?!

Yes the sugar cravings have dialled right down for me too, it's a relief as I was starting to feel completely out of control. I ate a whole packet of Bourbon biscuits one day

What is monkey bread/toast please? Is the recipe in one of the books?

@florianfortescue only one packet of bourbons? Lightweight! Ha, yes the monkey toast is a recipe in the 6 Week programme book. It's a peanut butter and yogurt concoction topped with sliced bananas and flaked almonds on GOOD wholemeal toast.

Ah thanks @GoodNutButters. I might have known it would have yoghurt in it, she bloody loves the stuff!

She really does love yogurt. My fridge currently looks like it belongs to a yogurt hoarder. It is nice though!

I guess it would be bad form @HardRockOwl to tell you that I live near a Lindt “Outlet” store. DH drove past a few months ago and came back with stacks of the stuff (all of which I ate). I have refrained from eating the last of the Easter chocolate though, we now have 3 bunnies residing in the basement.

Tonight I made my first dish from the Quick Roasting Tin book - chickpeas, halloumi and red onion with lemon, coriander and rocket (subbed for spinach). Took 5 min to make and it was sooooooo good. Totally my style of cooking. The recipe was supposed to have giant cous cous with it but I left that out. Does anybody know what LP has against cous cous and quinoa - had a quick look and there’s not one recipe with either, not even for the Lifestyle phase. Too carby I guess?

Please to report I did another 30 min of Workout 2!

Well here I am slinking in at the back...delighted to see you're all going strong. I stepped well out of the circle over the weekend, mainly with wine. I was so surprised though about the lack of craving for dodgy food. There's definitely something strange happening! I was cross with myself though because I had been sticking to it well and feeling great and really all I did was make myself feel bad, it wasn't a treat at all! I will, however, be stepping out of the circle again this weekend because it's my birthday and I'm out for dinner twice. I want to be more measured though and consciously deciding what's worth it and what's not.

Today's food:
B. yoghurt with nuts and berries
L. Salad plate
S. Monkey Toast
D. Mussels which I did in a white wine stock cube thing so no calories other than the mussels and then salmon parcels with veg and a mirin/soy/ginger/garlic/chilli vibe
S. Almonds

So I'm back on the wagon. Need to read back to see what I've missed.

@Firsteatthefrog good news on the lack of cravings! And you've got to live life so don't be too hard on yourself.

Food times for yesterday ..

Smoothie bowl with coconut, banana and a few crushed cashews

Hot chocolate

Cream cheese + celery wrap

2 babybels + strawberries

Halloumi balance bowl (went out to dinner but only a Harvester and this was the lightest and on plan option)

So a little cheese heavy yesterday!

I'm 7lbs down today, woohoo. Could also do my shorts up yesterday for the first time in a while..!

Yesterday I had scrambled eggs on a slice of toast, a chicken salad for lunch and more chicken for dinner, wrapped in prosciutto with tomato salad. I have a latte every morning too and count it as one of my snacks.

Today's plan:
B Bircher with strawberries
L lentil salad with peppers and goats cheese
D turkey mince patties with green veg

I'm 7lbs down today, woohoo. Could also do my shorts up yesterday for the first time in a while..!

Yesterday I had scrambled eggs on a slice of toast, a chicken salad for lunch and more chicken for dinner, wrapped in prosciutto with tomato salad. I have a latte every morning too and count it as one of my snacks.

Today's plan:
B Bircher with strawberries
L lentil salad with peppers and goats cheese
D turkey mince patties with green veg

@florianfortescue that's incredible! You must be thrilled. And a great non scale victory too with the shorts

Food Times for today ...

Porridge, Greek yogurt + chopped pear

Hot chocolate

Oat roll with halloumi + tomato

Mixed nuts + small fruit platter

Made some proper dinner! Doesn't look great as presentation is clearly not my thing but it's charred broccoli, peanuts, red onion, avocado, chilli flakes, lime juice and sea salt. Got the recipe from the Quick Roasting Tin book and adapted it a little

@florianfortescue 7lbs! That’s fantastic!

Well done @florianfortescue , 7lbs is impressive!

Dinner looks nice @HardRockOwl !

It’s been a tiring week here as DH is away for 4 days, work is busy and doing everything alone with 3 kids is hard work. Single parents who do this all the time are amazing!

Usually when DH is away I end up snapping at the kids as I’m stressed and tired. But I’m finding that eating this way actually makes my moods much more balanced - anybody else find this?

No exercise today as the afternoon was spent taking DD2 to an appointment and DD1 to tennis. Probably a good thing as my legs are tired from back to back workouts. They are looking a lot more toned though!

So the kids are in bed and I need to go and do some work - this is usually when I would crack out the Lindt but I shall have a Kurkuma latte (with oat milk) instead!

That looks really tasty @HardRockOwl and I never thought I'd say that about a plate of broccoli.

Me too @chloechloe I have found my moods much more stable, probably because my energy levels aren't going up and down so much. Am finding it easier to be patient with my 3-year-old for sure.

Thanks for the congrats, I think it's only partially the diet though and partly breastfeeding for what feels like 23.5 hours a day... I am really pleased though, target is to get down to 10 stone by the end of June and 9 stone by my holiday in mid September. Just got to keep inside that circle ...

I agree @chloechloe, @HardRockOwl and @GoodNutButters about the lack of sugar cravings. Thinking back to before this plan, I am amazed by how much in the way of cakes and biscuits that I used to eat. Every evening, I would have dessert, and feel deprived without it.
I have ordered the Quick Roasting Tin book, looking forward to trying it.
My total weight loss so far is now 9lbs and I have dropped back a size in my jeans. I am back to the weight that I was in Nov 2020. I would like to lose another 18 lbs (dreaming big!) It actually feels doable.

I have three of the roasting tin books and I like them because she adds a little tip at the bottom of each recipe that isn't vegetarian, telling you how to make it so. What I don't like about the recipes sometimes is that I just inwardly sigh at yet more veg

So I had my first weigh-in today and I've only 2lbs off after 10 days. I was definitely out of the circle at the weekend so I'm wrong to be disappointed but I still am! I am, however establishing better routines in my day and eating better and I really do recognise the increased calmness some of you had mentioned. I thought it was just me but I'm definitely less anxious. I just wish I had lost more weight! I've a very long way to go

@Firsteatthefrog 2 lbs is a very decent loss considering you have been out of the circle ⭕️ And the other benefits you describe are definitely plus points. I understand the disappointment but maybe try and stay in the circle for this upcoming week and you'll hopefully be rewarded with another 2 lbs! How much more do you want to lose?

Finally dropped another lb but it's not being recorded officially until Monday!

Have popped my three roasting tin books on the side to get some inspiration from after A seeing people mention them on here and B in my attempt to eat more veg. I enjoyed the dinner I made last night which I have leftovers for today for lunch which I'll have with some feta crumbled on top.

If anyone is looking for on plan recipe inspiration then the Roasting Tin books definitely fit the bill - plus they're so easy as all goes in together!

Started the day with a smoothie bowl topped with banana, pecans and coconut