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

I'm making a gado gado Indonesian salad for dinner tonight

I've tweaked it a bit but it's basically air fried sweet potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, green beans in a peanut dressing and I'll add some mozzarella

Not strictly on plan but meh. Close enough

I’d like to report a small triumph. One day this week I found myself in need of food with nothing with me, so I went into Waitrose and had a look at sandwiches, but decided against them as they didn’t look “worth it” and ended up buying some raspberries and some egg and veg muffin things. I felt very proud: I looked for protein and a healthy carb 😁Louise is getting to me!

It’s not all been delicate. Probably best not to talk about the half a bottle of wine I’ve just had. But it’s Prep Week so this could be classed as tidying?!

@Sutra I admire you just for attempting a prep week! I'd be using it as a 'last supper every day for a week' week!

Morning all

Started the day with a bircher made with orange juice, raspberries and strawberries 🍓

Snack has been an apple with peanut butter and I'll have leftovers from last night for lunch I think

How is everyone today?

Lovely! Bircher for breakfast again here and I've been out and about all morning getting some steps in with the kids before coming home to a tricolour salad for lunch. Two decaf flat whites while I was out, counting those as snacks! This way of eating feels especially energising and refreshing on sunny days, I think.

Morning! The sun is shining and I’m back on track. Attempted to adjust the banana pancakes recipe today as I’d found it a bit gloopy, but I ended up with a sort of banana scramble. Nice though.

Lunch was marrakech salad. Not sure about dinner - I’ve got some halloumi, or maybe portabello mushroom with goats cheese.

Hi!
I’m enjoying a glass if wine or two this evening and I had some biscuits earlier. This weekend marks my 11th week and half a stone lost (no change this week) but I didn’t have too much to lose really. Anyway, I’m enjoying stepping out of the circle mindfully today 😊

Didn't seem to have the best day of food today. Just didn't fancy eating anything really. Well I did but not more healthy food!

Bircher + berries

Apple + peanut butter

Piece of halloumi, mozzarella ball + cherry tomatoes

Pot of fresh pineapple

2 x babybels and some fruit

Tofu, salad and feta

So not a great day tbh. A bit .. picky.

I have stepped so far outside the circle today that I can only just see it in the distance. I've had two scoops of ice cream, half an almond croissant and a bun with my burger this evening.

In my defence, I enjoyed it all rather than hoovering it down mindlessly, and I have really needed my strength to deal with my darling children today. Back in tomorrow.

@florianfortescue oh I love almond 🥐.. delicious so probably well worth it.

I'm doing my day of work in the cafe tomorrow so have prepped a bircher to take in for breakfast and some melon + mixed nuts for my snack in the morning. Dunno what I'll have for lunch yet

Almond croissants would be a definite "worth it" for me!

Oh god, slept terribly last night thanks to the baby and I've got a big 4th birthday party to take them to this afternoon... strapping in for today's attempt to stay in the circle!

Been dancing outside the circle rather too much over the last week or so, but determined to keep going as I do enjoy the food and feel much better when I stay inside the circle. Well done everyone with your losses, I weighed in today at 14st 12lbs so I have still lost a couple of pounds over the last 2 weeks despite a fair bit of chocolate consumed and a cream tea with some friends yesterday afternoon 🙈I have been following the thread and I do feel the evening meals a little restrictive when trying to cook for the family as I don’t have time to cook a separate meal for me (nor do I want to be eating “differently” in front of DD12 and DD14 to lose weight). I found I was avoiding cooking certain family staples that the family love such as lasagne or risotto for dinner, so I will take a leaf out of @GoodNutButters book this week and just have a very “delicate” portion of pasta or rice based dinner dishes a couple of times this week, with lots of veg/salad on the side, to make it work for me. Otherwise I will be inside the circle for all other meals and snacks, as well as our other evenings meals.

@Sparker201 I can recommend the delicate portions thing, it makes it much more sustainable for me. I have daughters too and I desperately don't want them to see me "on a diet" - my mum used to go on fad diets quite a lot and I always noticed, and it made me sad. And it never worked. My favourite thing about this method is that it's not obsessive about counting anything, and my family is partly Italian so we're not cutting out pasta any time soon!

Things I turned down at the birthday party this afternoon:
Cake
Cupcakes
Party rings
Chocolate fingers
Fruit shoots
Marshmallows
An entire table of elegantly displayed sweets

Yes it was for the kids but the grown ups were invited to get stuck in too - but I wasn't even particularly tempted tbh! Who am I?!

I've been shopping today and stocked up on ingredients. I'm planning on doing lots of different traybakes this week and giving the dc a side of microwave rice or wraps.

They're happy that my latest 'fad' isn't lentils every day 😂

Today I'm making chicken breasts with peppers and red onions. I'll have a herby salad on the side. Dc will have salad and rice.

I'm currently signed off work with sciatica so will have plenty of time to make some snacks. So happy I get to eat cheese 😋

Yes @GoodNutButters, the main thing is making progress and if a little pasta or rice here and there helps make this sustainable and family friendly for me, that’s what I will do. If I get to the point where the white carb intake is creeping up (or I am mainlining chocolate on the daily 🤣) and the weight loss is slowing down, I will think again.

Pls can I butt in and ask some advice form you all? I like the look of Louise Parker method.
Would it be better to get the original book or the 6 week plan- the newest book?

I like step by step clear instructions so I don't have to think about it...

Hi @poshme I think you'd want the newer 6 week programme book as that explains everything and the other 2 books are more like recipe books.

@NinetyNineRedBalloonsGoByAgain thank you!
Does the 6 week plan have some recipes in or will I also need the cookbook? I'd check at the library but there aren't any in stock at the moment.

@poshme all the books have some recipes in. There’s a link to a pdf of the cookbook on this thread somewhere. The other two books are pretty similar - they both explain the method (which really isn’t that complex - three meals and two snacks a day, no sugar or white carbs, focus on whole foods and veg with small amounts of carbs and good fats).

The 6 week plan has a week by week guide with exercises, and other things to think about like relieving stress. She’s pretty big on mindset changes so there’s a lot about that. Then there’s a load of recipes at the back.

@poshme I agree with PP that the 6 week programme would suit you best by the sounds of it. It's very clear. And I think it actually has some of the best recipes in it

Thank you everyone!
I'll get the 6 week one.

I might lurk in your thread if that's ok, but am very lazy about contributing...

Had a terrible day of eating - or what felt like it anyway.

Bircher with blueberries + strawberries

Melon wedge + mixed nuts

Carrot sticks and hummus pot
Apple slices
Bit of vegetarian sushi

Decaf coffee with oat milk

Small feta block with roasted cherry tomatoes

So nothing of much substance really

@poshme I'd agree with the others but tbh you'll get a feel for it whatever book you happen to get first. The 6 week plan one is probably more what you're after as it gives more structure

I'd also recommend the Roasting Tin books for recipes as they've got lots on them that are on plan and easy to cook

@Sparker201 sounds like you are doing well - and that awareness of feeling so much better when you're know you're in the circle really helps doesn't it? Well done on a few lbs off despite cream tea! (I love cream teas)

Hi @poshme , as @Hobbes8 said there is a link to a pdf of the cookbook on my post on p1 of this thread, but ant of the books will give you the idea.
After a good week, I've been out of the circle today, so fingers crossed fir weigh-in tomorrow!