Louise Parker fans - fancy getting getting together again?

[ChocChipOwl]

Fresh thread for a fresh start! It's me, Hard Baked Owl if anyone remembers me from our previous threads

Anyway, I've been off in the wilderness for the past month. I don't know why I have done this but I want to stop the rot before I put the weight back on

I've lost 2 stone since April and by some miracle, I'm still at a 2 stone loss. Despite eating magnums and crisps daily

So tomorrow I'm back to it. Back in the circle where I felt good and I'd like to lose one stone between now and the 19th November

This feels ambitious. Yet it's something to aim for isn't it?

Anyone fancy joining in or hopping back in the circle with me?

I’m pretty open really. I don’t like pork but other than that will eat virtually anything. I love Bircher muesli , smoothies and Dahl! I have the 6 weeks book and lean for life.

Could I ask a question re the fitness pillar? How do people fit it in? I work part time and go to yoga once a week but other than that I find it hard to commit to a time. Do people set a specific time and stick to it or just grab time when possible?
@Megasaur5keeper thats a fantastic weight loss. Has that been from LPM?

@RosettaStormer from 6wp the fruity mackerel salad is a dream. The Ruby quinoa chicken is good too, as is the Monday night chicken stew.
And they pull together quickly.

@Compelled it's hard. I started off trying to exercise in the evening but couldn't bear the screaming from my child. So now I get up at 620, do 30-40 mins or go to a 645 body pump class in my non working day, get a quick shower , breakfast and try to leave home at the back of 8 to make sure I can part walk to work.
So now I go and pack my bag for work tomorrow

Today was
Porridge, with an apple, black berries and almond butter
Some winter spiced nuts and raspberries and a satsuma
Beany pesto soup
Egg soufflés
A tofu stir-fry
Went to a rollerskating class, did not get my steps today and am feeling quite sleepy so
Goodnight all!

Oh yeah @Compelled lpm only. Loosening off a bit now though ideally I'll get to p 9st by Christmas. I'm edging towards thinking its time to balance

Brilliant! Thank you.

@Compelled that’s often a difficult one. I started by focussing on my steps and trying to hit a minimum of 10000/day.
I also do BodyBalance twice a week and trying to add in Pilates. I don’t do the LP exercises as I need the motivation of music and a class approach. It is difficult to fit it in but I just remind myself that I want to be able to get up off the floor if I fall when I’m older!! So many older folk become deconditioned which leads on to frailty syndromes. And then their well meaning relatives offer to help them by doing their shopping etc so they move even less!!

I’ve been sidetracked by starting new job but have more or less managed to stay on track. Not drinking any wine helps!
B: boiled eggs
no snacks-too busy!
L: salmon salad
D: tofu steaks and greens
oh and my soya flat white of course. Sometimes two. 😄

Thanks @Megasaur5keeper and @Megasaur5keeper . That’s helpful that I know exercise is a struggle for me but you’ve both just worked at it and made it happen. Also the long term ‘why’ as a focus-flexibility in old age is a good motivator- I’ll use that.
My prep week has been a bit of a mixed bag. Some good stuff but I’ve found I’ve used it to ‘finish’ off stuff. Sorted food in the freezer and fridge but then I noticed that because I worry about waste, I find myself eating the last thing - so it doesn’t go in the bin. It’s not unpleasant stuff-more like last little snack things but it’s not a healthy approach to food or to me. Yesterday I skipped dinner as I had the ends of stuff, a slice of chicken and then ham, a yogurt, some fancy crisp things. Individually quite nice but not a nutritious meal and a bit random and tbh not great together. When I thought about the food diary for the day, it came home to me I do this quite a bit - and it really needs to change. Food planning and writing it down will massively help but it’s also a mindset/habit. I’m going to focus on the visualisation that LP talks about and eating odds and ends will not be part of that!

@Compelled I am the same. Can’t bear to see food wasted and so used to eat leftovers rather than throw them away. My DH thinks I’m mad and rarely touches leftovers. He is not overweight at all!!
I blame my mother’s “finish everything on your plate” approach.

I am also working on mindless eating vs thoughtful eating.

And digital detox. I think when moving away from trying to lose to trying to maintain I'll need to be careful for a while in relation to picking at things when cooking and actually just sit and enjoy the meal. And not finishing cold chips from kiddo's plate etc.
@Compelled well done for identifying the habit there in prep week- writing down does help.

Hi guys, good chat going on in here. I'm trying not to come on mumsnet every day due to cutting down doom scrolling and trying to be a bit more active instead!

My week has been mixed, most days I've eaten brilliantly all day, then randomly eaten in the evening, either something outside the circle, or stuff that's in but so so much of it. It's a really hard habit to kick. I developed quite disordered eating during 2020 as a sort of control coping mechanism I think and this is sort of the last vestiges of it that I still can't break, it's all just stress/emotional eating, I know it and will keep trying to conquer it. I lost 3 quarters of a stone on my 1st LP cycle back at the start of the year and really probably only need to do one more cycle to get to where I want to be but I've not managed to actually complete a cycle since then! The upside is I've not gained, so it shows the lifestyle works in that respect. (Not that I'm doing lifestyle properly, this isn't mindfully having something I fancy exactly, but you get my drift.) Hey ho, onwards and upwards.

Re the exercise @Compelled I personally don't have a routine exactly, as in its definitely not the same time each day. I have looked at my week and tried to find some windows though. I run every Sunday morning 1st thing with my daughter, we've done that now for over a year so this is definitely a well instilled habit. Gives us some lovely one to one chat time too. We have a rule that it has to be enjoyable, so, while we always do between 3 and 6k, it's purely based on our mood, if we want to stop and examine some wildlife on route, we will, etc. Its really worked. No target setting, just running for fun and fitness. I've earmarked 3 days a week where I can walk the morning school run, a bit over a mile, walking in then power walking back. On those days if it's raining like mad and we've decided to drive, then I use the time I would have been walking to do some kind of exercise app instead. I have a few little apps with just 10 minute type routines on and I can squeeze them in on other days where my routine is more changeable. I also bough myself a hula hoop and sometimes will just hula hoop for a couple of minute while waiting for kettle to boil, that sort if thing. Every little helps!

Thanks for replies re random eating, I feel less alone! I do know mines disordered and definitely there are echoes of having to finish my dinner.

Today was my day one. Done sort of ok. I’m pleased but wanted to do some morning yoga but as the weather was good did a fair bit of sweeping up leaves instead. I’m now going to try and come of iPads etc. Food has been on plan and I’ve drank much more water than I usually do - a real positive.
B/brunch: Porridge (Coco’s)
S: 2x Oatcakes and smoked humous and then later cherries and Parmesan (yum)
D: Chicken salad
I missed lunch as I woke up really late…not sure how that happened as I’m usually up early.
I’m not hungry but I feel that I want something…something sweet. Usually, I do eat biscuits etc, so it would be odd if I didn’t miss it!
Just looking at recipes for the week and will be making Bircher tomorrow for the morning. I think I’m going to try the Broccoli, cauliflower and paneer curry, as there is a chance my daughter will eat that as well.
Everyone does well with the exercise @ElvenDreamer, I really like the more laid back approach to running, makes it seem less of a chore. It’s fab your daughter goes with you.

Hurrah, a whole day in the circle for me today! Yogurt with a scattering of sugar free granola and berries, roasted sweet potato salad with green power dressing at lunch, a thai curry type affair for dinner. Some oat cakes and a little cheese as snack, lots of water. 3 mile walk, some very active house cleaning, (deliberately worked at high speed), kept to a timetable of things I needed to achieve so felt I've used my day profitably on between my working hours. Feeling good 🙂 now heading to read in bed to prevent myself from reaching for the fridge as this is my most dangerous time.

Congratulations @ElvenDreamer ! It really gives me a boost when I stay in the circle!
I have struggled to be honest , now I’m back at work. Mainly with exercise, because a half hour walk with our elderly dog involves lots of stopping and sniffing and not many steps. But I don’t have time for two walks!!
but….I’ve now lost 5lb so am rather pleased!!

Well done @ElvenDreamer and @Soyacappuccino . I started OK yesterday but there was a work beige buffet and cake sale which was nowhere near a circle. Interesting to note my slight panic and thereafter not feeling terribly well.

So today will be better. Have done bodypump this morning.

Have plan for the day which involved veg.

Roasted sweet potato salad sounds perfect for this weather @ElvenDreamer and 5 lbs loss is fab @Soyacappuccino . I’ve been very close to the circle. I stress about stuff and had a less than glowing progress report from my daughters school. I then noticed the report led me to having my head (and hands) in the fridge and biscuit cupboard but managed to reign myself in before full on comfort eating took hold. If I hadn’t been on LPM I wouldn’t have stopped. Tbh if I had an array of beige (my favourite food colour) and cake sale, Louise would have had to rugger tackle me to the floor to stop me, so well done @Megasaur5keeper . Onwards and upwards.

Hello!

I'm back! If you'll have me

Yes it's me, the worst dieter in the world these days

Off to catch up on your news

Food times today

Greek yogurt with a 5 berry compote and a large tablespoon of granola with 1/2 chopped banana and raspberries

Mixed nuts

2 x slices sourdough with small amount of brie, hummus, edamame beans and salad

Cantaloupe + watermelon chunks

M&S Plant kitchen spaghetti mushroom bolognaise

So amazingly I've managed one day back in the circle - more or less. I've eased myself back in after a few months in the wilderness eating 3 magnums a day.

@RosettaStormer hello and welcome. Not that I should be welcoming anyone really after going awol for so long!!

Just wanted to add to the answers already about how on earth it works. It just does!

I lost nearly 2.5 stone doing it. I just ate 3 meals a day and 2 snacks. I'm plant based (would be vegan but I just can't give up greek yogurt and cheese!) and I found it so easy really.

Exercise for me is walking and swimming - I'm no Olympic athlete though - just plod up and down the pool with AirPods in!!

I haven't counted a single calorie either. As the others have said, it's in the portion sizes (not that I scrimped!) and the moderate carbs ... if I had say, a wholemeal roll for lunch, I wouldn't choose something carb heavy for dinner

@Megasaur5keeper @ElvenDreamer hello! Good to hear you're doing so well

Hello @ChocChipOwl
Good to hear from you!! Hope you've recovered fully from covid.
Boredom caused a haribo attack today at work.
Generally a stressful situation has reared its head a little again and I think I need to acknowledge feelings and move on rather than Bury them in sugar. It's hard though!

Not 100% sure how to handle it tbh.

The buffet and haribo aside food has been on plan and logically I know the haribo is not the end of the world. I've done my steps and exercised Sunday, Monday Tuesday, rest today and I think it might be yoga tomorrow morning.

Just need to avoid doom scrolling which is very much back and ensure I sleep enough
How's everyone else.

Sounds tough @Megasaur5keeper but don't beat yourself up. Just park it and step back into the circle again

Food times for the day

Bircher made with oats, chia seeds, Greek yogurt, raspberries and orange juice. (Made enough for three days)
Few black grapes

Mixed nuts + watermelon juice

Sourdough with hummus, salad and Brie

Cherries + pumpkin seeds

Lentil protein noodle stir fry with Plant Kitchen BBQ pieces and a peanut and lime dressing

Also managed swimming for the third day running so getting there again!

Welcome back @ChocChipOwl ! Your original weight loss was inspiring and the reason why I’ve joined the thread!
then everyone else has been supportive and kind!
@Megasaur5keeper have you tried journaling your feelings about the stressful situation? Often helps , if you don’t want to or can’t talk them through with someone else.
@Compelled well done on recognising the stress response and managing it!! That’s a huge step forwards I think!
my weight loss is slow but steady
I’m not needing snacks and no access to them at work( it helps to not like chocolate!) though when I’m not on such a steep learning curve it will probably get harder.
B: yoghurt with granola topping( home made)
L: vegetable frittata with leaves
snack ( when I get home): thin slice of cheddar
D: fish and greens.
walking is more challenging as I have a sedentary job but managing about 8500 by going for a walk when I get home.