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?

Definitely need to stay a lot more within the circle tomorrow for sure, all my meals were on plan today, but I couldn't stop grazing, and not good grazing either. Remaining positive though, steps were well up, cleaned some more bits of my house for the living beautifully pillar and tomorrow is a new day .

Amazing artwork there @ElvenDreamer

Grazing is so hard to avoid.

I've not had a bad day, steps in, did some bodybalance this morning, about to organise for tomorrow, planned food was on 0plan and grazing limited to a slice of ham and a bendicks mint. So that was pretty positive.
Negative was a very sore head. no real reason for it. Sleep now.

Joking aside, it’s a helpful diagram as it shows what it’s like! I often feel it’s just me doing the Hokey Cokey! I’m feeling better though. I’ve stuck to no alcohol, doing yoga, more decluttering and although haven’t got the meal plan sorted, dinner today will be lemony mackerel salad (Amelia Freer) but no potatoes for me and I’m roasting a big tray of veg.

The Hokey Cokey about sums up some days for sure! Well after my awful day I had a day a lot nearer the circle, and have now binned the remainder of the offensive item that kept making me slip out so hoping to stay entirely in today. Lunches in last 2 days have been griddled halloumi on a bed of salad leaves with a little avocado and drizzled with chilli oil, very tasty. I've done lots of nice walks and tried to up my water intake a bit. Back at work now which should help with routine and therefore mindless grazing borne of having too much time on my hands. Have started a new crochet project to help with that too. How is everyone else doing?

Tiny steps for me.
The positives: Clear out going well, finally have sold some items on Vinted, breakfast back to LPM porridge and dinner roast veg and goats cheese (both delicate), doing yoga.
Less than positives: Need to move more, water intake pitiful and still eating end of Christmas stuff (too much of it).
I am definitely eating to ‘clear’ it, which is neither delicate nor enjoyable!
I can’t bear to throw it out as some of it was expensive (fancy biscuits etc). Happy to give away but a bit half eaten…it’s for the bin really…sigh.

I hear you on the eating to clear it, that's definitely what ruined the end of December for me! Thankfully not too much foodstuff over now and the kids and husband will eat that. We have a lot of alcohol in the house from Christmas still and it's far too easy to reach for a glass at the end of a stressful day if my DH is having one so I've persuaded him to do dry January so I don't have the temptation.

Finished yesterday pretty well, only one slide outside the circle to the tune of 4 dried figs so not horrendous. Started today with my usual Sunday run, 4k today. Have also looked into rejoining a local pilates class midweek, hoping there's space. Sugar free aga pancakes made from oats for breakfast.

Am using my journal in a more positive way, previous it was helpful for me to discover my destructive patterns and see what might be triggering self sabotage etc, now I want to literally become more positive as I think that will help. So on my days when I've slid a long way outside the circle I am not writing hat down, I am thinking about something good I can find in the day and writing about that instead, it is helping me not to dwell and therefore get back in the circle quicker so far.

Ok, shakey couple of days, ANY advice on dealing with emotional eating welcomed. Back in the circle hopefully today, had lovely breakfast of a banana, peanut butter and almond milk thing topped with seeds and a sprinkling of sugar free granola. Now about to go in to a pilates class for the first time in a couple of years so hoping that will help the mindset. (Hoping that the hour out of my day doesn't just send me in to panic mode because I'm then behind!)

How was the pilates @ElvenDreamer - are you sore today?

Emotional eating is the worst. You know when you are doing it it is not good then you feel shit for doing it.
I stomp about a bit and moan. Or do Emotional doom scrolling.

I think you are right about concentrating on the positive - notice the negative but don't dwell.

I've been slowly getting back into routine- have exercised 3 mornings this week and got fresh air each day.
Food by and large ok- husband birthday cake today which was lovely.

I'm aiming for 9st and then maintaining. So have probably 4lbs to lose. Need to concentrate on not grazing out of boredom tbh.
House remains a bit of a state.

Hi All
Totally understand @ElvenDreamer . Recently, my emotional eating has been more than tricky. Also when things are tough I can’t really plan, feel like I am running to catch up and the as @Megasaur5keeper says I can waste time, think it is just switching brain off. @Megasaur5keeper , sounds like are so close to your goal, has the journey been a long one or were you not far from goal and how long has it taken? Hope that isn’t an intrusive question.

I need motivation. I am thinking of doing a reboot. Just being careful this weekend, Planning and then Monday new start. I have cleared out the freezer and all Christmas stuff just about gone (apart from mint chocolate-which I flippin’ love!)
Finding it tough but I think even baby steps are something and has to be better than doing nothing at all. Just keeping away from bread is good for me…

Pilates was really good thanks @Megasaur5keeper , it was a very small beginners class which was perfect, it being on Wednesday morning was also good as Wednesday tends to be when I have a 'midweek slump' and then do nothing with purpose and work myself into a grumpy (therefore snack a lot) mood as I feel useless. This gave me a focus and improved my mood immensely!
I think embracing the baby steps is definitely helpful @Compelled and you should feel pleased with anything that makes you feel good. I'm trying to focus on making 1 thing at a time a habit as ultimately that is the aim, the lifestyle. Breakfast is always in the circle out if habit now, I don't even think anymore, I just have one of the few things I like, running once a week is a habit, also no more than 3 caffeinated drinks. I'm trying to build up some other exercise habits as I'm a bit sporadic otherwise, have gradually bought lots of fun exercise gear as my 'pleasure pop' to help with this, pic of my very colourful drawer attached 😂 It does help though, the leggings make me smile every time I put them on and the drawer feels inviting, sounds silly I know but it helps me!
Am trying to tackle my emotional eating by working on my mood rather than focusing on the eating itself. Currently reading 'How to talk so teens will listen and how to listen so teens will talk', less angst from the DC definitely should help my mood....!

I love the gym gear@ElvenDreamer it looks really good. I’m doing my yoga this morning and I will have a LPM breakfast. I do tend to stick at those. I bought those books @ElvenDreamer, I’ll be honest teen through lockdown…almost broke me but now it’s so, so much better but at the time!
Going to try for fresh air each day, good way to put it @Megasaur5keeper , no pressure to do more than that means it’ll get done.
Hope others are doing ok?

@ElvenDreamer love the gym stuff! Is it rainbow and sparkles by any chance?
I had a very boozy catch up with friends yesterday. It was super fun but I'm feeling it today. Significant distance from circles...
Those books are great- I've got the little kids version and it does make sense - I often find myself applying the skills in my working life also tbh.

@Compelled i started late May 2022, at either 12 or 12st 7lbs. I have both recorded about a week apart which makes no sense. I'm now 9 5ish and had no specific goal - I do need to reset a bit as I've gone up since Christmas. I was feeling so miserable and needed to make changes- emotional eating was driving me to about a family pack of crisps a night and not sleeping well.

It's beautiful here today so once I get the tree down (yes, I still have my Christmas tree up- won't be collected until this Friday and it's been windy so left it up for cheer) I'm going to drag my arse out and take the wee one to the zoo.

Saunters back in again.

Possibly the worst advocate for LP ever as it turns out!

OK today is another day. No pressure on myself and I WILL be back later to update my food. Baby steps!

I'll also catch up with you all

Hurrah @ChocChipOwl I hoped you would be tempted back. I only delurked because I really liked your posts…and it’s not the worst advocate, it’s what I need-reality, as this stuff isn’t easy for mere mortals.

Does anyone want one of her books? I bought it and never read it. 😳

@Compelled and this is it exactly I think. Real life does get in the way and all you can do it pick yourself back up again and dust yourself off and get on with it

I'm back to my swimming tomorrow. This always helps

And this plan is a 'freedom from dieting' really. It just is. It works. You don't have to count a thing or consider points or calories or anything.

So I know it is the right plan for me. I won't make excuses for falling off the wagon, although I could I suppose. Better to concentrate on what I'd like to achieve now going forward and why

Morning all.

Starting the day with as many nutrients as I can cram into one bowl!

Oats
Chia seeds
Juice of one blood orange
Greek yogurt
Raspberries
Plum
Pomegranate seeds
Goji berries, flax, linseed

Phew!

Morning everyone,
having my lunch which is so good, avocado and black bean toastie (Nosh Vegan book). Breakfast was bircher, (@ChocChipOwl your breakfast looks so nice!) dinner is going to be the salmon and asparagus tray bake from LP's cookbook. I am adding some potato wedges for the rest of the family.

Did 5 mins of hula hooping yesterday, I am rubbish at it 😂 but it's fun so may do that again today. Changed up my morning this morning by not starting with my usual 2 cups of coffee whilst room scrolling and pretending the day doesn't exist. I actually did the lemon water bit and allowed myself 10 mins max scrolling before making myself get on with life. I felt much better for it so hoping I can repeat the feat tomorrow.

@Megasaur5keeper yes you did spy Rainbows and Sprinkles, also Lucy Locket Loves. I'm a little obsessed with both sites...

I’m inspired! Today I will share menu but no photos! I’m impressed with how lovely your meals look.

Well in classic me style I crashed spectacularly out of the circle in an evening snack fest which I wasn't even hungry for and didn't enjoy. Ignoring, starting today with new determination, just got to keep trying. I know cracking the evening disasters thing is key for me and I just can't work out what to change that will break the circle. So, drawing a line, today:
Tropical smoothie for breakfast and off to my pilates class shortly. Plan to have oat cakes with nut butter and apple slices for snack as I will be hungry by then.
Lunch will be the same as yesterday as I made enough on purpose, dinner is chicken fajitas.

How has it gone @ElvenDreamer , that sounded like a good plan. I started ok but then had a bakery treat on my Sparks card…sigh. I am away at the end of Feb, just looked at how many weeks I have, so tomorrow is a fresh start.
I have all the stuff for a smoothie bowl or might do a Bircher tonight, salad for dinner and need to plan for a lunch as I’m at work. Have oatcakes for snacks. Onwards and upwards.

Yesterday didn't end too badly thanks @Compelled , evening munchies reared it's ugly head in the shape of 2 cereal bars so that was at least an improvement on the day before!

Pilates yesterday was quite tough, instructor encouraging us to push ourselves, I am definitely feeling it today! Various achey bits lol. Did think I was going to have a rubbish day as been feeling a bit brain foggy and lethargic but pushed myself to make an effort and it's gone ok. Not much in the way of exercise as frankly too tired but I kept myself moving doing lots of little jobs etc in the time I wasn't working, so house is feeling pleasingly clean for the most part and I got quite a lot of steps in doing that I think.
Food today was:
Egg on toast
Oatcakes
Mackerel crudites (one of the LP books)
Smoothie
Beef and bean hot pot and spring greens
Cheese wrap

Hope everyone is ok. 🙂

Ah, saunter to end of week.
I'm a bit up in weight after too much celebrating but it's controllable and I'm back into good habits.
Walking more, getting back to regular workouts and food back on plan.

Should get to bed but I'm watching tinker tailor soldier spy.