Louise Parker fans - fancy another spin?

[BatFaceOwl]

I've set up a new thread because I'd just lost track of the last one and well .. we all love a fresh start dont we?

For accountability purposes, I've put back on all the weight I lost last year. Every single lb

Currently a chubby size 14 and well, I'm not happy about it

I don't know why I lost focus but I do know I really really want to get back on the horse and I'd love to see my old pals on here

Anyone welcome of course / let's do this!

Just looking into the Zoe study, it's fascinating. @BatFaceOwl are diet recommendations sent to you by the Zoe team or have you researched that yourself?

I did a weigh in this morning, have lost 2-3 lbs (my scales are old and rickety so hard to be precise but going in the right direction!)

Food plan for today:
Oat bran porridge
Three bean salad
Chicken & chorizo stew

@Porkyparker not quite like that. I'm still following Louise parker of course (all hail the GOOD vanilla paste!)

No, you have your blood and poo (nice) analysed after some tests. From this, you then know how your blood sugar is, how your body handles fats in the blood when you eat and the diversity of your microbiome

And then, every single food out there is personalised to you based on the results of the above

For ease, each food goes between 0-100. For me, kale is a 100 food that I can eat freely (hurray) and goats cheese scores 68 for me so I can eat that in moderation.

Watermelon is a 2 scoring food which surprised me. Banana is 38

But for you, this could all be flipped around as it's personal

Badly explained I know! But that's the gist. Honestly would recommend anyone do it as it's cutting edge science - the downside is it's very expensive

@OriGanOver common sense eating really tbh! So I'm just ploughing on but upping the veg.
Common sense I suppose

Having a smoothie for breakfast

Baby spinach, frozen berries, soya milk, almond butter

Just had a snack of plain cashews, strawberries and a can of kombucha

Trying to work up to going swimming but I'm not sure this will happen

Quick question....has anyone tried the oat bran porridge?

I made it this morning according to the recipe in the Lean for Life book - 2 tbsp oat bran to 1.5 cups milk. It was awful, like unappetising soup after about 15 mins of simmering to no avail. I was so sorry I wasted some of my GOOD vanilla in it!

Later I noticed that the Lean for Life cookbook has a different ratio of oat bran to milk - 8 tbsp to 3 cups milk (for 4 people).

Does anyone make the porridge - assume the second recipe is correct? Although I might just go back to bircher for tomorrow but quite like the idea of having a warm breakfast occasionally

Hi @Porkyparker I've made it a few times and found the same as you. I cook it longer than recommended so it's a bit thicker and then add in some chopped fruit and nuts. Its not an outright swap for normal porridge but I like it now. Guess you could just reduce the milk too.

So I'm about 2.5 weeks in and apparently down from about 10st 12 to 10st 4. First weigh in was peak PMS bloat so it's not as much it sounds but still pleased. I've largely stuck to it and haven't felt like I'm depriving myself. I'm also sleeping better and more energy which is why it started in the first place.

I make the porridge . I don't use milk and kind of just gauge how much water to use by eye. It's a lot less than the recipe though. I tend to soak it overnight with an apple chopped up in it and in the morning microwave for 2 mins, stir , add frozen fruit and maybe more water then microwave for 2 more minutes ish.

@TheMildManneredMilitant check you out! Well done 👍

Morning all,
@BatFaceOwl that blood test sounds really interesting, who would have thought that water melon would be a 2!
Well done @TheMildManneredMilitant , it's so satisfying when you can see the plan working.

Ok I have an admission to make. I'm struggling, had a couple of really bad days foodwise, (again.) full on disaster sprees. I think there is something I need to try, hear me out: I have to plan the food, shop for the food, cook the food, hear endless questions all day from children about food, eat the food, clear up after the food...then in my spare time I come on here and talk about food...see where I'm going?! I need to refocus my mindset. So, I am going to stay in here, but I'm only going to catch up once a week if you'll all let me, I don't want to be anti social but I need to change something somewhere! I need to find some minutes in the day where I think about something else, so that is going to be my main focus for the up coming week. I'll come back next weekend, catch up on all you amazing people and let you know how I've done. Hopefully my report will contain more gardening and a lot less gin and cheese 😬

I soak it overnight and gauge it, and use the microwave. I do use milk, the apple overnight sounds nice.

Good luck elven 🙏

Totally hear you el@ElvenDreamer . Been there and taking a break is helpful. See you on the other side!

Good luck @ElvenDreamer - the thread should be a help and not a hinderance. I understand where you're coming from, I'm totally responsible for food planning, shopping & cooking in the house and its bloody relentless.

Thanks for all the porridge feedback, I will give it another go

@TheMildManneredMilitant brilliant progress, I had the same starting weight as you

I find posting on the thread keeps me accountable and in 'the zone' until good habits hopefully bed in

Todays food:
B: Apple & cinnamon Bircher
L: 3 bean salad (like this as its quite easy to make double portion and it lasts well until the following day)
D: Chicken, Chorizo & Chickpea Stew again. Will make rice for kids & DH, Call rice for me. Will make a mango fro-yo for dessert - Jamie Oliver recipe but pretty much on plan with the exception of some biscuit crumbs

@ElvenDreamer i think there’s a lot to be said about not thinking about dieting for a while. We’ll be here - duck in and out when you need us.

I’m struggling a bit too. I’ve had a pisser of a week - work is terrible and my dad’s been ill. I’ve had a horrible cough which is keeping me up and I’m just sort of eating what I fancy. I’m currently drinking wine and there’s a baked potato in the oven.

It is what it is. I’ve bought salad stuff and was going to batch cook a chicken, chorizo and chickpea stew tomorrow and wobble my way back into the circle.

@TheMildManneredMilitant well done!

Hi everyone - I am starting the 6 week plan today so hope I can join! I have dabbled in the past but haven't done properly or for a while. Aiming to do 12k steps and 20 mins workout each day (and build up latter) - had long covid for 18m so lets see how I do.

Day started well:
20 min LP workout and meditation before work
Breakfast - fat free greek yoghurt, apple and tbsp muesli
Lunch - lots of salad/veg, avocado, piece marinated chicken, piece of salmon.

Debating whether to allow myself a can of coke zero each day..... On one hand it's on the 'no' list and full of nasties, on the other hand, it is available in the fridge at work and so tasty!!!

Hi all, hope everyone is having a good few days

I'm keeping on keeping on here. I had a couple of small excursions outside the circle at the weekend but nothing too bad.

I'm trying to be quite strict this week as I know this weekend will be tricky due to a bank holiday here (with a parade, guess where I live ), family visits and general celebrations

At the weekend I cooked the pork with mustard sauce from the LFL cookbook, highly recommend, the sauce felt like a real treat and my kids loved it too!

I managed to successfully make the oat bean porridge yesterday in the microwave, thanks for the tips. Ate it with the leftover apple sauce from the pork dish

Hello all. Will catch up on your news shortly

Food times for today (after a dodgy couple of days)

Greek yogurt, almond butter, passion fruit, plum, strawberries, mixed seeds

Green apple and peanut butter

Wholemeal roll with halloumi and salad, orange wedges, mixed nuts

Spinach and goats cheese salad with tomatoes, pine nuts and home made olive oil dressing

Food for today

Lemon & blueberry butcher with flaked almonds. Milky coffee

Salad with lettuce, brocolli, crispy prosciutto, boiled eggs & lemon and mustard dressing

Turkey steak with shallot & mustard sauce, sautéed lettuce & peas and cannelini beans

Snacks have been:
Ryvita, almond butter & apple
Blood orange & 12 Almonds. Decaf milky coffee

Exercise 15000 steps & 20 min dumbbell workout

*bircher!!

Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing well. I've been sick with an awful virus since last week but started on Monday anyway and have stuck to Parker foods but just haven't been able to do the workouts, or move much at all really, which is annoying.
Today's food (I'll spare you three days worth of food):
B: Vegan chocolate bircher with raspberries (had blueberries instead and coconut yoghurt instead of soya))
L: Salmon and salad
D: Mexican chicken and salsa
Snacks: apple and sunflower seed butter and cinnamon chips and choc dip (used a can of coconut milk left in fridge overnight to make the dip).

I'll try and catch up on all your posts xxx

Hi all, slinking back for a weekly check in, it looks like some amazing food is being made by you all, I definitely need to up my snack game, I'm sure that would help me.

Well I basically crashed and burned this week. Monday started well and I focused on organising my time better which helped, did some LP exercises and pilates, got all by steps in and ate well. By the evening was really struggling with fatigue and fell into the trap of eating crap to try and stay awake. Became clear quite quickly I'd come down with something and spent the next 3 days feeling awful and eating all kinds of rubbish too, then youngest child came down with a horrendous case of chicken pox so it's all been a bit of a disaster and honestly I just stopped trying.

Have pulled myself back together today, everyone's feeling better, been for a run, had a good breakfast so hope to report back with a more successful week next weekend 😂

Oh no @ElvenDreamer ! That's rubbish. Do you think you had chickenpox working on you ? I had it mildly when my wee one had it and felt much as you described!
Hope you are feeling better.
I'm having a wee holiday this week so hoping to get plenty of walking in and ideally a few rounds of LP exercise. No idea how food will work out. Trying to be vaguely on method but I've been driving most of the day so steps are low!!

@ElvenDreamer what a week, at least you are through it now

@Megasaur5keeper enjoy your holidays!

I've had an ok-ish few days, have managed to keep meals on Method but have also indulged in a few off plans treats. Hopefully not too much damage done
Scales now at 10st 7 (started at 10st 12) so I'm happy with that.

Some meals I've enjoyed have been: Bircher made with some added desiccated coconut & served with mango & passionfruit.

Sausage casserole with tomatoes, peppers & mixed beans

Roasted red peppers stuffed with turkey mince mix & topped with feta (Joe wicks recipe on bbc good food)

Thai style chopped chicken & veg salad with a spicy peanut dressing

Thanks @Megasaur5keeper and @Porkyparker , little one STILL off school, it's ridiculous, I've never seen such a bad bout, hoping to get him back tomorrow. It's really thrown me though, I have literally zero coping mechanism outside of comfort eating apparently to deal with an unexpected change in my routine. It's quite pathetic and I'm really cross with myself.

On the upside I did last night make myself prepare a proper breakfast for today and am now sitting here enjoying the vegan chocolate and raspberry bircher, it's so good, if you've never tried it, make sure you do at some stage! (Albeit mine is not vegan as I always have quantities of homeade yogurt in the fridge that I make for free so am not going to buy soy yogurt...) Pilates class soon and that always helps me get back on track. That roasted red peppers recipe sounds good @Porkyparker , I may need to check it out, I like stuffed peppers.

Hope you're having a good holiday @Megasaur5keeper, lots of walking sounds good.

Poor wee poppet. Sounds miserable for you all. Are you feeling ok?
The chocolate raspberry Bircher is delicious.
How do you do yogurt? I feel my plastic consumption is hugely yogurt fuelled and would like to reduce.
Hol is good so far and I got 18000 steps in yesterday. No other exercise though which is not great but lots of sleep. Food somewhay random and unsatisfying .

I do that now and still can't lose weight!!