The Livy Method Podcast - Spill the Tea - Spring/Summer 2024: Week 11

Episode Date: July 9, 2024

This is the live recording of the Spill the Tea session with Gina and Special Guests Warren and Melanie McNeil.You can find the full video hosted at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/livymethodspringsummer2024Topics covered:Welcome to Warren and Melanie!The start of their weight loss journey together.What brought you to the Livy Method? First program Spring 2022How do you keep showing up and following through all 91 days?How the Livy Method is different – Mindfulness and eating healthy food. You can follow The Program even if you’re a picky eater.How to support each other, all while focusing on individual journeys.Managing The Program in different places – other people’s reactions.The journey moving forward – no looking back, in it all the way to Disneyland.This is about health and wellness, not a diet.How Warren and Melanie stay motivated together – all the little things add up.Warren and Melanie give their tips.Find Warren and Melanie at teammcneil.comFollow our Livy Loser account on IG @LivyLosers and use #livyloserTo learn more about the Livy Method, visit www.ginalivy.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Gina Livy and welcome to the Livy Method podcast. This is where you'll have access to all of the live streams from my 91 day weight loss program. With a combination of daily lives, guest expert interviews and member stories, there is something new almost every day. Miss the morning live? Want to re-listen to one of our amazing guest experts? Well, this is the place. This podcast is hosted on Acast, but it's available on all podcast platforms, including the one you're listening to right now, Spotify, Apple,

and Amazon Music. summer runs, or playoff season meditations. Whatever your vibe, Peloton has thousands of classes built to push you. We know how life goes. New father, new routines, new locations. What matters is that you have something there to adapt with you, whether you need a challenge or rest. And Peloton has everything you need, whenever you need it. Find your push. Find your power. Peloton. Visit Peloton at onepeloton.ca.

Welcome to Spill the Tea. This community is so open and welcoming. People that don't even know you come in and say, you know, I've been there. I know how you're feeling. Hang in there. Losing weight, but gaining so much more. Welcome to Spill the Tea, where we have very real conversations with very real people about their very real, a lot of times personal and profound weight lossil. He is down 97 pounds. She is down 77 pounds. I want to talk to them about navigating their weight loss journey individually and together. And I also want to talk about how they have lost and gained before. What's different now? And talk about their passion for creating a permanent lifestyle.

Let's not waste one more minute. Let's introduce Warren and Melanie. Hi. Hi. Thank you for having us. Oh my gosh. Thank you for coming on. Couples who do the program together are my favorite. Honestly, before I even started the program, I used to work one-on-one with couples. The dynamic of working together can be truly really powerful, but it's a lot easier said than done because you're both working on your own individual journeys. So I want to really focus on that today, but I want to first say welcome. Thank you for taking the time. It's not an easy thing to sit up here in front of thousands of people and share your story. So thank you. Thanks for having us. You're welcome. Thank you for taking the time. It's not an easy thing to sit up here in front of thousands of people and share your story.

So thank you. Thanks for having us. Thank you for having us. Okay. So you, of course, both of you have your own sort of history with your weights that started, you know, in your younger years. And then, you know, you've maybe dabbled in, in, you know in dieting here and there. I know, Warren, you got really into exercising as a way of managing your weight. Melanie, what I really love about you is sort of your story is that your weight, although you've been doing diets, didn't really bother you all that much until a few years ago.

So when did your weight loss journey together start? Because you've been together for 25 years now right yeah so i would say that our first time we tried losing weight together was in 2015 so we were just both kind of fed up and that's when we did a different style of more of a very deprivation diet and a really um intense. And I took up, believe it or not, looking very much like I do today at all five foot tall and, you know, a lot of extra pounds kickboxing because why wouldn't you? And, and it was really, it was really actually fun. It was really fun, but it was really, really hard. And,

and we both did well, but it was unsustainable yeah right the diet itself was very restrictive totally restricted what we had to eat so we'd actually go to bed hungry we'd actually go to bed early because we were so hungry yeah just so we could get up the next day and eat again so yeah i'm like i'm starving i'm out yeah i'm going to bed, screw it, I'm done. Okay. So we know those starve, deprive, you can lose weight. You gain it back every single time. Let's talk about the Libby method. So how did you hear about the Libby method and why the Libby method? And then did you start together or did one of you start first? And then what's the story there? So a friend of mine who had suggested actually the deprivation diet and she'd done well on it, then several years later suggested the living method.

And she was she was enjoying your lives and everything. And I think that was the fall program of 2021. And then so I signed up right away and ordered the book for the winter of 2022, which I guess is the January start of the 2022 program. And so but we were in Florida and we were doing stuff. And Warren was like, I'm not interested in doing this while we were away. So I just sort of watched the I watched the lives and I got to know you and I instantly fell in love, of course, like everyone does. And I just thought there were so many great takeaways. I was texting with my girlfriend back, a different girlfriend back home. And I was saying, you know, we got to drink a lot more water.

Oh, we got to eat more often. And we got, you know, all the little things I was picking. And so we decided we would try it in the spring program. So we both signed up again. I sent her the code for the early bird, I think. And we both signed up for the spring 2022 program. And I said to Warren, we're doing the spring 2022 program. And all I ask because he's like, not really interested. But I said, all I ask is give me the 91 days, I'm going to give Gina the

91 days and I ask you to give me the 91 days. And just just stick with it. Like eat what I ask you to eat. And I won't you you know, I never make them. I never, I shouldn't say make them. I don't talk to him like that, but I never ask him like to eat things he wouldn't like. I know what he doesn't like. I know what he likes and, you know, I'll tailor it that way.

But I said like, just salads were a thing. I gotta be honest. Anyway, so I said, but just trust me for 91 days and let's see where it goes. And then my thought was, you know, it'll be amazing and we'll continue. And his thought was get me through this 91 days and then I can just get her to be quiet. So we did the 91 days of the spring program. Warren, I think you lost 40 pounds. Yeah. And I lost about 39 pounds and my friend lost 20 summer, almost 30 pounds. She actually moved herself into

maintenance. Um, and so it was really successful. And then we had the summer and then I'm like, okay, well, I've signed up for the September one. He's like, not interested. We were going to be going to Florida again. I was like, yeah, he's like, I'm not really into it. I'm sorry. I'm just not really into it. So I kept signing up because I felt like it was, if it was there, I knew it was there. And maybe I would just sit in the back of my head and but I wasn't really participating in those other groups, but I would sign up and I would watch the odd live and you know, and the guests and stuff. And I just felt like it was the least I could do for myself, knowing that I should be doing something to just be a part of the community, a little bit of a part

of the community. And it's so inexpensive, just it's just such great value that I just thought, you know, at least I'm going to do that. And then at least it's still on my radar. Okay. So I'm going to stop you right there because it makes sense now why you are so successful. First of all, Ward, I know you are a picky eater. I know you're a very picky eater. This goes back, you know, from early years. So I love that you're still able to follow through on the program, even though you were, you know, you're somewhat of a picky eater. I also love this commitment to the 91 days because people listening, people watching, they want to know that the secret sauce.

So I know there's a bit of a story with gaining weight back or whatnot, but I think that wherewithal to follow through and finish the 91 days, where do you get that from? Like a lot of people have a hard time committing to that, the 91 days. Where do you get that from? Like, a lot of people have a hard time committing to that the 91 days. So it's actually you. But also, you said, like, stick with the 91 days, like, I would hear you say it over and over again. And there's something that you say, each group, and you say it sort of, I don't know if it's like in the second or third week, when people sort of start to struggle, it seems, or like lose faith or things aren't going as quick.

And you say you'll just be surprised at what you can do if you can get to the end. And I would or something like that. I'm sure I'm paraphrasing. But, you know, like if you can get to the end, you'll just be proud of what you did. And you say even at the end, you know, you should be so proud that you stuck it out because so many don't. And I just sort of thought, you know what, like I'm not the world's greatest finisher in something sometimes, I think. And I thought that was really just something I wanted to finish. And it was true. I did feel a great sense of accomplishment when we made it to the end. I have each of the programs we've now done since we we finished as

well, like after we started again, but you'll get there of course. Yeah. Yeah. And two different camps. So Melanie, I love your commitment to, okay, I'm going to keep signing up. I know it's there. It's may not be my priority right now, but it's like there you're, you're, you're still kind of following or you're still engaged or you're still listening at least. And I have mad respect for that because I think that's still so beneficial. And then Warren, you went the complete opposite. You're like, just like, nope, did it done? Like I'm, I, what was your mindset there then? Because like I've done other diets before, like I've done, uh, as she mentioned that restrictive one, I've counted calories, um, points as well. So I thought, well, this is just another one of those type of diets. So I'll do it because you're so passionate about it. But really, I figure it's just like anything else, right?

And it's not until like, I have to admit, for that time that I did the diet back in 2022, losing 40 pounds in one program, I thought that's pretty good. And I'm like, well, I could just do that again in the future. And I just have to just keep doing that. But what I realized is that I did that before because Mel and I lost a lot of weight on the other restrictive diet as well. But we never seem to get back onto it. We tried multiple times. But for some reason, we just never seem to be able to get back at it so then this one here i believe is different because well we'll get to that i guess later when we talk about our later time but like bringing it forward to 2023 you know doing the past um how many was it three

yeah i can tell them what's different yeah yeah so she can tell you what's different so the very restrictive one yeah i think because we were so limited in what we could eat and it was so complicated that the mere thought of starting it over, like it was effective, but the mere thought of starting it over, we both would look at each other and go, like, I just don't think I can do it again. If I eat one more salad, like the shakes were disgusting, literally like, you know, I don't know what, right. Like I just thought I still, I still struggle with spinach. We had to drink these green tea shakes and I'm sure some people like those but I so we were like we we had we PTSD like we sort of jokingly say not not joking but you know what I mean that

we sort of it was so effective and yet so traumatizing that we couldn't go back to that so I think what his his point was like we did the 91 days, he was so successful. I took to that to mean he would be on board because he was so good at it. But Warren has this great ability of, I mean, like, just look at him. I mean, he just goes up and he can be the heaviest he's ever been.

And then he's like, right back down again. And it is remarkable and frustrating only because I think he sort of had this mindset that oh it's not that hard right like yeah 40 pounds yeah but it was opinion from what is different what is different let's let's go there for you okay what is different this time so uh much easier it's actually a few things like the drinking the water. Like to me, I feel like that's so important.

I never realized that before until I actually started drinking, you know, five gallons of water a day. I'm just exaggerating. But also like, you know, you say like I've heard you say it on some of your lives and whatever, like, you know, you pretty much you can eat what you want, but you have to be mindful. So I realized that too, like, you know, without getting into a lot of detail of like some of the foods we eat, we, these other diets say you could like, for example, when you're counting calories or you're counting points, you can eat pizza. But the problem is they don't tell you is that you can maybe eat one or two slices of pizza. And that's basically it.

Like, you know, you're not going to eat half a pizza or like Mel and I like would literally eat pizza and wings and beer. And, you know, that would sort of be a regular occurrence for us. But really, that's not mindful eating. That's not nutritious eating. And what I've learned with this particular, these last several programs is how to eat more healthy and actually enjoy it. And I think I've, I've done it consistently enough that, you know, adding in the leafy green salad, which believe me, like, if you know how fussy I am, like I, I was that annoying kid that would sit there for hours, just looking at the food on my

plate and say, you know what, I'm not eating that. And eating that and it just I yeah it's just I I was such a pussy this is anymore yeah and then the other day I had avocados so you know and that's something I've never had in my entire life he ate an avocado right yeah I I almost had to reintroduce myself yeah he ate an avocado so I think it actually helps so so those are a couple things the the water, the nutritious eating, you know, being mindful with, you know, making sure that I understand that I can have a piece, a slice of cake, like I had a slice of cake the other day. But I know that I can't sit and eat slice of cake, followed by an hour later, having more ice cream, and then followed later, you know, whatever, that's, that's what I mean by being different. And I think the easiest part about starting it again is, is that it isn't hard.

We eat all the time. We're never hungry. I say to people all the time, like if I took pictures of our food, like, and I'm sure that maybe I should be, you know, maybe, you know, the mind fleeting thing is a little bit challenging for me still, because I think I, I just, I, I struggle with that to be honest, a little bit, which I think is, I don't know, I think that might be normal. I'm not sure. But I struggle with that without with, you know, with what they look like, and what they feel like and stuff. I'm still I'm still really working on that. But I think the biggest difference is like, we are not starving, we don't have to go to bed, because we're so hungry and so miserable that, you know, rather than sitting here, you know, really, like literally hating life, and you go to bed instead, because you're so unhappy and hungry, you know, and that was what made us not be able to go back

to the other. And then that's what is completely different with the Libby method is that, you know, is that we just have, you know, we just, we are not hungry. We feel like we're eating all the time. And he has really like, you know, Warren has really done an unbelievable things in his, in, in opening up to liking things. Like he, he never thought he would like salad. He always said, I'll just always be eating them and secretly sort of not liking them. And I was, we were okay with that and he was okay with that, but he actually has really flipped a switch in his mindset, which he has like, he has an amazing mindset that goes both ways though. If you know what I like you know yeah but anyways that's it sorry sorry sorry don't go ahead i just wanted to say that i

she's been very supportive like with you know the preparation because on my own i'm not sure i would be able to you know have the wherewithal to do it all. So again, like, you know, she supports me and I like to think I support her as well, the same. And, uh, but yeah, I would say a big part of my success is, is Melanie as well. Oh, I love that. Okay. Let's get into that. But I do have to say there's, there's a big difference between doing what you need to

do and actually making change. That's going to lead to this permanent lifestyle. If you're looking for flexible workouts, Peloton's got you covered. Summer runs or playoff season meditations, whatever your vibe, Peloton has thousands of classes built to push you. We know how life goes. New father, new routines, new locations. What matters is that you have something there to adapt with you, whether you need a challenge or rest. And Peloton has everything you need, whenever you need it.

Find your push. Find your power. Peloton. Visit Peloton at onepeloton.ca. Okay, but let's get into, so I love where you are at. I just have so much mad love and respect for, for where you are at. Let's get into how you've done this together and the feels that come with that. So there's supporting, but there's also like, how do you find the fine line between focusing on yourselves and then supporting the other easy to do? Not so easy. What's

your experience been like? Well, we spend every waking minute together in business, in life and just everything. So we eat out together, we work together, we play together. So we're going to be together anyways, so we may as well do it right. So, you know, that's everything from going in the morning for the walk the run uh going out to a restaurant so we just have decided that we're gonna you know like especially like when we go to eat for a restaurant we want to make sure that we pick you know foods that are going to be you know good and nutritious for us so we've been mindful about that and then of course the exercise although we don't have the same kind of goals exercise wise we've been mindful about that. And then of course the exercise, although we don't have the same kind of goals exercise wise,

we've figured out like she'll go for her walk in the morning. I'll go for my run. And we say, we wave to each other going by, like you saw on the exercise challenge. So technically we're still together, but we're not actually like, you know,

walking side by side, but we're together. I like that. Yeah. Anyways, I love it. I love that. The difference is for me, I would say that. So having Warren on board is easier for me, because obviously, like it is just the two of us in our in our life and a couple of puppies. So, you know, our life is and we work together too. So we are very centered around each other. So when he's not on board, it's very challenging for me because obviously my willpower is not the greatest.

And so then when, you know, when we love to eat out and we love to make poor choices and eat bad food. So when he's not on board, although I should take control of my own health and wellness, absolutely. And I think I have learned that and will forward. I struggled with that before. So having him on board, that's the advantage for me is that it's a lot easier to do this when he's on board and eating what I'm eating, and I'm not

making food for you know, I really feel for like moms and other people that I see in the groups that you know, have to feed their family something different than what they eat, or they choose to or however that works, I would struggle with that. So I, that's, that's key for me, but we're at very different places. So I would say if I was going to say a struggle, the struggle is it just falls right off of him. And Warren only really gains weight in kind of one place, like kind of just around his middle. And so it's very noticeable. and I kind of am just like not to sound like I'm being cruel to myself but I'm kind of round like a ball and so I have an appearance I'm very short and I'm you know larger so to be honest it's hard to notice so that can be a little

disappointing and it's hard on both of us, actually, because he is so protective and such a cheerleader for me, that when they say like, holy cow, Warren, look at you. And he goes, look at her, you know, because I think he feels bad. And he shouldn't. And we've talked about it all the time. Like, I'm so proud of him. And he does so amazing. And he totally deserves it. And it's it's okay with me that they don't notice because I'm actually okay with it. But sometimes, you know, it's when they more look to me, and I feel like maybe they feel like I'm not doing it. Yeah. Because it's not as noticeable.

And then that hurts my heart. I make sure to say something for sure. Because it's sensitive, right? And I know as you get down to like more closer to your goal weight it's it's more noticeable um but like it's a it's unbelievable how much she's done in the the you know the short time that we've been doing this together so yeah well you know melanie i know you say like you feel for people like young moms and people are busy but you guys run a hugely successful real estate business in waterloo where you sell homes. So you're, I would imagine you're super busy and just like other people have a hard time finding time for yourself. How have, like, what's

the lifestyle you envision for yourself? Like, are you there yet? Are you on the road? Like what kind of, like how has this changed your life? Disneyland is a distant future that I'll maybe roll to crawl to. I'm not sure how I'll get there, but I will get there. But it's, it's further for me, frankly. So, so I'm going to continue, but you know, Warren is sort of at his end of his, he's at his end of his weight loss probably, but he's not sure yet, but then we're going to work together to make it. The way I look at it is I'm not at Disneyland yet,

because I need at least a year or two of solidifying and we want this to be maintenance, because to me, I've, I've gained the weight, like just after the first, uh, in 2022, I gained more weight than I had lost that. So I was actually like bigger than I was when I, when I started again. So I don't want to do that. So I that's, that's in my opinion, my Disneyland is not there yet. Okay. Let's talk about that. Yeah. You did your first program, crushed it. Yes. And then you gained the way back. Do you know why? Cause we're just,

we're just having that conversation with Ruth Kane. I don't know if you saw that specifically this morning because of me. We absolutely know why, because we were just having that conversation with Ruth Kane. I don't know if you saw. Yes. We were listening to that specifically this morning because of me. We absolutely know why. Because we have a saying. Like, we don't fall off the wagon. Like, we swan dive off the wagon. And then we turn the wagon down. Like, we drag it into the forest.

We burn it down. We torch the wagon. And we did that. There is no wagon. No. So, we know exactly what we did to gain it back and it is and yeah it is not being not doing any of the things including the water you know and that's i think what we've both discussed so much this time is now that we've done three groups consistently and we've been

super consistent and consistently lost and plateaued throughout but like not been super consistent and mindful of everything is that you know we're now we feel like we're too far to go and consistently lost and plateaued throughout, but like not been super consistent and mindful of everything is that, you know, we're now, we feel like we're too far to go back. Like we're not going to, we're going to be at a year when we sign up for that.

Like I'm already signed up for the September program. And so when we start that program, we will have done this consistently for a year. We have too much skin in the game now, I think to try and undo what we've done over the last year. And that's what's different, I think, because it's not going to happen. Previously, it was like, it's a one off,

we'll do the program. Okay, good. I showed I lost the weight. But this time, when I decided to get back on board again, and, and really sort of take it by the reins. We, it was just a whole different mindset. I had just turned 50. So I was, I had a thing way back in when I was 40 and I was called fit, fit by 40. And this time was supposed to be fit by 50, but I didn't do it fit by 50. So now it's fit while fit at 50 is what I am now. And that's what I want to stay at because, you know, I, I just, I just wanted to be healthier. And I think that's the difference. My mindset is, is a whole, it's just completely night and day difference. And that's why I want to be successful with the maintenance. I am very

nervous about maintenance listening this morning to Ruth. Like I, Dr. Ruth, I could, I basically, you know, I, I was waiting on every word on that, um, talk this morning, just because I wanted to make sure that I'm on the right track. And like she said, after I think it was five years, it was like a case study or something. And the people that maybe gained it back, what did they do? And I can't remember all the specifics of it. I don't want to get into that here. But it's just a lot of things there sort of resonated. We're looking at it as a health and wellness.

So when we started this again in 2023 in the fall, that was what we decided this is a health and wellness. It's not a diet. It's health and wellness. We're trying to level up, like you say all the time. And so really, you know, and for me, like just speaking for myself, Warren is very results driven and he's a man, right? So it's like, I'm going to drop this weight and then I'm going to be done and then I'm

going to do this and then I'm going to do this. Yeah. And that's how they are. For me, because it's a longer, I have a lot more weight to lose and it's a longer journey. For me, it was less about the weight and more about the health and wellness because otherwise the scale, it all just seems too hard for me. And because I've never, not too hard. I shouldn't say hard.

I just can't see the end. I don't know what the end game looks like. And so I've never been like I've been overweight my whole life. So I've never I don't have those genes to get back into or a weight that I was when I was married or any of those kinds of things. So I just I just want to stick with it. And then I'm just going to be happy with my body, how my body and, and go from there. And I'm, I'm really trying to keep calm, calm about it. And, and so far, I think it's pretty good. But she's done really good. As far as non-scale victories are concerned, like, you know, starting off like, um, with the challenges that we've done and, uh, the walking, she's increased her, like she walks six kilometers three times a

week yeah and that she wouldn't have done that before like and you know it is amazing what she's accomplished over just even just the last three months during this yes yes and you with your 5k you did a 5k you just did a 5k yep we did yeah we both did he signed me up for that which was delightful um because i could only walk three so then i had to train for this 5k because i'm committed to it now which he did on purpose by the way and then um and so i did but i was like the four kilometer the day i did four kilometers like a moment i was so mad because it's too slow and this and that and i was just so ticked off about the whole thing. And then anyway, so then I went, we did the five in early May and he ran it, of course, and I walked it, but now I actually walk six and he runs six. So it takes me twice as long,

but I have my own personal goals and that's just how, that's just how we do it, but it's all good. You guys seem very goal oriented. How do you stay motivated? How do you stay motivated? Is it a daily thing? Yeah. By doing stuff like that, by setting up the, like this year when I saw the, the opportunity to do that run, that was an opportunity that I saw your fitness challenge. Um, this for sure, this, this has been like, since we, you know, we got the message from you online, this has been very motivating. So I think all these little things have been helpful just to keep us, especially this program, to keep us motivated. And we're always looking for other, other things as well, just, and also personal, trying to do our personal best as well.

And, you know yeah and we're just I think too like we've just the self-talk has come in this time so we've been using that a lot I think actually Dr. uh Dr. on this morning was talking about that too you know I said to Warren like I think we need to start well for sure because he's he's kind of where he thinks he'll start to solidify so I said him, you need to stop thinking like he had, we used to joke that he has a menswear closet in his menswear store in his closet because he'd have every size. Right. And I said, I think it would be great for him to consider just thinking of himself as this size, the size that he's happy at. Like I now I am, you know, this height,

I am this weight, I wear this size, and, and then and really own it and remind himself, like we talked, like we don't eat after 630. And it's hilarious, because I'll be sitting on the couch, and I'll think, I'd like a little snack, then I think, seven o'clock, I don't eat after 630. Like, and I'm a grown woman, I could walk into my kitchen and get whatever I want. You know, it doesn't, nobody's gonna tell me at seven o'clock, and I can't eat something. But I've told myself that so many times because that's something that we started when we started the program

that we have not faltered in, I don't think at all. It's been very helpful. That we don't eat after 6.30. So I said, you know, maybe you should start, you know, talking to yourself like that so that it just becomes

kind of part of you. I don't know. Who you are. Part of you. Who you are. And really embracing who you are, especially when you've lost and gained, you lost your gain, lost your gain. That's very physical, but I really feel what the living method, like you said, there's a different, like I said, that's different between doing and actually making change. Those are, and then once

you've made the change, embrace yourself or you're going to crush maintenance just like you did with the weight loss program. 98%. That's one of the stats she didn't mention 98% of people who join the maintenance group, and I'm working on a maintenance program feel confident about being able to maintain and sustain their weight because of the because of how they've gone and lost the weight, not the physical what you're eating part, but that mental and that mindset part. So I'm going to have you guys back when you guys are in maintenance, you guys are going to come back. That's a goal. Okay. That's a goal. Yeah, that is a goal. That is a goal. I'm already manifest manifesting it. I can already see us having the conversation before we go. Um, what are your tips for other couples? Cause I know there's a lot

of people working together, um, in a couple situation. What is, what are, do you have any tips for, for, for that? Um, I think, I, I think for him, I just, I try to make it really easy for him. So back way back, way back, way back, you had the lady, um, the chef show us how to organize their fridge. Yeah. Yeah. And I still use those little containers. So I wash all my stuff and I shred all my lettuce and I put everything. And so then if I'm out showing houses or working or at another appointment and he's able to still put together something that's healthy rather than choosing something that's not so healthy or not eating more, more likely not eating to make it easy. So I would say like,

I find and I actually find that helpful for both of us. So for me, the biggest thing that's helpful for both of us is to have the planning and the prep and then always having our snacks and stuff with us because it's really hard. I'm sure we could make good choices out, but we tend to, I tend to feel it's easier to make a poor choice. And we feel better about making good choices if we can just eat what we have with us. So that would be that would be one of the things from from my perspective. Another tip for me with doing it with your husband would be to just, you know, still focus on your own because you're, you know, our journeys are so different. But, you know, we're pretty supportive.

I would say I was probably closed minded when I first did the first programs. My opinion was just get it done. And then we're done. Thank you. See you later. Goodbye. I think the difference now is being open-minded that this is not just something you can do for 90 days. It's something you should be doing for probably the rest of your life because we're not exactly the kind of people that can sit and eat cheeseburgers and pop. And, and, you know, so, so I think that there's the key there for, for me anyways, being supportive, being open-minded and then actually being supportive because then it just makes it easier. Cause if, if you're resistant to everything, cause I know people that I won't eat that or they're just, and that was me a hundred percent.

That was me. I was like, I'm not eating that. And even though I might not, the beauty of Mel is she will cater to what I like. So she knows that I don't like raw tomatoes or bananas or something like that, but she won't make me eat them, but she'll, I'll, we'll find something that will work just as good. And, and that's the thing. And I think that's supporting each other and understanding each other's kind of weaknesses.

Cause we know each other like books is we're completely together all the time. And we know, we know those things. And I think that's what made it easy for us as a couple to work together and also being mindful of the limitations of each other. Like, well,

she doesn't want to go for a run, right. Where I might not want to respecting each other's journey. I'm not a swimmer. I don't really care to go swimming. So I, she likes swimming. I don't really do that. But she's respectful of that, that I don't really care for that. And just understanding... Finding things that work for both of us. Finding things that work for both of us. Finding common ground. I love that. I love it. Well, it's not easy to

work together as a couple on something that's very individual. You are inspiring as a couple truly, but even more so individually. Honestly, here's Jessica saying what a lovely team you both are. They are Team McNeil. So if you are in the Waterloo region and you are selling your home, you can work with them. All you have to do is go to teammcneil.com. I'm Team McNeil.

I am totally Team McNeil.com. I'm team McNeil. I adore you. Here's another one from Debbie. Thanks, Warren and Melanie. You're a wonderful couple. And that was a great ability. Truly. Thank you guys so much for joining me today. If you have time, I would definitely hit the comment sections in the group. Lots of people really appreciative of you sharing your story and really enjoyed this conversation today. I'm not saying goodbye. I'm going to say see you later because you are going to be back to share your maintenance journey with us. So thanks so much for joining. Thank you. Thank you so much. It was so great seeing you. We really appreciate it. Thank you. Thanks. Amazing. Thank you. Oh my gosh. Right. Come on. I am small. I just, like I said, working with couples is my

favorite because I truly know beyond just making all these changing changes, what an impact it can have on them personally and their lives together. Right. I think sometimes when you pull apart and you work on yourselves individually, it makes you come together like stronger and better than ever. And also makes you realize how and why you fell in love with the person to begin with, which is why I'm smiling ear to ear. I adore them. We're going to see more of them because when they reach maintenance, we are definitely going to have them back.

Okay. So we're not done this week. Kim and I are going to get together on Wednesday for the tweak this week conversation. We're going to obviously focus on personalizing the plan, sneak peek into next week. We're going to talk about next steps. We're going to kind of touch a little bit on maintenance, which of course we're introducing next week.

We're also going to talk about our Bridging the Gap Summer Club that we're going to share more information about tomorrow. And of course, on Thursday, we're having Dr. Dina, Dr. Olinka, and Dr. Beverly join me for a super fun panel. We're not going anywhere. We're here for a while. Make sure you follow through on all 91 days of the program. I'll be here all week. I will see you around.

Thanks for joining me today. And a special thanks to Warren and Melanie.