The Livy Method Podcast - When weight loss novelty wears off.

Episode Date: May 20, 2026

You hit your goal weight. Now what?In this episode, Gina Livy and Maintenance group Manager Odette get into the reality of why staying engaged after weight loss can feel harder than losing the weight itself. When the excitement wears off and the scale stops moving, it’s easy to wonder: why should this all still matter to me?This conversation is about the mental shift required to maintain your weight and truly make it stick. It’s about the fatigue that shows up when the novelty fades and how maintaining your weight is actually where the real work begins. If you’ve been feeling disconnected, unmotivated, or questioning why you’re still putting in the effort now that the scale has settled… this one’s for you.This episode aligns with day 31 of our Spring 2026 maintenance program. You can find the full video hosted at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ginalivymaintenanceandmindfulnessTo learn more about The Livy Method and our Maintenance & Mindfulness group, visit livymethod.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm going to be honest with you, this podcast is unapologetically a hot mess because that is what midlife feels like sometimes. Why, though? And how do we make it better? Do we all just need facelifts and JLP ones? I mean, let's talk about it. No bullshit, no wellness wankery here because we're trying to make real change and change is hard. But we're in this together. Welcome to the Living Method podcast.

Oh, hello. I just want to say how much fun it was to go live last night. Yes. And again, though I totally fucked it up and went live in the weight loss group for sitting there. I'm like, oh, there's like nobody here. What's going on?

And I was like, wait, am I in the right place? And then I'm like, because I messed up Monday too. I was supposed to stream into the maintenance group. Anyway, it was so fun. I love talking maintenance. I love, so I couldn't catch last night's live what was happening. I was at an event with my daughter, but I listened to it on the drive home.

And I love that like these comments and these conversations and these questions bring up so much for our members. So like you're having this conversation live on Tuesday night. And then today we're seeing that trickle effects, right? We're seeing the members like, oh, yeah, I didn't think of that. Oh, I'm feeling this way too. Oh, my goodness. It's like all these like little aha moments that are happening.

from these conversations. I'm also loving this Tuesday night live. Yeah, well, I shared yesterday how like the weight loss program went off on the whole like intentions versus to do's list. And that was a conversation that started in our maintenance. I'm sure you heard the one about the woman saying like, why are we doing these same things again in maintenance? Like we get that a lot, right?

We know it's confusing. But also it's not. It's it's, it's super, super effective when, because people used to do another round of the weight loss program to solidify their weight. And all of the language is geared towards maintaining and sustaining your weight. So I said, you know, you've got to make sure you're actually reading it, not just assuming it's the same old shit from the weight loss program because it's not. You know, and that's why this week it's not just downsizing, but self-determination, right? Like this is really like, what are you here to do?

What do you got to get out of it? You know yourself best at this point. And this is like, this is a whole maintenance is a whole other like, level. It's a whole other can of worms, if you will, right? It's a whole other beast. And you really need to see it as that, I think. And I think we said this maybe way back in prep week or maybe it was even in the winter. I can't remember when we said it. But the tweaks that we're doing are really catalyst to help fast track this, this period of maintaining and solidifying your set point. Really, that's what the tweak is. It's catalyst for something bigger. The tweak is

here to mess with your mind. It's here to get you thinking. It's here to get you feeling the feels. It's here to help you go through those first sooner, maybe than they would become if you're just trying to do it on your own. You know, downsizing is is uncomfortable. And you're going to, you're going to run into uncomfortable things as you live your life. So maybe if we can help build that skill now, that self-determination, that self-efficacy by using this tweak of downsizing, that's what word that's the intention that's the goal not to get the scale to move with downsizing but to help those fields and to fast track that two years solidifying your set point yeah target that we know exist you don't want to fuck it up yeah you don't want to gain your way back again you don't so

let's get real let's have honest conversations dig your fucking heels in let's go already like show up for maintenance like you did when you were trying to move the dial on the scale right and if you're not motivated what's going to make you motivated that's where you really got to get into that I know you had a whole plan for today, but there was a couple questions that popped up that you wanted actually to discuss because I'm all about let's have the current conversation in the moment, right? So what do you want to talk about? Yeah. So I did. I thought, oh, I wanted to talk about downsize. I want to talk about self-determination. But right before I came on today and I'm so happy that Sue is here, I just saw her say, it's so nice to see you both live. I saw her comment in the group and literally three minutes ago and I said, we've got to talk about this. So Sue said, can we talk about the old diet mindset that still has me wanting to binge? when I downsize even a little, totally not hunger related, but completely in this crazy head of mind. Am I alone in this? No, not alone at all. You know, it's interesting because I was in the

weight loss program with Kim this morning. And we are talking about downsizing going through the tweak. And some people are like, am I just a slow learner. Like I am just, I've done nine programs and I'm just now starting to feel in tune. And you know, it's interesting because like, we know that people had a Weight Watchers membership for like 20 years, right? And I think because we have these like 91 day live sessions, like people kind of see it differently. And, you know, like I don't think, can you bring that back up? Again, I want to just kind of drew like I want to just go through this piece by piece. That old diet mentality mindset is not just dieting, right? That's being raised by clearing your plates, you know, if you're hungry, waiting until dinner, like being forced food that

you didn't even like, didn't make you feel good. And then then you layer dieting on top of that. And it's very restrictive. Like also, how, what's your relationship with food growing up? Did you treat? Were you like, oh, you're such a good girl. Here's a treat. You did so well in gymnastics.

Here's let's celebrate with a treat. Like, we use food for so many things. So it's not just that old diet mentality wanting to binge when you downsize. is like that rebel against it. Or I said today, are you actually hungry, right? Because when you are leaving a few bites less, like, there's days you can downsize and not even be hungry, like physically not hungry. But in your mind, you're stressing because, oh, my God, am I hungry? And so is it physical?

Because it says completely in this crazy head of mind. So that might be the problem. Are you physically hungry or is this mentally hungry, right? Like can we talk about how the old diet mindset still has me wanting to binge when I downsize even a little, totally not hunger related, completely in this crazy head of mine. Am I alone in this? And this is where the tweaks, like this is food noise. And this is where with the tweaks each week and why it's so important that they're familiar yet. challenging at the same time, this is like, this is getting in there, interrupting that and rewiring

that and that sense of awareness. So not only are you not alone in this, this is it, right? You can absolutely change your brain. It's challenging. But here you are. And this is the process. I think Sue, you're seeing in real time how you are challenging and rewiring your brain. Like, this is what it's all about, if you ask me. Yeah. And I think this play, you know, we, we, are in this place of reprogramming, of rewiring, of having these different thinking patterns, these different thought patterns. And this is what it takes. It's working. It's recognizing and it's accepting it. I think also this bit like this wanting to binge could be coming from a place of when she talks old diet mentality, this place of where you were starving before. You were yeah before.

And if I don't eat enough, I don't want to go back to that feeling. I'm supposed to not be doing that. So why am I doing that? Where is that coming from? If I don't binge, I'm going to be starving. So I don't want to be starving. Nobody wants to feel like that. I don't want to feel like I'm on a diet. So I'm going to eat more. I'm going to binge because I don't want to have that feeling. It's that it's that I don't want to say trauma, but it's that past experience coming back. That's what you know. That's what you understand. Until you reprogram that, to you reprogram that hunger is something that you have a choice in hunger as well. I think. You know, when you're on these restrictive diets, you don't have that choice. You don't. You're conditioned to believe you have to be hungry. You have to be deprived. That is what's going to help you be successful, where now you have the choice. You don't have to be hungry.

You don't have to live in this place of deprivation. You didn't to get to this point and you don't need to do that now. And I think it's that fear of not, not, you know, believing it yet or being comfortable in that place yet. So, yeah, I'm tired of being star. I'm worried about I'm going to be starving later. I don't want to do that. Let me just eat more than I need to. Well, if I can speak directly to Sue, because Sue's been showing up.

She's doing the work. This is the layers and the layers and the layers uncovering that, right? Like working through that, you have your aha, ha, ha, ha, moment. That's what psychology is. You go and sit with a therapist. You, they help you bring to light what you're doing. so you can be like, well, shit. I didn't know that.

And then once you see it, you can't unsee it. And I can take a while before you change the behavior, right? But you don't know what you don't know yet. And I think this is you, to your point, you probably were starving before, like actually were actually starving when you did those diets. So this is like the same but different. It can be that triggered. Downsizing is meant to be triggering like it is, right?

It's meant to be triggering, but is it the same. as what you did before when you were actually starving. And but your brain can react it in the exact same way. And that's why I'm always such a big stickler on deeper level of understanding. You really want, and that's why I said last night, you want to know what you're doing and why. Like have a really good grasp on that to really like really get into that. So I think that is, yeah, exactly, right? That's exactly it.

That's the, that's the peeling away of the layers. God, fuck, I love this fucking conversation. And, you know, I think it's important that Sue said, too, am I alone in this? Absolutely not. Like you said, no, you're not alone. So many people are still struggling with this. They're like, oh, I thought I was downsizing so my scale would move or I'm downsizing. Why is my scale not moving? And, you know, that again is also part of that diet mentality where less food means a reward on the scale. Less food. Oh, I'm going to be hungry. That must mean I'm being successful. So no, you're not alone in that. And that's exactly what we're trying. to work through, that reprogramming that we need to happen, that realization that, you know, yes, these weeks are going to mess with your mind. They're going to bring things up and we're going to, that's what we need to work through. Well, this is like it's a reflection of life. This is not weight loss or even maintenance. This is like life, right? This is something you need to work through. And listen, it's part of your history and who you are and how you got where you are and how you

think and how you feel, obviously. And I'm really big on this thing right now. Like weight loss was our in. maintenance is our mission here but everything you're doing like when you when you show up in this place to help solidify your weight it's probably in very similar ways that you show up in other areas of your life and this is that ability to look back and track like when was the first time i felt like this like if you can grasp that feeling of deprivation or wanting to binge can you remember back to the first time that you felt like that right because that that, I mean, that's the kind of, that's like the depth where we're going. It's this weight that we have carried, which, you know, has created these issues and

association. And this is the stuff that we're working through. This is like, you know, what's interesting is nobody is talking about this because one, people don't professional give people enough credit to be smart enough to their own. Don't have us to some of the guest experts in the conversations. And you don't have the openness that we have like through obviously, you know, Ruth Kane and her research and all the conversations we've had in members of maintenance, but also the conversation, the questions and the conversation that's created here in the group has created this like a kind of like next level conversation that nobody in the whole

world, not even Oprah and all of our guest experts are having, right? Like this, this is, this is truly what it takes to be able to maintain and sustain your weight. Here's Pam. I need help to figure this out. I have no problem not eating sweets, either candy or baked goods when I'm trying to move the scale. But in maintenance, I find it harder. I let in the bites and bits. I knew going into the program at the very beginning that this phase would be the most difficult for me.

That's my mission too. Okay. So depending on where you are at in your maintenance journey. So you really want the body to adjust to your new weight without you challenging it, right? Like you want your hormones, your insulin to adjust, your hunger hormones to adjust, everything to adjust to your new weight. And when you do things that cause them to go out of whack and stress and chaos,

this is why I want to get back on, back and then like really be routine. Like that's, that's, we want to do same but different intention, right? And that's why doing the same routine, it's very familiar to the body. It's low stress. So it really allows all the mental stuff to come to light. Your body's been through this routine. Like what's the point of doing it again is that you've done it so often. It is so routine for the body.

still has its benefits, but it's that mental piece that you are trying to figure out. So there is actual, like if you are craving sweets, drink your water, right? Like if you're craving carbs and sugar, drink your water. If you're actually hungry, make sure you're making your food choices as nutrient as possible. If you're reaching for the chips and salty foods, you're probably stressed, bump up your omega-3, like those same foundational thing. So is it an environmental thing, right? Is it a coping mechanism thing, like chips and wine are my go-to, you know, whenever I'm stressed.

Perfect. You know, example. So that's where you have to see, like, what's that about? Is there a physical reason? And then what is the mental part of this? So this is where your intention behind doing the maintenance program, like, gosh, darn it, I'm going to do everything I can to give my body time to adjust to my weight. And you really want to minimize any challenges.

It takes two years, two years for your body to adjust to your new weight when you are just, that's out there in the outside world, right, counting, weighing and measuring, haphazardly, whatever. This is all a method for, like, solidifying that sooner rather than later. But your journey is your journey. And if you're struggling, your struggle is part of it. What does it work for you? Why do you keep doing that, right? Why can't you just show up and do what you need to do?

What's going on? I think that the part that I love about this comment from Pam is she says, I'm finding it harder. I'm finding it harder. So why are you finding it harder? I think this is where the mindset piece needs to go. Because when you were on your weight loss journey, it was easier not to do those things because you were on a weight loss journey. Well, your maintenance is also your weight loss journey. This is also part of it.

So if you want to reframe that thinking, maintenance, I'm not coasting here. Maintenance is not coasting. The maintenance program is not coasting, just trying to maintain my weight. It's also part of your weight loss journey. So do the things that you need to do. get through this. If that's how you have to reprogram and rethink of it, rethink it, that this is also part of that journey. So if you find it easier in weight loss, like, okay, I'm trying to lose weight. So I can say no to the candies and the baked goods and all

of those other things that I maybe feel like I can say yes to now. But why? Why do you feel like you can say yes to it now? Because this is still part of that whole journey. We're still trying to, yes, we've hit that number on the scale, but we're still trying to solidify this, this body, this lifestyle, this who you are. So that is not done yet. The journey wasn't done when you hit that number on the scale. So let's continue to reframe it. I'm going to continue to do the things I need to do because I'm not done yet.

I'm not done. That number on the scale didn't mean I was done. Yeah, whereas before you were being rewarded. You were going after something, seeing that scale move. When you did move, you got that dopamine hit. and it kept you going. And let's face it, like the novelty wears off, right? But how do we, then there is something to be said about novelty. So how can we make this fresh and new? How can we stay motivated? What is your why? Like, is there a layer on top of this that will get you excited?

What's going to make you excited to be here? You know, that so you won't die, honestly, from a heart attack or, you know, health issues that you have, like whatever that. Like, that's what's motivating me lately. Turning 53. I'm just like it feels so surreal. And what am I doing? I want to be my healthiest, happiest, like, I'm tired of fucking around already, you know. And there's reasons. Menopause made things really hard for me and, you know, people died and, you know, there was a lot going on. So I'm on this thing where like Tony's like, wow, shit, you're getting like, wow,

what's going on? What's got into you? You're up early every morning. You're drinking, my drinking my water. You're exercising. And I'm like, I'm tired of it. And I don't need to lose weight, right? Like, that's what I want to say.

I am in maintenance. I am someone in maintenance right now doing the program because I just, although I was able to maintain my weight, didn't really feel great. I'm at the higher end of my weight. I just wasn't happy with the choices that I'm making. So I am doing the program myself because I'm just fucking tired of being tired. And so that's what's motivated me, right? I'm not motivated to lose weight.

That's not it. I'm just fucking tired feeling like shit every day. And this gives me structure and this gives me like a rhyme. I'm going to reason for focusing on myself and doing that. So I'm really like into it. What do you need to do? How can you look at it so you can be just as into it, right? Because it's the same things you're,

this is about this is about getting in tune with yourself. This is a being in the moment. Make choices that work for you. Understand what doesn't work for you. Like beyond the maintaining your weight, it's so much more than that. So how do you make it resonating to you? Which is why it can feel harder in maintenance because you, you're more confident.

You don't have to lose the weight. There's, there's not the payoff. There's not the excitement or the dopamine hits. Like I get my dopamine hit from going to bed early and waking up the next day and being like, wow, I actually slept. Look at me. You know, so you have to be really intentional about that. So what, so why, the question is for you, why is it harder? So what about it is harder? And that's the work there for you. Yeah. Why is it harder? Is it the mindset? Is it, you know, the way you look at your journey? Is it, you know, getting into those deeper layers, like you said, those fresh eyes.

What is it? And yeah, what is the reward? You know, I think if we still have that reward tied to it and there is no reward, we had another member say that she had a horrible week. I don't even know why I'm still here. Just being honest. And, you know, she had a horrible week. Maybe she wasn't seeing those glimmers, not seeing those rewards.

So why, yeah, why are you still here? You know, what is keeping you here? why do you want to keep coming back? And in the moment, it can be easy not to know the answer. It can be easy to say it's, you know, been a horrible week. I just want to give up. I just want to be here and sorry, not be here and just wallow and let those emotions take over and let that feeling take over. But I think, you know, by saying like, I don't even know why I'm still here, you're trying to figure it out.

Like you're trying to figure out what that means because if you weren't, you wouldn't. you wouldn't have said that out loud. You wouldn't have shared that. Yeah, because it's a place that you can do that. Yeah. It's exactly the, that's fair. You know, this is where I'm restructuring the membership, right? Like, it's kind of like if you did Weight Watchers and then you added these live

91 day motivational sessions, except it was a maintenance program and then you add these live 91 day motivational sessions. This is one of the reasons we created our membership with the ad because your journey isn't just 91 day sessions. It's all day, every day, ongoing. And now that you're in maintenance for the rest of your life. And you've heard me say this. I've maintained my weight for 30 years.

There are times that I'm at the higher end, lower end. It ebbs and flows with life and what I got going on. I am very confident in my abilities to not gain 100 pounds back because I'm so self-aware that I recognize, even when I'm having a pity party and I'm like, oh, the fuck is the point. I'm still in like, put your big girl panties on, Gina. Let's go. Enough is enough. like, you know, get your head out of your ass, let's go.

Like, that's the kind of self-awareness. And so this, the reason why you're here is that this is the place to do that, to have these conversations, right? Like that, that is it. And there are times in your life where you're motivated to do things in times in your life where you're not. And that's what, I think this is what the living method is about and our community is about and our membership is about.

It's, it's, they have membership for mom. They have mom groups. They have business groups. groups. Where's the just trying to fucking figure out your life and survive groups? Right? Like, really? And want to, and want to better yourself. Not that there's anything wrong with you, but I want to better myself. I want to grow and I want to evolve and I want to learn. And so, yeah, so that the fact that she took the time to write that in the group is like, I'm in love with that. That's why. Yeah. And sometimes you're just holding on by the skin, like by a thread.

sometimes you're just like and it's easy to it's you know it's easy to do this when things are easy you know it's easy to wake up feel good do the things you need to do when everything is falling into place and it's these times when things are not falling into place these times where you're feeling challenged

and you're feeling held down and you're feeling pulled back even this is when it's that's the time that to come into the group or to share with the member to share with the community, to open up the app, to get these words down. This is where this, why this is important here, whether you've been, you're just starting with us or you've been with us for a couple years.

When it's easy, it's easy. When it's not easy, this is when you have to come back and ground yourself here. Not even in the program, if you're beyond the program, but ground yourself in the community and in the space to be able to have these, these acknowledgments and these moments of recognition. Yeah, so good. I'm just reading the comments. Judy, I lost my Weight Watchers lifetime pass because I gained five pounds when my dad died. Like, right? So fucked up. Well, I'm glad you lost your lifetime pass because now we're here with the year. Yeah, well, right, right? And then she's like, I just looked back at my weight graph this morning and it was really interesting to see that a few

ups and downs relating to travel or holidays. I've maintained the same range since August of 24. So super freaking proud of myself for that before I was just really ticked off. This is what nobody is. That's so fucked up because that five pounds would be so probably not a weight game. Lackously. It's like, you know, all of that? Like your body was just in a state of trauma and grief would be so normal. And like that should there should be a reinforcement there. You should get a medal, a badge of honor. for for only having your weight go up five pounds, let alone get your lifetime membership taken away.

And that's such old school, which has been, you know, you know, just obviously super hurtful. I did an extra weight loss program to solidify my weight. More came off. I'm finding I am too wanting to more dessert type of thing. So more can come off while you're in maintenance

because your body's not a robot, right? It's not a machine. So you might still lose a few more pounds. It's all about intention because you know how hard it is to intentionally lose. weight. If you have access fat, your body is going to continue to release that fat, but I say that not more than obviously it's healthy for you because this is all about being healthy. Wanting to add more dessert type things, where are you at in your journey? Right. Like if you've

done three rounds of the maintenance program, you might be ready to move on to the next stage, which is just personalizing the plan, living your life in which there is still value in being part of this group, right, joining, being part of our membership, listening to guest experts, tracking on the app, AI content resource, right? Like, sometimes I think we're resistant to move on, but you don't have to actually move on. We're also working on a third like lifestyle thing, right? Now that you've got and done this, then what? So, so you might be in a place where if you have done a couple rounds of the, the maintenance program, the 91 day sessions, you might just want to work on personalizing the plan.

And that's where you're going to show up and be and do, right, which you can totally track in the app. Like you can do all of that. So, yeah, so that might be you just being ready to be like, I'm at a place where I think I can add in dessert or whatever that is. Now, be mindful of that, right? Because what you're doing is you're adding a sweet treat at the end of the meal and jacking up your insulin levels before you go to bed, which is just never a great idea.

but that doesn't mean every now and then you can't enjoy a nice dessert, right? Yeah. And I think this is another level of learning and growth. Like I think I want to put desserts in. Okay. Well, then if you're at that point, try, try one. What happens? You know, did you really want to or was it just you thought that you wanted to?

You know, are you enjoying it as much as you thought you did? Is it because you think you can't have it and that's why you do want it? Like, you know, try it. See what happens there. You know, do you notice that you have it once? Now you want to have it again and again and again and again. What happens there with that? This is that whole other level of learning and growth.

And if you're at that point where you're starting to test things out, like you had said, like you've done the program, you know, one, two, maybe times you're ready to move on to personalize the plan. Yeah. See what that learning opportunity feels like for you. See what that choice feels like for you. Where does it take you next? What are you collecting from that?

Yeah. Like, you know, I remember growing up my mom and dad always after dinner would have tea and cookies. Yeah. Like they would all, like, but like, did they actually ever always want the cookie or did they just get served to them? And so that was just what they were used to. So you had it. Like, this is at next level. Like, we're not really a dessert family last night.

I had two cakes because Tony Bobby won. My son made me one. So I had two cakes for dessert. Like I'm trying to think whenever we have like Tony sometimes buys those Portuguese egg tarts. Oh, yes. Pestézana. that's what they're called. Oh, but I don't wait.

I don't have a dessert. I come as soon as they come into the house. I'm like, oh, shit, I'm having one of those. So I don't even need this concept of dessert. If I want to sweet something, I'm at a place where I'm just going to have it when I'm feeling like having it.

I don't need to wait till dessert. So what is your relationship with dessert would be like, and this isn't like, okay, maybe it's overthinking it, but really, what is your relationship with dessert? Why do you want it?

Why can't you have it? Because you want to get to a place where you can enjoy the yummy bites a bit that come with life. But are you then just adding dessert every night and eating it even though there are moments you don't even actually want it? And are you having it maybe because you're dehydrated that day, didn't drink your water. So it's appealing, right? So that's the kind of like what is your relationship with dessert?

That's maybe what that is for you, right? And yes. And even that whole word dessert, why is it labeled dessert? I mean, desserts could be fruit. desserts could be cheese desserts you know i think it's yeah what's your relationship with it what's your association with that word and and yeah what does that reason for wanting to add them back in yeah we got to go but i just want to say hi to terry she just popped in after a year of inflammation after two major surgeries my weight dropped again and i'm back to normal had a great trip to bahamas

however came back with a lung infection this week food is of little interest to me i think terry was in the bahamas last year too or two years ago you know that is just like things are good things are shit things are good things are shit you feel great you feel like shake it like this is you know why we're all in it together it's the heaven flow this way say it's a shit show it's the oven it's the oven flow of the shit show that's what i like to call it um yeah love this conversation thanks everyone for being here uh i know i can speak to odette um that we just appreciate you joining us for these conversations i just i love it's always evolving and and this is like is what it's about. Yeah. You know what I love. And right off the top, like I said, we think we know what

we want to talk about. Yeah. And then our members are like, no, you don't. You want to talk about this instead. We're like, great. You know, that's, I think that's, that's the part that I love the most is that the conversation comes from them as well. So that, you know, we used to, we used to, we used to try to get ahead of the conversation. And I think, you know, we tried that. And I don't think that's, we always want to keep fresh new. What are people talking about? What's the conversation where we at? Not just in the program, what's going on out there. I think that's super relevant. It's okay.

All right. Okay. That's nice. I missed you this week on Monday. So I mean, I didn't miss you that much. I was away. It was beautiful.

But I feel like I've been away. I feel like I've been away so much because it was away last week or whatever. You know, people don't need that much of me. But I love these conversations. So yes, it's nice to be back. Yeah, nice to be back. Okay. I'll see you next week.

Okay. Goodbye. Okay. Bye, everyone.