Latest / This Is My Journey | The GLP-1 Podcast / S1 E3: Culture, Food & Change — Navigating Transformation With Rue Ndabalime

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S1 E3: Culture, Food & Change — Navigating Transformation With Rue Ndabalime · This Is My Journey | The GLP-1 Podcast

• 0:00
  So today on This Is My Journey, we are talking about something that doesn't always get the attention it deserves, and that is the role that culture plays in our health journeys. So here in the UK, almost three in 10 adults are living with obesity, and nearly two-thirds of those adults are either overweight or obese.
• 0:19
  And, you know, when you look at the numbers more closely, the picture becomes even clearer. So around 71% of black adults in England are living with being overweight or obese compared to just 33% of adults from Chinese backgrounds. Behind every statistic, though, there is a real story because this isn't just about numbers on a scale. It's about identity. It's about family expectations. It's...
• 0:47
  you know, cultural pressures that can make change feel even harder. So that's exactly what today's episode is all about. Breaking that silence and, you know, opening up the conversation. So yeah, let's get into it. Welcome to This Is My Journey, the podcast where real people share real stories of transformation, resilience and growth.
• 1:13
  I'm Mark and after navigating my own path through major lifestyle change, I created this space to open up honest conversations around identity,
• 1:23
  mindset and what it really takes to evolve. So along the way we'll also hear from professionals, you know, from pharmacists to psychologists and fitness experts who help us make sense of the science and support behind these journeys. So whether you're just starting out deep in the process or you're finding your footing after big change, you are not alone. This is your place. This is my journey. Let's walk it together.
• 1:51
  Welcome back to This Is My Journey and today I am joined by someone you know many of you might already recognize from TikTok, the incredible Rue. She is an absolute queen in this space, a hard-working mom who started her Majora journey way back in October 2024 and since then she has made amazing progress.
• 2:15
  You know, what is so inspiring about Rue is not just her transformation, but it's the way she has fallen in love with fitness and, you know, just how she's found a way to blend her Zimbabwean roots and traditional foods with a high protein lifestyle that really works for her.
• 2:35
  So her story is real, it is honest, and it is powerful, and I am lucky enough to also call her my friend. So Ru, welcome, thank you for being here. For those who don't know you yet, and they will, could you tell us a little about yourself, and how much you have lost, and really what led you into this journey, and where you are today? Hi friend, and hello everybody.
• 3:04
  So like Mark said, my name is Roo. What led me into this journey? So going back, I've been trying to lose weight for the past, I would say since my early thirties, really, so over 10, 12 years. And I did start to get a little bit of support from the NHS, from my GP, but then it came to a point where around 2022,
• 3:33
  I actually passed out at work. That was the first time, me passing out. And when the paramedics came, one of the things they said was, my blood pressure was over 220 or 100 and something. And obviously, straight away, they were like, oh my God, Ru, you are actually at risk of a stroke. And then you kind of like, laugh it out, you brush it out. My GP then called me in, we did everything like, you know,
• 4:01
  put me through like a weight management course. And then I was doing that like every month, I would go to these classes every week. I would have to send like a full diary. That went over and over, you know, nothing was happening. And then 2023 at night, I actually passed out with my child in the house. And she is the one who then called 999.
• 4:29
  Yes, I had passed out, but I was aware of what was happening. So I think it was my heart rate and I was panicking and I really couldn't do anything. But to hear her say my full name, I'm trying to get emotional, say my full name, say my date of birth, say our address, and all that on a 12 year old. She had to be a carer in a way. For those 10 years. Now that's a lot.
• 4:57
  I think that really petrified me because then I realized, oh, my God, I could have met Jesus tonight. Yeah. And for my childhood to make that call, it was then straight away, you know, after all the tests and everything, I then felt a responsibility to myself and to her to make a choice. And the choice was, Ru, get up, do something.
• 5:22
  Even after coming from the GP after that, but it happened, the GP then say to me, Oh, we'll put you on a waiting list for weight and weight surgery, but you have to wait for three years. And I couldn't like, like that didn't make any sense to me Mark. So wait three years. What? My GP was like, well, you could wait three years or you could privately seek your own weight loss support. And hence the reason.
• 5:53
  I researched in Farmanjaro. Amazing, amazing. Obviously I do know you in real life, not just through this podcast now, but it's a lot. Like, I get why you're emotional even talking about it, because just hearing, like I don't know how I would feel as a child, finding my mum in that state and having to,
• 6:22
  Call 999. I don't know. It's just, yeah, it's a lot to even talk about. But I suppose this journey itself for you sounded like it came at the perfect time. How much have you actually lost altogether in terms of weight? So, like you said, I sat on the 26th of October. I will never forget the day I first sat down.
• 6:51
  in the lounge on my own and I was like, oh, it's today I'm doing it. Yeah. 26th of October, 2024. I was, I work in kilos. So you guys have to calculate what I am. I can tell you what I'm losing pounds now, but I was 150 kilos more. Yeah. That's how big I was. And a lot of people always say to me, oh, you're so tall. You carried well. But my heart and my ankles were not carrying it well. No. You know?
• 7:21
  And so now I'm 116 kilos. I've lost 34 kilos, which is 76 pounds. Amazing. And it's amazing, you know, to say the numbers. It's absolutely amazing. But the journey is not over at all. I think I actually feel like I'm literally maybe at my mid-course. Yeah. Not even like literally mid-course. I'm not living anywhere yet. Yeah. Because I feel like now.
• 7:48
  You know, like what you said about how did Tia feel? We talk about things now. I think almost every week we have like a mom and daughter meeting to say, let's talk about your health, my health, what you need help with, and what's going on with me. So I think what I needed her to know was healthy was to fall and to get up. Yeah. Not to fall and then not to get up.
• 8:15
  You see what I mean? Yeah, no, it's an important lesson. Yeah, I needed her to, to like grasp that as a girl, as a powerful young black woman, to say, yes, you're full, but you pick yourself up. But then why did I need to pick myself up? She'll always be my why. Yeah. And I am also my why, cause Mark, like you say, you know me, I love myself now. Yeah. And I forgot,
• 8:43
  what that was. I genuinely forgot what loving me meant. I can easily love you, love to hear. Yeah. But I don't think I was loving me. No. And that's so important. I think, you know, a lot of us struggle with that. I think anybody that has been in the same situation where, you know, we've been in most cases, clinically obese, a lot of us, like, you know, it's, it's hard to,
• 9:10
  Yeah, it's hard to love yourself, I think, for sure. And that's such an important message, I think, you know, for anybody that's on this journey. Definitely you need to really love yourself. And yeah, take that confidence when it comes and run with it. And we know you run with your confidence because you definitely have it in bucket loads now. I can tell everybody that.
• 9:34
  But yeah, I suppose having a little look back then, you know, how did your kind of, you know, your cultural background, how has that shaped your relationship with body image? I think, you know, growing up, my dad has always said, be proud of who you are. Be proud of where you come from. Be proud of your roots.
• 10:04
  So that was one of my concerns when I started doing this. I was like, oh my God, food is a massive thing in our culture and you eat with family to build, to grow. You don't eat to feel ashamed or you don't eat to, like, you know, for, I don't know if I'm making any sense, but food is such an important part of feminine life in our culture. So, and then obviously researching and looking into
• 10:34
  what do I eat now? Will Manjaro change everything? Do I literally have to stop my food? Because my food is me. My cultural food is what makes me. And then again, it's thinking about if I stop preparing this in the house, what about here? So definitely food in regards to my culture in Manjaro was important. So again, I'm doing the research and it's looking at I haven't cut out
• 11:04
  anything cultural, cutting that out changes me. And that's so important. And I can't do it. And cutting it out, Mark, I don't think it sets the right precedence for the future. Because if I cut it out for 18 months, what happens? Let's say I reached my goal in 18 months, I'm not in maintenance, what do I do then? Because I need, I'll try and say the words,
• 11:32
  Most of you are listening. If you're Zimbabwean from Southern Africa, you know what I'm talking about. Like things like Saza, you know, Saza is like the mixed powder you've seen me doing before. Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes. You know, and cutting that out, cutting out like your beef and your stews. And I couldn't do that. So the one thing I've done and I'm still doing now is a portion control. I'm still having my greens. I'm still enjoying my cabbage, my spinach, my fish, my chicken, you know, a bit of,
• 12:01
  beef once in a while. It doesn't need to be every single day, but I cannot cancel my roots, my traditional food because of the journey, but I can incorporate that in a healthy way. And yes, honey loves it's possible because we're still here. We're still rocking it, eating as in food and still enjoying the journey. So it's important. That was important, Mark, because if I couldn't do that, I don't think I would have been on this journey. Yeah.
• 12:31
  I don't think so because I want to enjoy my journey. You know, like we've said before, we've all done programs where you're cutting out things. And it's like, you're not even eating proper food. You're eating, like maybe say politics and three apples a day. That's not healthy. No, I totally get it. And it is totally...
• 12:53
  I think that is the biggest problem with maybe diets we've done before and things like that. Like we just try to cut things out and maybe stay away from things that, you know, we're told we shouldn't really be eating and things like that. And I think, you know, being on this medication allows you still to, yes, you have to stay away from certain things and certain things can aggravate you a little bit more. But I think...
• 13:21
  it is really, you know, you do still have, you still have to hold on to the person that you are. At the end of the day, this is a lifelong change. And, you know, you can't just completely flip your, your diet altogether. Do you know what I mean? You still have to enjoy yourself from time to time and still have to, you know, for you, just from what you're saying there, it's all them native dishes and flavors and things that you, you know,
• 13:50
  they are what make you, you, in the sense of like your culture and all that there. And, you know, what's the point of doing something if you can't still have that? So, yeah, no, I think that's, that's amazing. And a lot of what you've said there is like, really, like a lot of them foods really seem to lend themselves quite well to, you know, this GLP-1 sort of lifestyle where you're having to really prioritize protein and stuff like that. Definitely, yeah.
• 14:19
  And I think that's probably one of the reasons why it's been easy. I was going to say easy, but yeah, actually it's been easy in terms of food, Mark, because I haven't had a problem in choosing my menu. Obviously I don't have a daily menu, but in terms of when I'm shopping, I don't have a problem. I'm not overthinking anything because I know what my body needs and I know what the journey, like what Manjaro needs me to do now, particularly in terms of my food. So yeah.
• 14:48
  Zim people, don't be scared. So yeah, so on that note then, you know, obviously starting your journey with your own Manjaro, but in general, just anybody that's starting their journey with a GLP-1. What are the biggest challenges, you know, you have found within the community with you starting a GLP-1? Ooh, that's different. Yeah. That's deep.
• 15:18
  And like Mike said, I'm a very competent person. I really am. But even you're a queen, a king, we all need to be accepted in life. And I think one of the things, which I think I've shared with you already, Mark, before, was one of the people that know me is being accepted. Yeah. People are accepting that I'm on this journey. And for, I'll say maybe the first eight weeks, I was hiding that part of me.
• 15:48
  And it was already unfortunate the trends in the community that I come from, and I'll speak from my experience, was this is not what you should do if you're trying to lose weight or live a healthy lifestyle. Yeah. And the fear I had was being excluded. And unfortunately, Mark, I have been excluded. Mm-hmm.
• 16:19
  No. I have been excluded. Yeah. By the people that I didn't think would exclude me. Yeah. The people who were actually part of Tia ringing that 99 call. Yeah. Knowing the help that I needed and knowing that I needed them to be there for me to understand. Yeah. To understand where I've come from and also to understand that I have tried in the past.
• 16:48
  And honestly, when I say this felt like the last chance, it made trying because like I said, Mark, I've been trying since Tia was born to lose weight, to be healthy. And I've done it and I've failed in a way and I've gone back and all that. But then the challenge was losing people that I thought had my back, people that I thought would understand me and say, Ru, we've got you. And
• 17:19
  to start this journey on my own because I'd lost that love from people. Let me not say love, but the understanding, the acceptance, you know, which then I realized that it wasn't love. That wasn't love. Yeah. Yeah. They allowed the idea of me in that comfort zone of needing them and not, you know, not having to be able to do things for myself. And part of that was also being with somebody.
• 17:49
  along this journey I've lost in terms of her love. But that's okay, you know? And it became worse because Mark, as you know, I lost my dad in December and that was the biggest challenge, Mark. Because at that time, I know people would have understood, oh, we must stop the journey now because she's grieving. But I said no. My dad would have been so proud of me carrying on
• 18:19
  and not allowing the stigma, the losses of friendships, people didn't understand why I took this path. And even some people that I know professionally, even up to now, Mark, almost 10 months on the journey, they still call me lazy. They've called me lazy from the start, and I've still been called lazy. And that hurt. So sorry for being emotional, but... No, don't be sorry. Those kind of things really...
• 18:48
  As much as I'm a tough cookie, I do wear my hat on my sleeve a lot. Yeah. As you said, obesity is an illness. Yeah. And an illness that is connected to emotions, to mental health. And at that time, Mark, I could have been crippled by all of that. Yeah. By the loss of the connections, of the acceptance, of the friendships. But that challenge actually pushed me even more. So, yeah, that was the biggest for me, Mark. Yeah. Because...
• 19:16
  These are friendships I've had for over 20 years that I've lost. It's sad, you know, on one scale, but also coming from where you've come from and I suppose where you are today. Like today, you've changed your life around completely and something to be so proud of. And, you know, regardless of what...
• 19:36
  you know, those people think or whatever, you know, and I suppose there is a ties into this whole secret job or thing, whatever works for you, but I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of in this journey. And, you know, if it's making improvements to your health, like it has for you, that's the main thing. Do you know what I mean? You know, so if them people can't accept that, then, you know, they're better off not in your life. You know, I had to,
• 20:06
  cry and in a way moan the loss of those friendships. Because if I didn't do that, I'll be still stuck. So yeah, no, I think what you've said there is so important and I think, yeah, it's really important for people to hear. And, you know, just touching on what you've said there, were there moments, you know, that you felt like,
• 20:35
  I suppose you have really touched on this, like misunderstood and judged on this journey. Yeah. Oh, Mark, without a doubt, without a doubt, you know, even the fact that, like I've said already, even the fact that my general practitioner who's known me for years and years actually advised me to get this, people still judge the fact that I went out to get it privately.
• 21:02
  But if I had been part of the criteria, if I had met that criteria, I would be then on the NHS on it. Yeah. You know? But I'm judged for seeking that help, but then I'll be judged for being obese. So really, you don't know where you lie. So I think the judgment came from how do you know it's real? Yeah. But I'm a clever chick. I'm a clever queen. Of course, I've done my research.
• 21:32
  you know, I found a provider. I had done research, Mark, at the beginning of August, and I didn't get to start the journey until October. So can you imagine all those months? All those months, yeah. You know, so technically it's a year from the time I thought about it, but then I didn't start until October because even then, I spent time still reading, researching. And I'm like that, Mark, you know, I have to read and research things before I just jump into them. No, I'm the same, I'm the same.
• 22:02
  You know, none of that mattered to people. All they saw was, again, the trends, the newspaper, what they're saying about the easy way out, the laziness. If you know who I am, if you know the things that I do every single week, I don't think you can call any of us lazy. No, definitely not. I can call me lazy. Exactly. I mean. You're the most unlazy person I actually know, I think. You know, so the judgments are still there, Mark. I mean, I've been on this journey for 10 months.
• 22:31
  That hasn't changed. Some people's perspective will never change on that. And I think that's now a them problem, not a rule problem. Because rule is going to keep on keeping. Rule is going to keep on going. Yeah. I suppose that ties into my next question. How do you keep going? Do you know what I mean? How do you keep going with that negativity around? I know how I do, but how do you? Yeah. Yeah.
• 22:59
  One of the things is I'm an heiress and you know, an heiress person, we are stubborn, right? The moment someone says, I cannot do this. The moment someone says, it's not going to work. The moment someone says, I'm like, listen, let me just show you how Ru's going to do it. I am so focused, Mark. But in that focus, the one thing I found is love. You know what it feels like, Mark.
• 23:30
  to love yourself unconditionally. Yeah. Do you know what it feels like to put you first and not fear, not fear that you will lose something because you are putting you first. So my focus is on me, my winning, not just the scales, but every 10 minutes I was 16. And also to hear that little girl telling me, I mean,
• 23:59
  teenagers don't always say things in words. It could be a text. For my child to say that. Now that is why I'm focused. That's how I'm focused. And it's to also, I'm competitive because I can't lie, is to prove some people wrong. Is to prove some people wrong that with the right support, with the right mindset, you'll get to that result, to that goal. A lot of it has to do with
• 24:29
  accepting what and who I am right now and where I'm going. Yeah. And accepting myself in my failings, accepting myself in weeks when I'm not losing, accepting myself in weeks when I want to, you know what, actually, we're going out today, Tia. We're going to enjoy ourselves. That's life. But I feel like we are now enjoying life. Yeah. Yeah. Without feeling guilty about eating a takeaway mark because that's how it's supposed to be. Yeah.
• 25:00
  No 100%. An accountability child. Queen of accountability. Love that. I suppose, you know, tying it back then to the culture element, what conversations have you heard within your culture, I suppose, regarding GLP-1s and the attitudes around them? I think one of them, it really, again, I'm talking about my experience. Don't show me people...
• 25:29
  I think one of the big things, Mark, is the fear of people knowing, and I have to use these words because this is what a lot of us say in the community, a fear of us injecting something in you. And I think it goes back to a lot of other things which may be not the right platform, but that whole fear of Ru is injecting medication into herself.
• 25:57
  Now, Ru is injecting the right prescribed medication that she needs to help her with her weight. Ru is obese. Ru needs help. And Ru asking for help is not Ru being weak. It's actually Ru standing up and saying, do you know what? I have struggled. And I am so proud to talk about it publicly, Mark. Because one of the things I did get, you know,
• 26:26
  shut down for was why am I talking about it on social media? I'm talking about it because I know I am not the only African Zimbabwean girl who is on this journey, who is struggling, and who doesn't know where to go to. And there's so many out there, girlies and gents, who are facing what I've been facing in the last few years, but I've got nowhere to turn to. I can proudly say, brother.
• 26:56
  sister, auntie, whatever, come. You are fine. This is a safe space. This is a safe space. There is so many of us, Mark, and I think we spoke about stats the other day, over 1.5 million people on GLP-1s. And some of us are still hiding. Please don't hide. And it's not just in the African community, no, Mark.
• 27:23
  I've got loads of friends in the Asian community as well who go through the same thing. And it's got to do with the stigma of Ru is injecting something into herself. Yeah. That's a really important message for sure. Like, I suppose as your friend, you know, you are doing an incredible job on social media with...
• 27:46
  you know, showcasing your culture and, you know, just bringing awareness to what life is like being on one of these medications. And I think, you know, a round of applause to you. I don't think you give yourself enough credit for that in terms of how much...
• 28:07
  you know, value you're bringing to that space and how many people you're potentially influencing by what you're doing and what you're saying. And I don't mean that in a negative. I mean that in such a positive way. And I think it's something that, you know, pat on the back, mate, that's what I would say. Well done on your TikTok journey. And, you know,
• 28:31
  I think if you were to sum it up in one sentence, what is your message to those negative people within your community? Let me tell you, honey, love, your rules, you drink your water and you mind your business, all right? And wherever you start, don't give up on yourself. Show up for yourself every single day, honey, because you've got this. You have got this. Trust me.
• 29:00
  Love that. Love that. So moving then on to more of a positive side and your confidence and all the things that come along with losing weight and how you feel about yourself and buying new clothes and just all that. How has...
• 29:22
  that weight loss that you've achieved so far, how has it really impacted your identity as a person? And obviously that is going to be confidence, but yeah, put it into words for us listening. Do you know, guys, I used to avoid this thing called the mirror, genuinely. And I don't think I've ever shared this with Mark actually. I took down a really lovely mirror that I had in my room, took it down and I put a cover on it.
• 29:51
  It was hidden somewhere behind one of the wardrobes. Because at that time, I genuinely couldn't stand looking at myself. But since I've lost the weight, Mark, honey, I stand in front of that mirror every single day in my birthday suit, honey. How I came in this world. I look at myself. I look at her and I'm like, child, you are glowing. And I say to myself, good morning, gorgeous.
• 30:21
  I think we need to be telling ourselves that more every single morning for sure. You have to, Mark. You have to. And friend, you know, the one thing I bought, I hadn't bought in over 15 years was a jumpsuit, guys. When I bought that green jumpsuit, honey, and even this little number I'm wearing today, size 16, guys. I was a size 24, Mark, last year. Guys, can you understand this?
• 30:49
  And that shows you how far you have come, you know, like, and, you know, I know you are appreciating that now, but on a day to day basis, we don't appreciate that. And, you know, it's only when you talk about it out loud that it's, it really sort of hits you how much this journey has, has, has impacted you. Honestly. And again, another thing, Mark, crossing my legs when I'm sitting right now, I, how can I never used to manage that for five minutes? Yeah.
• 31:20
  I'm sitting here with Mark and it's like it feels comfortable and you know to walk, Mark, I mean you know me now, I walk endlessly. But to be able to walk two hours non-stop. She's still walking now, guys. She's doing this interview walking. But all that there, Mark, you know, that has come from the hard work. Yeah. This journey is not easy, but it is absolutely worth it because I feel so good, baby. I feel so
• 31:49
  So yeah, touching on that then and taking it a step further, what has been that your proudest moment on this journey so far? I know that's really probably quite hard to answer, but you know, yeah. I think it's to wake up. This is going to sound a bit much, honestly. And, and this is not going to be about my daughter. It's going to be about me and it has to be about me because this is my story. It's to wake up in the morning. I woke up one morning.
• 32:18
  And I didn't have a headache. I didn't feel tired. I didn't feel groggy or miserable. I woke up and you know one thing I said to myself was, oh my God, I love you. That's Mark. And like I'm saying to you guys, to be able to love myself, I haven't loved myself, Mark, for years. I've loved other people and other things more than me. No one can take that away from me. No one can, Mark. No.
• 32:48
  You can jump in with me in my journey, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to let you take that moment, that joy. No. So finding joy and peace, Mark, that's not even, I can't even put that on a scale. No. I can't even put that on a scale. So love, joy, peace for myself, darling.
• 33:10
  that's such an important message. And yeah, I think it is. Ultimately it is. We do this to love ourselves more and we want to love ourselves more. And it's so lovely and refreshing to hear that you, even though you're not at your final goal yet, that you're...
• 33:30
  learning to love yourself every day more and more and more. And yeah, it's just, it is so heartwarming to watch and to see. I know anybody that's listened to this, you know, and isn't seeing the visual can't see the beaming smile that's on your face as you talk about it. But, you know, it is so lovely to see, you know, how much joy it is bringing you to,
• 33:54
  to have that newfound confidence and, and, you know, just that, that love within yourself and your bones and let's not get a, get our started guys on Bermond Jaro bones, because yeah, we hear about these, all these collarbones every single day of the week, every morning, every afternoon, every evening. I'm discovering bones everywhere on my body's guys. I'm like, Oh Mark, I got a new bone today. Oh Mark, I didn't, I forgot I had one there.
• 34:24
  there's nothing better than loving you no i'm telling you there's nothing it's it's so refreshing and don't feel guilty guys i love me i love my daughter i love my friend but i love me yeah child i love me and i feel so light mark saying that yeah i feel happier i can't remember the last time i loved me
• 34:49
  there will sorry to interrupt you but there'll be so many people that resonate with that because i know i do and you know if i do i'm sure there's going to be a million other people out there 1.5 million people that are on these medications that you know are feeling the exact same way and you know i suppose you know obviously we're coming to the end but
• 35:14
  If to any buddy from a different culture, if you have one message to them, if they are trying to balance cultural expectations alongside their own health and doing this journey, what would you tell them? I would say your culture is who you are. It's part of who you are. And your health,
• 35:43
  is actually your foundation. Your health is what holds you. Because without that, we will crumble. So I am telling you now, my sister, my brother, if you're listening, this is for all of us. I'm telling you now, this medication was made for everyone. So please don't think yourself an outsider. Take pride in your roots.
• 36:13
  Take priority in making things right for you and take priority in making time for you.
• 36:22
  And yeah, that was such a powerful message. And if you're listening, take Ru's wise words and run with it because I completely get what she's saying and I completely agree. And yeah, I think, yeah, it's so important. So, yeah, we're going to wrap things up. But before we do.
• 36:47
  I just want to ask, what is your plans for the future? What do you hope to achieve by this time next year? What's next for you? And there's a lot, Mark. And I think a lot of people... There's always a lot. There's always a lot, guys. There's always a lot. He's usually like, oh, friend. Friend, here we go. Are you ready?
• 37:13
  My guys, are you ready? This is our list. She has a list. Oh my goodness, I do. Oh, this poor man knows me so well. There's always a list. Definitely want to reach a goal, guys. I haven't been 100 kilos. I can't remember for how long. And that's one part.
• 37:41
  I want to say don't concentrate on numbers, but you've got to start. You've got to finish. You have to have an end. That's logical. That's normal. So the number for me will be 100 kilos. And I know I'll be comfortable with that. I want to stay on the medication for health reasons. And I don't want to just come off without support. I will still need my provider. And luckily, Mark and I, we have the same provider. So...
• 38:11
  I will still need their support. I will be on a GLP one. I'm not sure which one, but I will be on a GLP one. And I want to live life. That's the plan, guys. I want to live life. I love me, but I want to fall in love again. Because I haven't been able to do that. But I want to surround myself with people that will bring light, laughter, joy, kindness, understanding.
• 38:41
  You know, and all that is there. All that is there in the world. Yeah. You know, and I want to be the healthiest mama Tia can ever have. And I want her. I want more time with her. I want more time with her. And you will. And I do. I want more time with my child. And I will not let the old me, in terms of my weight, come back.
• 39:10
  But the old meaning in terms of happiness did come back. Because that old happy rule had died with the weight. But the weight is off. And the weight is coming back again, guys. It shall not.
• 39:23
  She is alive. She is kicking. She is fire. She is rocking a new hairdo today. And yes, feeling herself. Ruth, thank you so much for joining me on my podcast.
• 39:41
  podcast this has been a labor of love and yes you have been such a support in getting it to where it is now so i thank you for being my emotional support in this journey but also thank you so much for sharing your story and sharing so many touching heartfelt moments with everybody because not everybody knows you like i have grew to know you over the last almost a year and yeah
• 40:09
  The world needs to see it. So thank you so much, friend. And yes, anybody listening, go check out Roo's social media. Do you want to let everybody know what your handle is? Yeah. So before I say that, I want to thank Mark as well. You are not just a friend. You inspire me every single day. And I think a part of that self-love and the ability
• 40:36
  to scream even louder than I do is because of meeting people like you. You are a true friend. You are a gentleman, you're a brother, and I love you loads and I thank you. And please, Mark, keep inspiring us all because we need friends like you, we do. So honey love, my handles. And not her love handles, guys. These are her- Oh, those are gone, child. Those are gone, honey. These are her social media handles.
• 41:07
  So on TikTok, just search for Ed Rurugel. You'll find me. And then Instagram is Rurugelisjourney. That's me. So on that note, guys, thank you so much for listening. And yes, we will catch you on the next one. So from me and Rui, over and out. Bye.