BariNation Podcast (BariNation Podcast)

Is there a right time to have bariatric surgery? 

We always hear this question from BariNation Members, our friends, and followers. Undergoing bariatric surgery requires months to prepare for your procedure and can require a few months of recovery. The process often involves our friends and family and significantly disrupts our daily lives. Many of us will take extended time off work to recoup, and arrangements must be made for the humans we care for. There is a lot that goes into planning and preparing for surgery. 

But at the end of the day, we do think there is a right time to have surgery. And our answer might surprise you! 

In this episode, BariNation hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney have an honest conversation about the process they went through when deciding to have bariatric surgery. Each followed a different path, but their worries and concerns were the same. In the end, the decision to treat their disease of obesity through surgery has been one of the most pivotal moments of their lives, and they would make the same decision again. 

If you have been thinking about having surgery or are committed to surgery but are worried about the timing of it all, this episode is for you! If you have questions, you would love to ask other bariatric patients, join the BariNation Support Community, and connect with fellow patients and experts in the pre-operative stages today! Visit https://barination.mn.co to learn more!

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty. 

 About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

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As this year comes to a close, BariNation co-hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney sit down to reflect on this year, and predict what is to come in 2024. 

This year was full of learning, growth, some turbulence, and best of all: community. The three co-hosts discuss how leaning on their support systems and their bariatric community have helped them navigate some intense moments this year. April and Natalie both made the taxing decisions to leave their jobs and continue to build the BariNation support community on a volunteer basis, while Jason pursued and had his revision in December. 

We are elated to take on the next year that is to come, and we are grateful to have all of you, our listeners, viewers, podcast supporters and support community members along for the ride.

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes! 

Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest: Spring Courtright is a Marie Kondo-trained organizational expert who is passionate about helping people reclaim the calm in their lives through decluttering and organization. She is a compassionate expert who meets clients where they are and gently walks them through the decluttering process. Visit Spring online at https://www.tidywild.com/, subscribe to her newsletter, or work with her in a one-on-one capacity. 

About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

In this week’s episode, we sat down with dear friend and bariatric surgeon, Doctor Eric Smith, to discuss how we can fully utilize our bariatric tools so that we can live our best lives after surgery and beyond. 

The conversation took an incredible turn, as always, as we not only acknowledged medical weight loss and being diligent about follow up with our programs, but acknowledging our intentions behind our bariatric journey. Are we setting ourselves up for failure by expecting this to be easy, all while combating the naysayers for saying the exact same thing? 

This was one of our most favorite conversations, and one you definitely do not want to miss! 

You can follow Dr. Smith on socials @doctorericsmith_ and you can find his practice at https://kentuckybariatricinstitute.com/. 

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Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

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We are SO PROUD of Natalie! She has reached her ONE YEAR milestone of post-op life and sat down with us to reflect on what this past year has meat to her. This is actually her *third* one-year milestone because she has undergone three, separate bariatric surgeries. Her resilience, grit, and tenacity has allowed to to fine success, and redefine what that means to her. We also had a pretty profound discussion about stalls and how they are NOT reserved for our bariatric journey. 

In this episode, we wanted to know:

• How this one-year milestone is different from her past milestones.
• What was easier and harder than what she expected.
• If she is where she thought she would be after one year post-op.
• What her goals and intentions are in her second year!

Follow Natalies amazing bariatric journey on Instagram @breakingbari_ers.

If you are interested in learning more about metabolic wellness, we encourage you to listen to Episodes 33 and 38, both with Dr. Ariel Ortiz!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

 

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Turns out, the most important person who needs to know our story is yourself. That might sound odd, but if we don't acknowledge and understand our own story, we will never be able to identify those beliefs and ideas that can hold us back after bariatric surgery. It can be a painful process to go back and reflect on the impact weight has had on your life and how you dealt with it at the time. But by looking back, we can plot a course forward, into a brighter and more aware future.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Trigger Warning: Self-Harm, Drug, and Alcohol Use

Many bariatric patients can trace their obesity to a trauma that was experienced in their past. Our brains are wired to keep us safe, out of harm, and in a place of comfort. When we experience any kind of event that our brains perceive as traumatic, it will immediately triage and do find the quickest path away from that trauma. For many of us, food is that pathway because it is something that humans are almost always around.

But for others, our brains will turn to physical self-harm, drugs, or alcohol. Sarah Smith, Jason's wife, shared with us her story of self-harm and how some experiences in her adolescence triggered a trauma response in her own life. Her powerful story allows us to understand the impact these events can have on our lives and offers us all hope that we can face these past events with open eyes and a determination to live our life differently. This amazing episode will leave you inspired and open to reflecting on your own past traumas in a new, encouraging light.

We thank Sarah for so bravely and openly sharing her story with us. Because of her willingness to share, we create a safe place to help one another. Follow Sarah on Instagram @bari.grateful and find her in the BariNation community as one of our experts!

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

Follow the BariNation crew on Instagram @bari.nation and like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you can watch every episode of the podcast and other meaningful supports online! And continue this conversation online in our membership community! Visit www.barination.com to learn how you can connect, learn, and grow from experts and fellow patients in our safe, online, digital support community!

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Are you struggling with something along your bariatric journey? Do you not know where to turn for support? GET ON THE STRUGGLE BUS WITH US! We are so excited to be rolling out a *new* way to support you along your weight loss surgery journey. Each week, we will share the struggles of this community and talk about ways we can fight back, overcome, and move beyond the struggles and set us on a road to success! 

There are a few ways you can share your struggle with us:

• Leave us a voice message right on the Anchor app! We can then include your message in our podcast and answer your question or address your struggle directly!
• Join us on our Struggle Bus Instagram Live every Tuesday at 4:30 pm PST / 7:30pm EST and type your struggle in the chat
• Send us a DM on our Instagram page @east2west_wls
• Send us an email at east2westwls@gmail.com

In our first episode, we talk about 4 of the biggest struggles we encounter in the bariatric community.

• Regret after WLS
• Feel defeated with "only lost" thinking
• Working from home and dealing with snack attacks
• hitting water and protein goals

Listen on to see how the East2est_WLS crew suggests we work through these struggles and get us moving in the right direction. So hop on and stay a while...the ride is free and we think you will hop off with some new ideas, insights, and inspiration! 

You've got this and we've got you!

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For many bariatric patients, learning how and what to eat after surgery is one of our largest struggles. We might have known how to eat a certain number of calories, but most of the time, those calories did not align with our goals. Learning how, why, and what to eat is our first struggle and one that often lasts quite some time.

In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Matt. Weiner, a bariatric surgeon, and author from Tucson, Arizona, to talk about bariatric eating before and after surgery. He has developed his own bariatric eating protocol called a Pound of Cure, and we wanted to know what it is all about. He is also a strong advocate for weight loss medication being used as a part of a patient's treatment plan, and we wanted to know more about this emerging facet of obestiy treatment.

We are so excited to introduce you to Dr. Matt Weiner! Follow him on Instagram @drmattweiner and find him online at www.poundofcureweightloss.com. A huge thank you to Dr. Weiner for joining us for this important and engaging conversation!

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Jason and Natalie sat down with Kayla Girgen, RD - one of our incredible dietitian experts in the membership community - to discuss how our eating can change with the seasons, both on the calendar and within our bariatric life. 

They delved into how important it is to check-in with yourself every so often, to not give up when something doesn’t sit well, and how to really make sure you are eating a well rounded plate. 

You can follow Kayla on Instagram at @kaylagirgenrd, and you can take one of her incredible classes in the BariNation community! 

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Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Join today for a 14 day trial, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Would you like to help support the BariNation podcast? Maybe you’re looking for more support but not quite ready to join the membership community. Join our Patreon for additional content, community, and support along your bariatric journey. Click this link to join now (https://patreon.com/BariNationPodcast?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link) 

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

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Why do we give up on our goals? How can we be so motivated one day and the next day, completely abandon them? 92% of New Year's resolutions go unmet, and we wanted to know what we can do to keep our heads in the game. We sat down with Rodolfo to better understand the mindsets behind giving up on our goals and learn new insights and tools to help us stay committed, even on the hard days.

Follow Rodolfo Alvarez on Instagram @rodolfoalvarezx or join BariNation to interact with him in our Being Me Cohort!

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Do you feel out of control around food, even after you thought you had your eating habits under control? We’ve all been there and many of us continue to struggle with overeating or emotional eating. This week, we brought Dr. Adrienne Youdim on the show to talk about accepting our hunger desire and understanding what it may actually be telling us. She describes what our bodies are experiencing when we reach a stress state and performs an exercise that anyone can use to help calm your mind. She is such a joy to listen to, and we have no doubt that you will walk away with a new understanding of your hunger!  

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:24] Adrienne introduces herself and shares about her background. 

• [5:30] Natalie shares her experience with emotional hunger.

• [7:17] Adrienne discusses what emotional hunger is. 

• [12:57] Adrienne shares what happens in our bodies when we experience a threat or stress, and how to pause.

• [20:05] Adrienne discusses the basic principle of the beginner’s mind. 

• [24:26] Adrienne talks about the reactivity piece and implementing new habits. 

• [26:43] Take a moment and be guided by Adrienne to experience a pause.

• [28:38] Dr. Youdim explains why taking 5 breaths is so powerful, and the ripple effect it can have on the world. 

• [38:00] What is the one thing that Adrienne is hoping listeners take away? 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Anytime you feel out of control, pause and take five deep breaths. This is what you can control, and it will have an immense impact on how you react to the thing that feels out of your control. 

• Each day is an opportunity to approach a problem in a new way. Don’t focus on how you handled it in the past, or what you want to do in the future, just focus on the present and pause, and determine how you want to react in this moment. 

• Emotional hunger is not something that is wrong with you, it is a human experience. You have the ability to pause and to start practicing acknowledgement of what you are experiencing and a kind invitation to start exploring what that can mean in your life.

RESOURCES:

• Dr. Adrienne Youdim's Website 

• Dr. Adrienne Youdim's Instagram

• Dr. Adrienne Youdim’s Facebook

• Your Hunger is the Key to Understanding your Unmet Needs | Dr. Adrienne Youdim | TEDxRaleigh

• Hungry for More - Dr. Adrienne Youdim’s Book

• Health Bite Podcast

• Subscribe to Dr. Adrienne Youdim’s Newsletter

• Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community

• Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast 

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Youdim is a keynote speaker, author, and practicing physician with a passion to empower professionals to take charge of their physical, mental and emotional health so they can thrive in the workplace.  Her decade’s experience caring for CEOs, entrepreneurs and seasoned leaders in all industries has revealed the very mind-body skills that promote good health and emotional wellbeing also lead to resilience and success in the workplace.  

Dr. Youdim holds multiple board certifications awarded by the American Board of Internal Medicine, the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists, the American Board of Obesity Medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.   

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

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Our brains are wired to keep us safe when we sense danger. If we are experiencing physical or emotional pain, our brains work every possible scenario until it finds the most effective and efficient way out of the pain. What our brains do not understand is that sometimes those pathways out of pain actually create more lasting and long-term pain because they negatively impact our overall quality of life. 

Wendy defines a vice as something we turn to when our emotional or physical resources are low. It is something we do to escape, numb, cope, or provide us the temporary relief. Something becomes a vice when it interferes with your quality of life and impacts it negatively. Most vices start out as something pleasurable or something healthy, but when done to excess, cross into the vice category. 

Identifying and addressing our vices is an important step to finding our happy, healthy weight and overall contentment after bariatric surgery. These vices will eventually lead to weight regain because vices make us feel shameful or guilty, which then draws us back into our old eating habits. We must identify our vices and work to cope with stress and discomfort in different, healthy ways. 

Episode Topics:

• Defining vices.
• Describing how vices impact our lives before and after bariatric surgery.
• Finite vs infinite vice resources.
• Learning how we can identify our own vices and how we can get to the root cause of the vice.
• Tools that we can use to replace or vice with healthy coping skills. 

Wendy Rawlings is an amazing Licensed Mental Health Counselor who seems patients all over the nation. Visit Wendy online at www.wendyrawlings.com

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

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Our story is about our struggles. While we might think of our struggles in a negative light, it is actually where the “meat” of our personal stories lives. It is where hidden truths become known, it is where deeper understandings and connections are found, and it is where the change happens. Our struggles define us and at the same time, unite us.

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie reflect on the struggles of their past and how they are using the acknowledgment of their past feelings and emotions to own their present. The goal of owning our story is not to share it with the public world. It is to share it without ourselves. That is the only person who really needs to know our own story. Our future is dependent on owning our own stories as they exist so we can harness the wisdom of our past to create the life we desire.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We all have some *feelings* about movement. For many of us, movement was (or is) a punishment for eating decisions that were not aligned with our goals. We were determined to work off that bad decision one grueling mile or rep after another and rarely saw any lasting results. To find long-term success before and after bariatric surgery, movement must become a part of our lives. So how do we shift from a place of resistance and dread to a place of joy and celebration?

In this episode, our friends and fellow patients Dalton and Rob share with us how they have embraced movement as a part of their identities and how their stumbles and “failures” led them to a newfound commitment to themselves and consistent routines centered around movement.

Follow Dalton @msslwht and Rob @my_weight_is_history on Instagram for some movement inspiration and motivation!

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

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Making the decision to have bariatric surgery is a road well traveled for many of us. We had been on the road for years, sometimes decades, before a defining moment pushed us to accept our reality; that bariatric surgery was going to be the "only" thing that would allow us to live our lives at a healthy weight. We recently sat down with Stephanie, the founder of the Bariatric Bookclub and co-founder of The Bariatric Society to talk about her bariatric "travels". We wanted to know how she came to the decision to have bariatric surgery but we really got to understand all of the twists and turns that we experience along our journey. 

If you are in the beginning stages of your operative adventure or are just exploring bariatric surgery, you will hear yourself in her words.  If you are living on the lighter side of life, aka post-op, you will find redemption in her experience, "ah-ha" moments, and humor. Follow Stephanie on Instagram @one_hungry_mother and join her book club by visiting https://bariatricbookclub.com/

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Many of us went into weight loss surgery believing not only that surgery would be the only “thing” we needed to find and maintain a healthy weight, but that having a second bariatric surgery was not even on our radar. But for thousands of bariatric patients every year, revisional surgeries are medically needed and necessary. 

A “revisionist” has a revisited attitude to a previously accepted situation or point of view. A Revisionist is someone who never stops seeking answers and is open to new and different possibilities. A Revisionist is someone who never gives up on themselves, and in today's episode, you will learn how Jason became a Revisionist. 

Bariatric revision surgeries are needed for many different reasons. Some patients experience the onset or return of acid reflux or GERD, others have complications that are related to or unrelated to surgery, and other patients see the result of metabolic conditions, syndromes, or disease or the onset of these issues after their procedure. Sometimes, patients cannot reach a weight that would allow them to be metabolically well, and other times it is a combination of factors that require revision surgery. No matter the reason, patients need to be supported, seen, and heard throughout their lifetime if they are to continue to access the care and treatment needed to manage their lifelong and chronic disease of obesity. 

In this episode, Jason shares his Revisionist story, explaining how we went from never wanting another surgery to being on the path to a revision from VSG to SADI. He talks about the mindset shifts he had to make and the conversations he needed to have with himself and others that made this change possible. He will share what he wishes he had done the first time around and the changes he plans on making after surgery to do all that he can to treat his disease. 

A revision might not be in your future. But learning and the struggles of other members of our greater bariatric community will only add to your understanding of the disease of obesity and help you become an ally for those who are working so hard to onboard the treatment the disease of obesity requires. If you think a revision might be in your future, this episode will empower you to become a Revisionist through self-reflection and patient advocacy. 

Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com, become a supporter, and help us share bariatric education and stories to those who need it most. 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We are told that resistance movement is critically important after weight loss surgery, but why? We had so many questions about this topic. We sat down with Dr. Shannon McMann, a board-certified Internal and Obesity Medicine specialist who is also a bariatric patient, to understand why muscle matters before and after surgery. 

In this conversation, we asked her why maintaining and building muscle is so important for short and long-term recovery and why the quality of our muscles matters. We wanted to know if there were specific kinds of movement that would help us build more high-quality muscle and where the best place to start is. And she helped us understand how tied our nutrition is to our ability to keep and grow our muscles. 

We are so thankful to have such a fantastic expert in BariNation who can help us understand the why’s behind the things we are asked to focus on as patients. Get to know Shannon more in the BariNation Membership Community by attending our weekly support groups, classes, and meetups!

If you are a member of BariNation or a Patreon Supporter, check out this podcast's bonus episode, where April, Jason, and Natalie  learn about tweaks they can and should be making in their movement efforts to maximize muscle retention and growth!

About our Guest: Dr. McMann is a board-certified doctor in both Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. She practices at a teaching clinic where we train medical students and internal medicine residents in Clinton Township, Michigan.

Her undergraduate and medical school was at Michigan State University, and she completed her residency training in 2002 at McLaren Macomb Regional Medical Center. Dr. McMann is also a bariatric patient, undergoing RNY gastric bypass in 2020 with Dr. Carl Pesta. After gaining the upper hand in her lifelong battle against the

disease of obesity, she decided to pursue additional training to help other patients and give back to the bariatric community.

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This week Natalie sat down with three pre-op patients and BariNation community members Ashley, Helina, and Lisa. They chatted about all things pre-op, including what they wish they knew before taking the leap into the bariatric journey. From not realizing how tedious the process could be, to learning that mindset work is a vital component to success.

Ashley is a wife, mom of two (2yrs and 5yrs), and school psychologist in NY. Her VSG is scheduled for 4/5/23. She enjoys watching documentaries (including too much true crime), watching reality tv, and learning about/trying new things. Ashley’s hoping VSG helps fight the fatigue that holds her back from doing things she wants to do. She’s looking forward to spending this summer working on and caring for herself and being active with her kids and husband.

Helina struggled with her weight for as long as she can remember and tried just about every diet out there. Over a year ago she started researching WLS, got referred to OHSU in February 2022, went through personal hardships, was waitlisted for the program at OHSU, but was finally able to start her pre-op journey on 07/12/22. She’s struggled with a food addiction for a long time and has found food as a comfort. But with going back to therapy and mindset work she knows she can do the hard things. She also knows and believes she’s worthy and deserving of choosing herself and her health.

Lisa has been working through a lot of mindset work to prepare for her journey. She has been involved in the BariNation community, and is looking forward to the rest of her life.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

In this thought-provoking episode, Bariatric Coach Mabel Joseph deep dives into the concept of judgment – what it is, why it's an intrinsic part of being human, and how it affects those on a bariatric journey. Judgment is a normal brain behavior, a mechanism through which we comprehend the world, determine safety, define right from wrong, and make efficient decisions to safeguard our well-being. It is a very normal human behavior. But when our loved ones judge our decision to undergo weight loss surgery and the life we lead after our procedure, our reactions to it can cause us harm. 

In this episode, we will explore how judgment weaves its way into our lives during our bariatric journey and holidays, how it can influence our choices, behaviors, and actions, and the steps we can take to move through judgment in positive and profound ways.

Join hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney for this meaningful and timely discussion. Tune in to gain a profound understanding of judgment, its roots in human psychology, and how it plays a role in the lives of bariatric patients. Learn strategies to navigate judgment, build resilience, and move forward on your transformative journey toward better health and well-being.

If you want to continue this conversation, join us in the BariNation Community! You can help build BariNation by becoming a podcast supporter for $5 a month or join our Support Community and access and attend over 80 live support groups, classes, and meetups a month, all from the comfort of your own home. Join us today by visiting www.barinationpodcast.com to learn more. 

About our Guest:

About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients on a mission to connect patients with the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. They created BariNation to empower people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. BariNAtion understands that every patient's end goal is metabolic wellness. While each patient will take a different road to this destination, the stops along the journey will be similar. BariNation aims to connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast that is distributed on all major podcast and video platforms, host a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us on Instgram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, ,follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers, and follow Mabel @beyondthesleeveacademy

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

No one makes it through without support- and we just so happen to have the "Rocky" of bariatric support, Wendy Rawlings! Wendy is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State who specializes in bariatric recovery. She helps us dig into the big questions and helps us find solutions that allow us to live our lives at a healthy weight after weight loss surgery. 

We recently asked the community what questions they would ask Wendy if they could sit down with her and the community answered with some power-house questions. In this episode, we will toe-dip into the answers and give us all a starting point to begin a deeper understanding of these issues and topics. Buckle up...and grab a notebook and pen...you are going to need it!

Episode Topics:

• Is food addiction real?
• Food addiction: Is abstinence the only solution?
• How do we battle to regain and depression caused by the regaining?
• How do we overcome body dysmorphia?

Episode Mentions:

• Yale Food Addiction Scale
• Yale Food Addiction Test and Scoring Rubric
• Mindfulness Coach App
• Eat Right Now App
• Wendy Rawlings
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• The Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal
  

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

Thank you for being the best part of this community!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Community, connection, and celebration are the rewards we earn for doing the work of weight loss surgery. Obesity is a chronic and lifelong disease with no cure, but we can learn to manage it and maintain a weight that keeps metabolic disease at bay. The work, in many, is endless. But the rewards are priceless.

We talked with some of our beloved BariNation Community Members about how community, connection, and celebration have impacted their journey before and after surgery. Their insights will leave you inspired, uplifted, and recommitted to your journey and our amazing shared community.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Finding moments of joy can be challenging any time of year, but during the holidays, it can be a monumental challenge. Even though we are in the season of joyful celebration, grief, loss, and sadness can make finding moments of joy difficult.

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie discuss the meaning of joy; what it is, what it can look like, how we can find it in our daily lives, and how we can use joy as a tool to help us through difficult and painful moments in life.

Joy can look and feel different almost every day and in this episode, we explore the impact joy has made on our lives and how we have used it when we needed to find relief from what pains us. We hope you leave this episode with a new understanding of joy and the power it can have in your own life.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

If you love this podcast, consider leaving us a rating and review on your podcast player app! You can even leave us a voice message that we can incorporate into the show! Just visit our podcast homepage at www.anchor.fm/barination. You can also watch this episode on our YouTube Channel by searching for BariNation on that platform!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We all go into bariatric surgery with expectations. But what most of us find soon after our procedures, what we expected is not what actually happens. We expect to lose 100 pounds in three months or we blissfully think that hunger will be a thing of the past. When these expectations turn into myths, we get discouraged. We instantly think that our tool has failed and that we have failed our tool. It is why we have a 50% chance of regaining me or all of our weight 2 years after surgery.

HAVE NO FEAR, Megan @mybariatricdietitian is here! Megan is a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about understanding and support this community. Her message and support focus on dispelling these myths and getting to the root of the issue. In this episode, she talked with us about:

• Remaining invested in our recovery when the scale stops moving.
• Understanding the biology behind hunger.
• Unrealistic expectations of weight loss.
•  What we do or do not have control over after WLS.
• CARBS!

If you do not follow Megan, do so now! She is also the author of one of our community's most coveted cookbooks, The Complete Bariatric Cookbook and Meal Plan!

• Instagram: @mybariatricdietitian
• Website: https://www.mybariatricdietitian.com/

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

If you follow Phil, the founder, and creator of Dive Bar Nutrition on Instagram- you might have the perception that he is a super crazy, off-the-wall guy who loves making freaking delicious protein bars. But in the first 5 minutes of our conversation with him, we realized he is so much more than his Dive Bar persona. He is a highly intelligent, educated *professor* who has overcome it ALL to create the life he always knew he could live.

Phil is not a bariatric patient, but his heart and soul live to support people who are seeking to live their best lives. His personal background of substance abuse left him empty but knowing there was more in store for him. He overcame his vices and pursued an education in nutrition and exercise science, becoming a legit *professor* and now the owner of a nutritional supplement company that has a fierce following of devoted fans- East2West_WLS included!

Phil is a master at identifying what is holding people back, helping them overcome their vices, and charting a path towards lasting health. I am not going to lie...this conversation wanders. But it wanders because each time he answered one of our questions, a whole new village of insight and knowledge was presented to us...how could we NOT stop at every village along the way?

If you are struggling to overcome a vice, or are working hard to keep one in check, this episode is for YOU!

Follow Phil on Instagram @divebarnutrition and check out his website, where you can order yourself the most amazing "hard" protein bar you have ever had in your life. Use our code "E2W" for 22% off your order!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Bariatric surgery will not be the only thing that helps us find and maintain our happy, healthy weight. As patients, many of us believe that surgery will be the one thing, the only thing that will get us to a low and sustainable weight. Sure, we know there will be challenges and changes ahead, but surgery will be “the ticket” out of obesity and into our goal pants.

We are here to tell you this is categorically false. Surgery will be the primary treatment you will onboard to treat your disease of obesity, but to find and maintain a happy, healthy weight; you will need many other secondary or adjunct treatments along your journey. Obesity is a chronic and lifelong disease that has no known cure. The disease will present in new and challenging ways throughout our lives, even when your most visable symptom (excess weight) has disappeared.

Dr. Eric Smith, the director of the Kentucky Bariatric Institute, joins the BariNation crew for this powerful discussion that will empower you with the education you need to embrace your bariatric life. Dr. Smith is an advocate for patients and their lifelong care and believes in the power of community. Follow Dr. Smith on Instagram @doctorericsmith_ and visit him online at https://kentuckybariatricinstitute.com/

Are you feeling alone or stuck along your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! Members can join virtual support led by bariatric therapists, classes taught by registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and movement experts, and meetups hosted by patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Find April @actively_april, find Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and find Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Join us today as April and Melanie celebrate their 5-year surgiversaries with an incredible episode packed with wisdom and inspiration. They'll reveal their top 5 tips, sharing insights on the power of community, navigating the twists and turns of your journey, and embracing honesty about your experiences. Tune in now for amazing tips and inspiring stories!

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:32] Melanie introduces herself and shares her story.

• [4:26] Melanie summarizes what her community groups are all about.

• [8:46] Melanie explains what “divorce the word only, and marry the word yet” means. 

• [10:56] April shares that it’s ok that her journey has been easy. 

• [13:11] Melanie describes why telling the truth about your healing and journey is so important.. 

• [14:23] April shares why it’s crucial to be truthful with yourself. 

• [16:29] April explains why it’s essential to ask and answer the questions for yourself. 

• [20:27] Melanie talks about how there isn’t a universal manual that will work for everyone. 

• [24:55] April shares why she will never have it all figured out and how she finds comfort in that. 

• [29:39] Melanie shares her lesson about embracing adversity. 

• [33:23] April explains how the community has made all the difference in her journey. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• There is no one size fits all recovery or plan with surgery. What another person is doing, may not work for you. Stay focused on your journey and what aspects benefit you most.

• The crash or stall is going to happen, don’t focus on that, instead focus on what your next move is. Learning to take the turn in the road will be the most beneficial thing you can do for yourself. There is always a way to continue. 

• Support and community is one of the best tools for your journey from pre-op to post-op and beyond. Having a group of people who understand what you are going through and can root you on when you are feeling stuck and make all the difference in continuing your journey. 

RESOURCES:

• Melanie's Instagram

• Lindell Counseling Website   

• BariNation Website 

• Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community

• Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast 

BIOGRAPHY:

Melanie Lindell, LMHC is a professional counselor who has spent the last decade working in the area of trauma and abuse. It is her deepest belief that we were all created for relationships, that we want to be known and loved and have the ability to freely know and love others. Her passion is helping clients work through maladaptive survival strategies/patterns learned and replacing them with adaptive strategies that help them thrive. She is a bariatric patient, having had Roux-N-Y on August 23, 2019. Her recovery process was atypical and led to additional surgeries, several complications and a long season on a feeding tube and learning to eat again. She serves in BariNation as a Support Group and Meetup Leader, tapping into her expertise and patienthood to guide members through the ups and downs of bariatric life. 

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This week, April sat down with three amazing community members who are in the Life in Maintenance stage, Casey, Laura, and Fiona. In this powerful episode, each person shared what Maintenance has meant to them, how different it has ended up appearing in their lives, and how they are living to adjust to all that life is throwing their way. They each will share some powerful insights and the real and raw aspects of their journeys. While each person’s path to Maintenance has looked very different, the bigger aha moments are remarkably similar. 

We are so thankful for the bravery each woman has shown in sharing their story. Follow them on Instagram if you want to connect with them! Casey can be found at @caseysjourneytohealth, Laura can be found at @lauraleepreston and Fiona can be found @neversayneverfiona

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Consistency is doing what we have to do, even when we don't feel like doing it. That does not mean that we have to *hate* the way we do something. It does mean that we need to find ways of doing the things we know we need to do, in ways that meet our current lifestyle. It means we have to adopt systems, routines, and habits that fit the way we most enjoy living, instead of trying to do something that just does not fit the way we want to live.

To find consistency, we need to be open to trying new ways of doing things. When we find that we are having a hard time meeting a goal of establishing a routine, we need to look for new solutions. Our friend Katie (katie.vsg) is doing just that and we wanted to know what new things she is discovering along her bariatric journey about herself, her goals, and her life!

We just adore Katie and know you will too. Follow Katie on Instagram @katie.vsg to connect with her and learn from her journey!

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We had the *unbelievable* opportunity to sit down with the one and only DEZ @wokeuplikedez and we are SHOOK. We wanted to know how she does it all- how does she grow an empire and STILL get in her workouts and hit her nutrition goals? Inquiring minds want to know ;)

In this episode, we deep dive into the three M's: Motivation, Movement, and Management. It was such a great discussion about dedication and discipline to your goals and how emotional motivation will only get you so far. This episode will leave you READY to make movement a part of each and every day.

Dez has crafted the most amazing workouts with her CPT friend and trainer! She also is launching some *amazing* products soon, so you are going to want to bookmark her website, https://www.wokeuplikedez.com/. And done miss her Instagram because it has as much FIRE as she has in real life! Follow her at @wokeuplikedez on that platform. 

And if you want a behind the scenes look at this conversation- a whole extra HOUR of conversation, become a PATRON! Click the link in our bio or visit www.patreon.com/east2westwls!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

What started out as a conversation about skin turned into so much more. Loving our skin means that we are using our three pillars of success before and after bariatric surgery to truly love ourselves. Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, yet it is something that most of us have neglected. We people say "skincare" we instantly think of our face and how we care for the skin on our face. I think most men would just give you a blank stare when you asked them how they cared for their skin. But if we want to find acceptance, contentment, and even happiness in our own skin, we have to start showing it some love.

In this episode, Desiree Mize aka Dez aka @wokeuplikedez joined us to talk about how her relationship with her skin has changed, how she loves it now, and what she does to set her day off on a positive note. There are going to be some days that we just *don't* want to do the work of weight loss surgery anymore. Dez shares with us some simple, easy things that we can do to set our mindset on the path of achievement, and how this mindset can spark our movement and metabolic wellness. This episode will leave you with some practicable and actionable steps you can take TODAY to help you love your skin and your bariatric journey!

Follow Dez on Instagram and check out her *growing* health and beauty empire at www.wokeuplikedez.com

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

Natalie: @breakingbari_ers⁠ 

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Trigger Warning: Sudden Death/ Family Trauma

Jason and Natalie sat down with one of our brightest community members, Tawnya Bacchetti, to talk about her incredibly difficult journey after bariatric surgery. They talked about how Tawnya persevered about becoming a widow just four months after her VSG surgery, why she decided to stay positive and find her daily rainbows, and how she chooses her health daily, even when moving through grief. Tawnya is a phenomenal example of how choosing joy and love can save your life. We are so thankful for her willingness to share this incredibly difficult story with the world.

Follow Tanya on Instagram @vsg.my.way.tawnya

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Happiness- what does it mean and how do we each define it? We start our conversation there and dive deep into how we can find lasting happiness before and after WLS! Check out the full episode for some deep and meaningful conversations about happiness. 

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Jason recently celebrated his ONE YEAR SURGERY AVVINVERSARY and we were so excited to reflect on what he has learned in that time. And believe if it or not, his wife Sarah had her first bariatric surgery appointment on that very same day! The three of us sat down to reflect on Jasons' year and better understand Sarah's upcoming procedure. We were able to better understand some of the ways Jason's life has changed, how his weight loss has impacted their relationship, and what Sarah is excited and nervous for!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Welcome to another insightful episode of the BariNation Podcast. In this week's discussion, we dive deep into a topic that resonates with many in the bariatric realm: food addiction and abstinence post-surgery. Many weight loss surgery patients worry or wonder if they will ever be able to enjoy the foods they love after surgery. Some even have a “food funeral” before surgery as a way to mark the change in their lives. But what do we do if we have difficulty with certain foods? What do we do if we can’t enjoy just one of them? Does it make us a bad person if certain foods trigger disordered or unhealthy eating patterns? 

Many of us enter our weight loss surgery journeys with the idea that we will never think about food, never have cravings again, and never struggle with food as something we rely on to soothe ourselves. The reality? Many of us have used food for years to comfort, distract, and numb, and that will not change after surgery without intentional mindset work.

In this episode, Dr. Stapleton elaborates on why we experience food addiction, and how we can choose to say no to certain foods harming our progress. We answer our BariNation community member’s question: “How do I know I need to abstain from certain foods?”  

We hope you leave this episode feeling validated and empowered to tackle the disease of obesity and the disease of addiction - and we encourage you not to tackle this beast alone. By utilizing the community and experts like Dr. Connie Stapleton, you can work through your food addiction. 

If you are a Patreon supporter of the podcast or you are a member of our BariNation Support Community, you will get access to a fantastic bonus podcast episode where Dr. Stapleton answered some insightful questions, like given the biological need to eat to sustain life - unlike some other addictions, are there suggestions on how to navigate this - as you can’t go “cold-turkey”?

Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest:  Doctor Connie Stapleton is an educational and inspirational speaker, with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She is also an author of several books, including “Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction” and “Mind Prep The Book: How To Prepare for Bariatric Surgery and Live as a Healthy Post-Op.” Connie also has her own podcast called “BariAftercare” where she delves into the mindset work of life post-operative weight loss surgery. She is a catalyst in the community as well, co-authoring several articles and research studies from the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it.

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

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Knowing our stories can be a powerful tool we can use to help us move through difficult moment’s along our journey. But what can we do when people question or push back against our decision to undergo bariatric surgery? We can speak in stats! When we have statistical data to back up our decision, we arm ourselves and others with factual information about the chronic disease of obesity that help solidify our choices and provide a definitive rebuttal to anyone who wants to question our medical decisions.

Dr. Eric Smith, DO joined us for this powerful conversation and we are thrilled to have him as a patient advocate in our shared community! Dr. Smith seeks to end the shame and stigma that surrounds bariatric surgery by supporting his patients through every stage of their journey! Follow Dr. Smith on Instagram @drericsmith_ .

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Are you considering plastic surgery after your bariatric procedure? We sat down with two experts in the plastic surgery field Dr. Gavin Dry, MD and his wife, Melissa Dry, Surgical RN, and answer all of your plastic surgery questions! Many of us undergo plastic surgery after our weight loss to tackle our extra skin but there are quite a few factors that go into making the decision to have a plastic surgery procedure and then recovering from that procedure! We want to know:

• Why would our plastic surgery experience and procedures be different from non-bariatric patients?
• When is the right time to undergo plastic surgery?
• How do we find a surgeon that specializes in bariatric plastic surgery?
• What are the most common procedures and what do they do?
• Will plastic surgery make me look perfect?
• How can I set myself up for success before and after plastic surgery?
• What will recovery be like?
• What do we need to be sure we ask at our consultations?
  

Follow Dr. Dry on Instagram @drgavindrymd and @athenixbody. Feel free to reach out to him with all of our plastic surgery questions!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

To finding lasting success after weight loss surgery, we have to do two things: acknowledge the role food has played in our lives and reframe these relationships to serve our new lives. Easier said than done.

We had the opportunity to sit down with Kedric Barrett, the amazing human behind the podcast Sleeved Believe the Hype- a show that chronicles the ups and downs of weight loss surgery in the most honest and real ways. Ked shared the role food played in his life before surgery and how has he reframed his relationship with food to work for him, not against him. We also discuss what it means to live life as a large human and the lasting impacts of our size on our family, friends, and careers. He is also passionate about speaking about the importance of following our doctor's orders before and after surgery, and he explains why in this episode. 

Follow Ked on your podcast player app and on Instagram @sleevedbelievethehype

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Does the gym and movement intimidate you? We are here to tell you that with the right support and accountability you can create an amazing movement routine that helps you get strong and healthy. That’s why we have partnered with Busy Bariatrics to offer a 30 day movement challenge. This challenge will offer bodyweight and dumbbell exercises, with an emphasis on walking. Such a great way to beat the fall/winter blues and join a group of people to stay accountable on their journey. Tune in to learn more about the challenge. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [3:57] Rob explains why movement is so important.

• [5:33] Kylie introduces herself and describes her journey. 

• [7:38] Why is community so important to your success?

• [11:10] How have BariNation and Busy Bariatrics teamed up with a challenge? 

• [17:34] How did Jason get started with his movement journey? 

• [19:22] What types of services does Busy Bariatrics offer?

• [23:43] We break down more about the 30 day challenge and what to expect. 

• [34:11] Why do we hope you’ll join the challenge?  

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• If you have the right community setting around you, you put the right resources and support in place, you can get some really excellent results.

• The upcoming 30 day challenge has the option of a bodyweight only challenge or a dumbbell challenge along with videos of how to do the movements.

• You’re really only bound by the limits of your imagination. 

RESOURCES:

• My Weight is History Instagram

• Busy Bariatrics Website   

• Join Rob’s email list to get his meal planning calendar FOR FREE!

• Kylie Hansen’s Instagram

• BariNation Website 

• Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community

• Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast 

BIOGRAPHY:

Rob DiMedio, CEO of Busy Bariatrics: I’ve had bariatric surgery in 2020 and have learned how difficult, yet rewarding our journeys are. I have a passion for helping others create their own success & determining what that looks like for them. 

Kylie Hansen, Nutrition Coach at Busy Bariatrics: I'm Kylie! Mom of 2 boys, wife to a lineman, and an 11 year post op bariatric patient. I have experienced my fair share of struggles on my weight loss journey. I'm just like you - human. Over the course of my journey, I've learned what's important and what's not when it comes to maintaining weight and living a healthy life.  I've learned that consistency matters most. I hope I can help guide you to building your own success. 

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Jason and Natalie sat down with Tabitha Johnson to talk about her journey with movement. Tabitha explained that her relationship with movement didn’t begin until the last year. For her, the opportunity presented itself, and she took it by the reigns, made it happen, and now feels empowered to continue building her strength. They discussed her journey to Summer Shredding and how her movement has improved her relationship with her family. Tabitha’s piece of advice? “Just try something. It doesn’t have to be in the gym or to get to a fitness competition.”

Follow Tabitha on Instagram @therealbariboss and join her Healthy Habits Support Group in the BariNation Membership Community, where she is a Mindset Expert!

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We know that many of us struggle with loving our skin before bariatric surgery. So how do we get to the point after surgery where we can accept, acknowledge, and even love our skin? We sat down with Charity @wanderlust.wls to better understand her recipe for loving her skin at every stage of her journey! And let us tell you...she has been through it ALL. She has overcome life-threatening surgical complications and has come out of those experiences with an attitude of gratitude and positivity. You will be blown away by Charity's humor, humility, and honesty; she is a true gem in our bariatric community! In this episode, we will discuss the differences between body positivity and body neutraltiy, bariatric surgery complications, patient advocacy, and how we can care for our skin at every stage!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

 Are you tired of feeling “stuffed” all the time? Everywhere you look, you see and feel stuffed with things, with memories, with things that you think you should be doing but don’t have the time or energy to do? Yeah, we know the feeling too.

We recently welcomed a new Expert in the BariNation Membership Community who is a professionally trained organizer. Her name is Spring Coourtright and she was trained by one of the world's most recognized organizer, Marie Konda. Spring has been leading a Decluttering Challenge in the BariNation Community and the impacts have been deep and meaningful. She is showing us all how decluttering and organizing can actually help us feel full, feel satisfied and content by decluttering.

We sat down with two of our Community members, April and Chylynn, to hear the impacts decluttering is having on their lives and their bariatric journeys. In this episode, they share how they have started decluttering the spaces in their lives and found areas where they can grow and expand. They also share the similarities they are finding between decluttering and their bariatric journey and how cleaning out the spaces in their homes has opened up opportunities to clear out space in their mindset too.  

You will leave this episode with some “aha” moments and connections that can help you begin your own decluttering journey! Join April, Chylynn, and Spring in the BariNation Membership Community  if you are ready for some guided Decluttering help along your own journey! 

If you are a Patreon supporter of the podcast or you are a member of our BariNation Support Community, you will get access to a fantastic bonus podcast episode where April and Chylynn talk in-depth about the bariatric connections they have made and what they are discovering about themselves through the Decluttering Challenge.  

Our Podcast supporters get to submit questions for future episodes, get access to bonus episodes with our amazing guests, and are invited to join us at our Community-only Struggle Bus Lives twice a month! Support the BariNation Podcast by becoming a $5 supporter today! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest: April and Chylynn are bariatric patients who are committed to lifelong treatment of the disease of obesity. They are active members of the community who attend weekly groups, classes, and meetups. They are patient advocates and share their stories and experiences with anyone who is ready to change their life through bariatric surgery. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Episode Warning: Suicide and suicide prevention is discussed in this episode.  Over 250,000 people undergo some type of bariatric surgery each year and 40% of those people are men. But most of the public support for bariatric patients is geared towards women. We are here to change that because men face the same and similar "work" to live their lives at a healthy weight, and that work requires the support of this community. We sat down with Dalton who has lost over 150 pounds after undergoing gastric bypass. We wanted to know how he has found success after bariatric surgery and it comes down to a few things- movement, mental health, and mindset. He realized that he was the only one holding himself back from living the life he wanted and when things got dark for him, he sought professional help. He is a huge advocate for mental health access and awareness and in this episode, you will learn how he has to overcome the bad to become a ray of light for our community. Follow Dalton's amazing journey on Instagram @msslwht If you are in crisis or you know someone in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Your life matters. We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review! Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, NuPP5L7zpxLyJuPOyb0Aquestion, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people. Where to follow along: Website: www.east2westwls.com Instagram: @east2west_wls YouTube: East2West_WLS Jason: @tha_smithsonian April: @actively_april --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Spoiler Alert- we think this is one of the BEST patient-to-patient conversations we have had to date on the podcast. ⁠

Don't get us wrong...we have had some AMAZING conversations with fellow bariatric friends, but this one was so far-reaching, so targeted to our emotional and physical changes, and really dove into the hard things that we don't want to talk about or admit- that our friends, family, and even strangers treat us differently after bariatric surgery and then again after plastic surgery. Either real or perceived, these changes mess with our minds and our hearts.⁠

In this DEEP (and long) conversation with Veronica @vko_1977, we wanted to know three things: how did you make the decision to have plastic surgery, how has your body recovered, and did it "do" for you what are you hoping for plastic surgery would do? Turns out...those were some loaded and packed questions! No matter where you are in the process, you will find this conversation insightful, meaningful, and relatable. ⁠

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This summer, we are focusing on staying steadily aligned to our goals. We want to create or refine habits, systems, and routines that are not along aligned to our goals but feel automatic. Ultimately, we want to create a life we feel that we never want or need a vacation from.

April, Jason, and Natalie sat down to review their Summer, Steady goals and update each other on their progress so far. There were plenty of “ah-ha” moments and Natalie shared a brilliant meal planning system she has been using and loving. We so enjoyed catching up with each other and we know you will, too!

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This summer has NOT gone the way any of us thought it would. Things are in disarray, but we are not ready to give in or give up yet!

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie reflect on their goals and how they have (or have not) been working towards them. We discovered that even though things are not going to plan, we are making small course corrections along the way. We each identified some areas we wanted to continue to work on and shared our game plan for making that happen.

Do you feel like your summer goals are off track? Don’t worry, we are too. This episode is for you!

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Jason and Natalie sat down with Kylie Hansen, a bariatric patient, and Certified Personal Trainer, to talk about what resistance movement is, why it is so important for us as bariatric patients to focus on, and what that could look like at different stages post-op. Kylie also explained how resistance movement was key to her success as a bariatric patient, and how she turned that into her passion for helping others learn to love moving their bodies.

Jason and Natalie made some key connections as to how they utilize resistance movement along their journeys, and how it has helped them progress.

You can follow ch Kylie on Instagram at @kyliehansen.vsg

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

The season is changing and we are looking fallward! April, Jason, and Natalie sat down for a reflective conversation about the season ahead and what they are hoping it will hold for them. Jason made a big breakthrough during our conversation that he is hopeful will help him get to back to a place of holistic wellness. And all three shared some things that have been making a positive impact on their bariatric journeys! 

If you have been struggling with some major changes in your personal life and finding that you are having a hard time being okay, this episode is for you. Goodby summer, hello fall!

_________________________________________________________

For 10% off all ProCare Vitamins and supplements, use code BariNation.Join our Patreon to help support the podcast by going to patreon.com/BariNationPodcast.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

As if the bariatric journey is not emotional enough, we can exerpieince grief when anything in our life changes. The loss of a connection to what we knew or the past can trigger the waves of grief, even happy moments or momentous occasions can cause grief to be present in our lives. We want to better understand the waves of grief and leanr how we can grow through the grief, using it as a powerful tool for growth. 

We sat down with Timisha Malone, a bariatric therapist who specalizes in grief and a patient herself. She has over a decade of experience walking people through grief and helping them harness the powerful momentfum grief can create in our life. And becuase she is also a bariatric patient, she is able to offer us specific and targeted suggestions for every step of our bariatric life. She helps us understand that moving through grief actually requires stillness, a willingness to find stillness, name our feelings, and connect with a peer community to help us navigate the emotional changes. 

If you have been wondering “why am I feeling this way” and can’t quite put your finger on what is causing your feelings or emotions, this episode is for you! We invite you to connect and grow with Timisha in the BariNation Support Communtiy, where she leds our bi-monthly Bariatric Grief Support Group. This group is designed to help fellow patients undertand grief, its many waves, and provide a safe place to practice the stillness needed to move though grief. Join Timisah and hundreds of fellow patients at www.barination.mn.co

____________________________________

If our podcast has helped you along your bariatric journey, help support it by becoming a subscriber! For $5 a month, you can help grow the BariNation podcast and ensure it continues to help the thousands and thousands of patients who rely on it. Your support helps us fuel this labor of love and ensures that it reaches patients when and where they need it the most. Become a supporter at www.barination.mn.co.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow hosts April Williams @actively_april, follow Jason Smith @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie Tierney @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Grief is an emotion that is triggered by the loss of something. Grief indicates a loss of connection, a severance between us and something or someone. Bariatric patients can experience grief along their journey but not realize it in the moment. We can be filled with feelings of sadness, anger, and resentment and wonder why we are feeling these things, especially when we think we should only be feeling happiness and joy after surgery. Turns out, grief is a normal emotion after surgery and recognizing it is the first step to move through it.

In this episode, we sat down with Lora Grabow, an amazing bariatric therapist and expert in the BariNation Support Community to understand grief from our bariatric lens. We wanted to know why it happens, how to recognize it, and what we can do to move through it. We invite you to join Lora in her upcoming Growing Through Grief class on Thursday, October 17th at 4:30pm PST / 7:30 pm EST in our Support Community. Learn in real time from the experts, with the support of your bariatric peers! Visit www.barination.mn.co to become a member and RSVP to the class! Follow Lora on Instagram @bariatric.therapist and visit her online at loragrabow.com

Have you experienced grief along your bariatric journey? Was the emotion of grief something you expected to encounter in your post op life? Respond to these questions on our Spotify homepage or keep the conversation going in the Community! 

________________________________

If our podcast has helped you along your bariatric journey, help support it by becoming a monthly donor! Your support helps us fuel this labor of love and ensures that it reaches patients when and where they need it the most. Click the link in the show notes on our Spotify homepage and be the future of BariNation!

Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Today's conversation is about TWO things that we think we have to avoid like the plague after WLS- carbs and fat! We want to know some things…like…and we got all the answers! Mike even helped JASON work through some of his current nutritional wondering and provided us all with some HOPE when it comes to our goals and tracking! Episode Topics: — What are carbs and fats? Are they essential to your health? — Why have carbs and fat been villainized? What makes them “bad” for us? — What are the recommended daily amount of carbs and fats for bariatric patients? — Best sources of fats that are bariatric patients? — How can people overcome their fear of carbs and fats post-op and learn to incorporate and enjoy them post-op? — Tracking: Do we need to track and hat system to do recommend? Carbs and fats are crucial components of our balanced, bariatric diet in our post-op life. It’s time we stopped being scared of them and start incorporating them in ways that help us reach our bariatric goals! Follow Mike at @dietitian_dad and visit him online at https://www.dietitiandadnutrition.com/ to learn about his one-on-one nutritional coaching sessions! You've got this and we've got you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Hunger is something every human can experience, but in people who suffer from the disease of obesity, hunger is more than a physical experience. Hunger can be ever-present, insatiable, and a constant worry. Emotional or “head” hunger can drive what many people recognize as “food noise”- the continual thought of food. How can we learn to recognize when our hunger is real or emotional? What can we do to honor not only our physical hunger but our emotional hunger?

We sat down with Jane Stoltz, a Registered Bariatric Dietitian from Australia, to better understand and honor hunger in all the ways we might experience it. Our hunger might completely disappear after surgery or always be present, even when we wake up from our bariatric procedure. We want to help you take the fear out of hunger and give you tools to understand what drives hunger and creative ways you can honor it in ways that are aligned with your bariatric goals. 

Join us for this robust conversation on hunger. We know you will leave this conversation with new insights into your hunger and a fresh perspective on how you can honor it. Follow Jane on Instagram and connect with her online at https://www.bariatricnutritioncoach.com.au/

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding emotional hunger and how the cues are different from physical hunger. She shares some “aha” moments her clients have had over the years and helps us better understand how to control physical hunger with balanced nutrition. 

About our Guest: Jane Stoltze has been a dietitian for nearly 30 years, specializing in bariatric nutrition for the last 6 years. She is passionate about providing excellent nutritional care for people before and after their bariatric surgery. She believes support and education are fundamental to a successful outcome from weight loss surgery.

 

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

It’s one thing to have a goal; it is another thing to achieve it. April, Jason, and Natalie are on a mission to achieve some big thing this year, and they sat down to review how it has all been going. They shared what has been working well for them and what has stopped them in their tracks. Join the BariNation crew for an insightful conversation about growth, change, and decision making.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We hear that balance is the key to success in everything. We need to find a balance between our work and home lives. We need to find a balance between enjoying foods that are in and out of bariatric compliance. We need to balance the things we say YES to with the things we say NO to. 

This is all well and good…but what does this balance actually look like, IN REAL LIFE? 

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie sat down with two of our favorite humans in the bariatric community, Rissa and Chris Stewart. Rissa is known for her CAN DO approach to her life and Chris has established himself as the modern stylist for our community! But behind the Instagram grid, both are busy professionals who are raising 5 children and learning how to live their best bariatric lives. They offered us some amazing and useful insights into how they create and maintain balance in their lives, and what they do when they feel out of sync. 

Follow Rissa on Instagram @rissarecharged and Chris @bariatric_bro 

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Like the rain, there are no stopping setbacks and obstacles. They will continue to move through our lives no matter how well prepared for the worse. Before bariatric surgery, many of us turned to food to help us navigate these stressful moments. After surgery, we come to understand that if we want to find our happy, healthy weight, we cannot turn to food at every setback or obstacle.

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie discuss some of the setbacks they experienced before and after surgery and how they have learned to shift their mindset and actions to be more aligned to their bariatric goals.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aling your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Like many conversations we have, we think we will talk about one thing, but we end up talking about something completely different. Self-care can be defined as “The practice of taking action to preserve and improve one’s health.” We love this definition of self-care because it calls us to do several things; practice calls us to actually do self-care, action requires that we actually do those things that are self-care to us, and preserving our health means it is ok to just do what is needed to not go backward.

In this deep conversation, April, Jason, and Natalie break down this definition and share how self-care looks in their lives when they have the time and feel like they don’t have the time. They discuss how self-care has shifted from them in their post-op lives and talk about how there is a societal correlation between self-care and selfishness.

This conversation will leave you thinking about your own self-care and thinking up creative and meaningful ways to make it a part of your life every day.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

Follow the BariNation crew on Instagram @bari.nation and like and subscribe to their YouTube channel, where you can watch every episode of the podcast and other meaningful supports online!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

At any given moment, we can identify handfuls of missteps, mistakes, and failures that we feel we have made from the moment we woke up. And teasing out any win’s or succusses seems like an impossible task. If we allow a moment for our rational thoughts to catch up to our irrational thoughts, we would know this is simply not true. Yet many of us are running this race every day, and finding ourselves exhausted before the starting gun has even sounded. Perhaps there is a better way.

In this deeply personal conversation with our friend Katie, we explore some of the ways we can learn to meet ourselves in these moments and tease out the truth; that we have worked hard for many wins every day, even on the days that seem the darkest. Katie shares with us how she is working to find hope in the valleys and enjoy the vistas of the high peaks. Follow Katie on Instagram @katie.vsg. We are so thankful for her friendship and willingness to speak so truthfully about her struggles and setbacks.

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Bariatric surgery can do more than help us live our life at a healthy weight, it is a tool we can utilize to find true, metabolic healthy. Dr. Ortiz is the world-renowned bariatric surgeon and Medical Director at the Obesity Control Center in Tijuana, Mexico! He is one of the pioneers of bariatric surgery and recognized as a leading authority in the field of bariatric medicine, playing a key role in the development of the Lap-Band, a type of bariatric surgery. He has gone on to pioneer a new type of sleeve procedure that has lower rates of complications and higher rates of success. 

In this far-reaching and insightful conversation with Dr. Ortiz, the EastwWest_WLS crew discovered the true POWER of bariatric surgery. Our original goal for this conversation was to learn more about Dr. Ortiz and his Obesity Control Center in Mexico, but what we end with was a deep dive into metabolic wellness and a roadmap for how we can use it as a final destination for our bariatric journey.

Episode Topics:

• Why bariatric surgery is necessary for many.
• The pre-op and post- op experienece.
• How to prepare for bariatric surgery.
• How to find health and wellness after surgery.
• What the bariatric experience is like at OCC!

Follow Dr. Ortiz on social media and visit the Obesity Control Center online!

• Instagram: @obesitycontrolcenter
• Website: www.obesitycontrolcenter.com
• Facebook: @OCCMedicalCenter

Episode Mentions:

• Benjamine Birkman, PhD
• Jason Fung, MD
• Eric Westman, MD

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We are often asked by older members of our bariatric community if WLS is the right decision at mature ages. So we weight straight to an expert, Dr. Jor Cribbins, the Director of the Texas Center for Bariatrics and Advanced Surgery! Dr. Cribbibns has performed thousands of bariatric surgeries and works tirelessly to ensure his patients find success after their bariatric procedure. We wanted to know if -age- impacts a person's ability to undergo bariatric surgery and if it impacts their rate of success after surgery? His responses BLEW OUR MINDS! If you are wondering if WLS is right for you, this episode will leave you optimistic and hopeful!

Follow Dr. Cribbins on Instagram @one_operation_changes_life and online at https://www.texascenterforsurgery.com/

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Life changes the moment you wake up from your bariatric procedure- your physical self has changed and the lens' that you use to view your life change too. In this episode, Jason and April dive deep in life after weight loss surgery, exploring the physical and emotional changes they experienced after their VSG procedures. And what makes the conversation interesting is learning how their different reasons lead to the same decision to have bariatric surgery. While their recoveries were similar, they were very different. The power of conversation is on full display in this episode!

Episode Mentions:

• Physical Changes
• Emotional Changes
• Keys to Success After WLS

Added Value Mentions

• Weekend Getaways
• White Fragility by Beverly DiAngelo
• Juneteenth

We also encourage to you VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. During the show, we shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen also enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

Thank you for being the best part of this community!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Trigger Warning: Alcoholism and Death

Bariatric patients face an increased risk of many health issues after surgery. But Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is one of the least discussed issues, even though it increases our chances of major complications and even death. Study after study has shown an increased risk of AUD, leading to severe complications and death three years post-op. The medical community is not in agreement on why this happens, so many years post-op. But understanding that we are at an increased risk after surgery is all we need to know to better equip ourselves to recognize the warning signs of alcohol dependence and addiction to ensure we do not find ourselves on the wrong side of the statistics. 

We had the opportunity to sit down with Ryan and his dad Greg to talk about their mother, Lynee. She was one of the first patients to undergo RNY over 20 years ago and died 10 years after her procedure due to chronic and severe medical conditions. A few years after her procedure, she developed AUD and become dependant on alcohol, exhibiting many of the signs of alcoholism. Her drinking dramatically impacted her physical and emotional health, as well as strained relationships with her family. Ryan and Greg directly link her death to her alcoholism.

We are so thankful to get to know Lynee through Ryan and Greg. And we are grateful that they are willing to share their personal and intimate moments of their lives with us, to help us all understand the risks we take undergoing bariatric surgery and how we can find lasting success when we think we are "healed".

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

How many times have you attempted to institute new habits or rouintes, but find yourself never being able to stick with them? Are you frustrated and feeling like you are always “falling back into old habits?” Dont worry, we feel and experience the same thing when we attempt to establish a bew bariatric-aligned routine. 

April sat down with Aransas Savas, a personal development expert with decades of experience helping people move past their personal barriers and create lasting change in their lives. April wanted to know if there is a better way to really change what we do and how we do it. Turns out, there is. Focusing on practices, not establishing new routines and habits, is the best path to lasting change. 

In this episode, Aransas breaks down the differences between habits, routines, and practices and shares strategies for identifying our reasons behind the change and how building routines from practices is actually how to create a new and lasting habit. .  

We know you will leave this episode ready to take a personal inventory on your own habits and perhaps shift your mindset around practices. And be sure you check out the bonus episode with Aransas in the BariNation Membership Community or our Patreon Community!

Did you have an “aha” moment from this episode? Leave us a message and share your takeaways from this episode or any past episodes of the BariNation Podcast! Head to anchor.fm/barination/message and leave us a message that we can incorporate into future episodes! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with patients who are committed to decluttering along their bariatric journey And in January, you can join fellow members in our Decluttering Challenge! Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest: Aransas Savas is a  veteran Wellbeing and Leadership Coach, and has spent her career at the intersection of research, behavior change, and coaching. She created a uniquely holistic and proven approach to coaching that blends practical, science-backed techniques with energy coaching. Aransas has partnered with companies like Weight Watchers, Best Buy, Truist, Edward Jones, US Bank, and many more, to create transformative experiences. 

Follow Aransas in all the following places:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransas_savas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_uplifters_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theuplifterspodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aransas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aransassavas/

About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Sometimes we get overwhelmed thinking about all of the things we have to do after weight loss surgery to find ourselves on the lighter side of life. Between water and macros, movement, and our mental health, it can feel like it is all just too much. We have to follow our eating plan 100% after weight loss surgery to lose and maintain our weight. Making no mistake, reaching our low weight was one of the most difficult and challenging things we have ever done, but we did not do it in one day and were by no means perfect.

Meet Gizelle, a mother of 3 who has birthed three children in the last five years, has undergone VSG, and lost over 120 pounds. In this episode, she shows us how she has done it all and learned from her steps along the way. She teaches us how making small, little changes in our habits and routines add up to big wins on and off the scale. Her timely and useful tips will have you thinking about how you can make similar changes in your own life that will add up to the wins you are seeking along your journey.

Follow Gizella on Instagram @sleevelife_ and be looking for her as a special guest at one of our upcoming Virtual Bariatric MEetups!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

Thank you for being the best part of this community!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Have you been trying to figure out how to get back into an exercise routine post surgery and are feeling overwhelmed? Today we are joined by exercise expert, Dr. Renee Rogers to discuss what types of exercise are best post surgery and how to increase your lean muscle tissue that may have been lost after surgery. Dr. Rogers is a wealth of information and she provides excellent clarity about how to determine the best physical activity for yourself, and how to create a realistic plan for your new way of life. Tune in to learn more and get some great tips! 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [1:34] Dr. Rogers introduces herself and provides her background. 

• [4:28] How can we quiet the media noise that’s in front of us every day?

• [8:51] Dr. Rogers discusses how obesity medications work and why there is a push for movement right now

• [17:18] When you lose the lean tissue, especially if it's muscle, can we gain any of that back? 

• [25:43] How can you determine what exercise or physical activity is best for you?

• [31:55] Where do you start when it comes to movement to maintain what strength you have?

• [37:24] If someone is considering having bariatric surgery or onboarding an anti obesity medication, where should they start when it comes to being active? 

• [41:07] Dr. Roger’s final thoughts 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• When you are carrying excess body weight, you need more lean tissue to maintain your body size, to hold up your frame, to walk every day, to feel and function. Lean tissue includes bone, muscle, organs, tendons, connective tissue, when you shed some adiposity, you will naturally shed some lean tissue also. 

• Every bariatric patient goes into their post op life in a completely different sport physiologically. One person’s movement level will be different than someone else’s so don’t try to follow a one size fits all program.

• When getting started, tune in to what your body really needs, and what feels good, then build from that. Decide what is one thing this week that you can really prioritize in terms of new behaviors that you need to start doing, start with those and take it from there.

RESOURCES:

• Dr. Rogers’ LinkedIn 

• Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community

• Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast 

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Renee J. Rogers, Ph.D., FACSM, is a senior scientist at the University of Kansas Medical Center and also works as a healthy lifestyle consultant and strategist. Dr. Rogers is an expert in bio-behavioral intervention design with a focus on relevant engagement approaches that blends her 20+ years of experience working in exercise physiology, behavior change, and obesity/weight management. Her current work focuses specifically on the role of exercise and body composition with contemporary obesity treatments.

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Life after weight loss surgery can feel overwhelming. There are vitamins to schedule, meals to plan, macros to count, water goals to hit, exercise milestones to reach, and so many other things that fall into the “lifestyle change” category. It can (and sometimes is) a full-time job learning how to be a bariatric patient. And on top of all of the things we need to do, there is a fear that we will do it wrong, or mess up along the way, and all of our weight will return. We worry that if we don’t do everything perfectly, we will fail. And that failure can sometimes parallelize us. 

Jason, Natalie, and April have been living as bariatric patients now for years, and they have learned so much about what it really takes to be a bariatric patient. Through their lived experiences, they developed the BariNation Pillars of Bariatric Success out of need and necessity. But we knew there must be a better way, a simplified guide, a bariatric way of living that helped us lower our temperature, not raise it. 

We turned to the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Patient Guidelines, we talked with countless experts in their respective fields, and reached the research studies ourselves. Bariatric success after surgery comes down to focus and compliance in four major areas- movement, mindset, metabolic wellness, and community. That’s it. Really. 

In this episode, the BariNation crew will break down what each of these pillars is all about; what they mean to them, why it is important to focus in these four areas every day, and what it looks like to live the BariNation Pillars of Bariatric Success before and after surgery. What makes the Pillars so powerful is that they flex to meet you where you are at. They are designed to grow with you and remain the powerful and steadfast supports that allow you to live the live of your dreams. When the Pillars are set in the foundation of Community, you can achieve anything. 

Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Our friend Katie has made amazing progress this summer, and she sat down with us to share what she has been doing, what she has been learning, and what she is focusing on next. Katie has discovered that accountability is key to her success and she shares with us just how she has found her stride and how she is staying steadily aligned with her goals!

Follow Katie on Instagram and TikTok @katie.vsg.

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! Hop on the Struggle Bus with @East2west_WLS as we help our community through some of their current struggles. 

In this episode, we talk through: 

• Stalls and how to work through them 
• What do you when we feel like we are just going through the motions 
• Dealing with dry skin and brittle hair.  

Episode Mentions:

• Palmers Cocoa Butter Swivel Stick 
• Osea Undaria Algea Body Oil 
• Booda Butter Daily Moisturizer 
• Creve Moisturizing Cream 
• Carmex 
• Dove Dry Skin Bodywash 
• Gratitude Journal 
• HydroJug 

The Struggle Bus is all about in the moment support. If you are struggling with something, we are here to help! 

• Leaving us a voice message on our Anchor Homepage! 
• Send us a Direct Message (DM) on Instagram Comment on the most recent Struggle Bus graphic on our Instagram feed 
• Send us a message on our website Send any of us a DM on our personal Instagram pages 

Listen on to see how the East2est_WLS crew suggests we work through these struggles and get us moving in the right direction. So hop on and stay awhile...the ride is free and we think you will hop off with some new ideas, insights, and inspiration! 

You've got this and we've got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Bariatric surgery is a life-altering decision. The fear that surrounds this procedure is real, despite the life-saving effects and impacts it can make on your life. Undergoing any type of weight loss procedure comes with risks and costs. It is important to weigh these risks with the potential rewards that come with living on the lighter side of life.

We sat down with Dr. Joe Cribbins, the Director of The Texas Center for Bariatric Surgeries in Dallas, Texas to help us talk through some of the most common bariatric fears. We wanted to know:

• Why are patients scared to have bariatric surgery?
• What are the risks of NOT having bariatric surgery?
• Are there some people who are not good candidates for bariatric surgery?
• How do you help people make a decision that is best for them?
• How do people tackle their surgery and COVID setbacks?
• If people are scared to have bariatric surgery but think it might be a good decision for them, where do you recommend they start their research?

Our mission here at East2West_WLS is to connect patients with the EXPERTS, so we can trust the information we are getting. Dr. Cribbins is one of our most trusted experts and we are so thankful to have him on Team East2West_WLS! Follow him on Instagram @one_operation_changes_life

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We know that bariatric eating can be complicated. It can feel overwhelming and daunting. But we are here to help us all lower the temperature on bariatric eating and help us all find that balanced and healthy relationship with food and eating!  Balance can look different for everyone, but it takes a willingness to try different things and experiment to find equilibrium in our own lives.

In many ways, we have to think about food more than every before, and that can be disappointing. But by shifting our mindset and thinking about food as one aspect of our overall health, we can find a relationship that is healthy and sustainable.

Follow Jeannie on Instagram @barisuccussrd and visit her online at www.jeannieboyer.com to learn about her one-on-one nutritional coaching sessions!

If you don’t follow us on Instagram, you are missing out! We are @bari.nation and we hope to see you there soon! Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsnoian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. You can also visit us at www.barination.com to learn more about our membership community and other supports we offer our amazing bariatric community.

You've got this and we've got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We have a 50% chance of regaining our weight two years after our bariatric procedure. These two critical years will make or break our long-term success and once we reach this milestone and have maintained our new low weight, we should take a moment to CELEBRATE!

April recently reached this milestone and we took some time to reflect on what has changed and what has stayed the same. The trio had the opportunity to talk about what fun is and looks like after bariatric surgery and think about how we can continue to have fun in ways that support our new life and identity!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

After bariatric surgery, our entire relationship with food changes. And many times, we are taken aback by just how much anything food-related changes...it can be downright daunting. Many of us find even our tastebuds change and our entire food palet is reformed. In this episode, we sit down with Kristin Willard, a certified bariatric dietitian to talk about all things FOOD! Kristin's approach is different- she wants us to focus on what we can eat, what we can add to our diets now that we are starting with a blank canvas of sorts. She has curated an amazing spot on Instagram where she shares invaluable information about food after weight loss surgery- portion sizes, what food at different stages looks like, protein ideas, and recipe ideas- all in very "consumable" content squares! Kristin is on a mission to lift the veil on meal prep and planning and we are here for all of it! 

We are so thankful to have connected with Kristin and are thrilled to be passing along her valuable information to others in the bariatric community. We are looking forward to many more conversations with her in the future!

Episode Topics:

• The new role of food after WLS
• Having an "addition" mindset when crafting our new plates and pallets. 
• The importance of meal planning
• Tips and tricks for making meal planning and prep apart of your daily routine

Episode Mentions

• Instagram: @bariatric.meal.prep
• Website: Bariatric Meal Prep

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We sometimes graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

Thank you for being the best part of this community!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This week, Natalie sat down with Alycia, James, and Lori to discuss what life is like at what we call “The Honeymoon.” This stage can be during the first year or two after surgery, when things seem easier, weight comes off, restriction is still strong, and the zest for bariatric life is there. However, the three of them explained that the honeymoon doesn’t always mean it’s easy all the time! They chat about mindset work, ordering at restaurants, and the struggles when restriction lessens.

Alycia is a lover of bright colors and eyeglass frames, 41 year old mom of 2 toddlers and a bonus Army of 1. Always the tallest and largest in her class, Alycia always knew she was meant to stand out. After her second delivery, Alycia had reached her highest weight and wasn’t able to do a lot of day to day things without physical and physiological struggles. Fast forward to 12/15/21, dubbed her other (re)birthday, Alycia had RNY and hasn’t looked back. She founded F.A.B. Fitness May ‘22 and hopes to make a positive impact in the Bariatric community and beyond. You can visit her website at Www.fabfitnessllc.com.

James is a mid-thirties bariatric dad that decided to change his life after learning he'd become a girl-dad. James works every day to stay committed to the bariatric lifestyle with a little humor, lots of sweat, and a nice cigar.

Lori had RNY at age 60 and at 14 months post-op she is loving the life she is making for herself. Lori goes to CrossFit three times a week and walks or goes to Zumba twice a week. At almost 100lbs down Lori is looking at living her best story yet!

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Many of us have had people in our lives who have been our *ultimate* teachers. A person who inspires and uplifts our potential, who shows us new and exciting ways of doing things, a person who shows us how to show up in the world as our authentic selves. Some of us are fortunate enough to have these people in our own families. Many of us turn to public figures, people who put their talents to the world in hopes of helping others. Teri Turner is one such human. She is the captain of No Crumbs Left- an online universe that helps us make everyday food marvelous.

About 3 months into her recovery, April *broke-up* with food. She swore it off and vowed to never interact with it again. Food had done her wrong and she was not getting back into another horrible relationship with food. Many bariatric patients feel the same way after their own procedures, but we all come to realize that we have to eat to live. If we want to find lasting success and our happy, healthy weight after bariatric surgery, we have to reconnect with food.

Teri's approaches food differently. She believes that food is meant to be enjoyed, that food is meant to be wholesome and healthy, that food is made from real, seasonal ingredients, and that preparing meals is not scary. She has dedicated her most recent years to showing us all the power of simple ingredients, easy tricks, and curiosity in our kitchens and farmer's markets to help us find our happiest and healthiest lives.

Episode Topics:

• Identifying our relationship with food
• How food and health go hand-in-hand
• Hunger and what it means
• How we can reconnect with food

Teri has curated amazing spaces online for us to learn and grow with and from her! Follow her in ALL the spaces!

• Instagram: @nocrumbsleft
• Facebook: @nocrumbsleft
• Tik Tok: @nocrumbsleft
• No Crumb Left Blog and Pottery Shop: https://nocrumbsleft.net/
• No Crumbs Left Cookbook 

We cannot thank Teri enough for her support, wisdom, and fierce "Strong cup of coffee" presence in this world! WE LOVE YOU TERI!

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Regain, now known as weight recurrence in the medical community, is something most bariatric patients worry about. In today's episode, we deeply dive with obesity doctor and researcher Dr. Robert Kushner, to understand why patients regain weight after bariatric surgery. We want you to leave this episode with an understanding of why weight recurrence happens, why it is not something to be ashamed of, and some steps you can take to reverse any regain you might experience. 

Weight recurrence happens for many reasons, and most are out of a patient’s control. Our body has a weight set point, and as soon as we start to lose weight rapidly, our bodies are triggered to hold on to or return us to our previous high weight. Our weight is also impacted by the medications we take, our life stage, and our biology. Behavioral actions and changes affect our weight as well. If we notice that we are struggling with emotional or binge eating or that our life has been more stressful than in the past and are not taking action to mitigate these behaviors, we could experience weight reoccurrence.

With so many factors contributing to weight recurrence, it is essential to know that, as a patient, it is not your fault or something to be ashamed of. Regain is a part of the bariatric journey and indicates that our disease is once again active in our lives. It just means that it is time to onboard more treatments to help you manage your chronic and lifelong disease of obesity. If you are struggling with regain, we hope you leave this conversation with fresh hope and a pathway forward. 

Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

About our Guest: Dr. Kushner is a Professor of Medicine and Medical Education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Director of the Center for Lifestyle Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL An obesity researcher, educator, and clinician for the past 40 years. He is a published researcher, author, and esteemed medical professional passionate about serving his patients.

About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

What do you get when five women who have known each other for *decades* get together in a Zoom session? Some serious insight, big laughs, and a whole lot of love! April welcomed four of her closest girlfriends to conversate and reflect on her bariatric procedure. Some of the questions were tough and some "ah-ha" moments presented new insights and understanding about what it means to undergo and have a friend undergo bariatric surgery. If you are wondering how you can bring your girlfriends along for your WLS ride, this conversation is for you!

Episode Topics:

• How weight- April's weight- impacted these relationships.
• How April told her friends she was having bariatric surgery.
• How she asked her friends for support pre and post-op.
• Their "take" on bariatric surgery.
• How relationships have changed post-op.
• What my friends wish I had told them about my bariatric procedure.

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Happy Pride Month! On this episode of Bari Nation, we are excited to have BariNation Community Member, Maddie Allen, join the show. Maddie discusses how she found the courage to explore a different way of living when she decided to try dating women. She describes what it was like to explore her sexuality, as well as any fear she had around telling others that she was interested in women. Maddie is now happily married to her wife, and shares what she would like others to know when it comes to supporting love. Tune in to hear how her Bariatric journey led her to take new chances. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [1:39] How did Maddie find the courage to explore a different way of living and explore her sexuality? 

• [6:18] Was it a weird experience to explore her sexuality? Was she worried about judgment?

• [10:06] How did Maddie get to the place where she decided she was just going to trust herself?

• [14:44] What Maddie hopes people can leave the conversation with today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• If you don’t give something a try, you’ll never know! 

• Nobody else has walked in your shoes, and nobody else has to. Trust yourself to know that your journey is the right journey for you. 

• Open your mind up to try something new, whether that’s a new hobby, a new style, a new dating preference, just keep an open mind and try something different. 

RESOURCES:

• Join the BariNation Membership community meetups to support you on your journey with obesity treatment - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community

• Want to see bonus content? Head over to Patreon to get more and to support the podcast starting at $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast

BIOGRAPHY:

My name is Maddie, I had bariatric surgery (gastric bypass) in 2017. I have lost 170 lbs and this year I’m coming back from some serious health conditions. I just married the love of my life, Angelina!

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

What is it like to go through bariatric surgery with the support of your family? What is it like when your spouse or a close family member makes the decision to have surgery after seeing your own success? Jason and Natalie sat down with Sarah, Jason's wife, and Madeline, Natalie's cousin to dive deep into how having bariatric surgery can influence our family members into choosing a similar path. From comforting each other during major complications to accepting that you're not the "perfect" bariatric couple. In this conversation, you will discover what it truly means to have family along for the ride. Follow Madelin’s journey @for.crivs.sake.vsg and follow Sarah @bari.grateful If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! Our support groups are led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, and other clinicians and there are weekly opportunities to connect with patients just like you in peer-to-peer meetups and live events! Check it out! You have 14 days to try the community for free before your membership kicks in! See if the support is right for YOU. Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

There is the plan…and then there is what happens. This episode is a *perfect* example of that because we started out talking about partying before and after WLS and we ended up making some DEEP connections about how we are using partying after WLS and what it is helping teach us. None of us thought we would go THIS DEEP but we are so thankful for the safe place to have meaningful conversations like this one. 

A HUGE thank you to Katie @katie.vsg for her openness and honesty. Her bravery shows us just how powerful conversations can be. 

Episode Topics: 

• What does “partying” mean to us? 
• How did we party before WLS? 
• How do we party now, after WLS? How has post-op partying changed? 
• Do you feel guilty about partying now? Why or why not? 
• Do you still have the same drive to party as you did before WLS? How do you -safely- party now? 

Listen to this episode on all major podcast players or on our Anchor homepage at www.anchor.fm/east2westwls or watch it on our YouTube channel! If you want to be the first to know when new episodes drop, subscribe to our email list and YouTube channel.

You've got this and we've got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Having an "all or nothing" mentality can work in some situations, but for many of us, we have used that mindset as an excuse to give up the ghost when the going gets tough. To find lasting success after bariatric surgery, we have to either change our mindset to be more flexible when setbacks happen. We sat down with Melissa Reese, the founder of Harbor Total Wellness to better understand what "wellness" means to someone immersed in the fitness industry and learn how to make "all or another" more about "slow and steady". Melissa's approach is all about starting where you are at and celebrating the baby steps before training for the marathon!

Follow Melissa on Instagram @harbortotalwellness and visit her website www.harbortotalwellness.com to learn more about Melissa and her coaching services!  

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Website: www.east2westwls.com

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Advocacy means public support for something or someone you believe in. Self-advocacy means that public display of support means you are the one standing up for yourself. But this requires some practice as many of us have never advocated for ourselves before. We lived our lives in the shadows, attempting to not draw any more attention to ourselves than what our weight already did. Self-advocacy is a form of self-love and it can help us make progress in every goal we are seeking to achieve. We sat down with Dr. Russo, a prominent bariatric surgeon in Southern California. He works tirelessly to advocate for his patients and helps them learn to become their own advocates in their own bariatric lives. We wanted to know why he believes it can be difficult for patients to advocate for themselves, how people can practice their advocacy privately before taking it publicly, what questions people should be asking their surgeons, and what the best ways to practice are. We think you will be surprised at all the ways you are already advocating for yourself and how you can practice that skill in all facets of your life! Follow Dr. Russo on TikTok @weightloss_oc, on Instagram @weightloss_oc, on Facebook @ michael russo md and smart dimensions weight loss and online at www.smartdimensions.com Follow the BariNation crew on Instagram @bari.nation and learn more about our amazing membership community at www.barination.com. You can also follow the crew on their personal Instagram pages as well! Find April @activley_april, find Jason @the_smithsonian_, and find Natalie @breakingbari_ers. You’ve got this and we’ve got you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We know that movement is one of the most important things we need to focus on after bariatric surgery; it’s even one of BariNation’s Pillars of Bariatric Success. We also know that it can be one of the hardest Pillars to live because of the role exercise played in our lives before bariatric surgery. If movement was how we “punished” ourselves for food-related decisions, we might not be overjoyed to start moving again. 

We sat down with Daryl Perry, ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Habit-Based Nutritional Coach, and founder of You Level Fitness to understand the connection between mental health and movement. We want to know what we can do when we know what we need to do but are having a hard time doing it. Our discussion explored some of the elements or things we might be inviting into our lives (looking at you, social media) that could be negatively impacting movement and shared how comparison and unrealistic expectations keep us stuck.

We hope you leave this episode inspired to look at the things in your life that could be holding you back from moving more and adopting some new mindsets around movement that pull you towards more activity! 

Members of the BariNation Support Community and our Patreon supporters of the BariNation Podcast will get access to the amazing Bonus Episode with Daryl. He shares more about his personal wellness journey and how weight has impacted his life. 

Connect with Daryl online at darylperry.com on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube @darylperry

About our Guest:  Darul Perry is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer, Habit Based Nutrition Coach, and the owner of Your Level Fitness. He holds a B.S. in Marketing, and produces multiple fitness and motivational podcasts. Daryl helps people embrace who they are, as they are, using his personal story and struggles to guide and inspire. 

 

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

How can we make the holidays merry and *bari* friendly? In this episode, Michaela Miller @losingtoblooming joins us recently to talk about some of her favorite strategies for navigating the holiday season and not abandoning her bariatric goals. It really all comes down to mindset; recognizing how the "all or nothing" mindset does not serve us- especially in high-stress times, the power and impact of doing imperfect things consistently, and how we can treat an indulgence as just that- something special to be enjoyed every now and then.

This episode will leave you ready to enjoy the holidays without guilt, shame, or fear. We did not have bariatric surgery to be scared to enjoy food. We know that getting to that place of confidence can be a long and windy journey. We hope this conversation offers you a path forward on your food joy and balance journey and set's you up for holiday success this year!

You've got this and we've got you!

Follow the BariNation crew on Instagram and join or join our membership community for that extra layer of support! We offer expert-led support sessions, live classes, peer-to-peer supports, an on-demand video library, printable support guides...so much support! JOIN US as we all all seek our happy, healthy weight!

• Instagram:@bari.nation
• Website: www.barination.com

Michaela offers some amazing one-on-one and group coaching opportunities! Check out her Instagram page @losingtoblooming for more information about the services she offers!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

April, Jason, and Natalie sat down to reflect on their time at Advent Health’s Bariatric Retreat hosted by The Bariatric Society. The power of our stories was on full display and hearing them in person amplified the message and the power this community has.

We are so thankful for our digital spaces. It provides us a safe place to create and grow new friendships and connections. Meeting in real life can be scary, what if your internet friends are not who they appear to be online? What if you don’t share anything in common? In the episode, we hope to dispel your fears of meeting in person and give you some strategies to make those first encounters positive and meaningful.

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Today, East2West_WLS becomes BariNation!

We have come a long way from our humble podcast beginnings. We realized we had the power and capacity to create something meaningful and valuable for our bariatric community and today, we are excited to share with you what we have spent the last year working on! None of our current supports are going away, we are just adding a new and dynamic support option that was created to support EVERY bariatric patient!

Today, we welcome to the world BariNation, an online digital support ecosystem where bariatric patients can connect, learn, and grow from one another and experts in our community!

Episode Topics:

• What pushed us to create BariNation?
• What is BariNation?
• What supports live in BariNation?
• What sets BariNation apart from other support communities?

Visit our NEW website to learn more about BariNation and the community that has been created just for you! Find us at www.barination.com and for the time being, you can still find us at @east2west_wls on Instagram!

As always, you’ve got this and we’ve got you!

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What do you notice when you look at pictures of your heavier self?  Like many of us, you might notice harsh, critical, or judgemental thoughts or feelings.  The sensations in your body may feel uncomfortable causing feelings of shame or disgust.  We have spent months, years, or even decades, trying to hide, ignore, or push away our “old self”.  The tricky part is that the old version of ourselves still lives inside of us.  When we speak unkindly and without compassion to our “old self”, they can hear & feel it.  It resonates and vibrates in and all around you impacting our present self whether you recognize it or not.  Our thoughts impact our actions, which impact our behaviors. Being unkind to any version of yourself (past, present, or future) will keep us trapped, stuck, and paralyzed along our bariatric journey.  In this episode, April and Jason sat down with Katie Booker, a licensed trauma therapist, BariNation Expert, and bariatric patient, to understand how we can uncover gratitude and use it to find connectedness and curiosity throughout our bariatric journey. She will teach us how to lean into kindness and compassion for all parts of ourselves and help us understand how negative self-talk not only holds us back, but also powers our disease. You will leave this conversation with actionable steps you can take to shift your mindset and start finding gratitude for the person you are.  Remember, you're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people growing in gratitude. We offer coping skills classes taught by experts like Katie, support groups led by bariatric therapists, and meetups where you can connect with people like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community!  If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. And you can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! Remember to subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. About our Guest: Katie Booker, LCSW, is a private practice therapist licensed in New York State.  She specializes in trauma therapy utilizing research-based therapies with children, adolescents, teens, and adults.  Katie is certified in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) through EMDRIA, is a Registered Play TherapistTM certified through the Association for Play Therapy, and completes psychological evaluations for pre-surgery approval.   About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers.  About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.  Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. You’ve got this and we’ve got you! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Obesity is a chronic, lifelong disease with no known cure. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for the disease and has the highest and longest treatment efficacy rates. But new medications have been developed that support the treatment of the disease in multiple ways. These new GLP-1 medications work in multiple ways in our bodies and are proving to be a powerful adjunct or secondary treatment for the disease. Many post-op patients are onboarding these medications to help them lose their regained weight or reach a weight that allows them to be metabolically well.

Bariatric surgeon, Dr. Matthew Weiner, and Clair Paulye, PA-C, joined us to talk about how these medications work and why they are such a powerful treatment option for anyone struggling to manage their disease of obesity. Follow Dr. Weiner on Instagram @drmatthewweiner and visit him online at www.poundofcureweightloss.com.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Our lives look and feel so different after bariatric surgery. One area of our life that can change, or we want to see change in, is our sexuality. We might have felt unworthy of these experiences or relationships before surgery because of our size or shape. Maybe we were disconnected from this area of life because the disease of obesity made it seem impossible to connect with. Or perhaps we felt that our size was holding us back from exploring our sexuality in ways that felt authentic to us. We each experience our sexuality in different ways, and our needs, wants, and desires change throughout our lives, just like everything else. 

We sat down with Rodolfo Alvarez, a Certified Wellness Coach who holds a Master in Sexuality, for a conversation on what sexuality is, how it can change our life, the impacts weight loss can have on our desires, and strategies for exploring our sexuality after bariatric surgery. This conversation was grounded in a desire to understand what sexuality means, what it can look like in our life, and how it is, on many levels, a small part of sex. Rodolfo shared with us personal stories of how he discovered his sexuality and the tools he uses to ensure that his needs as an individual and a partner are met. He offered some fantastic questions we can ask ourselves as we open ourselves to exploring what our current needs, wants, and desires are and how we can safely start exploring them on a personal level.

We are so thankful to have such a fantastic expert in BariNation who can help us grow and expand in this critical area of our lives. Get to know Rodolfo more in the BariNation Membership Community by taking one of his upcoming classes! We hope you leave this conversation feeling excited to turn inward and expand your awareness of your sexuality!

If you are a member of BariNation or a Patreon Supporter, be sure you check out the bonus episode of this podcast, where April, Natalie, and Rodolfo share some personal “aha” moments they have recently had about their sexuality and how some “simple” conversations with themselves and partners led to positive changes in their relationships. 

About our Guest: Rodolfo Alvarez is a multi-faceted Wellness Coach who utilizes his engineer background to help individuals break through roadblocks along their wellness journey. Rodolfo holds master's degrees in Sexology and works with organizations, coprotations, small groups, and individuals to identify areas of growth, coaching them to new personal understandings. Follow Rodolfo on Instagram @rodolfoalvarezx.

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This week, BariNation spoke with Jody, a bariatric patient and yogi, all about how utilizing yoga practices has not only become her professional passion, but an incredible tool for navigating life after surgery.

From complications to life-changing revelations, Jody tells us how she uses yoga and it’s mindset to spring her forward through all that life has thrown at her. 

You can find Jody on instagram @jodybyoga for more information on her and her practice. She is also hosting a yoga retreat in the beautiful Costa Rica next spring! Follow her for more info.

______________________________________

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Did you know that only 8% of people fulfill their “new year's resolutions”? Setting our goals and intentions in the new year fills us with hope and can add a little fuel to our motivation and willpower tanks. But these feelings can be quickly replaced by guilt, shame, and defeat. Why does this happen, and what can we do to keep working toward our goals when hope fades?

Our friend Melanie Lindell, therapist and bariatric patient, joins us to share two of the mechanisms that contribute to our goal achievement struggles and shares ideas on how to move past the Imposer Syndrome and the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy to help us reach our goals!

Follow Melanie on Instagram @myroux_n_why or join BariNation to interact with her from her patient and expert perspectives!

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Obesity is a lifelong and chronic disease that millions of Americans battle every day. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment of the disease, but weight loss medication advancements are making them a viable treatment option. A recent Goldman Sachs study estimated that by 2030, 15  million Americans would be taking an anti-obesity medication to treat the disease and live at a weight that allows them to metabolize well. These medications are promising, but are they the “magic pill” many people hope for?

Without focusing on all of the pillars of bariatric success, these medications, like bariatric surgery, will not be as effective or safe. BariNation co-host April Williams sat down with Jeannie Boyter, RD, CSOWM, for a conversation about the importance of nutrition while taking anti-obesity medications. Jeannie explains how these new obesity medications work from a nutritional standpoint, how Setpoint Theory can explain regain (weight recurrence) after surgery, and practice steps we can take to ensure our nutrition adequately fuels our bodies and cells for optimal health when our appetite and capacity have been reduced.

Jeannie is leading a class in the BariNation Support Community on March 26th at 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST about GLP1 Nutrition. If you are taking one of these medications and are worried about hitting your nutritional goals, join BariNation and attend her class! This class will be a fantastic opportunity to learn from an obesity nutrition expert and ask your questions in real-time. Join us today to connect, learn, and grow with experts and bariatric peers. 

If you are a member of the BariNation Support Community or a $5 a month Patreon supporter of this podcast, your Bonus Episode will dive deeper into understanding how connected our mindset is to your nutrition and helping us reach those goals, how to ensure we hit our nutritional goals if the medication makes us feel nauseous, and if the medication impacts how our digestive system breaks down food. 

About our Guest: Jeannie Boyer is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management who has over two decades of clinical experience working with bariatric patients. In her one-on-one work with patients, she connects each personal obesity story with their goals to craft nutritional plans that meet their unique needs. Visit Jeannie online at www.bariatricsuccessrd.com to work with Jeannie!

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram and TikTok, and visit us online at www.barination.com. You can also connect with each of the hosts personally on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers. 

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Many of us have noticed that when we can no longer turn to food in moments of discomfort and pain, we turn to something else to help us regain that old, familiar feeling of relief. It could be drinking, it could be shopping, it might be gambling, or it might still involve food, but purging after binging. This behavior is a tactic that we will use to find comfort after our bariatric procedure. It is called addiction transfer and it is real. Sometimes called "cross-addiction", addiction transfer is what we do when we "swap" one addiction or dependence for another. And because many of us will look to transfer our addiction instead of learning how to cope with our emotions and feelings in healthy ways, we have a 50% chance of regaining our weight after our weight loss surgery procedures.

In this episode, we sit down with Wendy Rawlings, a licensed mental health counselor who specializes in bariatric recovery. We define addiction transfer and talk about the differences between addiction, dependence, and tolerance. We highlight the "look for" and outline steps that we can all take to avoid addiction transfer and move our selves down a healthy path of recovery after bariatric surgery!

Episode Topics:

• Defining addiction transfer
• Defining and discussing the differences between addiction, dependence, and tolerance
• Learning how we can identify if we are addict, dependant, or tolerant of things to help us cope
• Discussing tools we can use to avoid addiction transfer

Episode Mentions:

• Yale Food Addiction Scale
• Yale Food Addiction Test and Scoring Rubric
• Mindfulness Coach App
• Eat Right Now App
• Wendy Rawlings

We also encourage you to VIEW this podcast on our YouTube channel. We shared some graphics and images that aid our visual learners who listen and enjoy listening! If you like what you hear and see, follow/subscribe to the feed and leave us a review!

Our goal is to create content that is of value to our community. If you have a topic, idea, question, or threat you would like us to explore in-depth, please leave us a comment on whatever platform you are listening to or watching from or message us directly on Instagram! We are @east2west_wls and welcome your feedback! Please like, share, and review this podcast- your review helps us grow and reach more people.

Where to follow along:

Instagram: @east2west_wls

YouTube: East2West_WLS

Jason: @tha_smithsonian

April: @actively_april

Thank you for being the best part of this community!

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Hitting our protein goals after surgery is important for so many reasons, but we bet your surgeon never told you *why* it is so important. Turns out, protein is a critical nutrient that allows cells to be built and hormone signals to be sent! It also helps your body not eat away at your muscles as you are losing weight…who knew!

We sat down with one of our amazing BariNation Experts Jeannie Boyer, RD to get the breakdown on all things protein! We wanted to know:

• What protein is and why our bodies need it
• What makes a protein complete and incomplete, and why it matters
• What our bodies do with protein and why too little,or too much protein, can be bad for our systems
• If our bodies can only absorb 30 grams at a time
• And what are some of the “biggest bang for our buck” protein sources!

Protein is critical to our post-op recovery and our long-term success. It’s time to give this macronutrient its place in the spotlight! Follow Jeannie on Instagram @barisuccussrd and visit her online at www.jeannieboyer.com to learn about her one-on-one nutritional coaching sessions!

If you don’t follow us on Instagram, you are missing out! We are @bari.nation and we hope to see you there soon! You can also visit us at www.barination.com

You've got this and we've got you!

• Best tracking recommendations/programs/apps

Wrap Up:

• Sam: What is something you want every bariatric patient to know about macros?

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TRIGGER WARNING: Addiction and substance abuse is mentioned!

This month on BariNation, we are focusing on pre-op love! Our pre-surgery selves play a vital role in our lives. They fought for surgery, they battled food addiction, and they shaped the life we are living today.

April, Jason, and Natalie reflected on what they wish they knew prior to committing to surgery. From realizing they had a food addiction, to “damn, I wish I knew headwork was a thing!” they get deep into their “Why” of having surgery in the first place.

Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

We were so excited to sit down with the one and only Dr. Dovec to talk about all things bariatric self-love! We wanted to know Dr. Dovec’s definition of self-love and how she practices it in her own life because this woman is BUSY! She is the Medical Director of AdventHealth’s Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgical Centers in Central Florida, she performs hundreds of bariatric surgeries every year, and is raising three amazing children with her husband Aaron!

We also wanted to deep dive into how patients can show themselves love before and after their bariatric surgery. We asked

• What are the three most important things patients can do to prepare for their upcoming bariatric procedure?
• What do you most successful patients do during the pre-op process that really sets them up well for life after their surgery?
• What do you wish patients would stop doing or thinking as they prepare for surgery?
• What are your most successful patients doing after surgery to find their happy, healthy weight from the moment they wake up after their procedure to years post-op?

If you have been wondering how you can show yourself some bariatric self-love, this is the episode for you! A huge thank you to Dr. Dovec for joining us on this important and valuable episode! Follow Dr. Dovec on Instagram @drdovec. Click the link in her bio to learn more about bariatric options in Central Florida!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

This week, we (April, Jason, and Natalie) sat down with each other for a much needed check-in. Having time to have raw and real conversations has been rare these days, so when we had the time we made it happen. Life hasn’t slowed down, in fact it’s only ramped up, this summer and we needed some time to break down the walls and give each other an update.

As we spoke, we realized that self-love really isn’t the flashy, toxic positivity we all tend to see online. Instead, it looks like: allowing ourselves to feel our feelings, sticking to our bariatric basics while life feels chaotic, and practicing being present in our day to day lives. 

As you listen to this episode, we want to know: How are you practicing self-love this summer? 

Feel free to let us know on Instagram, Threads, and in the BariNation membership community! 

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Are you feeling alone or stuck in your bariatric journey? Connect with fellow patients and experts in the BariNation Membership Community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days free, then it’s just $39 a month! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Leanne said something so powerful in our conversation with her. She said she used to be a quitter, and that statement stopped us in our tracks. We can all identify with that statement. We have quit ourselves on diets, mindsets, or hopes and dreams. Life after bariatric surgery is about living it differently than ever before, and Leanne found a way to stop quitting on herself and her dreams.

In this amazing conversation, Leanne shared how she found freedom, joy, and peace in our life through movement. She shares with us some strategies we can all use to welcome movement into our life and discover just how committed we can be to our new life, our new mindset, and our new future after bariatric surgery.

Follow Leanne on Instagram @leanne_latley and join one of her movement classes in the BariNation Membership Community, where she has joined us as a Movement Expert!

If you are looking for extra layers of support along your bariatric journey from experts, clinicians, and patients just like you, join the BariNation membership community! As a member, you can access virtual support led by bariatric therapists, registered dietitians, wellness coaches, movement experts, and patient moderators. Try our community for 14 days to see if it is right for you! Find us at https://barination.mn.co

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support aligned with your bariatric journey. Follow April @activley_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian_, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

If you've been listening to or watching the BariNation podcast for a while, you've heard us say obesity is a chronic and lifelong disease and that bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment. But what happens when our first surgery is not enough? What happens when our surgery does not get to a point where we are metabolically well or our first surgery triggers new and unwelcomed symptoms or complications? Revision surgery is something many patients will go through, yet it is surrounded in shame, guilt, and fear. 

April and Jason sat down with Dr. Joe Cribbins and Dr. Edmund Chen, two board-certified bariatric surgeons, to discuss revision surgery. We explore why revision surgery is sometimes necessary and needed and, we can identify when a revision might be required and better understand the steps we can take to begin the conversation with our medical teams. We spent time understanding how Jason came to his decision to pursue bariatric surgery and the guilt and shame he had to work through to find his bariatric hope again. As patients, we have to recognize that our disease will continue to progress in our lives, despite doing everything “right” and that the only way to live with the disease is to continue to treat it.

If you're pre-op, we hope you leave this conversation with a better understanding of being an engaged, informed, and educated bariatric patient. If you're post-op and struggling with weight recurrence, the return or continuation of co-morbidities, or the onset of new conditions, you can find your hope again, like Jason, and pursue different treatment options. 

Thank you for listening and watching the BariNation podcast! If you find this show valuable, become a supporter of the show. Your $5 a month helps us produce this podcast and keep the support available for patients everywhere. Visit us at www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter today. 

About our Guest: Dr. Cribbings and Dr. Chen are board-certified robotic bariatric surgeons in Dallas, Texas. Texas Center for Bariatrics & Advanced Surgery is the trusted destination for weight loss. Dr. Joe Cribbins is a highly sought-after, award-winning bariatric surgeon with over 23 years of experience. He exclusively uses the ultra minimally invasive Da Vinci Xi® surgical system for bariatric and weight loss surgeries like gastric bypasses. Using the Da Vinci Xi system, Dr. Cribbins & Dr. Chen provide more precise and less invasive weight loss procedures so patients can experience less pain, faster recoveries, and better results. Follow Dr. Cribbins and Dr. Chen on Instagram @one_operation_changes_life and online at https://www.texascenterforsurgery.com/

About Your Hosts: April, Jason, and Natalie are all bariatric patients on a mission to connect patients with the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. They created BariNation to empower people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. BariNation understands that every patient's end goal is metabolic wellness. While each patient will take a different road to this destination, the stops along the journey will be similar. BariNation aims to connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. You can also connect with us on Instagram; follow April @actively_april, follow Jason @tha_smithsonian, and follow Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Is loving ourselves selfish or self-centered? Do you think you have ever loved yourself or loved all of yourself? Self-love can be defined as having regard for our own well-being and health, but have we ever actually practiced that definition?

April, Jason, and Natalie sat down to dive into self-love. They wanted to know what it was, how (or if) we practice it in our own lives, and talk about ways we can elevate the love we have for ourselves! And just wait until you hear Natalie’s take on self-love and the role that it played in her decision to have bariatric surgery!

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

Follow the BariNation crew on Instagram @bari.nation and like and subscribe to our YouTube channel, where you can watch every episode of the podcast and other meaningful supports online! And continue this conversation online in our membership community! Visit www.barination.com to learn how you can connect, learn, and grow from experts and fellow patients in our safe, online, digital support community!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Welcome to the very first professionally produced episode of the BariNation Podcast! Your hosts, April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney, are thrilled to embark on this journey with you. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Pesta, a renowned expert in bariatrics. Dr. Pesta starts the discussion by sharing the critical markers of obesity. He then delves into the various preliminary approaches to overcoming the disease of obesity, including bariatric surgery. He also highlights how different cultures are affected. The conversation continues with an in-depth look at post-surgery medical approaches, weight loss statistics, the safety of bariatric procedures, insurance considerations, and the importance of patient readiness for surgery. Finally, Dr. Pesta leaves us with an essential tip: don’t give up. Take the first step and commit to weight loss for long-term good health.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• • [0:33] Hosts April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are excited to welcome you to the first professionally produced BariNation Podcast. 
• • [8:38] Dr. Pesta shares his background and profession. He provides the markers of obesity
• • [15:17] Dr. Pesta explains the different options patients should explore going from a preliminary approach to bariatric surgery and how cultures are affected differently
• • [22:50] Discussion of continuation of various medical approaches after surgery
• • [28:59] Dr. Pesta discusses weight loss in percentages, the safety of bariatric surgery and insurance coverage 
• • [33:47] Discussion of readiness of a patient to have surgery
• • [37:36] One consideration is that once you start the weight loss medication, it is a lifelong decision
• • [41:22] Explanation of the BariNation Community and why membership is beneficial

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• • [10:05] Obesity is a disease. A doctor can diagnose a patient to determine whether they are obese by establishing the patient’s BMI.
• • [15:34] Research shows that improving a patient’s BMI earlier helps them return to a normal body mass index under 25.
• • [30:05] Data supports that bariatric surgery is even safer than having your gallbladder out because of all the workups done before weight loss surgery. 

RESOURCES:

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Carl Pesta is a McLaren Macomb board-certified general surgeon who specializes in advanced laparoscopic surgical weight loss procedures. He is also a “Center of Excellence” bariatric surgeon.

He earned his medical degree from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Pesta completed his residency at McLaren Macomb and a bariatric surgery proctorship at Henry Ford Bi-County Hospital. He performs a wide variety of bariatric procedures, as well as revision and conversion procedures.

Dr. Pesta is leading the comprehensive bariatric program  Dr. Carl Pestaat the McLaren Macomb. With 18 years experience as a surgeon, Dr. Pesta has performed more than 5,000 bariatric procedures. The bariatrics program at McLaren Macomb provides a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to caring for the healthcare needs of patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

ABOUT:

If the BariNation podcast helps power your bariatric journey, become a monthly podcast supporter and help us produce the show! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com and help us support people treating the disease of obesity with humor, humility, and honesty.

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians.

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support

Welcome to a transformative episode of The BariNation Podcast, a show dedicated to supporting individuals on their bariatric and weight loss journey. In this episode, we explore the pivotal topic of lifting the heavy burden of shame. We draw inspiration and insights from Dr. Eric Smith, the Director of the Kentucky Bariatric Institute and BariNation co-founders and hosts April Williams and Natalie Tierney.

Dr. Brené Brown defines shame as “the intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging—something we’ve experienced, done, or failed to do makes us unworthy of connection.” As patients, we have experienced this shame for years, if not decades, before our bariatric surgery. We often call this the “work of weight loss surgery,” and in this episode, Dr. Smith shares how has learned from the shame he has experienced in his own, personal life and helps his patients utilize those lessons. 

Join us as we delve into the strategies employed by Dr. Eric Smith, April, and Natalie to lift the weight of shame. By fostering empathy and understanding, destigmatizing weight issues, promoting self-compassion, celebrating victories, sharing our shame and struggles with a trusted community, and redefining success, bariatric patients can navigate their transformative journey with resilience and pride.

It is in a community like BariNation that you can begin to foster a sense of community and break the isolation that shame can breed.

Subscribe to The BariNation Podcast for more insights and inspiration on your weight loss surgery journey. If you found this episode helpful, please leave us a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with others who might benefit from this information. You can help us produce this show by becoming a $5 monthly Patreon support! Visit www.barinationpodcast.com to become a supporter! 

You're not alone on this journey. Join the BariNation Support Community and connect with people working through weight recurrence. We offer Regain support groups led by bariatric therapists and meetups where you can connect with other people just like you. Visit us at https://barination.mn.co to learn more about our inclusive and welcoming support community! 

About our Guest: Dr. Eric Smith, DO is the Medical Director of the Kentucky Bariatric Institute and a Key Opinion Leader in Bariatric Medicine and Robotic Surgery. He is a National proctor, speaker, and teacher for Intuitive Surgical in the specialty of robotic bariatric surgery and is board-certified in bariatric and robotic surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS). He is an engaged, caring, and dedicated physician who has completed thousands of bariatric surgeries since 2006.

About Your Hosts: April Williams, Jason Smith, and Natalie Tierney are all bariatric patients who were inspired to create the community and support they needed. BariNation empowers people to treat their disease of obesity in kind, compassionate, and caring ways through the community they founded. As they learn to live the pillars of bariatric success (movement, mindset, metabolic wellness), they share their experiences and “aha” moments with their friends and followers. 

About BariNation: BariNation is a bariatric educational organization on a mission to empower patients to access and utilize the tools, resources, and education needed to find and maintain personal wellness. We connect patients with the support they need, when and where they need it. BariNation produces an award-winning weekly podcast distributed on all major podcast and video platforms and hosts a support membership community that teams up with credentialed and licensed bariatric experts and clinicians. 

Follow BariNation on Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Connect with us personally on Instagram; April @actively_april, Jason @tha_smithsonian, and Natalie @breakingbari_ers.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/barination/support