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

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

Are you three to six months past surgery, and finding yourself feeling more hungry? Are you starting to panic? Today we are joined by Dr. Eric Smith and Dr. Sarah Hayek from the Kentucky Bariatric Institute to discuss what is normal when it comes to your hunger cues after recovery. Many people find themselves in a panic that they can suddenly eat more, however throughout this episode you will uncover that it is completely normal and a great sign that you are experiencing hunger and fullness, which is an important sign of recovery. Tune in to understand why it’s important to eat more food, and what Dr. Smith and Dr. Hayek would say to a patient who is struggling with eating more. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:17] Dr. Smith introduces himself. 

• [3:56] Dr. Hayek introduces herself. 

• [5:32] What is the relationship between BariNation and Kentucky Bariatric Institute? 

• [6:42] What was Jason’s experience about hunger returning post surgery? 

• [8:33] Why do people’s capacity to eat larger amounts of food change as you recover from bariatric surgery? 

• [16:28] Why is it important to eat more? 

• [24:41] Dr. Smith’s advice to people who are concerned that they are now able to eat ½ cup to 1 cup of food.

• [28:04] Dr. Hayek’s advice to the same people.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• It is normal to start feeling more hungry 3-6 months after surgery, and it’s necessary to eat more to fuel your body!

• Maximizing your nutrition is a major factor in you not only losing weight, but having the best chance to maintain weight loss. 

• Eating high quality foods will get you fuller faster and for a longer period of time. 

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 for as low as $5 per month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast 

• https://kentuckybariatricinstitute.com/meet-our-team

BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Smith’s Bio

Dr. Eric Smith is a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon who has been in practice since 2006. He is the Medical Director for the Kentucky Bariatric Institute, a SRC Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery, a national proctor, speaker, and teacher for Intuitive Surgical in the specialty of robotic bariatric surgery. He is board certified in bariatric and robotic surgery, member of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons. He is an engaged, caring and dedicated physician who has completed thousands of bariatric surgeries.

Dr. Hayek’s Bio

Kentucky Bariatric Institute (KBI) is pleased to welcome Sarah Hayek, MD, to Georgetown and central Kentucky communities. Dr. Hayek will expand the bariatric program’s availability by offering robotic bariatric surgery, as well as a number of general surgery procedures. Dr. Hayek completed medical school at Geisinger Commonwealth in Scranton, Pennsylvania and completed residency in general surgery with an additional year in surgical education research at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania. She has been a practicing surgeon for over two years with experience and training in general and bariatric robotic surgeries.

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 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

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

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

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

Obesity is a chronic disease that will require lifelong treatment. When you are a parent, you have an added layer of helping your children learn about obesity and be an active participant in your bariatric journey before and after surgery. This conversation can be challenging when we ourselves don’t understand the very disease we are fighting well enough to help our children understand why bariatric surgery is a needed and necessary tool for our metabolic goals.

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie welcome Dr. Myers, Dr. Riddle, and Heather Baum, Bariatric patients, and Bariatric Nurse Practioner to share with us their knowledge not only about obesity but how we can talk to children about obesity and bariatric surgery. As a parent, Heather has navigated these waters and continues to teach her children about obesity. Both doctors are also experts in childhood obesity and will share the most recent research and treatment options for children who themselves are battling the disease of obesity.

If you have a child in your life that you love, this episode will help you navigate these important conversations and arm yourself with the tools needed to help everyone face this disease with humor, humility, and honesty.

Connect with Dr. Myers at stephan.myers@towerhealth.org. Connect with Dr. Riddle at renee.riddle@towerhealth.org. And connect with Heather on Instagram @balanced_life_with_heatherbaum

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

For too many years, we allowed ourselves to lose our focus during the summer months. The warmer weather, the longer days, those summer vibes flipped a switch in our brains and all of our goals and aspirations went out the window.

If we want to lead a different life after surgery, we have to live a different life. We have to do things differently. And one of the things we need to do differently is SUMMER. Instead of falling off the rails this summer, we want to go Summer, Steady. We want to remain steadily aligned to our goals and create systems, habits, and routines that are not only aligned to our bariatric goals but just become a part of who we are. We want to create a life that we feel we never need a vacation from.

In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie reflect on what their summers used to be and feel like and outline their goals and aspirations to remain Summer, Steady!

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

Food is nutrition. It is also a connection to our families and traditions. It is cultural and historical. It is artistic and at times, it is how we show love to one another. Can we still love, with food, after bariatric surgery?

We sat down with Kedric Barrett, one of our community’s most outspoken patients and advocates to learn how he has shifted and changed the role food plays in his family after surgery and if food still plays a role in their traditions and culture.

This conversation went deep, deeper than we expected. Ked shared with us some of his most recent struggles and how he is acknowledging what has changed and what it is doing to move through this rough patch. And how food is playing a prominent role in this struggle.

Follow Ked on Instagram @sleevedbelievethehype and check out his amazing seasoning at www.hypeseasonings.com

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

Parenting comes with its own unique challenges and roadblocks. But when you add in your own bariatric journey to the mix, things can get REALLY interesting.

Jason sat down with our friends Rob DeMideo and Niki Stryjak to talk about how their bariatric surgery has impacted their parenting. We wanted to know if surgery has changed the way they parent, the role food played in their families before surgery and if it has shifted, and how they talk to their children about obesity, body changes, and bariatric surgery.

If you care for and love littles and are a bariatric patient (or preparing to become one), this episode is for you!

Follow Niki @modernmom_vsg and Rob @my_weight_is_history on Instagram!

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

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

April, Jason and Natalie sat down with Jason’s wife, Sarah to reflect on the power of peer support and the importance of a strong support system. Whether it's a best friend, family member, peer support advocate, mental health counselor or our own BariNation community, meeting someone who has personally changed your life and supports you is the most powerful thing someone can have.

We are so thankful for our digital spaces. It provides us a safe place to create and grow new friendships and support. Finding support on your bariatric journey can be scary and you might not be sure where to start looking. In the episode, we deep dive into the importance of the power of a peer support system.

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

--- 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

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

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

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

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

Trigger Warning: Alcoholism, Mental Health Do you ever feel like the rain showers will never stop? That you are facing storm after storm, with no break between squalls? Know that you are not alone and that sometimes, this is what your season will be like. We recently sat down with E.Beth Goad, an RNY patient who is not only 18 years post, but someone who has weathered every storm she has faced with grace, grit, and determination. Her story is inspiring and will leave you with the understanding that you too can weather the storms of your own life. E’Beth is a Personal Stylist, Military Spouse, active recovery warrior, and an “OG” bariatric patient. She recently joined BariNation as an Expert and is teaching style and fashion classes in our membership community! And be on the lookout for her Style Trend Reports that will keep you looking as fabulous as you feel! Follow E’Beth on Instagram @ebethgoad and visit her online at www.ebethgoad.com to learn about her personalized styling consultations! 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

When April and Jason recorded their first podcast episode, they never imagined that it would turn into BariNation. They were frustrated by the lack of support they received from their surgical centers and felt isolated by the COVID pandemic that shut down the world. They were looking for the support they needed, and when they could not find it, they created it. Their humble podcast blossomed as they welcomed Natalie to the team after they interviewed her on the 16th episode of the podcast. The BariNation podcast has become one of the top bariatric podcasts and is loved by thousands of people around the globe.

In this episode, all three BariNation founders reflect on what life has been like since their surgery, what they have each learned about themselves and their new bariatric life, and celebrate the milestones of the podcast by sharing voice messages from BariNation friends, followers, and supporters of the podcast!

Follow BariNation on Instagram @bari.nation for continued support along your bariatric journey. Follow each of our founders to get to know them on a deeper level! Find 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

Each setback we face could require a different tool to help us move through that moment or experience. It is important that we have a toolbox that is filled with unique and at-the-ready tools that we can use as these moments come. Think about it this way, if you watched the news the night before, caught the weather report, and saw rain was in the forecast, you might bring your raincoat and umbrella with you to work the next day. It’s not that you will use those rain tools that day, but you have at least prepared yourself, just in case.

We sat down with Terry Hardin @justadopedad to talk about the tools he deploys when he faces setbacks and obstacles. And it is important to know that setbacks and obstacles are not always negative or imply something is wrong. They just indicate moments where friction is introduced, where extra work will be required to attain a goal, or something did not go to plan. You will leave this amazing conversations with some new tools for your bariatric toolbox!

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 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

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

Trigger Warning: Tracking and disordered eating

UUHHHHHH- TRACKING. Sometimes we loathe tracking. Even though it does not take a lot of time, it can sure feel like it. Tracking can be another powerful tool we have the bariatric toolbox that will help us find and maintain our happy, healthy weight. And there is not one perfect way to track! We sat down with our good friend Rob @my_weight_is_history to learn his tracking story. We wanted to know how we develop such strong tracking habits and what he does when he misses a day or two.  We were blown away to learn all of the ways he not only tracks but purposefully organizes his life to make thighs as simple and efficient as possible. This conversation is packed with some amazing insights from one of our favorite bari friends!

If you need tracking inspiration, follow Rob on Instagram @my_weight_is_history

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!

--- 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

While it may be a newly federally recognized holiday, Juneteenth is not new for those in the African American community. Today, the CEO of Bariatric Society, Nerissa Stewart joins the show to talk about Juneteenth, the importance of the holiday, where some of the traditions come from, and how the day is celebrated within black communities. We encourage you to listen to this episode to learn more about a day that celebrates freedom. 

Comment “Juneteenth” below, and we will DM you links to the BariNation podcast playlist, amplifying black voices and expertise in our community, an educational resource, and a robust website to find and support black-owned businesses local to you. 

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [1:16] Nerissa describes what it means to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth.

• [3:24] What opportunities does Juneteenth open up?

• [5:38] How is Juneteeth celebrated? 

• [9:12] What are some ways Nerissa enjoys seeing people commemorating the day? 

• [14:08] Where can you find Nerissa? 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Take the time to pause and think about and really understand the deeper meaning of what other communities went through throughout history. 

• Juneteenth is celebrated in the black community with togetherness!

• Think of different ways that you can support the black community - refer someone to an opportunity, donate to an organization, learn more about the history of the day, think about the presidential candidates and what they support, and find a business that you can support!

RESOURCES:

• RissaRecharged Instagram

• RissaRecharged Popular Links

• National Museum of African American History - Juneteenth 

• By Black Website 

• PMI Inc. Online 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 starting at just $5 a month! https://www.patreon.com/BariNationPodcast

BIOGRAPHY:

Nerissa Stewart is the CEO of Bariatric Society and four years post-op VSG. Aside from her work within the Bariatric Community, Nerissa is a respected leader and speaker in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) field with over 15 years experience leading diverse teams and initiatives. In her corporate roles, Nerissa has worked for the inclusion of all and has received numerous awards including the distinction of Outstanding Black Alumni by her Alma mater Mary Baldwin University.

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

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?

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

Everywhere you turn in the bariatric community, we hear MACRO this and MACRO that…but what the heck does MACRO even mean? This month, our support will be deep-diving into all things macros and we sat down with one of our favorite bariatric deititans to get the low down on all things macros.

In this episode, Sam Tambeaux tells us:

• What macros are and what role they play in our bodies
• Why we need macronutrients, especially after bariatric surgery
• Why our bodies crave certain things when it is stressed
• Why our macro levels or goals might change over time
• How we can track our macros in a way that make sense for us

If macros tend to stress you out, this episode is for you. We all learned some incredibly important things in this episode and we know you will to! Follow Sam on Instagram @bariatriccheckboyrd and click the link in his bio to be added to his one-on-one nutritional coaching waitlist!

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!

--- 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

The Growing Pains of Self-Love

This is one of the most personal episodes April has ever recorded. We know that learning how to love ourselves is difficult and Mabel gave us a master class in WHY it can be such a painful process. She broke April like a farm-fresh egg getting scrambled in a hot skillet. Mabel was able to identify the reason April struggles to open herself to self-love and helped us understand the many other reasons the practice can feel so uncomfortable. Buckle up friends, Mabel threw down in this episode and we know it will help you identify some of the reasons you might be finding it difficult to practice self- love, too.

You’ve got this and we’ve got you!

Follow Mabel on Instagram @beyondthesleeveacademy and visit her website to learn more about her bariatric group coaching! www.beyondthesleeveacademy.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.

--- 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

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!

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

Knowing the definition of self-love is the first step in actually loving ourselves. But how do we actually get there? How do we get to a place of love and acceptance for ourselves? We sat down with Maddie Spahr, one of our most amazing bariatric friends and creators, and Rodolfo Alvarez, a phenomenal Wellness Coach, to help us understand how we go from having no self-love to a place of acceptance, and eventual love for our bodies and minds.

Acceptance plays a large part in our self-love journey and this conversation really deep dives into what that means and looks like. We also talked about the differences and similarities of self-love, self-acceptance, and self-esteme. Like most of our conversations, this one went deep. We are so thankful our two guests are here for these meaningful conversations and are excited to share so much of their own personal stories with us.

Follow Maddie on Instagram @maddie5088 and visit her online at  https://foodfitnessandbeauty.com/ Follow Rofolfo on Instagram @rodolfoalvarezx and book your free discovery session with him today!

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

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

Have you ever wondered why self-care is something that seems so foreign to you? Something that always is on your to-do list but never gets checked off? It might be because you grew up in a culture or family where self-care was not practiced or acknowledged. And that could be creating some friction between you and your self-care.

We sat down with Kelsie Danielle, an amazing bariatric patient who has an amazing YouTube channel dedicated to sharing her weight loss surgery life with the world! She often talks about her own self-care and how she came to understand its importance in her own life. Self-care is something she practices daily and she shares with us how she shifted her culture to create a new mindset around self-care.

Follow Kelsie on Instagram @kelsiedanielle_ and subscribe to her YouTube channel by searching Kelsie Danielle!

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

If you think dental care is something you can put off or neglect, we are here to tell you that is a bad idea…ESPECIALLY after having bariatric surgery! Taking care of our physical health and our teeth are two of the most impactful things we can do as a form of self-care.

We recently sat down with Day Sager- a dental assistant who has had years of experience working in the field. Our mouths can act as our personal “canary in the coal mine” when it comes to our overall health. There are some tell-tale signs that we are missing some critical nutrition that are reflected  in the health of our teeth and gums. If you have been putting off seeing or finding a dentist because of the stigma that surrounds dental care, today will be a great time to not only listen to this episode but book an appointment with a dentist!

Follow Day on Instagram @melanatedmarket20 and @day_to_daycreations!

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

We cannot believe we have made it to our 200th episode! Come celebrate by getting a peak into a BariNation Community Member meeting. This is a safe place for our community members to share their wins, struggles, and goals with likeminded people. During this episode, you will hear from several of our BariNation members, with a focus on self love and self talk throughout your bariatric journey. You’ll understand why having a support system is so important after bariatric surgery. Tune in today to learn more about the community and connect with others.  

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [2:29] BariNation Member shares their experience seeing other members in person and the difficulties they experience getting back to "real life"

• [9:12] How to handle negative self-talk about your journey. 

• [10:46] A BariNation Member shares one of his wins around movement!

• [15:25] Another BariNation member talks about the power of community and support as well as his struggles with love. 

• [22:15] BariNation member, Margaret shares how she feels about self love.

• [24:00] Andrea shares about her journey with self love and learning to put herself first.

• [26:52] BariNation member, Christine, shares about her wins and realizations during one weekend with friends.

• [28:56] Natalie shares her thoughts on self love and celebrating wins.

• [31:52] BariNation member, Ashlea, shares a win for her getting back to habits consistently. 

• [33:17] BariNation Member, Tony, talks about the importance of support. 

• [35:57] BariNation Member, Tabitha, shares about her current win, struggle, and goal and onboarding with Ozempic. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Each body is individual. Just because someone else had a huge weight loss post surgery, doesn’t mean that your body will react the same. You will go back and forth between commitment and life and maintenance stages. 

• One of the best things you can do while you navigate your journey is to have a community and support group. People you can lean on to celebrate wins and struggles. 

• The BariNation Membership Community is a network of experts and peers where you can connect with the support, education, and resources that you need in the moment to move through your bariatric life with confidence. 

RESOURCES:

BariNation - Website

BariNation - Podcast

Join the BariNation Membership community for daily meetups just like the one you're listening to or watching - https://barination.com/pages/join-our-community

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

There is this idea, thought, or hope, that once we have bariatric surgery, all of our healthcare issues will magically disappear. For many of us, we *do* see certain medical conditions lesson or even completely go away. April’s sleep apnea dissipated two weeks after her VSG procedure and Jason has been able to cut back on many of his medications. In fact, the reversal of medical conditions is one of the top reasons people make the decision to have bariatric surgery.

But in other circumstances, medical conditions persist, or even appear after our procedures and this is a difficult reality to face. Our friend and fellow podcast Kedric Barrett are tackling a new, and scary, medical condition head-on, acknowledging that we might still have a price to pay for how we lived our lives before weight loss surgery.

In this meaningful conversation, Ked shares his diagnosis, his feelings and emotions surrounding his prognosis, and how he is dealing with his new reality with humor, humility, and honesty. He shows us how, and why, healthcare must be a part of our self-care.

Follow Ked on Instagram @sleevedbelievethehype, check out his podcast by looking for the Sleeved Believe The Hype show on your podcast player app, and check out his amazing seasoning line at www.hypeseasonings.com

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

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

Who else thought 2021 would go differently than it did? This conversation started out one way, and ended in a very different way…much like this year! Join April, Jason, and Natalie for a discussion on the year that was, and the year that is to be!

We were amazed at how much *good* we found in 2021 when we really dove into the year. We all accomplished some amazing things, despite it all! Join us as we visit the year, discover the things that went well, break down the things that didn’t go so well, and make plans for a hopeful 2022!

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.fw/barination. You can also watch this episode on our YouTube Channel by searching for BariNation on that platform!

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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!

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The holidays can invoke some heavy emotions and feelings. On top of the sense of loss and grief, we might be feeling after our bariatric surgery, we might also be feeling the missing presence of loved ones. And when you add on the additional layer of the pandemic and just life in general, this season can become overwhelming. And when things get overwhelming, we tend to fall back on old habits, actions, routines, and thoughts to help us find brief moments of comfort.

We must acknowledge that using food to help us through difficult moments is allowed. There is no shame in seeking comfort. But if we consistently rely on food, we will find ourselves facing regaining and batling additional pounds in the new year.

In this episode, Lora Grabow, LMSW guides April and Jason through some headwork skills that we can use this holiday that will allow us to acknowledge and move through these heavy emotions, thoughts, and feelings without the aid of food. Jason shares some powerful emotions and gives us all a master class in how we can face our emotions head-on and learn to live through them with grace and bravery.

Lora will be teaching TWO sessions of her Headwork for the Holidays class in December in the BariNation membership community! Visit www.barination.com to join for free for 14 days…just enough time to take a class or two and join a live support session!

Follow our journeys on Instagram! You can find BariNation @bari.nation, April @activley_april, Jason @the_smithsonian_, and Lora Grabow @loragrabow. You can also visit Lora online at www.loragrabow.com and learn more about her Headwork Masterclass!

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Have you ever found that when one thing goes wrong, you want to discount the WHOLE DAY? Sometimes, we can use that one event to derail our week, month, or even our year. If we want to live differently after bariatric surgery, we need to respond differently when things do not go to plan.

Suzanne Razaq- bariatric coach and educator- joins us in this episode to teach us how we can reframe our mindset (and actions) when things do not go to plan. We wanted to know why our default mindset and actions skew towards the negative when something goes wrong and how we can change that thinking in the moment. She suggests we do three things to help us acknowledge our feelings, reframe our mindset, and then take actionable steps towards achieving the outcome we want. You will leave this powerful episode with new tools you can use every day when things do not go as planned!

Suzanne will be teaching a live class in the BariNation membership community in December that will teach us how to stay positive when the SCALE won’t move!  And if you cant make the live class, do not fear!I It also lives in our on-demand video “LiBari” so you can access the learning anytime. Visit www.barination.com to join for free for 14 days…just enough time to take a class or two and join a live support session!

Follow our journeys on Instagram! You can find BariNation @bari.nation, April @activley_april, Jason @the_smithsonian_, and Suzanne Razaq @1gastricgirl.

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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!

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Being faithful to a vitamin regimen after WLS is key to our long-term success. Not only will it help us reach our weight goals, but it will ensure we remain metabolically well. So many people in our community find themselves hospitalized or under a doctors care for nutritional and mineral deficiencies and we don’t want that to happen to anyone.

We sat down with Ben and Stephen, the founders of Paravita Vitamins to learn about their amazing bariatric vitamin! They shared with us why they started Paravita, what makes their vitamins a superior option for patients in our community, and why staying consistent with our vitamins is necessary for our post-op health.

You will ABSOLUTELY want to listen to this whole episode! There is an awesome surprise waiting at the end!

Episode Topics:

• Paravita vitamins- what they are and how they came to be
• The importance of vitamins after bariatric surgery
• The needs and success stories of the bariatric community!

Follow Paravita on Instagram @paravita.co and visit them online at www.paravita.co

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 first to know when new episodes drop, subscribe to the podcast on your player app and on our YouTube channel!

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Traveling might not have been something we did a lot of before bariatric surgery. Our weight might have made getting from one destination to another difficult and once we were to our destination, our size might have prevented us from fully enjoying our adventure.

But with the Bariatric Retreat one day away, we wanted to take a moment and reflect on what travel has looked like in our lives and offer some tips and tricks for traveling in your pre and post-op life!

Episode Topics:

• What was travel like before our bariatric procedure?
• How has travel changed in our post-op lives?
• How can we maximize our travel adventures now that we are living life on the lighter side of life?

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 on Instagram @bari.nation

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

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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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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.

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In November, we will be focusing on discussing things that support our bariatric life. Things changed significantly before and after bariatric surgery. While many things remain the same, almost nothing remains the same. In this episode, April, Jason, and Natalie talk about how their lives have shifted after their procedures and what #barilife looks like for them.

Episode Topics:

• What “bari life” means to us
• Why we refer to ourselves as “bariatric patients” and not “weight loss surgery patients”
• How we currently live a bariatric life
• The most significant shifts we have made to live aligned to our bariatric goals
• Our November goals

You can watch this episode too on our YouTube channel! Like and subscribe where ever you watch or listen to always be the first to know when new support drops!

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Regain is something every *human* will experience. Our weight is designed to fluctuate over our lifetimes, regardless of our bariatric status. Regain is not a bad or scary thing, it is simply data we can observe and collect along the way. Nothing scary there! We also know the stress that weight regain can play in our lives because we are on this bariatric rollercoaster with you and have experienced regain ourselves.

If we have regained an amount of weight that does not feel right on our frame, we have the ability to become our own scientists and explore that regain. Our goal is metabolic wellness, not size, shape, or weight. Sometimes regain is *necessary*. Regain is not a negative thing! It is simply one data point that we can use along our bariatric journey to find our happy, healthy weight!

We had the honor of sitting down with Jana Wolff, RD, and Lora Grabow, Bariatric Therapist to shine some light on regaining. We wanted to know what it is, why it happens, and how we can approach regain in a safe and loving way. We know regain can be caused by many things, but at its core, regain indicates a change. It means something has changed or shifted and if we want to explore that change, we can. Sometimes this change is out of our control. Other times, the change is within our control. Jana and Lora offer us their clinical expertise from their unique lens' and will leave you with tools to start to explore the change in ways that feel right for YOU. April and Jason will share how to regain impacted their lives and how they went about addressing it in their own, unique ways.

Episode Takeaways:

• Obesity is a disease that will require treatment for the rest of our lives.
• We will need different treatments at different stages of our bariatric journey.
• Regain indicate a change and it is ok to explore that change in ways that are right for you.
• Moving through regaining will require some mindset work. 
• We must NAME what we are experiencing if we want to understand it. 
• Reignite, Reprogram, Refocus (Jana)
• Lapse, Relapse, or Collapse (Lora)
• COMMUNITY is TREATMENT

Follow our amazing experts on Instagram and reach out to them if you need individual support!

Jana Wolff @mybaribox or www.baribox.com

Lora Grabow @loragrabow or www.loragrabow.com

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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!

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